EE 2010
Electric Circuit (1)
Basic Concepts of Electric Circuits
Part 1: Circuit Variables
Dr. Abdullah Noman
AMA
The Overall Goal
Chapter 1 aims to establish a solid understanding
of the basic concepts, principles, and analysis
techniques in electric circuits, providing a
foundation for further study in the field.
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The Main Topics
Part 1: Circuit Variables:
• Circuit Variables: Introducing the basic variables used in circuit analysis,
such as voltage, current, and power.
• Circuit Analysis: An Overview: Providing an overview of circuit analysis
techniques and methodologies.
• Voltage and Current: Explaining the concepts of voltage and current and
their relationship in electric circuits.
• The Ideal Basic Circuit Element: Introducing the ideal basic circuit
elements, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
• Power and Energy: Discussing the concepts of power and energy in
electric circuits and their calculation methods.
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Introduction
• An electric circuit is a mathematical model that approximates the
behavior of an actual electrical system.
• In electrical engineering, we are often interested in transferring energy
from one point to another. To do this, an interconnection of electrical
devices are required.
• Such interconnection is referred to as an electric circuit, and each
component of the circuit is known as an element
• The electrical circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements.
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Introduction
• In fact, Electrical circuits are composed of:
✓ Electrical generators (sources) and
✓ components that can be
o Passive, non-reactive such as resistors or
o Reactive such as capacities and inductions.
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Circuit variables
• The circuit variables are : Current, Voltage, Power and Energy; (I, V, P, E)
a) Voltage (V)
Definition: Voltage, also known as electric potential difference, is the force
that drives the electric current (the energy per unit charge)
𝑑𝜔
𝑉=
𝑑𝑞
V: voltage in volt, W: the energy in Joule, q: the charge in Coulomb
Symbol: V
Unit: Volt(V)
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Circuit variables
b) Current (I)
Definition: Electric current is the flow of electric charge
through a conductor, It is measured in amperes (A)
𝑑𝑞
𝐼=
𝑑𝑡
I: the current in Ampere, q: the charge in Coulomb, t: the time
in second
Symbol: I
Unit: Ampere (A)
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Circuit variables
[Link]
[Link]
• Electric current is defined as the flow of electric charge through a
conductor.
• The direction of a current is opposite to the direction of electron
flow.
• The SI unit of electric current is the ampere (A).
• One ampere is equivalent to one coulomb of electric charge
(6.24×1018 electrons) passing through a point in a circuit per
second.
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Circuit variables
Reminder of Knowledge
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The flow of electric charge can occur in two main types:
1- Direct current (DC), where the charge flows consistently in one direction,
2- Alternating current (AC), where the charge periodically reverses direction.
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Circuit variables
c) Power (P)
Definition: the power is the rate of energy consumption or production
per unit time.
𝑑𝑤
𝑃=
𝑑𝑡
P: the power in Watt, W: the energy in Joule, t: the time in second
Symbol: P
Unit: Watt (W)
Remarks:
1 W = 1J/s
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑞
𝑃= = . = 𝑉. 𝐼
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡
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Passive sign convention
Current direction and voltage polarity play a major role in
determining the sign of power.
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Passive sign convention
Current direction and voltage polarity play a major role in
determining the sign of power.
By the passive sign convention, current enters through the
positive polarity of voltage. Absorbing Supplying
if the current reference is in the
direction of a reference Supplying Absorbing
voltage rise across the
terminals, the expression for
the power is
𝑝 = −𝑣𝑖
• As positive charges move through a drop in voltage, they lose
energy, and as they move through a rise in voltage, they gain
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Interpreting algebraic sign of power
• If the power is positive (that is, if 𝑝 > 0), power is being
delivered to the circuit inside the box.
• If the power is negative (that is, if 𝑝 < 0 ),power is being
extracted from the circuit inside the box
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Example 1
Assume that a 4 V voltage drop occurs across an element and that the
current of 3 A enters as shown in the below figure.
a) Specify the values of v and i
b) How much power is the circuit absorbing? And state whether the
circuit inside the box is absorbing or delivering power
3A 3A
4V 4V
(a) (b)
3A 3A
4V 4V
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(c) (d)
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Example 1
3A 3A
Solution
a)
Circuit (a): v = +4V and i = +3A 4V 4V
Circuit (b): v = +4V and i = +3A
Circuit (c): v = + 4 V and i = - 3A
Circuit (d): v = +4V and i = -3A (a) (b)
3A 3A
b)
Circuit (a): p = (+4)x(+3) = 12 W Absorbing 4V 4V
Circuit (b): p = (+4)x(+3) = 12 W Absorbing
Circuit (c): p = (+4)x(-3) = -12 W Supplying
Circuit (d): p = (+4)x(-3) = -12 W Supplying (c) (d)
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Example 1
3A 3A
Solution
a)
Circuit (a): v = +4V and i = +3A 4V 4V
Circuit (b): v = +4V and i = +3A
Circuit (c): v = + 4 V and i = - 3A
Circuit (d): v = +4V and i = -3A (a) (b)
3A 3A
b)
Circuit (a): p = (+4)x(+3) = 12 W Absorbing 4V 4V
Circuit (b): p = (+4)x(+3) = 12 W Absorbing
Circuit (c): p = (+4)x(-3) = -12 W Supplying
Circuit (d): p = (+4)x(-3) = -12 W Supplying (c) (d)
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