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Chapter 2 - Circuit Diagrams PDF

This document introduces circuit diagrams and the symbols used to represent common electrical components. Circuit diagrams simplify circuit designs by using basic shapes and lines instead of detailed drawings. Wires are shown as straight lines, batteries as two parallel lines of different lengths, resistors as rectangular blocks, light bulbs as circles or coils, and switches as open or closed rectangles. These simple symbols allow circuits to be analyzed more easily compared to complex drawings. The document provides examples of common circuit components and how they are depicted in circuit diagrams.

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Alfred Wong Yi Zheng
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487 views3 pages

Chapter 2 - Circuit Diagrams PDF

This document introduces circuit diagrams and the symbols used to represent common electrical components. Circuit diagrams simplify circuit designs by using basic shapes and lines instead of detailed drawings. Wires are shown as straight lines, batteries as two parallel lines of different lengths, resistors as rectangular blocks, light bulbs as circles or coils, and switches as open or closed rectangles. These simple symbols allow circuits to be analyzed more easily compared to complex drawings. The document provides examples of common circuit components and how they are depicted in circuit diagrams.

Uploaded by

Alfred Wong Yi Zheng
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 2

- Circuit Diagrams: Minimalist Circuit


Designs
When representing electrical circuits, it is impractical to draw out the various electrical
devices as it is time-consuming and redundant. In physics we do not care about how
beautiful a drawing look as long it represents the information fully and clearly, we are
adopting the minimalist approach.
Instead we cut down on unnecessary details and simplify as much as we can. Which is why
when representing circuits, a circuit diagram will be used instead, using simple symbols to
represent each electrical devices. Circuit diagrams are very handy when it comes to
analysing and designing circuit diagrams.
For now, the following electrical devices and their symbols will be sufficient:
1. Wires are represented by straight lines:

We are allowing for the possibility for the wire to branch out as shown on the right.
When drawing wires in circuit diagrams, usually keep them straight and perpendicular to
each other for clarity.
The direction current flowing through the resistor can be easily denoted by an arrow
drawn on the wire. If unsure, an arbitrary arrow can be assigned, and as we will learn
later, if the current calculation turns out to be negative, it means the current is flowing
the other way round.
If two wires crossover without connecting, usually they are drawn like this:

The first way is more straightforward to draw, however the second way is more clear as
it emphasise that the wires crosses over without connecting.
If the wires crossover but are connected to form a junction, a solid dot will be placed at
the intersection as shown:

Wires in circuit diagrams are assumed to be perfect electrical conductors with no


resistance; they are used to provide a conducting path for current to flow.
2. Batteries, or any power source, is represent by two parallel lines of unequal length:

Because a battery always have a positive and negative terminal, the longer line
represents the positive terminal and the negative represents the negative. Current will
flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.
When drawing batteries in a circuit diagram, there is no need to include the and
symbol. Of course you are free to include them to remind yourself which terminals are
which for clarity.
3. Resistors in a circuit diagram are commonly denoted in two ways:

I will use the first way to denote resistors by a rectangular block as they are much easier
to draw and neater compared to the use of jagged lines.
4. Light bulbs in a circuit diagram can be denoted by either of the following symbols:

Functionally, light bulbs are pretty much the same as resistors, as they provide
resistance to the current flowing through and drain electrical energy away from the
circuit, converting it into light energy along with heat.
5. Switches are devices that control the access of a current flow. Its circuit diagram symbol
is denoted as:

A switch can switch off a circuit by creating a gap, restricting current from flowing
through. We call switches in this state open.
Likewise a switch can switch on a circuit by closing up the gap, allowing current to flow
through the circuit. We call switches in this state close.
Thus allowing us to switch on or off a circuit easily.
With these circuit diagram symbols, in the simple light-bulb circuit earlier can be redrawn
much simply and improved with the addition of a switch as shown:

Along the way, we will be learning about more electrical devices along with their symbols
and analyse more complicated circuits, which are drawn using circuit diagrams.

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