Chapter 1

1.1 Electric Current

Circuit Variables and Elements

Definition
i=

Current is the rate of flow of electric charge.

dq Amps dt

By convention: the direction of current is that of motion of positive electric charges. 1.2 Voltage The voltage, or electric potential difference, between two points is the difference in electric potential energy, per unit positive charge, between these points.

Definition

v=

dw dq

If a charge of +1 coulomb is moved to a region whose voltage is 1 volt is higher, the increase in electric potential energy is 1 joule. Voltage is measured with respect to some arbitrary zero reference, commonly taken as that of the earth. 1.3 Electric Power and Energy Power, p, is the rate at which energy, w, is delivered or absorbed: p = dw/dt. p=

(a)

(b)

Definition

Figure 1.2.2

dw dw dq = = vi dt dq dt

(1.3.1)

If i is in amperes and v is in

volts, p is in watts (W), or joules/s.

I a a

+
VB = 3 V b I

electron flow b

+
Lamp

Figure 1.3.1
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Conservation of Power

Concept

Conservation of energy implies conservation of power.

Energy must be conserved at every instant. It cannot be conserved in a given system over only some finite interval of time, as this would violate conservation of energy. 1.4 Assigned Positive Directions arbitrarily, subject to restrictions imposed by the voltage-current relations of the circuit elements. If the numerical values of currents and voltages are positive, the actual direction of the given quantity is the same as the assigned positive direction. If the numerical value is negative, the actual direction is opposite that of the assigned positive direction.

In circuit analysis, positive directions of unknown voltages or currents are assumed

Concept

If current i is in the direction of a voltage drop v, then the power p = vi

represents power absorbed by the element through which i flows. Conversely, If i is in the direction of a voltage rise v then the power p represents power delivered by the element through which i flows. 1.5 Active and Passive Circuit Elements Active devices can generate electrical energy through conversion from another source of energy, whereas passive devices cannot. Active devices, such as batteries and generators, are represented in electric circuits by voltage or current sources. Examples of passive circuit elements are resistors, capacitors, and inductors. 1.6 Voltage and Current Sources An ideal voltage source maintains a specified voltage across its terminals irrespective of the current through the source.

Definition

Definition

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 Fig. 1.6.1(a): v-i characteristic of an ideal voltage source. i through the voltage source depends on the source and on the rest of the circuit. In an independent voltage source (Fig. 1.6.1(b)), vSRC is specified independently of any other voltage or current in the circuit. In a dependent voltage

v vSRC

i i vSRC (a) i

vSRC

(b)

Figure 1.6.1

(c)

source (Fig. 1.6.1(c)), vSRC depends on another voltage or current in the circuit. In a voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS), vSRC depends on another voltage, e.g., v SRC = v . In a current-controlled voltage source (CCVS), vSRC depends on another

current, e.g., v SRC = i .

Definition

An ideal current source maintains a specified current through it irrespective of the voltage across its terminals.

iSRC

(a) iSRC

+
v (b)

Fig. 1.6.2(a): v-i

iSRC

+
v (c)

characteristic of an ideal current source.

Figure 1.6.2 source depends on the source and on the rest of the circuit.

In an independent current source (Fig. 1.6.2(b)), iSRC is

specified independently of any other voltage or current in the circuit.

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current in the circuit.

voltage, e.g., i SRC = v .

current, e.g., i SRC = i .

Concept

A connection of sources that violates conservation of energy or conservation of charge is invalid and is not allowed in electric circuits.

Example 1.6.1

Invalid and Valid Source Connections

The connection of two ideal voltage sources in parallel (Fig. 1.6.3(a)) is not valid when VSRC1 VSRC2, because it violates conservation of energy. If a charge q is moved around the circuit, there is a net gain or loss of energy of q|VSRC1 VSRC2|,unless VSRC1 = VSRC2. The connection of two current sources in series as in Fig. 1.6.3(b) is not valid when ISRC1 ISRC2, because it violates conservation of charge. If we consider the connection a2b1 between the two sources, then the charge entering this connection per second is ISRC2, whereas the charge leaving this connection per second is ISRC1. There is a net gain or loss of charge of |ISRC1 ISRC2I per second, in violation of conservation of charge, unless ISRC1 = ISRC2.
b1 (a) Figure 1.6.3 b2 a2 (b) b2 VSRC1 a1 a2 b1 a1

VSRC2

+
ISRC2

2A
Consider an ideal voltage source of 12 V to be connected to an ideal current source of 2 A, as in Fig. 1.6.4. Such a connection is valid. The current

+
12 V 2A

12 V

Figure 1.6.4
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source forces a current of 2 A through the voltage source, and the voltage source impresses a voltage of 12 V across the current source. Since the current through the voltage source is in the direction of a voltage rise across the source, the voltage source delivers a power P = (12 V)(2 A) = 24 W. The current through the current source is in the direction of a voltage drop across the source, so this source absorbs the same power P = (12 V)(2 A) = 24 W. If the polarity of either source is reversed, the current source delivers power, and the voltage source absorbs power.
1.7 The Resistor

The Nature of Resistance

Concept

Electrical resistance is due to impediments to the flow of conduction electrons under the influence of an applied electric field.

The electrical resistance R of a conductor is the ratio of the voltage v applied to the

conductor to the resulting current i in the conductor. Thus:

(1.7.1)

When v is expressed in volts and i in amperes, R is in ohms and is denoted by

the symbol .
The reciprocal of the resistance R is the conductance G:
G= i v

(1.7.2)

When v is expressed in volts and i in amperes, G is in siemens, denoted by the

symbol S.
Ohms Law. For metals at a given temperature, R is constant over a wide range of v

and i: v = Ri R.
A connection of zero

(1.7.3)

An ideal resistor obeys Ohms law and has a linear v-i characteristic whose slope is
v slope = R i i

resistance, or infinite conductance, is a short

+
v R

1-5/10 (a)
Figure 1.7.1

(b)

connection of infinite resistance, or zero conductance, is an open circuit, since there will be no current flow.
Power Dissipated Substituting from Eq. (1.7.2) or Eq. (1.7.3) in Eq. (1.1.1) gives for the power

absorbed by a resistor:

p = vi = Ri 2 =

v2 i2 = = Gv 2 R G

(1.7.4)

When v is in volts, i is in amperes, R in ohms, and G is in siemens, the power

dissipated is in watts.
Temperature Effect The resistance of a metal increases with temperature, because of the increased

amplitude of vibration of metal ions. As a result, the probability of collision increases, the mean time between collisions decreases, the drift velocity and current decrease, and the resistance increases.
1.8 The Capacitor

Concept

The fundamental attribute of a capacitor is its ability to store energy in the electric field resulting from separated positive and negative electric charges.

(Fig. 1.8.1): example of a capacitor.

q = Cv
If q is in coulombs and v is in volts, C is in farads (F). For the parallel-plate capacitor:
C=

(1.8.1)

A
d

Area A

(1.8.2)

where is the permittivity.

In an ideal capacitor, C is constant, so q and v are linearly related, and there is no power dissipation. v-i Relation For the assigned positive directions in Fig. 1.8.2, q = idt .
Figure 1.8.1 i

+
vSRC

v i C

+q q

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Figure 1.8.2

Substituting in Eq. (1.8.1):

(1.8.3)

C must be a positive quantity for a passive capacitor.

Concept

Passive Sign Convention: If the assigned positive direction of current

through a passive circuit element is in the direction of a voltage drop across the element, a positive sign is used in the v-i relation of that circuit element. If the assigned positive direction of current through the element is in the direction of a voltage rise across the element, a negative sign is used in the v-i relation of that circuit element.
If
dv > 0 in Fig. 1.8.2, q increases with time, so current must be flowing into the dt

positive terminal of the capacitor and out of the negative terminal. According to the power flow convention, power is absorbed by the capacitor and stored as electric energy. The values of i and
dv are both positive, so C is positive. dt

If

dv < 0, v > 0, the charge on the capacitor decreases with time, so current must be dt dv in Eqs. (1.8.3) are both negative, so C remains a positive dt

flowing out of the positive terminal of the capacitor and into the negative terminal. The values of i and

quantity. The actual current is now in the direction of a voltage rise across the capacitor. This means, according to the power flow convention that the capacitor is now returning to the rest of the circuit energy that had been stored in it.
If the assigned positive direction of i or v is reversed in Fig. 1.8.2, so that i is in the

direction of a voltage rise across the capacitor, then Eqs. (1.8.3) must be written with a negative sign, so that C is positive for positive or negative
dv . dt

Steady Voltage and Current

Concept

When a dc voltage is applied to a capacitor, the resulting current through the capacitor is zero, and the capacitor behaves as an open circuit as far as the 1-7/10

dc voltage is concerned.
For a dc voltage,
dV = 0 , and the capacitor charge does not change with time. dt

Hence, I = 0, in accordance with Eqs. (1.8.3), which means that the capacitor behaves as an open circuit as far as the dc voltage is concerned.
Stored Energy The energy stored in the electric field of a capacitor is equal to work done in

separating the charges + q and q .

From Eq. (1.2.1), w = the expression for w :

vdq. For a capacitor, q = Cv and dq = Cdv. Substituting in

w = C vdv =
0
1.9 The Inductor

1 2 Cv 2

Concept

The fundamental attribute of an inductor is its ability to store energy in the magnetic field produced by a current.

A prototypical inductor is a coil of N turns that is wound

on a toroidal core of magnetic material (Fig. 1.9.1).

+
v i Figure 1.9.1

tight, with negligible thickness of the wire and insulation, the flux is confined to the core and links all the turns of the coil, the flux linkage being equal to N.
The inductance L of the coil is defined as the flux

linkage per unit current of the coil, or:

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 = Li

(1.9.1)

When i is in amperes and is in weber-turns (Wb-turns), L is in henries (H). In an ideal inductor, L is constant, so and i are linearly related, and there is no

power dissipation.
v-i Relation If the flux changes with time, a voltage is induced in the coil whose magnitude is

given by Faradays law:

(1.9.2)

Substituting from Eq. (1.9.1):

(1.9.3)

L must be a positive quantity for a passive inductor. According to Lenzs law, the polarity of v due to a change in i
di is such that it opposes the change in i. If > 0, v opposes dt

the increase in i by being a voltage drop in the direction of i (Fig. 1.9.2). Power is absorbed by the inductor and stored as energy in the magnetic field; Eqs. (1.9.3) are written with a positive sign.
If

vSRC

+
L v

Figure 1.9.2

di < 0, v opposes the decrease in i by being a voltage rise in the direction of i , dt

thereby adding to vSRC and aiding the flow of current. The inductor now returns to the rest of the circuit, energy that had previously been stored. In both cases, L is a positive quantity in Eqs. (1.9.3).
The passive sign convention applies, so that if the assigned positive direction of i is

in the direction of a voltage rise across the inductor, Eqs. (1.9.3) are written with a negative sign, and L remains a positive quantity.
Steady Voltage and Current

Concept

When a dc current flows through an inductor, the voltage across the inductor is zero, and the inductor behaves as a short circuit as far as the dc current is

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concerned.
When the current is dc,

di = 0 , and the flux does not change with time. Hence, V = dt

0, which means that the inductor behaves as a short circuit.

increasing with time, the power input to the inductor is: vi = i

increasing from 0 at t = 0, to at time t , which equals the energy stored in the magnetic field, is:

w = vidt = id = i( Ldi) =
0 0 0

1 2 Li 2

(1.9.9)

1.10

Concluding Remarks

Fundamentally, the three basic circuit parameters of resistance, capacitance, and

inductance model three essential attributes of the electromagnetic field associated with voltages and currents. These attributes are: power dissipation, energy stored in the electric field, and energy stored in the magnetic field.
Electromagnetic fields are inherently distributed and travel in any electrical system as

waves at speeds that may approach that of light in vacuum. The wavelength equals the speed of the wave divided by the frequency of the voltage and current signals.
As long as the physical dimensions of the system are small compared to the

wavelength, the wave nature of electric signals can be neglected. This is tantamount to ignoring the distributed nature of the power dissipation, the energy stored in the electric field, and that stored in the magnetic field. Each of these entities is then separately lumped and represented by discrete circuit elements, namely, resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
In basic circuit theory it is assumed that the circuit parameters R, C, and L are

constant, i.e., they do not vary with current or voltage, nor with time, which makes the corresponding v-i, v-q, or -i relations linear. The system is designated as linear, time-invariant (LTI). A linear system obeys superposition.
Combinations of basic circuit elements are extremely useful not just for modeling but

also for signal processing, i.e., modifying, in a prescribed manner, the magnitude and time course of current or voltage signals.

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