Chapter 4
Direct-Current Circuits
Electromotive Force
The emf ε of a battery is the maximum possible voltage the battery can provide between
its terminals.
Terminal Voltage
Passing from the negative terminal to the positive
terminal, the potential increases by an amount ε. Notice
that ε is equivalent to the open-circuit voltage
Moving through the resistance r (internal resistance), the
potential decreases by an amount Ir, where I is the current
in the circuit. Terminal voltage of battery is defined by:
Moving through the resistance R (load resistance), the
potential further decreases by an amount IR
If R is much greater than r, as it is in many real-world
circuits, we can neglect r .
Electromotive Force
A battery has an emf of 12.0 V and an internal resistance of 0.050 . Its terminals are
connected to a load resistance of 3.00 .
(A) Find the current in the circuit and the terminal voltage of the battery.
The current in the circuit:
The terminal voltage:
The voltage across the load resistance R:
(B) Calculate the power delivered to the load resistor, the power delivered to the internal
resistance of the battery, and the power delivered by the battery.
The power delivered to the load:
The power delivered to the internal resistance:
The total power
As a battery ages, its internal resistance increases. Suppose the internal resistance of this
battery rises to 2.00 toward the end of its useful life. How does that alter the battery’s
ability to deliver energy?
Power in an R circuit
Power in an R circuit
A battery has an emf of 12.0 V and an internal resistance of 0.050 . Its terminals are
connected to a load resistance of 3.00
(A) Find the current in the circuit and the terminal voltage of the battery.
The current in the circuit:
The terminal voltage of the battery:
(B) Calculate the power delivered to the load resistor, the power delivered to the internal
resistance of the battery, and the power delivered by the battery.
The power delivered to the load resistor:
The power delivered to the internal resistance:
The power delivered by the battery
Resistors in Series and Parallel
Series Combination:
The same amount of charge passes through both resistors in a given time interval and the
currents are the same in both resistors:
A series combination.
Resistors in Series and Parallel
Parallel Combination:
Parallel combination
Find the Equivalent Resistance
Four resistors are connected as shown
(A) Find the equivalent resistance between points a and c
The equivalent resistance between a and b (series):
The equivalent resistance between b and c (parallel):
The equivalent resistance from a to c (series of ab and bc):
(B) What is the current in each resistor if a potential difference of 42 V is maintained
between a and c?
Three Resistors in Parallel
Three resistors are connected in parallel as shown in Figure. A potential difference of 18.0 V
is maintained between points a and b.
(A) Calculate the equivalent resistance of the circuit
(B) Find the current in each resistor
(C) Calculate the power delivered to each resistor and the total power delivered to the
combination of resistors.
Kirchhoff’s Rules
1. Junction rule. At any junction, the sum of the currents must equal zero:
2. Loop rule. The sum of the potential differences across all elements around any closed
circuit loop must be zero:
A Single-Loop Circuit
A single-loop circuit contains two resistors and two
batteries as shown in Figure. (Neglect the internal
resistances of the batteries.) Find the current in the
circuit.
Apply Kirchhoff’s loop rule to the single loop
in the circuit:
The negative sign for I indicates that the direction of the current is opposite the assumed direction
The emfs in the numerator subtract because the batteries in Figure have opposite polarities. The
resistances in the denominator add because the two resistors are in series.
A Multiloop Circuit
Apply Kirchhoff’s junction rule to junction at c
g
RC Circuits
Switch at a, apply Kirchoff rule:
RC Circuits
Switch at a
With
The time constant
The time constant represents
the time interval during which
the current decreases to 1/e of
its initial value;
Discharging a Capacitor
Switch at b, apply Kirchoff rule:
Charging a Capacitor in an
An uncharged capacitor and a resistor RC Circuit
are connected in series to a battery as shown in Figure,
where ε = 12.0 V, C 5 5.00 mF, and R = 8.0 105. The witch is thrown to position a. Find the
time constant of the circuit, the maximum charge on the capacitor, the maximum current in
the circuit, and the charge and current as functions of time
The time constant of the circuit
The maximum charge on the capacitor
The maximum current in the circuit
The charge and current as functions
of time
Discharging a Capacitor in an RC Circuit
Consider a capacitor of capacitance C that is being discharged through a resistor of resistance
R as shown in Figure. The switch is at b
(A) After how many time constants is the charge on the capacitor one-fourth its initial value?
The energy stored in the capacitor at any time t:
(B) The energy stored in the capacitor decreases with time as the capacitor discharges. After
how many time constants is this stored energy one-fourth its initial value?
The energy stored in the capacitor at any time t: