ELEN2017A Study Guide

2024 Block 1

How to use this guide.

The course is divided weekly lessons that develop your circuit analysis skills.
Each week has a reading from the textbook and an example test.
This is followed by a similar “real” test. The real test will look the same as the
practice test, but have different circuit diagrams.

This study guide refers to the prescribed textbook

James W. Nilsson; Susan Riedel , Electric Circuits

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1. Introduction 1
Revise section 1.2 The International System of Units, especially the use of prefixes.

Note: In engineering we only make use of powers of 3

Read through section 1.3 Circuit Analysis: An Overview.

Revise section 1.4 Voltage and Current

Study section 1.5 The Ideal Basic Circuit Element. Pay careful attention to the passive sign
convention. We will exclusively use the passive convention for power which means power that is
absorbed by an element is positive.

Study section 1.6 Power and Energy.

Study Example 1.3 which shows the use of the passive sign convention.

Study Practical Perspective: Balancing power. This section is vital. Throughout the course we will use
the principle of power balance to check our workings.

Study section 2.1 Voltage and Current Sources. Voltage and current sources come in both dependent
and independent versions. Example 2.1 shows some legal and illegal interconnections of sources.

Study section 2.2 Electrical Resistance (Ohm’s Law). In this course we will only ever use the passive
sign convention of Ohm’s Law.

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ELEN2017A Introduction 1
When giving numerical answers always give units together with the correct prefixes.

1. Write down the numerical values of v1 v2 i3 i4

2. Check the numerical values in this circuit by doing a power balance. Find the powers of every
component a through f using a passive convention.

3. Find the values of v1 i2 i3 v4. If the connection of the sources is invalid write “invalid”

4. For each of the circuits below, find all the voltages and currents and complete the power
balance.
(a) (b) (c)

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Student Number_________________

1.

v1=______________ v2=_______________ i3=________________ i4=________________

2.

Total

3.
v1=______________ i2=_______________ i3=________________ v4=________________

4.a

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

Total:
4.b

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

Total:
4.c

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

Total:

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2. Introduction 2
Revise all of lesson 1.

In addition to the work of lesson 1, we now include the use of dependent voltage and current
sources

Study section 4.1 Terminology. Take special note of Table 4.1

Study example 4.1 which shows how to identify the different features of a circuit.

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ELEN2017A Introduction 2
When giving numerical answers always give units together with the correct prefixes.

1. Check the numerical values in this circuit by doing a power balance. Find the powers of every
component a through f using a passive convention.

2. Do a power balance for all the components in circuits (i) and (ii)

(i) (ii)

3. For each of the circuits below, find all the voltages and currents and complete the power
balance.
(a) (b)

4. For the circuit below, count the number of nodes, essential nodes, branches, loops and
meshes

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Student Number_________________

1. 2i 2ii

a a a

b b b

c c c

d Total d

e Total
f

Total

3.a

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______

Total:

3.b

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______

Total:
4.

Nodes______________________

Essential nodes_______________

Branches____________________

Loops_______________________

Meshes_____________________

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3. Kirchhoff’s Laws.

Study section 2.4 Kirchhoff’s Laws in the textbook.

Study Example 2.6 which shows how the current equations are set up at a node with Kirchhoff’s
Current Law

Study Example 2.7 which shows how the voltage equations are set up in a loop with Kirchhoff’s
Voltage Law.

Study Example 2.8 which shows how use the laws to solve for circuit quantities.

Note: As far as possible we will follow the convention that currents leaving a node are positive and
voltage drops around a loop are positive.

Note: Many textbook problems ask for specific voltages or currents. We always solve the circuit for
every voltage and current and check the solution with a power balance.

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ELEN2017A Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws
When giving numerical answers always give units together with the correct prefixes.

1 Write a Kirchhoff current equation at node A

2 Write a Kirchhoff current equation at node B

3 Write a Kirchhoff voltage equation for loop 1

4 Write a Kirchhoff voltage equation for loop 2

5 Calculate all voltages and currents and powers associated with components 1 through 4 in the
circuit below:

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Student Number_________________

1 ___________________________=0

2 ___________________________=0

3 ___________________________=0

4 ___________________________=0

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______
v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______
v4= ______ i4= ______ p4= ______
Total =

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4. Kirchhoff’s Laws with dependent sources.
Revise all of the previous lesson on Kirchhoff’s laws.

In addition to the work of that lesson, we now include the use of dependent voltage and current
sources

Study section 2.5 Analysing a Circuit Containing Dependent Sources.

Study examples 2.10 and 2.11 which shows the use of dependent sources.

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ELEN2017A Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws with dependent
sources
When giving numerical answers always give units together with the correct prefixes.

For each of the two circuits, find all the voltages and currents and do a power balance.

a)

b)

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Student Number_________________

1a

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______

v4= ______ i4= ______ p4= ______

Total:

1b

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______

v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______

v4= ______ i4= ______ p4= ______

v5= ______ i5= ______ p5= ______

Total:

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5. Series and parallel
Study sections 3.1 Resistors in Series and section 3.2 Resistors in Parallel.

The use of the series and parallel simplification is shown in Examples 3.1 and 3.2

Note: The series and parallel simplification equations are simple to remember, but be careful:
recognizing which components are in series and which are in parallel can be difficult in a complicated
circuit.

Note: Two elements that are connected at a single node are in series.

Note Two elements that share the same two nodes are in parallel.

Study section 3.3 The Voltage-Divider and the Current Divider.

Work through Examples 3.3, 3.4 and 3.6

Practice: Problems 3.3, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9

Practice: Problems 3.12, 3.14, 3.17, 3.20.

Even though the problem might ask for a single voltage or current, calculate all voltages and currents
and do a power balance.

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ELEN2017A Series and Parallel

1. Find the equivalent resistance across

the voltage source

2. Find the equivalent resistance

between terminals A and B

3. Specify the size of R1 and R2 so that

vo=4V and is=400mA

Do a power balance

4. Specify the size of R1 and R2 so that

i1=6A and v2=12V

Do a power balance

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Student Number_________________

1. Equivalent resistance across source ____________________

2. Resistance between A and B __________________________

3. R1_______________________________

R2________________________________

4. R1_______________________________

R2________________________________

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6. Node-Voltage Method- (Nodal analysis)
Study Section 4.2 Introduction to the Node-Voltage Method.

This method is illustrated in example 4.3

Note: The textbook description focusses on essential nodes, (where three or more circuit elements
join.) You can also use non-essential nodes if you need to find their voltages. For example in the
circuit below there are 4 nodes. Nodes 1 and 2 are essential and 3 and 4 non-essential. Probably you
can choose node 2 as the reference node, which leave a single node equation at node 1. However
writing that equation is difficult as nodes 3 and 4 are unknown. In this kind of situation you can write
additional node equations at 3 and 4 or you could first simplify the circuit by exchanging the
positions of the voltage source and R3 and then combing R2 and R3. After finding the voltage at
node 1 you can then substitute it back into the original circuit can find the voltages of nodes 3 and 4.

Note: Voltages are always measured between two points. When we talk about the voltage of a
“node” it sounds like that is the voltage at a point in a circuit. What we really mean is the voltage at
that node (a point), relative to the reference node. If we choose a different reverence node in the
circuit, then all the nodal voltages will change as well. However the voltages across the individual
circuit elements are not affected by the change in reference node.

Note: The Node-Voltage method is the primary circuit analysis technique used in electrical
engineering. You can never practice this technique too much.

Note: Sometimes you need to only calculate a single voltage or current in a circuit. This is always a
bad idea. Calculate all voltages and currents and do a power balance on every circuit to check if you
are right.

Practice:

Use the circuit diagrams of P4.9, P4.11, P4.13, and P4.14 in the textbook. Choose your own zero
reference node and calculate all other voltages and currents. Check the answers with a power
balance.

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ELEN2017A Node Voltage Method
Calculate all voltages and currents and powers associated with components 1 through 5 in the circuit
below:

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Student Number_________________

Voltage at Node 1 __________________________

Voltage at Node 2 __________________________

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______
v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______
v4= ______ i4= ______ p4= ______
v5= ______ i5= ______ p5= ______
P Total =

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7. Node-Voltage Method- dependent sources and Supernodes
Study Section 4.3 The Node Voltage Method and Dependent Sources.

This method is illustrated in example 4.3. Using dependent sources does not change much in the
node voltage method. Al that is different is that an extra equation is needed to describe the
dependent source. As in the previous section you do not need to limit the analysis to only essential
nodes. If you want to find the voltage of a non-essential node then write an equation there as well.

Study Section 4.4 The Node-Voltage Method: Some Special Cases.

A Supernode is formed when a voltage source connects two nodes. In such a case, if you know the
voltage at the one node, then you also know the voltage at the other node, by adding in the effect of
the voltage source.

Example 4.5 is left for enrichment.

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ELEN2017A Node Voltage Method-Supernodes
Calculate all voltages and currents and powers associated with components the circuit below:

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Student Number_________________

Voltage at Node A __________________________

Voltage at Node B __________________________

Voltage at Node C __________________________

v1= ______ i1= ______ p1= ______

v2= ______ i2= ______ p2= ______
v3= ______ i3= ______ p3= ______
v4= ______ i4= ______ p4= ______
v5= ______ i5= ______ p5= ______
vx= ______ ix= ______ px= ______
P Total =

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