BASIC CIRCUIT ANALYSIS ELECTRIC POWER
• The rate, per unit time, at which electrical energy is
OHM’S LAW transferred by an electric circuit.
▪ The mathematical relationship between voltage, • It is usually produced by electric generators, but
current, and resistance can also be supplied by sources such as electric
▪ Formulated by Georg Simon Ohm during 1826 batteries.
▪ States that the current is directly proportional to the • Its unit is Watt (named after James Watt). This is
voltage but inversely proportional to the resistance equal to Joule / sec
• One watt equals the power done in one second by
I=V/R one volt of potential difference in moving one
coulomb of charge
P = VI
RESISTOR CONNECTIONS
SERIES CIRCUIT
▪ A circuit that provides only one patch of current
flow
▪ Current is the same in all parts of a series circuit
𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 = 𝐼3= …= 𝐼𝑁
▪ Total Resistance is the sum of all the individual
resistances
𝑅𝑇= 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 𝑅3= …= 𝑅𝑁
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. If the voltage across a 5Ω resistor increases from
10V to 20V, what happens to the current?
2. The voltage across a 5Ω resistor is 10V. If R is
doubled to 10Ω, what happens to the current?
▪ Total voltage is equal to the sum of the individual
3. A heater with a resistance of 8Ω is connected voltage drops
across the 120V power line. How much is the 𝑉𝑇= 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3+ …+ 𝑉𝑁
current? ▪ Total power is equal to the sum of the individual
power of each component
4. A small lightbulb with a resistance of 2400Ω is 𝑃𝑇= 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + 𝑃3+ …+ 𝑃𝑁
connected across the same 120V power line. How
much is the current?
5. If a 12Ω resistor is carrying a current of 2.5A, how
much is its voltage
6. How much is the resistance of a light bulb if it
draws 0.16A from a 12V battery?
7. A current of 8mA flows through a 5kΩ resistor.
How much is the voltage drop?
8. How much current is produced by 60V across a VOLTAGE DIVIDER FORMULA
12kΩ resistor? ▪ This is a shortcut formula used for series circuits
▪ It is based on the concept of series circuits where
9. If the resistance does not change on a resistance current is constant and the voltage is additive
circuit, plot the voltage vs. current ▪ The total voltage is divided into voltage drops of
the resistors
▪ The higher the resistance, the larger portion is
absorbed by the resistor
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. A resistance (R1) of 20Ω, an R2 of 40 Ω and are
R3 of 60 Ω are connected in parallel across the
120V power line
▪ Determine each of the branch currents and the
total current
▪ Determine the total resistance
2. What is the total resistance of 200 mini lights
▪ The formula for the voltage divider is: connected in parallel, if each bulb light has 50Ω
𝑉2 = (R2 / RT) * 𝑉1 resistance each?
Where:
3. Four branches, each with a 5A current are
V2 → the voltage across R2
connected across a 90V source. How much is the
V1 → Source voltage
equivalent resistance (𝑅𝐸𝑄) 4. What resistance in
RT = total resistance (R1 + R2)
parallel with 40Ω will provide an 𝑅𝐸𝑄 of 24Ω ?
OPENS AND SHORTS
OPEN CONNECTION
▪ A break in a current path
▪ An incomplete path or unclosed path from positive
point to negative point of the circuit to which no
current can flow
▪ The resistance of an open circuit is extremely high
because the air between the open points is a very
SAMPLE PROBLEMS good insulator
1. A voltage source produces an IR drop across a
20-ohm resistor (R1), 60V across a 30-ohm resistor OPEN CONNECTION -
(R2) and 180V across a 90-ohm resistor, all in SWITCH
series. How much is the applied voltage? ▪ This is intentionally
being done by a switch
2. An applied voltage source of 120V produces IR or a fuse
drops across two series resistors R1 and R2. If the ▪ Switch is a component
voltage across R1 is 40V, how much is the voltage that can “make” or break
drop across R2? an electrical circuit,
interrupting the current
3. A 1kΩ resistor (R1) and a 40kΩ resistor (R2) are or diverting it from one
in series with a 50V source. Which R dissipates conductor to another
more power?
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
▪ A circuit that provides one common voltage across OPEN CONNECTION - FUSE
all components ▪ Fuse – an electrical
▪ Voltage is the same in all parts of a series circuit safety device that
𝑉𝑇= 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3= …= 𝑉𝑁 provide overcurrent
protection of an electric
▪ Total Resistance is evaluated using below formula
circuit
▪ Its essential component
is a metal wire or strip
that melts when too
much current flows
through it, thereby
interrupting the current
OPEN CONNECTION - RELAY
▪ Relay – is a switch with contacts that are opened
or closed by an electromagnet
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODE
▪ A two-pin, two-layer device that conducts current in
one direction
▪ The most common function of a diode is to allow
an electric current to pass in one direction (called
the diode's forward direction), while blocking it in the
opposite direction (the reverse direction)
SHORTED CONNECTION (SHORTS)
▪ A short circuit is an electrical circuit that allows a
current to travel along an unintended path with no or
very low resistance.
▪ It can also be an abnormal connection between
two nodes of an electric circuit intended to be at
different voltages.
DIODE BIASING
▪ Biasing– applying DC voltage across a component
in order to establish proper operating conditions.
▪ For Diodes, there are two types of Biasing:
1. Forward Bias –the
condition that allows
current to flow through
the diode ▪This is done by
BASIC DC METERS connecting the positive
terminal of the voltage
source to the anode while
VOLTMETER
the negative terminal to
▪ Power must be ON in the circuit
the cathode
▪ Should be connected across (or in parallel) to the
voltage to be measured 2. Reverse Bias –the
▪ It has a very high internal resistance (ideally condition that essentially
infinite) prevents current through
the diode ▪This is done
Circuit Analysis Tip: You can replace voltmeter with by connecting the
an open circuit to ease the analysis positive terminal of the
voltage source to the
AMMETER cathode while the negative terminal to the anode
▪ Power must be ON in the circuit
▪ Should be connected in series with the component
where the current will be measured
▪ It has a very low internal resistance (ideally zero)
Circuit Analysis Tip: You can replace ammeter with a
short circuit to ease the analysis
OHMMETER
▪ Ohmmeters have their own power supply (battery)
▪ Power must be turned OFF in the circuit
▪ Should be connected across (or in parallel) to the
voltage to be measured
Circuit Analysis Tip: You can replace ohmmeter with
voltage source to ease the analysis