Fundamentals of Electric Circuits

Chapter 1
Basic Concepts

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Basic Concepts - Chapter 1

1.1 introduction
1.2 Systems of Units.
1.3 Electric Charge.
1.4 Current.
1.5 Voltage.
1.6 Power and Energy.
1.7 Circuit Elements.

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 Introduction

electric circuit theory and electromagnetic

theory

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 Electric Circuit

An electric circuit is an interconnection of

electrical elements.

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Electric Circuit

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 1.1 System of Units (1)
Six basic units
Quantity Basic unit Symbol
Length meter m
Mass kilogram Kg
Time second s
Electric current ampere A
Thermodynamic kelvin K
temperature
Luminous intensity candela cd
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 1.1 System of Units (2)
The derived units commonly used in electric circuit theory

Decimal multiples and

submultiples of SI units 7
 1.2 Electric Charges

• Charge is an electrical property of the atomic

particles of which matter consists, measured in
coulombs (C).
• basic quantity in an electric circuit

• The charge e on one electron is negative and equal

in magnitude to 1.602  10-19 C which is called as
electronic charge. The charges that occur in nature
are integral multiples of the electronic charge.

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1.2 Electric Charges

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 1.3 Current (1)
• It is conventional to take the current
flow as the movement of positive
charges.
• current is the net flow of positive
charges.

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 1.3 Current (1)
• Electric current is the time rate of change of charge,
measured in amperes (A).
• Electric current i = dq/dt. The unit of ampere can be
derived as 1 A = 1C/s.
• The charge transferred between time t0 and t is
obtained by integrating
• A direct current (dc) is a current that remains constant
with time.
• An alternating current (ac) is a current that varies
sinusoidally with time. (reverse direction)

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1.3 Current (1)

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 1.3 Current (3)
Example 1
How much charge is represented by 4,600
electrons?

A conductor has a constant current of

5 A.
How many electrons pass a fixed point
on the conductor in one minute?

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 1.3 Current (4)
Solution

Total no. of charges pass in 1 min is given by

5 A = (5 C/s)(60 s/min) = 300 C/min

Total no. of electronics pass in 1 min is given

300 C/min 21
19
 1.87 x10 electrons/min
1.602 x10 C/electron

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 1.4 Voltage (1)
• Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy
required to move a unit charge through an element,
measured in volts (V).

• Mathematically, (volt)
vab  dw / dq
– w is energy in joules (J) and q is charge in coulomb (C).

• Electric voltage, vab, is always across the circuit

element or between two points in a circuit.
– vab > 0 means the potential of a is higher than potential of b.
– vab < 0 means the potential of a is lower than potential of
b.
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 1.4 Voltage (1)
• dc voltage
• Ac voltage

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 1.5 Power and Energy (1)
• Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing
energy, measured in watts (W).
dw dw dq
• Mathematical expression: p     vi
dt dq dt
i i

+ +

v v
– –

Passive sign convention

P = +vi p = –vi
absorbing power supplying power
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 1.5 Power and Energy (1)
Passive sign convention is satisfied when the current enters through
the positive terminal of an element and p vi. If the current enters
through the negative terminal, p vi.

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 1.5 Power and Energy (2)

• The law of conservation of energy

p0
• Energy is the capacity to do work, measured
in joules (J).
t t
• Mathematical expression w   pdt   vidt
t0 t0

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 Example

1. An energy source forces a constant current of 2 A for 10 s to flow through a lightbulb. If 2.3 kJ is given
off in the form of light and heat energy, calculate the voltage drop across the bulb.
2.

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 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)

The basic building block of a circuit.

 Circuit analysis is the process of determining
voltages across (or the currents through) the
elements of the circuit.
An active element is capable of generating energy
while a passive element is not.
Examples of passive elements are resistors,
capacitors, and inductors. Typical active elements
include generators, batteries, and operational
amplifiers.
There are two kinds of sources: independent and
dependent sources. 23
 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)
An ideal independent source is an active element
that provides a specified voltage or current that is
completely independent of other circuit elements.

an ideal independent voltage source delivers to the circuit

whatever current is necessary to maintain its terminal
voltage.

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 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)

an ideal independent current source is an active

element that provides a specified current
completely independent of the voltage across the
source.
the current source delivers to the circuit whatever voltage is
necessary to maintain the designated current.

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 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)

An ideal dependent (or controlled) source is an

active element in which the source quantity is
controlled by another voltage or current.
Since the control of the dependent source is
achieved by a voltage or current of some other
element in the circuit, and the source can be
voltage or current, it follows that there are four
possible types of dependent sources, namely:
1. A voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS).
2. A current-controlled voltage source (CCVS).
3. A voltage-controlled current source (VCCS).
4. A current-controlled current source (CCCS). 26
 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)
modeling elements such as transistors, operational
amplifiers, and integrated circuits.

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 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)
It should be noted that an ideal voltage source
(dependent or independent) will produce any
current required to ensure that the terminal voltage
is as stated, whereas
an ideal current source will produce the necessary
voltage to ensure the stated current flow.

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 1.6 Circuit Elements (2)
Calculate the power supplied or absorbed by each
element

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 Applications

The electron beam in a TV picture tube carries

10000 electrons per second. As a design engineer,
determine the voltage needed to accelerate the
electron beam to achieve 4 W.

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 Applications

A homeowner consumes 700 kWh in

January. Determine the electric-ity bill for
the month using the following residential
rate schedule:
Base monthly charge of $12.00.
First 100 kWh per month at 16 cents/kWh.
Next 200 kWh per month at 10 cents/kWh.
Over 300 kWh per month at 6 cents/kWh.

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