CHAPTER
2
Fundamentals of Electric
Circuits
References: 1. G. Rizzoni, Principles and Applications of Electrical
Engineering, Fifth Edition, McGraw-Hill Inc., 2007.
2. Allan R. Hambley ,Electrical Engineering: Principles and
Applications, Fourth Edition, , Prentice Hall Pearson Education, 2008.
“These notes are only to be used in class presentations.”
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):
• The algebraic sum of all currents entering a node is zero.
N
i1 i3 i4 i5 i2 0
in 0
n 1
Currents entering are included with a plus sign, currents leaving are
included with a minus sign in the algebraic sum.
•Sum of currents entering node = sum of currents leaving node
KCL is based on the law of conservation of charges.
KCL tells us that all of the elements cascaded or
connected sequentially carry the same current.
We say these elements are connected in series.
ia ib
ib ic
ia ib ic i
Example 2.2
Use KCL to find the unknown currents.
Answer : ia=4A, ib=-2A, ic=-8A
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL):
The algebraic sum of all voltages around a closed path (loop)
is zero.
M
vm 0
m 1
KVL is based on the law of conservation of energy
In applying KVL to the loop,
•choose a direction of travel around the loop (usually clockwise).
• assign voltage polarities across the circuit elements.
• add or subtract voltages depending on their reference polarities
relative to the direction of travel around the loop.
Voltage rises are included with a
plus sign, voltage drops are
included with a minus sign in the
algebraic sum.
•Sum of voltage drops = sum of voltage rises
The direction of travel around the loop is not important when
writing KVL .
v1 v2 vs 0 v1 v2 vs 0
Write KVL for each loop.
Loop 1: va- vb-vc=0
Loop 2: vd- ve+vc=0
Loop 3: -va+vb- vd +ve=0
KVL tells us that two elements have the same voltage
across them if both ends of one element are connected
directly (by conductors) to corresponding ends of the
other.
We say these elements are connected in parallel.
v a vb
vb v c
v a vb v c v
Example 2.3
Identify elements that are in parallel.
Identify elements that are in series.
Use KVL to find vc and ve
Answer : A and B are in series, E and F are in parallel, vc=8V, ve=-2V
Example 2.4 Using KVL, KCL and Ohm’s Law,
i) Solve for the source voltage Vs
Answer: Vs =35V
ii) a) Find i.
b) Is the conservation of energy satisfied?
i 5W Answer: i=2A
P5Ω =20W (absorbing)
+
PV=20W (absorbing)
2A - 10V PI=40W (supplying)
Yes.
Practical Voltage Sources
Low internal resistance is desirable.
Practical Current Sources
High internal resistance is desirable.
Measurement of current
An analog ammeter
Measurement of voltage
An analog voltmeter
Ohmmeter and measurement of resistance
An analog ohmmeter
A digital multimeter
Wattmeter and measurement of power
A wattmeter