⚡ Electrical Formulas

Comprehensive Reference with Variations

DC & AC Circuits • Passive Components • Machines • 3-Phase • Signals

1. Ohm's Law
The cornerstone of electrical theory, relating voltage, current, and resistance in a linear conductor.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Ohm's Law (Voltage) V = I × R V=Voltage (V), I=Current (A),
R=Resistance (Ω)

Ohm's Law (Current) I = V / R Solve for current when V and R are

known

Ohm's Law (Resistance) R = V / I Solve for resistance when V and I are

known

2. Power & Energy

Electrical power describes the rate of energy transfer. Three equivalent expressions allow calculation from any
two known quantities.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Power (basic) P = V × I P=Power (W), V=Voltage (V),
I=Current (A)

Power (from resistance) P = I² × R Useful when current and resistance

are known

Power (from voltage) P = V² / R Useful when voltage and resistance

are known

Energy E = P × t E=Energy (J or Wh), t=Time (s or h)

Efficiency η = (P_out / P_in) η=Efficiency (%), output vs. input

× 100% power

3. Series & Parallel Circuits

3a. Series Circuit
Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes
Series Resistance R_T = R1 + R2 Total resistance adds directly

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 Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes
+ ... + Rn

Series Voltage V_T = V1 + V2 Voltages across each element sum to

+ ... + Vn total

Series Current I_T = I1 = I2 Same current flows through all

= ... = In elements

3b. Parallel Circuit

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes
Parallel Resistance (general) 1/R_T = 1/R1 + Reciprocal sum
1/R2 + ... + 1/Rn

Parallel (2 resistors) R_T = (R1 × R2) / Product-over-sum shortcut

(R1 + R2)

Parallel Voltage V_T = V1 = V2 Same voltage across all branches

= ... = Vn

Parallel Current I_T = I1 + I2 Branch currents sum to total

+ ... + In

4. Kirchhoff's Laws
Fundamental conservation laws that underpin all circuit analysis.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

KVL (Kirchhoff's Voltage) ΣV = 0 (around any Sum of all voltages in a closed loop =
loop) 0

KCL (Kirchhoff's Current) ΣI_in = ΣI_out Current entering a node = current

leaving

5. AC Circuit Formulas
Alternating current introduces frequency-dependent effects. Impedance, reactance, and power factor are key AC
concepts.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Impedance Z = √(R² + X²) Z=Impedance (Ω), R=Resistance,
X=Reactance

Inductive Reactance X_L = 2πfL f=Frequency (Hz), L=Inductance (H)

Capacitive Reactance X_C = 1 / (2πfC) f=Frequency (Hz), C=Capacitance (F)

Resonant Frequency f_r = 1 / Frequency where X_L = X_C

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 Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes
(2π√(LC))

Power Factor PF = cos(θ) = R / θ=Phase angle between V and I

Z

Apparent Power S = V × I S=Apparent Power (VA)

Real (True) Power P = V × I × cos(θ) P=Real Power (W)

Reactive Power Q = V × I × sin(θ) Q=Reactive Power (VAR)

Power Triangle S² = P² + Q² Relationship between S, P, and Q

RMS Voltage V_rms = V_peak / V_peak=Peak voltage amplitude

√2

RMS Current I_rms = I_peak / RMS = Root Mean Square value

√2

Peak Voltage V_peak = V_rms × Convert RMS to peak

√2

6. Capacitors
Capacitors store energy in an electric field. Behaviour depends on connection topology and driving frequency.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Capacitance C = Q / V C=Capacitance (F), Q=Charge (C),
V=Voltage (V)

Series Capacitance 1/C_T = 1/C1 + Series capacitors reduce total C

1/C2 + ...

Parallel Capacitance C_T = C1 + C2 Parallel capacitors add directly

+ ... + Cn

Charge on Capacitor Q = C × V Charge stored in capacitor

Energy in Capacitor E = ½ × C × V² Energy (J) stored in electric field

RC Time Constant τ = R × C τ=Time constant (s); 63.2% charge in

1τ

Capacitor Voltage (charging) V(t) = V_s(1 - V_s=supply voltage, τ=RC

e^(-t/τ))

7. Inductors
Inductors store energy in a magnetic field and oppose changes in current.

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 Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes
Inductance (EMF) V_L = L × (dI/dt) V_L=Induced EMF, L=Inductance (H)

Series Inductance L_T = L1 + L2 No mutual inductance assumed

+ ... + Ln

Parallel Inductance 1/L_T = 1/L1 + Reciprocal sum

1/L2 + ...

Energy in Inductor E = ½ × L × I² Energy (J) stored in magnetic field

RL Time Constant τ = L / R Time for current to reach 63.2% of

max

Inductor Current (energizing) I(t) = I_max(1 - I_max = V/R final current

e^(-Rt/L))

8. Transformers
Transformers transfer AC power between circuits via magnetic coupling, scaling voltage, current, and impedance.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Turns Ratio N1/N2 = V1/V2 Voltage proportional to turns ratio

Current Ratio N1/N2 = I2/I1 Current inversely proportional to turns

Impedance Transformation Z1/Z2 = (N1/N2)² Impedance scales as square of turns

ratio

Ideal Transformer Power P1 = P2 Input power equals output (ideal)

9. Electric Motors & Machines

Key relationships governing rotating machines, including speed, torque, slip, and back-EMF.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Synchronous Speed N_s = (120 × f) / N_s=RPM, f=frequency (Hz), P=poles
P

Motor Slip s = (N_s - N_r) / N_r=rotor speed; typical slip 2–5%

N_s

Torque (mechanical) T = P / ω T=Torque (Nm), P=Power (W),

ω=rad/s

Angular Velocity ω = 2π × N / 60 Convert RPM to rad/s

Back EMF (DC motor) E_b = V - I × R_a E_b=back EMF, R_a=armature

resistance

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10. Three-Phase Power
Three-phase systems are standard for power distribution and industrial motors. Star (Y) and Delta (Δ)
configurations have different line and phase relationships.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

3-Phase Power (balanced) P = √3 × V_L × I_L V_L=line voltage, I_L=line current
× PF

Star (Y) Line Voltage V_L = √3 × V_ph Line voltage √3 times phase voltage

Star (Y) Line Current I_L = I_ph Line current equals phase current

Delta (Δ) Line Voltage V_L = V_ph Line voltage equals phase voltage

Delta (Δ) Line Current I_L = √3 × I_ph Line current √3 times phase current

11. Decibels & Signal Levels

Logarithmic expressions commonly used in electronics, communications, and audio engineering.

Formula Name Formula Variables / Notes

Power Gain (dB) G_dB = 10 × P=Power (W)
log10(P_out /
P_in)

Voltage Gain (dB) G_dB = 20 × V=Voltage (V)

log10(V_out /
V_in)

Attenuation (dB) A_dB = -G_dB Negative gain = attenuation

Common Symbol Reference

V = Voltage (Volts) | I = Current (Amperes) | R = Resistance (Ohms, Ω) | P = Power (Watts)
C = Capacitance (Farads) | L = Inductance (Henrys) | f = Frequency (Hertz) | Z = Impedance (Ω)
t = Time (seconds) | τ = Time Constant | θ = Phase Angle | ω = Angular Frequency (rad/s)
N = Turns / RPM | η = Efficiency | s = Slip | E = Energy (Joules)

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