LINEAR CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

(EED) – U.E.T. TAXILA

ENGR. M. MANSOOR ASHRAF
02

INTRODUCTION
To actually determine the values of voltage or current
of elements in given circuit, requires study of basic laws.
The basic laws: Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s laws, form
the foundation of electric circuit analysis.
In addition to these laws, some techniques are applied
for circuit design and analysis.
These techniques includes combining resistors in series or
parallel, voltage division, current division, and delta-to-
wye and wye-to-delta transformations.
OHM’S LAW
Ohm’s Law states that the voltage across a resistor is
directly proportional to the current flowing through the
resistor.
Mathematically;

Where ‘R’ is known as resistance of element (Resistor).

RESISTANCE
Materials in general have a characteristic behavior of
resisting the flow of electric charge.
This physical property, or ability to resist current, is
known as resistance.
The Resistance of an element denotes its ability to resist
the flow of electric current, measured in ohms (Ω).
Mathematically;
RESISTANCE
The resistance of any material depends on cross-
sectional area A and length l.
Mathematically;

Where ρ is resistivity of material, measured in Ωm.

RESISTIVITY
Resistivities of common materials
PASSIVE SIGN CONVENTION
To apply Ohm’s law on resistor, the direction of current i
and the polarity of voltage v must conform the passive
sign convention.

The Passive Sign Convention implies that

current flows from a higher potential to a
lower potential, v=iR. If the current flows
from a lower potential to higher potential,
v=-iR.

RESISTOR
The circuit element used to model the current-resisting
behavior of a material, is known as Resistor.
Resistor is passive element.
There are two major types of resistors: fixed resistor
and variable resistor.
FIXED RESISTOR
Fixed Resistor is that which exhibits the constant value of
resistance.
There are two common types
of fixed resistors: wire wound
and composition.
The wire wound resistors are
used for large values of
resistance.

VARIABLE RESISTOR
Variable Resistor is that which exhibits adjustable value
of resistance.
The variable resistor is also known as Potentiometer.
VALUE OF RESISTOR
Since value of R can range from zero to infinity, it is
important to consider extreme possible values of R.
A Short Circuit is a circuit element with resistance
approaching to zero.

VALUE OF RESISTOR
An Open Circuit is a circuit element with resistance
approaching to infinity.
LINEAR RESISTOR
A resistor that obeys Ohm’s law is known as Linear
Resistor.
Its has a constant resistance and thus its current-voltage
characteristic (i-v graph) is straight line passing through
origin.

NON-LINEAR RESISTOR
A resistor that does not obey Ohm’s law is known as
Non-Linear Resistor.
Its resistance varies with current its current-voltage
characteristic (i-v graph) is not straight line.
CONDUCTANCE
Conductance is the ability of an element to conduct
electric current; measured in mhos (Ʊ) or siemens (S).

Conductance is the reciprocal of resistance and is a

useful quantity in electric circuit analysis.

POWER DISSIPATION IN RESISTOR

The power dissipated by a resistor may be expressed in
terms of resistance as well as conductance.
PROBLEMS
An electric iron draws 2 A at 120 V. Find Resistance?
(60 Ω)
In circuit, calculate current, conductance and power?

(6 mA, 0.2 mS, 180 mW)

BRANCH
A Branch represents a single element such as a voltage
source, current source or a resistor.
In other words, a branch represents any two-terminal
element.
NODE
A Node is the point of connection between two or more
branches.
If a short circuit connects two nodes, the two nodes
constitute a single node.

LOOP
A Loop is any closed path in a circuit.
A loop is a closed path formed by starting at a node,
passing through a set of nodes, and returning to the
starting node without passing through any node more
than once.
A loop is said to be independent if it contains at least
one branch which is not a part of any other loop.
LOOP
The loop abca with 2 Ω resistor and loop abca with 3 Ω
resistor are examples of independent loops.
A network with b branches, n nodes and l independent
loops will satisfy the fundamental theorem of network
topology.

SERIES CONNECTED ELEMENTS

Two or more elements are in Series if they exclusively
share a single node and consequently carry the same
current.
Elements are in series when they are chain-connected.
PARALLEL CONNECTED ELEMENTS
Two or more elements are in Parallel if they are
connected to same two nodes and consequently have
the same voltage across them.
Elements are in parallel when they are connected to
same pair of nodes.

PROBLEMS
Determine number of branches and nodes in circuits?
Also identify which elements are connected in series and
parallel?
KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) states that the algebraic
sum of currents entering a node is zero.
Mathematically;

The KCL is based on the law of conservation of charge,

which requires that the algebraic sum of charges within
a system cannot change.
To prove KCL, assume set of currents into a node.

KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)

Integrating both sides;

By this law, currents entering a node may be regarded

as positive, while currents leaving the node may be
taken as negative or vice versa.
KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW (KCL)
The sum of currents entering a node is equal to the sum
of current leaving the node.
A simple application of KCL is combining the current
sources in parallel.

KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) states that the algebraic
sum of all voltages around a closed path (loop) is zero.
Mathematically;

KVL is based on the law of conservation of energy.

KVL can be applied by taking clockwise or counter-
clockwise trip around the loop.
KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)
The sign on each voltage is the polarity of the terminal
encountered first as we travel around the loop.

KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW (KVL)

The application of KVL is combining the voltage sources.
PROBLEMS
Find the voltages v1 and v2?
(8 V, -12 V)

Find the current io and voltage vo?

(6 A, 24 V)

PROBLEMS
Find currents and voltages in the circuit?

(3 A, 2 A, 1 A, 24 V, 6 V, 6 V)
SERIES RESISTORS AND VOLTAGE DIVISION
Consider the series circuit;
Applying Ohm’s law;

Applying KVL;

SERIES RESISTORS AND VOLTAGE DIVISION

Voltages across each resistor;

The equivalent resistance of any number of resistors

connected in Series is the sum of their individual
resistances.
SERIES RESISTORS AND VOLTAGE DIVISION
If there are N resistors connected in series;

The principle of voltage division for N resistors is

expressed as;

PARALLEL RESISTORS AND CURRENT DIVISION

Consider the parallel circuit;
Applying Ohm’s law;

Applying KCL;
PARALLEL RESISTORS AND CURRENT DIVISION
Current through each resistor;

The equivalent resistance of two Parallel resistors is

equal to the product of their resistances divided by their
sum.

PARALLEL RESISTORS AND CURRENT DIVISION

The equivalent conductance of resistors connected in
Parallel is the sum of their individual conductances.

The principle of current division for N resistors is

expressed as;
PROBLEMS
Find equivalent resistance?
(14.4 Ω)

(6 Ω)

PROBLEMS
Find voltages and
currents?
(4 V, 4/3 A)

(5 V, 10 V,
416.7 mA, 250 mA)
WYE AND DELTA CONNECTED RESISTORS
Sometimes, the resistors are neither in parallel connected
nor in series.
Such complex pattern of resistors is solved by
considering them in wye or delta.

DELTA-WYE TRANSFORMATION
WYE-DELTA TRANSFORMATION

PROBLEMS
Find equivalent resistance?

(9.632 ohm)
REFERENCES
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits (4th Edition)
Charles K. Alexander, Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Chapter 02 – Basic Laws (2.1 – 2.7)

Exercise Problems: 2.1 – 2.75
Do exercise problem yourself.