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60 views

Module-2-The-Electric-Circuit

Uploaded by

Jeoferson Jose Valdez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Module 2 – Engineering Utilities 1

The Electric Circuit


Date:

Introduction

Electric circuit theory is one of the most vital aspects of electrical engineering.
Understanding how components work individually and collectively is the basis for
designing, manufacturing, and troubleshooting all kinds of electronic devices and systems.
This module will cover the basic circuit components, laws, and parameters in electrical &
electronics engineering.

What is an Electric Circuit?

In the simplest terms, an electric circuit is a pathway for an electric current to flow from one
point to another. From a high level, every circuit has three basic components:

➢ Voltage source
➢ Conductive path
➢ A Load

Simple Electric Circuit

Voltage Source I – Current, amperes

A voltage source introduces energy into a circuit via a potential difference between its
positive (+) and negative (–) terminals. Voltage sources can be AC or DC–the main difference
being how the current flows. AC sources produce voltages that vary sinusoidally, i.e.
the current reverses direction periodically. Examples are power from the grid or
generators. On the other hand, DC sources produce current that flows in one direction.
Batteries are a source of DC voltage.

Conductive Path

A conductive path (aka a conductor) provides a medium for current flow through a circuit.
These components have a very low resistance to current, e.g., copper wires, lead solder, or
metallic traces on a printed circuit board (PCB). Conductors also help link other components
together to achieve a single function.
Load

A load is any device that consumes power in a circuit. It can be anything from a light-
emitting diode (LED) to a motor or siren. During a short circuit, the load is the conductor
itself which generates heat, dissipating electric power.

Electric Circuit Analysis: Types of Components

An electronic component is an element within an electronic circuit that affects the


flow of current or electromagnetic fields. Many modern circuits comprise passive,
active, and electromechanical components.

• Passive components are elements that consume electric power without introducing any net
energy into a circuit. Common examples are resistors, capacitors, and inductors.

• Active components control the flow of current in electric circuits. These elements may
amplify current, inject it into a circuit, or produce a power gain. Transistors, thyristors, and
triode vacuum tubes are all active components.

• Electromechanical components are components that utilize electric current or voltage in a


circuit to perform a mechanical function, e.g., DC motors or relays. In the case
of electromechanical solenoids, voltage is used to actuate a set of mechanical contacts by
varying the inductance in its coil.
Electric Circuit Analysis: Circuit Parameters

Current and voltage are the most essential parameters of electric circuits. Similarly,
resistance, inductance, and capacitance are vital attributes of electronic components.

Current

Electric current is the flow of electrons through a circuit. The unit of measurement for current
is Ampere (A). As we discussed earlier, the current can be AC or DC.

We can find the value of current flowing through a circuit using Ohm’s law which states
that the current between any two points is proportional to the potential difference between
them.

Voltage

Voltage (V) sometimes referred to as Electromotive force (E) is the potential


difference between any two points in an electric circuit. The unit of measurement is
the Volt. Like a current, the voltage can be AC or DC.

Voltage can also be derived from Ohm’s Law using the formula ;

I=V/R where: V= voltage


I = current
Iz R = resistance

Resistance

Resistance is the attribute of a component to resist the flow of electric current through a
circuit. The unit of measurement is Ohms (Greek symbol: Ω).

According to Ohm’s Law, the resistance of a conductor is the ratio of voltage (V) flowing
across it to the current (I) flowing through it. Mathematically,

R = V/I where: V= voltage


I = current
R = resistance

Inductance, L

Inductance is the tendency for a magnetic field to be induced in a conductor when an


electric current flows through it. The strength of this induced magnetic field is proportional
to the magnitude of the current. The unit of measurement for inductance is Henrys (H),
named after Joseph Henry, the American scientist that discovered it.

Inductors, aka chokes or coils, are simple passive components that can store up energy in
magnetic form when electric current flows through them. They consist of a conductor
wound into a coil which generates a magnetic field in the opposite direction when an
electric current is applied.

We can calculate the inductance in an electric circuit using the formula:


L = V/(di/dt) where:
L= inductance in Henry (H)
V = voltage in volts, V
di/dt= rate of change of current in A/s

Capacitance

Capacitance is the ability of a circuit element to store an electric charge when a potential
difference exists between its terminals. The unit of capacitance is the Farad, named
after Michael Faraday, the scientist that discovered electromagnetic induction.

To determine the capacitance of a component in an electric circuit, we can use the formula:

C=Q/V where:
C= capacitance, farad
Q = charge, coulomb’s
V = potential difference, volts

Electrical Power and Electrical Energy

Electrical power and electrical energy are quantities equivalent to power and energy
known from other technical and scientific fields, e.g., mechanics, physics, chemistry,
etc. The only formal difference is that electrical power and energy are related to electric
circuits and other electrical quantities. For example, the power P in a circuit with a
steady voltage V and current I and with application of Ohm's law can be simply
calculated as:

P = V x I = I2 x R = V2 / R

where:
P= watts, W
I = current, ampere, A
V = potential difference, volts, V

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