Basic Electrical Circuit: Theory, Components, Working, Diagram

A basic electrical circuit consists of three main components, a source of voltage, a load,
and conductors. In Figure 1, a basic circuit is illustrated. This circuit consists of a battery as
the source of electrical energy, a lamp as the electrical load, and two wires as the conductors
connecting the battery to the lamp.

Battery
In the source of this circuit, the battery, a chemical reaction takes place that results in
ionization. This ionization produces an excess of electrons (negative charge) and a depletion of
electrons (positive charge).

Figure 1. A basic electrical circuit (Diagram) consists of three main components: the source,
the load, and the conductors.

The battery has two terminals. These terminals are connection points for the two conductors.
One terminal is marked with a plus sign (+) and the other a negative sign (–). These two
markings are referred to as polarity markings.

Not all electrical devices have polarity markings. However, when polarity is a critical issue, it will
be marked on the device. The proper polarity must be followed to avoid damage to equipment
and/or personnel.

Load
A load is created when the electrical energy produced in a circuit is converted to some other
form of energy such as heat, light, or magnetism. The load in the simple electrical circuit of
Figure 1 is a lamp that produces light.

The source and the load should match according to the voltage rating. If the lamp is rated at 6
volts, then the battery should also be rated at 6 volts.

If the battery is rated at a lower voltage rating, the lamp will appear dim or will not light. If the
battery is rated at a much higher voltage, the lamp will be damaged by the excess electrical
energy.

Conductor
The conductors we are using are two copper wires covered with a plastic insulation coating.
The copper wire provides a path through which the electrical energy can flow, while the plastic
coating restricts the electrical energy to the copper wire. This makes the conductor pathway
safe for personnel.

This completes the description of the basic components of an electrical circuit in which electrical
energy is channeled by way of electrical conductors, through a device, where it is then
converted to some useful form.

Voltage
Ionization can be caused by forces such as heat, light, magnetism, chemical action, or
mechanical pressure. This results in the creation of an electrical voltage.
What is voltage? Voltage is the force behind electron flow. In the simple electrical circuit just
described, the battery was the source of electrical energy. This battery has a rating of 6 volts.
The volt (V) is the electrical unit used to express the amount of electrical pressure
present, or the amount of electrical force produced by the chemical action inside the
battery.
The term voltage is used to express the amount of electrical force in much the same way we
use horsepower to express the amount of mechanical force for an automobile.

Electrical pressure or voltage can also be expressed as potential, potential difference, or as

electromotive force (emf). For our purposes, these terms mean the same thing. Voltage is
usually represented by the capital letter E or V.

Current

Electrical current is the flow of electrons. The amount of electrons flowing past any
given point in one second is rated in the electrical unit ampere (A).

The ampere is expressed using the letter I. Remember that a coulomb is a number of electrons.
The ampere describes the rate of flow of the electrons past any given point in a circuit. One
ampere is equal to one coulomb of charge flowing past a point in one second.

Compare a balloon filled with air to an electrical battery. In Figure 2, the amount of air
molecules in the balloon represents the number of electrons or coulombs. The amount of air
pressure inside the balloon is expressed as pounds per square inch (PSI) of air pressure.

In the battery, the amount of electrical pressure inside the battery is expressed as
the voltage rating of the battery.
The rate of air flow out of the balloon is similar to electron flow, or current, from the battery.
The current from the battery in the electrical circuit is the volume of electron flow past a given
point and is rated in amperes or amps.

Just as the air will continue to escape from the balloon until the balloon is empty, the electron
flow can continue as long as there is voltage or electrical pressure present in the battery.

Figure 2. A balloon is similar to an electrical source. Air escaping from the balloon is similar to
electrons flowing from a source.

Resistance

All electrical circuits have resistance. Resistance is the opposition to the flow of
electrons. Resistance is measured in ohms, and the electrical symbol for ohm is Ω
(the Greek letter omega).
The resistance values of elements and compounds differ according to the atomic structure of
the material.

A good conductor of electricity is anything that permits the free flow of electrons. A poor
conductor of electricity is a material that will not permit the free flow of electrons. Extremely
poor conductors are referred to as insulators.

A semiconductor is a material that limits the flow of free electrons. A semiconductor is

considered neither a good conductor nor poor conductor of electricity. Semiconductor materials
are at the very heart of the modern electronic application. Some examples of conductors and
insulators are listed in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Common conductors and insulators

Note that the earth can be a good conductor of electricity. There are many factors that
determine whether or not the earth will be a good conductor.

The earth’s conductivity is primarily dependent upon its organic composition and on the
minerals found in the soil at any given place.
The amount of moisture in the soil also determines the amount of resistance in the soil.
Moisture can affect the electrical conducting ability of many materials. It can even cause an
insulator to become a good conductor.

Take wood as an example to illustrate this point. When wood is dry, it is classified as an
insulator, but when wood becomes wet or moist, it behaves more like a semiconductor.

It is the outer ring of an atom that determines whether an element is a good or poor
conductor. If the outer ring has only one electron, that electron can be freed from its orbit
rather easily by an outside force.

If there are many electrons in the outer orbit, the electrons are held tighter in orbit. They are
harder to free from the atom. Elements that do not readily give up an electron are insulators.
Figure 4 is an illustration of the copper atom. Notice how this atom has only one electron in its
outer orbit. This electron can be easily freed by an outside force. Copper is an excellent
conductor of electricity.
 Figure 4. The element copper is an excellent conductor. It has only one electron in its outer
orbit. This electron can be easily released from its orbit by an outside force.

Series and Parallel Connections

There are two ways a component can be connected in an electrical circuit,
either series or parallel. Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate the two types of connections.

The circuit in Figure 7 has three lamps connected to a battery. In this circuit, there is only one
path over which the electrons can flow.

When electrons only have one circuit path to follow, that circuit is called a series
circuit. The lamps are said to be wired in series with respect to each other.

Figure 7. Three lamps connected in series.

Figure 8. Three lamps connected in parallel

In Figure 8, there are three lamps connected in parallel. In this circuit, there are
three different paths for the electrons to follow from the battery terminal to the
battery terminal.

Reference/s : https://electricalacademia.com/basic-electrical/basic-electrical-circuit-theory-
components-working-diagram/
What is Ohm’s Law?

Ohm's Law is a formula used to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and
resistance in an electrical circuit.

To students of electronics, Ohm's Law (E = IR) is as fundamentally important as Einstein's

Relativity equation (E = mc²) is to physicists.

E=IxR

When spelled out, it means voltage = current x resistance, or volts = amps x ohms, or V
= A x Ω.

Named for German physicist Georg Ohm (1789-1854), Ohm's Law addresses the key quantities
at work in circuits:

Ohm's Unit of
Quantity Law measure Role in circuits In case you're wondering:
symbol (abbreviation)

Pressure that triggers E = electromotive force (old-

Voltage E Volt (V)
electron flow school term)

Current I Ampere, amp (A) Rate of electron flow I = intensity

Resistance R Ohm (Ω) Flow inhibitor Ω = Greek letter omega

If two of these values are known, technicians can reconfigure Ohm's Law to calculate the third.
Just modify the pyramid as follows:

If you know voltage (E) and current (I) and want to know resistance (R), X-out the R in the
pyramid and calculate the remaining equation (see the first, or far left, pyramid above).

Note: Resistance cannot be measured in an operating circuit, so Ohm's Law is especially useful
when it needs to be calculated. Rather than shutting off the circuit to measure resistance, a
technician can determine R using the above variation of Ohm's Law.

Now, if you know voltage (E) and resistance (R) and want to know current (I), X-out the I and
calculate the remaining two symbols (see the middle pyramid above).
And if you know current (I) and resistance (R) and want to know voltage (E), multiply the
bottom halves of the pyramid (see the third, or far right, pyramid above).

Try a few sample calculations based on a simple series circuit, which includes just one source of
voltage (battery) and resistance (light). Two values are known in each example. Use Ohm's Law
to calculate the third.

Example 1: Voltage (E) and resistance (R) are known.

What is the current in the circuit?

I = E/R = 12V/6Ω = 2A

Example 2: Voltage (E) and current (I) are known.

What is the resistance created by the lamp?

R = E/I = 24V/6A = 4Ω

Example 3: Current (I) and resistance (R) are known. What is the voltage?

What is the voltage in the circuit?

E = I x R = (5A)(8Ω) = 40 V

When Ohm published his formula in 1827, his key finding was that the amount of electric
current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage imposed on it. In
other words, one volt of pressure is required to push one amp of current through one ohm of
resistance.