Electrical Theory

Working as an electrician requires many skills. The physical demands of the job are one important part of the
skills needed to succeed. Reading and communication skills are other aspects one must develop and improve
to be a successful worker in the electrical field. Electrical theory is a basic building block that every potential
electrician must understand from the start. Electricity makes no sound, doesn’t have an odor, and can’t be
seen, so understanding the power you’re dealing with in theory, helps to make you and others safe. Electrical
theory is important to understand the function and operation of electrical equipment to ensure proper
installation and to complete tasks such as troubleshooting electrical systems and equipment. Much has to be
learned to fully understand electrical theory, and it takes years to master. This activity plan will cover the
basics, and it should be understood that students will need to continue to develop their math and science
proficiencies if they intend to become an electrician.

What is Electricity?

In its simplest terms, electricity is the movement of charge, which is considered by convention to be, from
positive to negative. No matter how the charge is created, chemically (like in batteries) or physically (friction
from socks and carpet), the movement of the discharge is electricity.

Understanding Current
This flow of electrical charge is referred to as electric current. There are two type of current: Direct Current
(DC) and Alternating Current.

a. Direct Current - is current that flows in one direction with a constant voltage polarity
b. Alternating Current - is current that changes direction periodically along with its voltage polarity.

• Thomas Edison and Alessandro Volta were pioneers in DC current and wrote much of electricity’s
history. But as societies grew the use of DC over long transmission distances became too inefficient.

• Nikola Tesla changed all that with the invention of alternating current electrical systems. With AC it
is possible to produce the high voltages needed for long transmissions.

Therefore today, most portable devices use DC power while power plants produce AC.

Terminology

• Closed Circuit – a closed path or circuit capable of being followed by an electric current.
• Conductor – a material or object that allows current to flow through it. Copper and aluminum
common conductors in electrical systems.

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 • Current – the amounts of electrons flowing past a specified circuit point per unit time, expressed in
amperes, or amps.
• Insulator – a substance or device that does not readily conduct electricity.
• Multimeter - an electrical test instrument that can measure several values, usually voltage, current
and resistance.
• Open circuit – an open path preventing the flow of current.
• Parallel circuit – electrical components or circuits connected to common points at each end rather
than one another in sequence. More than one path for current to flow.
• Resistance – the opposition of a body or substance to current passing through it, resulting in a
change of electrical energy into one another form of energy commonly heat or light.
• Series circuit – electrical circuits or components arranged so that the current passes through each
successively. One path for current to flow.
• Short circuit – a path of low resistance allowing a high current to flow.
• Voltage – electromotive force or potential difference, expressed in voltage or volts. Electrical
pressure.
• Watt – the SI unit power, equivalent to 1 joule per second, corresponding to the power in an electric
circuit in which the potential difference is 1 volt and the current 1 ampere.

Power Formula, P (watts) = E x I or P = I2 x R

Ohm’s Law

It states that at constant temperature, the current flowing in an electric circuit is directly proportional to
the impressed emf applied to the circuit and inversely proportional to the equivalent resistance of the
said circuit.

▪ The named after the German physicist, Georg S. Ohm (1787-1854).

𝑬
𝑰=
𝑹
Where:

E = impressed voltage (volt)

I = current drawn (ampere)
R = resistance (ohm)

Sample Problem 1:

A circuit has a resistance of 8 ohms. If a voltmeter connected across its terminal reads 10V, how much current
is flowing through the circuit?

Using Ohm’s Law:

𝐸 10
𝐼= = = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓𝑨
𝑅 8
Sample Problem 2:

When the potential difference across the filament of a bulb is 100 V, the current through it is found to be 2A.
Find the resistance of the filament.

Solution:

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 𝑉 100𝑉
𝑅= = = 𝟓𝟎Ω
𝐼 2𝐴

Problem 3:

A current of 6A flows through the leakage element of an iron box. If the resistance of element is 30Ω. Find the
potential difference across it.

Solution:

𝑉 =𝐼×𝑅

𝑉 = 6𝐴 × 30Ω

𝑉 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒔

Electrical Power

Power is the rate of energy transfer.

▪ Watt – unit of electrical energy equal to one joule of energy consumed in one second. Named after the
British engineer and inventor James Watt (1736-1819).

𝑬𝟐
𝑷 = 𝑬𝑰 = 𝑰𝟐 𝑹 =
𝑹
where:

P = electrical power (watt)

E = voltage (volt)
I = current (ampere)
R = resistance (ohm)

Sample Problem 1:

A 200-V lamp has a hot resistance of 400 ohms. The power rating in watts of the lamp is

Solution:

𝐼 2 2002
P= = = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝑾
𝑅 400
Sample Problem 2:

An electric motor drives a mechanical load, taking 18.8A from a 230 V source. Calculate the power input of
the motor.

Solution:

𝑃 = 𝐸𝐼 = 230(18.8)

𝑷 = 𝟒𝟑𝟐𝟒 𝑾

Electrical Energy

▪ Energy is the capacity to do work.

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 𝑾 = 𝑷𝒕

where:

W = electrical energy (joule)

P = electrical Power (watt)
t = time (second)

Remember:

1 calorie = 4.186 Joules

1 BTU = 252 calories
1 kWH = 3600kJ = 3413 BTU = 860 kcal
1 joule = 1 x 107ergs
1 day = 24 hours
1 month = 30 days = 720 hours
1 year = 365 days = 8760 hours

Sample Problem 1:

A 10 hp motor runs at rated load for 5 hours. How many kWh is consumed?

Solution:
0.746 𝑘𝑊
𝑊 = 𝑃𝑡 = (10 ℎ𝑝 × ) 5 = 𝟑𝟕. 𝟑 𝒌𝑾𝒉
ℎ𝑝

Sample Problem 2:

A residential house has a lighting load of 1000 W and a small appliance load of 2000 W. If they are used at the
same time, what will be the monthly bill at an energy cost of P 0.40 per kilowatt-hour?

Solution:

𝑊 = 𝑃𝑡 = (1𝑘𝑊 + 2𝑘𝑊)(720 ℎ𝑟𝑠) = 2160 𝑘𝑊ℎ

𝑃 0.40
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 2160 𝑘𝑊ℎ × = 𝑷 𝟖𝟔𝟒
𝑘𝑊ℎ

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Name: Subject: Engineering Utilities 1

Activity No: 1 Date:

Solve the following problems.

1. Find the current I through a resistor of resistance R = 2 Ω if the voltage across the resistor is 6 V.

2. In the circuit below resistors R1 and R2 are in series and have

resistances of 5 Ω and 10 Ω, respectively. The voltage across resistor R1
is equal to 4 V. Find the current passing through resistor R2 and the
voltage across the same resistor.

3. The current passing through a resistor in a circuit is 0.01 A when the

voltage across the same resistor is 5 V. What current passes through this resistor when the voltage
across it is 7.5 V?

4. The energy used by the iron for 1 minute is 33 kJ, at a voltage of 220 volts. How large the current is in
the iron.

5. In a house there are 4 lamps 20 Watt, 2 lamps 10 Watt, 3 lamps 40 Watt, are used 5 hours every day.
If the electric company charge 0.092 per kWh, then the cost of using electric energy during 1 month
(30 days) is …

6. An electric iron is connected to the mains power supply of 220 V. When the electric iron is adjusted
at 'minimum heating’ it consumes a power of 360 W but at ‘maximum heating’ it takes a power of
840 W. Calculate the current and resistance in each case.

7. An electric bulb is connected to a 220 V power supply line. If the bulb draws a current of 0.5 A,
calculate the power of the bulb.

8. The current passing through a room heater has been halved. What will happen to the heat produced
by it?

9. A lamp is plugged into the wall outlet, which is providing 110 volts. An ammeter attached to the lamp
shows 2 amps flowing through the circuit. How many ohms of resistance is the lamp providing?

10. When you are soaked in seawater, your resistance is lowered to 1000 ohms. Now how much current
will flow through you if you touch the 9- volt battery?

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 Series-Parallel DC Circuits
Series Connected Resistors

With simple series circuits, all components are connected end-to-end to form only one path for the current to
flow through the circuit:

▪ The total resistance is equal to the sum of the individual resistances.

𝑅𝑡 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 +. . . +𝑅𝑛

▪ The total voltage is equal to the sum of the voltage drops across each resistance.

𝐸𝑡 = 𝐸1 + 𝐸2 +. . . +𝐸𝑛

▪ The current flowing in each resistance are the same.

𝐼𝑡 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 =. . . 𝐼𝑛

Parallel Connected Resistors

With simple parallel circuits, all components are connected between the same two sets of electrically
common points, creating multiple paths for the current to flow from one end of the battery to the other.

▪ The total resistance is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocal of the individual
resistances.
1
𝑅𝑡 =
1 1 1
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 +. . . + 𝑅𝑛

▪ The voltage drop across each resistor is equal to the total voltage.

𝐸𝑡 = 𝐸1 = 𝐸2 =. . . 𝐸𝑛

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 ▪ The total current is equal to the sum of the currents flowing in each resistance.
𝐼𝑡 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 . . . +𝐼𝑛
𝐸𝑡 𝐸𝑡 𝐸𝑡
𝐼𝑡 = + +. . . +
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅𝑡

Rules regarding Series and Parallel Circuits

With each of these two basic circuit configurations, we have specific sets of rules describing voltage, current,
and resistance relationships.

Series Circuits:

• Voltage drops add to equal total voltage.

• All components share the same (equal) current.
• Resistances add to equal total resistance.

Parallel Circuits:

• All components share the same (equal) voltage.

• Branch currents add to equal total current.
• Resistances diminish to equal total resistance.

Combined Series-Parallel Circuits

Most circuits are not just a series or parallel circuit; most have resistors in parallel and in series. These
circuits are called combination circuits. When solving problems with such circuits, use this series of steps.

1. For resistors connected in parallel, calculate the single equivalent resistance that can replace them.
2. For resistors in series, calculate the single equivalent resistance that can replace them.
3. By repeating steps 1 and 2, you can continually reduce the circuit until only a single equivalent
resistor remains. Then you can determine the total circuit current. The voltage drops and currents
though individual resistors can then be calculated.

Sample Problem 1:
In the combination circuit sketched below, find the equivalent resistance for the circuit, find the
total current through the circuit, and find the current through each individual resistor.

We start by simplifying the parallel resistors R2 and R3.

1 1 1 1
= + =
𝑅23 180Ω 220Ω 99Ω

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 𝑅23 = 99Ω
We then simplify R1 and R23 which are series resistors.
𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅23 = 110Ω + 99Ω = 209Ω
We can then find the total current,
𝑉𝑇 24𝑉
𝐼𝑇 = = = 0.11𝐴
𝑅𝑇 209Ω
All the current must pass through R1, so 𝐼1 = 0.11𝐴
The voltage drop through R1 is (110Ω)(0.11𝐴) = 12.6 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠
Therefore, the voltage drop through R2 and R3 is 11.4 volts.
𝑉2 11.4𝑉 𝑉3 11.4𝑉
𝐼2 = = = 0.063𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼3 = = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟐𝑨
𝑅2 180Ω 𝑅3 220Ω
Sample Problem 2:
A 20Ω resistor and a 60Ω resistor are connected in parallel with a 120V power source.
a. Find the voltage and current in each resistor.
Solution:
𝑉 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝑽
𝑉1 120𝑉
𝐼1 = = = 𝟔𝑨
𝑅1 20Ω
𝑉2 120𝑉
𝐼2 = = = 𝟐𝑨
𝑅2 60Ω
b. Find the total resistance and the total current for the circuit as a whole.
Solution:
1 1 1 1 1 60Ω
= + = + 𝑅𝑇 = = 𝟏𝟓Ω
𝑅𝑇 𝑅1 𝑅2 20Ω 60Ω 4
3 1 4 𝑉𝑇 120𝑉
= + = 𝐼𝑇 = = = 𝟖𝑨
60Ω 60Ω 60Ω 𝑅𝑇 15Ω

Sample Problem 3:

𝑹𝟏 = 𝟔Ω, 𝑹𝟐 = 𝟒Ω, 𝑹𝟑 = 𝟑Ω

Resistors 1 and 2 connected in parallel, and this is then connected in series with resistor 3. Find the total R.

Solution:
1 1 1 1 1
= + = +
𝑅𝑃 𝑅1 𝑅2 6Ω 4Ω
2 3 5
= + =
12Ω 12Ω 12Ω
12Ω
𝑅𝑃 = = 2.4Ω
5
𝑅𝑇 = 2.4Ω + 3Ω = 𝟓. 𝟒Ω

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Name: Subject: Engineering Utilities 1

Activity No: 2 Date:

Part I.

1. In a series circuit, certain general rules may be stated with regard to quantities of voltage, current,
resistance, and power. Express these rules, using your own words:

“In a series circuit, voltage . . .”

“In a series circuit, current . . .”
“In a series circuit, resistance . . .”
“In a series circuit, power . . .”

For each of these rules, explain why it is true.

2. From observation of this circuit (with components attached to a “terminal strip”), draw an
appropriate schematic diagram:

3. In parallel circuit, certain general rules may be stated with regard to quantities of voltage, current,
resistance and power. Express these rules, using your own words:

“In a parallel circuit, voltage . . .”

“In a parallel circuit, current . . .”
“In a parallel circuit, resistance . . .”
“In a parallel circuit, power . . .”

For each of these rules, explain why it is true.

Part II.

1. Complete the table of values for this circuit:

R1 R2 R3 Total
V

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2. Calculate the amount of voltage dropped across resistor R2:

Also, note the direction of current through it and the polarity of the voltage drop across it.

3. Calculate all voltages and currents in this circuit:

R1 = 1 kΩ

R2 = 3.3 kΩ

R3 = 4.7 kΩ

R4 = 2.5 kΩ

R5 = 10 kΩ

R6 = 1.5 kΩ

R7 = 500 Ω

4. What will happen to each resistor’s voltage in this circuit if resistor R4 fails shorted? Provide
individual answers for each resistor, please.

5. Three 15.0 Ω resistors are connected in parallel and the combination is then connected in series with
a 10.0 Ω resistor. The entire combination is then placed across a 45.0 V potential difference. Find the
equivalent resistance for the entire circuit.

6. Two 60.0 Ω resistors are connected in parallel and this parallel arrangement is then connected in
series with a 30.0 Ω resistor. The combination is placed across a 120. V potential difference.

a. Draw a diagram of the circuit.

b. What is the equivalent resistance of the parallel portion of the circuit?
c. What is the equivalent resistance for the entire circuit?

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d. What is the total current in the circuit?
e. What is the voltage drop across the 30.0 Ω resistor?
f. What is the voltage drop across the parallel portion of the circuit?
g. What is the current through each resistor?

Prepared by:

Engr. ROVELYN A. PATAY

instructress

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