3 Basics of Electric Circuits

GenE 123 S.
Jayaram
BASICS OF ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

Text: Basic Engineering Circuit Analysis, 8th edition by J. D. Irwin and R. M.
Nelms
Basic concepts:
(Refer to sections 1, 2 and 3 in chapter 1 of your text)
Electric circuit:
A circuit is an interconnection of electrical components.
Electric charge: is one of the fundamental quantities and exists in every atom.
Symbol: Q or q
Unit: Coulomb (C).
dq
Electric Current: The time rate of change of charge. i (t ) =
dt
Symbol: i (t ) or i or I depending on whether the current is constant or time

varying quantity.
1⋅ C
Unit: Ampere (A); 1⋅ A =
1⋅ s
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
Types of currents: → Alternating current (ac)

→ Direct current (dc)
Current waveform can be a sine or a cosine function. Current has a steady level.
Current flow in a conductor (wire or any element) is specified by two indicators.

1. Direction of current flow, and
2. Value (magnitude)
- For ac currents, the magnitude varies with time
- For dc currents, current has a steady value
5A current flows from point A to point B; this is same as a negative current of

magnitude 5A flowing from B to A.
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
Voltage (Potential Difference):

Voltage => Work done on q to move it from point A to point B per unit charge
=> Difference in potential energy per unit charge
Symbol: V or v (t )
1⋅ J
Unit: Volt (V); 1⋅V =
1⋅ C
Representation of a potential in a circuit:

Consider the following example.
In representing a potential, it is important to identify both the polarity (direction)

and the magnitude.
If we are dealing with a differential amount of charge and energy, then
dw
v = voltage =
dq
dw = work done
dq = change
By multiplying both sides by current,
dw  dq  dw
∴v ⋅ i = = ⇒ Power, p
dq  dt  dt
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
Power: The time rate of change of energy is defined as power.
Symbol: P or p.
Unit: Watts (W).
1 W = 1 J / 1 s.
In general i, v and p are used to represent time varying parameters.
∴ Change in energy from time t1 to t2
t2 t2
∆w = ∫ p ⋅dt = ∫ v ⋅ idt
t1 t1
Power can be equated to the product of current and voltage.
In ac circuits,
p(t ) = i (t ) ⋅ v (t )
(Voltage and current are considered as time varying parameters). Alternatively,

we can define the power in ac circuits in a more specific form later, in terms of
voltage, current and power factor.
In dc circuits,
P = I ⋅V in dc circuits (steady values)
Hence the unit of power can be defined as:
∴ 1 W = 1 V. 1 A
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
Sign convention for Power:

(Passive Sign Convention)
In the above illustration, does the element absorb power or supply power?
p(t) = v(t) . i(t) Or simply, p = v ⋅ i
The product of v ⋅ i with their attendant signs, defines the magnitude and sign of
the power.
If p(t ) is positive, then the element absorbs power.
If p(t ) is negative, then the element supplies power to the rest of the circuit.
Examples:
(a)
Voltage across the element = 4 V

Current through the element = 2A with “arrow” as marked.
P = (4V )(2 A) = (8W ) ≡> Since is positive, the element absorbs the power.
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
(b)
Voltage across the element = - 20V

Current through the element = 2A
BUT, the current enters at a negative terminal; hence, P = - (V I)
∴ P = ( −( −20V ) )( 2 A ) = 40W
Circuit Elements: - Active elements (Sources)

- Passive elements (Loads)
Active elements: Voltage Sources and Current Sources

=> Can be of two types; independent or dependent sources.
Independent Sources:
Independent Voltage Sources:

Such sources are two terminal components that maintain a specified voltage
across their terminals, independent of the current.
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
Independent Current Sources:
Such sources are two terminal components that supply a specified current
regardless of the voltage across the terminals.
Dependent Sources:
Dependent Voltage Source:

Dependent or controlled voltage sources have a voltage across them which
depends on a variable, x (voltage or current) elsewhere in the circuit.
Dependent Current Source:

Similarly, dependent current sources have a current, which depends on a
variable, x (voltage or current) elsewhere in the circuit.
⇒ Often you find these in electronic circuits as representative models for

transistors.
Examples of circuits with different types of dependent sources are

presented below.
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GenE 123 S. Jayaram
Dependent Sources:
(a) Voltage Dependent Voltage Source
The parameter µ represents voltage to voltage ratio
(b) Current dependent Voltage Source
(c) Voltage Dependent Current Source
(d) Current dependent current source
The parameter β represents current to current ratio

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GenE 123 S.

BASICS OF ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

Unit: Coulomb (C).

Symbol: i (t ) or i or I depending on whether the current is constant or time

Types of currents: → Alternating current (ac)

Current flow in a conductor (wire or any element) is specified by two indicators.

5A current flows from point A to point B; this is same as a negative current of

Voltage (Potential Difference):

=> Difference in potential energy per unit charge

Representation of a potential in a circuit:

In representing a potential, it is important to identify both the polarity (direction)

If we are dealing with a differential amount of charge and energy, then

By multiplying both sides by current,

Power: The time rate of change of energy is defined as power.

Unit: Watts (W).

In general i, v and p are used to represent time varying parameters.

∴ Change in energy from time t1 to t2

Power can be equated to the product of current and voltage.

(Voltage and current are considered as time varying parameters). Alternatively,

Hence the unit of power can be defined as:

Sign convention for Power:

p(t) = v(t) . i(t) Or simply, p = v ⋅ i

If p(t ) is positive, then the element absorbs power.

Voltage across the element = 4 V

Voltage across the element = - 20V

Circuit Elements: - Active elements (Sources)

Active elements: Voltage Sources and Current Sources

Independent Voltage Sources:

Independent Current Sources:

Dependent Voltage Source:

Dependent Current Source:

⇒ Often you find these in electronic circuits as representative models for

Examples of circuits with different types of dependent sources are

(a) Voltage Dependent Voltage Source

The parameter µ represents voltage to voltage ratio

(b) Current dependent Voltage Source

(c) Voltage Dependent Current Source

(d) Current dependent current source

The parameter β represents current to current ratio

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