Electric Circuits I

Circuit Variables

Dr. Firas Obeidat

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 Introduction
 electrical systems are found everywhere, such as homes,
schools, hospitals, factories, transportation … etc.
 Any electrical system can be represented by electrical circuit
and mathematical equations to study and analyze its physical
behavior.
 An electric circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements.
 In electrical circuit analysis, we often find ourselves seeking
specific currents, voltages, or powers.
 Pay close attention to the role of “+” and “−” signs when
labeling voltages, and the significance of the arrow in defining
current; they often make the difference between wrong and
right answers.

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 Units and Scales
 In order to state the value of some measurable quantity, we
must give both a number and a unit, such as “3 meters.”
 The most frequently used system of units is International
System of Units (SI).

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 Units and Scales
Comparison of units of the various systems of unit.

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 Units and Scales
 The SI uses the decimal system to relate larger and smaller
units to the basic unit, and employs prefixes to signify the
various powers of 10.

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 Units and Scales
Powers of Ten

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Charge

Charge is an electrical property of the atomic

particles of which matter consists, measured
in coulombs (C).

 the most basic quantity in an electric circuit is the electric

charge.
 all matters are made of fundamental building blocks known as
atoms and that each atom consists of electrons, protons, and
neutrons.
 charge e on an electron is negative and equal in magnitude to
(-1.602 ×10-19 C). while a proton carries a positive charge of
the same magnitude as the electron (+1.602 ×10-19 C).
 In 1 C of charge, there are (1/1.602 ×10-19=6.24×1018) electrons.

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Charge

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Current
𝒅𝒒
Electric current is the time rate of change of 𝒊=
charge, measured in amperes (A). Or
𝒅𝒕
i = current in amperes
the net amount of charge that passes q = charge in coulombs
t = time in sec
through the wire per unit time.
DC
 1 Ampere = 1 Coulomb per second (C/s). current
 If the current does not change with time, but
remains constant, we call it a direct current (DC).
 A direct current (DC) is a current that remains
constant with time.
 A common form of time-varying current is the AC
sinusoidal current or alternating current (AC). current
 Alternating current (AC) is a current that varies
sinusoidally with time.
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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Current
 The direction of current flow is conventionally taken as the
direction of positive charge movement.
 In fig.a he direction of the arrow and the value 3 A indicate
either that a net positive charge of 3 C/s is moving to the
right or that a net negative charge of −3 C/s is moving to the
left each second. In fig.b there are again two possibilities:
either −3 A is flowing to the left or +3 A is flowing to the
right.

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Current

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Current
Safety Considerations
 It is important to realize that even small levels of current through
the human body can cause serious, dangerous side effects.
 Most individuals can withstand currents up
to perhaps 10 mA for very short periods of time without serious
side effects, any current over 10 mA should be considered
dangerous.
 currents of 50 mA can cause severe shock, and currents of over
100 mA can be fatal.
 In most cases the skin resistance of the body when dry is
sufficiently high to limit the current through the body to relatively
safe levels for voltage levels typically found in the home.
 when the skin is wet due to perspiration, bathing, etc., or
when the skin barrier is broken due to an injury, the skin
resistance drops dramatically, and current levels could rise to
dangerous levels for the same voltage shock.
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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Voltage
𝒅𝒘
Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy
required to move a unit charge through an v= 𝒅𝒒
element, measured in volts (V).
v = voltage in volt
w = energy in joule
𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒕𝒐𝒏−𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝟏 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒕 = 𝟏 =𝟏 t = time in sec
𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒎𝒃

 let us suppose that a dc current is sent into

terminal ‘a’, through the general element, and
back out of terminal ‘b’. Let us also assume that
pushing charge through the element requires an
expenditure of energy. We then say that an
electrical voltage (or a potential difference) exists
between the two terminals, or that there is a
voltage “across” the element.

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Voltage
 The plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used to
define reference direction or voltage
polarity.
 The vab means that Point a is at a potential
of vab volts higher than point b.
 vab=-vba
 For example, in fig.a and fig.b are two
representations of the same voltage. In fig.a,
point a is +9V above point b; in Fig.b, point
b is -9V above point a.
 A constant voltage is called a DC voltage,
whereas a sinusoidally time-varying voltage
is called an AC voltage. A dc voltage is
commonly produced by a battery; ac
voltage is produced by an electric generator.
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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Power
Power is the time rate of expending or 𝒅𝒘 𝒅𝒘 𝒅𝒒
absorbing energy, measured in 𝒑= = × =vi
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒒 𝒅𝒕
watts (W).
P=power in watts
 If the power has a (+) sign, power is w= energy in joule
q = charge in coulombs
being delivered to or absorbed by the i = current in amperes
element. v = voltage in volt
t = time in sec
 If the power has a (-) sign, power is being
supplied by the element.
 When the current enters through the
positive polarity of the voltage as in fig.a.
In this case, p=+vi implies that the
element is absorbing power. However, if
p=-vi as in fig.b the element is releasing
or supplying power.
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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Power
Passive sign convention is satisfied when the current enters
through the positive terminal of an element and p=+vi. If the
current enters through the negative terminal, p=-vi.

Two cases of an element with Two cases of an element with

an absorbing power of 12 W: an absorbing power of 12 W:
(a)p=4×3=12 W, (a)p=-4×3=-12 W,
(b) p=4×3=12W. (b) p=-4×3=-12W.
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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Power

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 Basic Electrical Quantities - Power

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