Chapter One
Electric Circuit Fundamentals
ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES, KVL, KCL
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Lecture Objectives
• Identify different quantities used in electrical engineering and what
their values represent
Charge
Current
Voltage
Resistance
Energy
Power
• Introduce Kirchhoff’s Current and Voltage Laws so that students
would be able to use them in analyzing circuits (Circuit analysis)
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Electrical Charges
Property of matter that causes it
to experience a force due to
electric field
Electrical force can be either
repulsive or attractive depending
on the polarity of charge quantity
Unit is in Coulomb
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Charge Interaction
Q1 |QQ |
E1 F12 1 2 2
4 0 r 2 4 0 r
Electric Field Electrical Forces
+ Charges in the presence
of an Electric field
Electric Potential
+ Energy
Movement of charges Difference in Electric
Potential Energy
CURRENT VOLTAGE
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Current
•Movement of charges
• Conventional current (used in analysis): flow of positive charges
• In reality, electrons (negative) are the mobile charge carriers
•Rate at which net charges move past a given area in a specified direction
•Defined by magnitude and direction
•Ampere: 1A = 1C/s (passing through an area)
I1 = ‒I2
I1 I2
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Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
The algebraic sum of the currents at a NODE must equal zero.
Network elements are considered electrically neutral
No net charge (positive or negative) can accumulate
Net current entering = Net current leaving a particular node
I1 I2 ∑ In = 0
I3 I4 I1 + I2 + I3 + (-I4) = 0
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Voltage (Potential Difference)
Difference in potential energy of two points
• Requires two points in space with one point considered as reference
•A point charge under an electric field requires work to go from one location
to another.
•Voltage = work required to move 1C of charge from one terminal to another
V = w/q
• 1V = 1 Joule/C
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Voltage (Potential Difference)
To move a particle against its natural path, you need to exert effort, therefore,
exerting work.
To move a particle along its natural path, you ‘recover’ energy, therefore,
receiving work.
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Voltage (Potential
Difference)
B
VAB ─ Electric Field
A + + F(x, t)
+ VBC
VAC C ─
─
Reference Point
Double-subscript notation for voltage across points A and B
VAB = Voltage at point A w.r.t. point B
VAB = –VBA
Single-subscript notation
Defines voltages wrt an absolute reference point
VA= VAC, VB= VBC
VAB = VA – VB
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Voltage (Potential Difference)
In a physical system, voltage is measured
across 2 points (called terminals or nodes)
+ A
There is a difference in charge concentration
in node A and node B, giving rise to potential
VAB difference or voltage.
– B
B is assigned as the “reference point”
VAB = VA – VB
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Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
(KVL)
The algebraic sum of the voltages around a loop must equal zero.
─ B
VAB
+ +
A
+ VBC
VAC
─ C ─
Reference Point ∑ Vn = 0
VAC – VAB – VBC = 0
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KVL in Mechanics
Consider the mechanical system shown below where a mass is moved
around in space in a cyclic manner. Notice the sum of the energy needed
when the mass is moved to its original position.
𝐸 2 =𝑚𝑔 ( h2 − h 2) = 0
h =hm2 m 2
𝑔=9.81𝑚 /𝑠
𝐸1 =𝑚𝑔 ( h2 − h1 ) 𝐸 3=𝑚𝑔 ( h1 −h 2)
h =hm1 m
𝐸 4 =𝑚𝑔 ( h 1 − h1 )= 0
∑ 𝐸𝑖 =𝐸1 +𝐸 2+ 𝐸3 +𝐸 4 =0
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Example
•Given VXY = 20V, VXZ = 10V, and VZ = -5V, Find VX and VY
•Find VB in terms of VC if VAB = VC and VA = 20V
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Resistance
opposition on the amount of current flowing through a material for a given
potential difference
Governed by Ohm’s Law:
V=IR
Current is movement of electrons
Voltage “pushes” the electrons to moves
Resistance limits the “push” exerted by the voltage
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A “Mechanical” Circuit
Assumptions: frictionless and rigid pipes; water does not lose velocity
on the corners; pump is rigid and will work for any value of water flow
Water Flow
Pump
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A “Mechanical” Circuit
Water Flow
Bent pipe with
Pump friction/velocity
damping
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The Electrical Circuit
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Electrical Energy
Energy form, including related phenomena, arising from
the presence and movement of quantities of electricity
Electrical Energy: energy transferred from a region with
surplus of charges to a region with demand for charges by
means of movement of charges driven by electric potential
energy
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Electrical Energy
Energy form, including related phenomena, arising from
the presence and movement of quantities of electricity
• Static electricity, lightning
• Electromagnetism
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Electronics, communications, etc.
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Electrical Energy
Energy form, including related phenomena,
arising from the presence and movement of
quantities of electricity
Static Charges, Electric Direct and
Field, Voltage Alternating Current
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Energy Conversion
Electrical energy should be converted to some usable form
Mechanical Energy
Electrical Energy
Light + Heat Energy
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Energy Conversion
Other forms of energy can also be transformed to electrical energy
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Power
• Rate at which energy is being transferred, supplied or consumed
• Can be expressed as:
P = IV (units is Watts or Joule/s)
• Current direction and voltage polarity determines whether power is
supplied or consumed
Electrical power is Electrical power is
consumed
I generated
I
+ +
V (a) V (b)
– –
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Power
2A
• In both cases, P = 10 W. +
5V (a)
(a): consuming 10 W or
supplying –10 W
–
2A
+
5V (b)
(b): supplying 10 W or
consuming –10 W
–
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Summary
1. Movement of charges is current
• Convention for current: flow of positive charges
• KCL: Algebraic sum of currents at a node is zero
2. Voltage is potential difference between two regions
• Difference in charge concentration results in voltage
• KVL: Algebraic sum of voltages in a loop is zero
3. Electrical energy is work done to move charges through an element
4. Energy per unit time is power
• An element supplies power if current goes out of the positive terminal
• An element consumes power if current goes into the positive terminal
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Why do Mechanical Engineers learn BEE?
Electrical engineering is essential for mechanical engineering students
because many modern mechanical systems integrate electrical components,
such as sensors, actuators, and control systems.
Below are the key concepts and topics that mechanical engineering students
should understand in electrical engineering:
Applications in Mechanical Systems
Mechatronics: Integration of mechanical, electrical, and computer systems.
Robotics: Use of motors, sensors, and control systems.
Energy Systems: Electrical components in renewable energy systems (e.g.,
solar panels, wind turbines)
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