Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ENU 1– ENGINEERING UTILITIES
MODULE 2
Title: Electrical Theory
Electricity
It is the presence and flow of electric charge.
Electrical Classification of Materials
1. Electrical Conductors – these are materials that allow the essentially free passage of current when
connected to a battery or other source of electrical energy.
2. Electrical Insulators – these are materials that possess low conductivity or offer a relatively high resistance
to the flow of electric current. They are also called as dielectrics.
3. Electric Semiconductors – these are materials that have conductivity about midway between good
conductors and good insulators.
Source of Electric Current
The following are the methods by which electric current can be produce:
1. Static electricity from friction
2. Thermoelectricity is electricity from heat
3. Piezoelectricity is electricity from pressure
4. Electrochemistry is electricity from light
5. Magnetoelectricity is electricity from magnetism
Fundamentals Unit of Electricity
1. Voltage or electromotive force (E or EMF) – It is the driving force behind current flow. The unit of
electrical pressure is the volt (V). Voltage level governs the amount of electrical energy that will flow through a wire. A
boost in voltage increases current flow and a drop in voltages reduces flow
2. Amperage or Inductive Flow (I) – it is the rate of current flow in a closed electrical system is measured in
a unit called the ampere, frequently called the amp.
3. Resistance – It is the property of a material that limits the amount of flow of current and converts electric
energy to heat energy. Its unit is the Ohm. The length of a conductor (wire), the diameter of the conductor, type of
conductor material, and temperature of the conductor affect the resistance to flow of current.
Ohm’s Law
According to Ohm’s Law, “At steady-state condition, the voltage across a resistor is directly proportional to the
current flowing through it with the temperature remaining constant.”
Where: V – applied voltage in volts
I – current drawn in amperes
R – resistance in ohms
Conditions for Ohm’s Law
1. Ohm’s law can be applied either to the entire circuit or a part of a circuit.
2. When Ohm’s law is applied to a part circuit, part resistance and the potential differences across that part
resistance should be used.
3. Ohm’s law can be applied to both dc and ac circuit.
Limitations of Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s law is not applicable to the following:
1. For metal which get heated up due to the flow of current through them.
2. For electrolytes where enormous gases are produced on either electrode.
3. For vacuum radio valves.
4. For arc lamps.
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Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
5. For semiconductors
6. For gas-filled tubes, in which the ions are generated as a result of current flow.
7. For appliances such as metal rectifier and crystal detectors, in which the operation depends on the direction
of current.
Electrical Power
It is the rate at which work is accomplished; it is work or energy released divided by time. It is the rate
electric charge converted into another form, such as light, heat or mechanical energy (or converted from another
form into electrical energy). Its unit is the Watt (W)
Energy
It is the capacity to do work. It is measured in Joules (J)
Electrical Energy Consumption
It is the rate at which power is consumed over a specified period of time.
Electric Circuit
It is the collection of electrical elements interconnected in some specific way through which electric current
flows or it is intended to flow
A circuit is consisting of a source, conducting parts and a load
Closed Circuit
It is an uninterrupted path that allows a continuous flow of current through an electrical circuit. In a building
electrical system, a circuit is closed when a switch is turned on, allowing current to flow uninterrupted and the lamp to
light.
Open Circuit
If the path of current flow is interrupted such as if the switch in a circuit is opened (turned off), an open circuit
results.
Short Circuit
If an inadvertent shortcut develops in a circuit that permits current flow through an unintentional path, a short
circuit is created. A short circuit occurs when current leaks out of the intended conductor path such as out of a wire
with damaged insulation.
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Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Circuiting Configurations
There are two basic types of circuiting configurations used in electrical systems: series and parallel
1. Series Circuit – the circuit elements are said to be connected in series when they all carry the same
current.
Properties of Series Circuit
a. The same current flows through all the resistance
b. There will be voltage drop across each resistance
c. The sum of the voltage drop is equal to the applied voltage
2. Parallel Circuit – circuit elements are connected in parallel when the same voltage is common to all
of them:
Properties of a Parallel Circuit
a. The voltage across each resistance of the parallel combinations is the same.
b. There are as many current paths as the number of branches
c. The current in each branch is given by Ohm’s law
d. The total current of the circuit is equal to the sum of branch currents.
Prepared by: Engr. Myrine Ysobelle S. Sioco
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