Electrical Energy Sources: Electrical energy sources provide the necessary
power for electrical circuits and devices. They can be categorized into two main
types:
Voltage sources and Current sources.
Voltage Sources: A voltage source is an energy source that maintains a constant
voltage across its terminals, regardless of the current flowing through it. Voltage
sources provide a potential difference that drives the flow of electric charges in a
circuit.
Types of Voltage Sources:
1. Independent Voltage Source (Ideal): This is an ideal voltage source that
maintains a constant voltage regardless of the connected load or circuit
conditions. It doesn't change its output voltage regardless of the current it
supplies.
2. Non-Ideal Voltage Source: This type of voltage source has some internal
resistance or impedance. As current flows through it, there might be a voltage
drop due to its internal resistance.
Current Sources: A current source is an energy source that maintains a constant
current through its terminals, regardless of the voltage across it. Current sources
provide a steady flow of electric charges in a circuit.
Types of Current Sources:
1. Independent Current Source (Ideal): This is an ideal current source that
maintains a constant current regardless of the voltage across it. It doesn't change
its output current regardless of the voltage it experiences.
2. Non-Ideal Current Source: This type of current source might exhibit variations
in its current output due to factors like circuit conditions or internal impedance.
Dependent Sources: Dependent sources are sources whose output (voltage or
current) depends on a parameter or signal from another part of the circuit.
Types of Dependent Sources:
1. Voltage-Dependent Voltage Source (VDVS): The output voltage depends on
the voltage across a different component in the circuit.
2. Current-Dependent Voltage Source (CDVS): The output voltage depends on
the current through a different component in the circuit.
3. Voltage-Dependent Current Source (VDCS): The output current depends on
the voltage across a different component in the circuit.
4. Current-Dependent Current Source (CDCS): The output current depends on
the current through a different component in the circuit.
Ideal vs. Non-Ideal Sources:
Ideal Sources: These sources exhibit their defined behaviour without any
internal resistance or limitations. Ideal voltage sources provide a fixed voltage,
and ideal current sources provide a fixed current.
Non-Ideal Sources: These sources have real-world limitations such as internal
resistance, which affects their output. Non-ideal sources may experience voltage
drops or current variations under different conditions.
An electric circuit is composed of interconnection of several elements and
sources. Before enunciating the two general laws governing the circuit behaviour,
it is necessary to understand certain terms identifying the interconnections.
Node: It is a circuit point where ends (terminals) of two or more circuit
elements meet.
Path: It is a traversal through elements from one node to another.
Branch: It is a path between two adjoining nodes.
Loop: It is a closed path starting and ending at the same node without
going through the same node more than once.
Mesh: It is a loop that does not contain any other loop within it.
Junction: It is a node where three or more circuit elements (or branches)
meet.
Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)
KCL states that the algebraic sum of currents entering any junction (or node) in
an electrical circuit is zero. In other words, the total current flowing into a junction
is equal to the total current flowing out of that junction. Mathematically, for a
given node:
Σ I_in = Σ I_out
Here, Σ represents the sum, I_in represents the currents entering the node, and
I_out represents the currents leaving the node.
KCL is based on the principle of conservation of electric charge. Since charge
cannot be created or destroyed, the total current entering a node must be equal to
the total current leaving it.
In AC circuits, the currents and voltages are often represented as phasors, which
are complex numbers that capture both the magnitude and phase angle of the
sinusoidal waveform. When applying Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) to AC
circuits, you should indeed consider phasor currents for analysis.
The phasor sum of currents entering a node is equal to the phasor sum of currents
leaving the node. Mathematically, for an AC circuit node:
Σ I_in = Σ I_out
Here, the phasor sum Σ I_in represents the phasor sum of the currents entering
the node, and Σ I_out represents the phasor sum of the currents leaving the node.
Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)
KVL states that the algebraic sum of the voltages in any closed loop of a circuit
is equal to zero. In other words, the sum of the voltage drops across components
(such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors) and the voltage sources encountered
while traversing a closed loop in a circuit is equal to the sum of the voltage rises
across other components and sources.
Mathematically, for a closed loop:
Σ V_drops = Σ V_rises
Here, Σ represents the sum, V_drops represents the voltage drops (negative
voltages) encountered while moving in the loop's direction, and V_rises
represents the voltage rises (positive voltages) encountered.
KVL is based on the principle of energy conservation. It ensures that the energy
supplied by voltage sources is equal to the energy consumed by the components
in the circuit.
KVL applies to AC (alternating current) circuits as well as DC (direct current)
circuits. The statement of KVL remains consistent for AC circuits.
"The phasor sum of the voltages around any closed loop in an electrical circuit is
equal to zero."
In other words, for an AC circuit loop:
Σ V_phasor = 0
Here, Σ represents the sum of phasor voltages encountered while traversing the
loop in the specified direction.