Werabe University

Course:Basic Electricity and Electronics

[ECEng2202]
Chapter 2
Basic DC Theory
Lecture 1
By: Mr. Jemal M.
2025 (2018E.C)
 Lecture Contents
 DC Circut Theory
 Basic Electrical Measuring Instruments
 Ohms Law
 Series and Parallel Networks
 Voltage/ Potential Divider Rule
 D.C. Circuit theorem
 Objectives
Objectives:
By the end of the chapter, students should be able to:
 differentiate between series and parallel connection of resistors.
 Calculate unknown voltages, currents and resistances in series, in parallel, and series-
parallel networks.
 Differentiate between source voltage, open circuit voltage and terminal voltage.
 Define internal resistance of a voltage source.
 State Ohm’s Law (that is, basic form: opposition = cause divided by effect) I=V/R.
 State DC Circut Theorem
 DC Circut Theory
 There are 2 types of current, Direct current (dc) and Alternating current (ac).
 DC is a unidirectional and constant current/voltage whilst AC is bi-directional ie
it changes both magnitude and polarity.
 For DC, there are 2 types of current flow ie:
 1. Conventional current where current flows from the positive terminal to the
negative terminal
 2. Electron flow where current flows from the negative terminal to the positive
terminal
 Basic Electrical measuring instruments
 An ammeter is an instrument used to measure current and must be connected in
series with the circuit.
 Figure 1 shows an ammeter connected in series with the lamp to measure the
current flowing through it.
 Since all the current in the circuit passes through the ammeter it must have a very
low resistance.
 Voltmeter
 voltmeter is an instrument used to measure p.d. and must be connected in parallel
with the part of the circuit whose p.d. is required.
 In Figure 1, a voltmeter is connected in parallel with the lamp to measure the p.d.
across it.
 To avoid a significant current flowing through it a voltmeter must have a very high
resistance.
 Ohm’s Law
 The Ohm’s law equation can be derived directly from the following basic equation
for all physical systems:

 In electric circuits, the effect we are trying to establish is the flow of charge,
or current. The potential difference, or voltage, between two points is the
cause (“pressure”), and the opposition is the resistance encountered.
 Therefore, Ohm’s law states that the current I flowing in a circuit is directly
proportional to the applied voltage V and inversely proportional to the
resistance R, provided the temperature remains constant. Thus,
 Ohm’s Law
 Note also that the current enters the positive terminal and leaves the negative
terminal for the load resistor R.
 For any resistor, in any network, the direction of current through a resistor will
define the polarity of the voltage drop across the resistor as shown in Fig 2 for two
directions of current.
 Symbol of Resistance
 Figure Fixed resistors: (a) wirewound type, (b) carbon film type.

A resistor is either fixed or variable. Most resistors are of the fixed

type, meaning their resistance remains constant. The two common
types of fixed resistors (wirewound and composition)
 Cont...
In Figure below shows Resistors in an integrated circuit board.
 Resistor
 Resistor that obeys Ohm’s law is known as a linear resistor. It has a
constant resistance and thus its current-voltage characteristic is as
illustrated in Fig. 2.7(a): Its i-v graph is a straight line passing through
the origin.
 Resistor
A nonlinear resistor does not obey Ohm’s law. Its esistance
varies with current and its i-v characteristic is typically shown
in Fig.
 Conductances
A useful quantity in circuit analysis is the reciprocal of resistance R,
known as conductance and denoted by G:


 Conductance is the ability of an element to conduct electric

current; it is measured in mhos (℧) or siemens (S).
 i = Gv
 Short Circiut and Open circuit
 An open circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching
infinity.

 A short circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching

zero.
 Class Work1

[1] In the circuit shown in Fig. calculate the current i, the conductance
G, and the power p.

Solution:The voltage across the resistor is the same as the source

voltage (30 V) because the resistor and the voltage source are
connected to the same pair of terminals. Hence, the current is
 Cont..
Now next find the conductance
 Homework 1
[2] For the circuit shown in Fig. calculate the voltage v, the
conductance G, and the power p.
 Nodes, Branches, and Loops
 A branch represents a single element such as a voltage source or a
resistor.
 A node is the point of connection between two or more branches.
 A node is usually indicated by a dot in a circuit.
Activity A:-Brain storming
How many branches and Node represent in figure below?
 Loop
 A loop is any closed path in a circuit.

 abca with the 2 Ω resistor is independent.

 A second loop with the 3 Ω resistor and the current source is
independent.
 The third loop could be the one with the 2Ω resistor in parallel with
the 3Ω resistor.
 Loop
A network with b branches, n nodes, and l independent loops
will satisfy the fundamental theorem of network topology:

 Class Work 2
[1] How many branches, nodes and Loops does the circuit in Fig. have?

Solution:
Since there are four elements in the circuit, the circuit has four
branches: 10 V, 5 Ω, 6 Ω, and 2 A. and 3 nodes
B=N+L-1, Loop (L)=B-N+1=4-3+1=2
 Homework 2
[1] How many branches, nodes and Loop does the circuit in Fig. have?
 Series and Parallel Networks
 A circuit is any combination of elements that will result in a continuous
flow of charge, or current, through the configuration.
 There are two ways in which components may be connected together in
an electric circuit.
 One way is ‘in series’ and
 another way is ‘in parallel’
 Series Circuit
 Series Circuit, where components are connected ‘end-to-end

 The figure above shows three resistors R1, R2 and R3 connected

end to end, i.e., in series, with a battery source of V volts.
 Since the circuit is closed a current I will flow and the p.d. across
each resistor may be determined from the voltmeter readings V1,
V2 and V3.
 Series Circuit
 In this circuit
 Class Work 3
[1] For the circuit shown below, determine: [A] The battery Voltage
[B] The total resistance of the circuit [C] The values of resistance of
resistor R1, R2 and R3 given that the potential difference across R 1, R2
and R3 are 5V, 2V and 6V respectively.
 Solution for Class Work 3
Solution
 Homework 3
[1] For the circuit shown below,
[A] determine the potential difference across resistor R 3. If the total
resistor of the circuit is 100Ω.
[B] determine the Current through R1.
[C] Find the value of Resistor R2
 Homework 3
[2] 12V battery is connected in a circuit having three series connected
resistors having resistor of 4Ω, 9Ω and 11Ω.
[A] Determine the current flowing through the circuit
[B] The p.d across 9Ω resistor.
[C] The value of resistor R2
 Voltage/ Potential Divider Rule
 The circuit shown in Figure below is often referred to as a potential
divider circuit. Such a circuit can consist of a number of similar
elements in series connected across a voltage source, voltages being
taken from connections between the elements. Frequently the divider
consists of two resistors, as shown in Figure where
 Cont..
 The voltage distribution for the circuit shown in Figure below is given
by
 Class Work 4
[1] Determine the value of Voltage V in the figure below

Solution
V=50*[6/(4+6)]=50*(6/10)=50*0.6=30V
 Parallel Circuit
 In parallel’ where components are connected ‘across each other’
 Cont...
 Now find the total resistance in parallel circuit
 Class Work 5
[1] For the circuit shown in Figure below determine
(a) The reading on the ammeter
(b) The value of resistor R2
 Current divider rule
 This is only applicable to resistors connected in parallel
 Cont..
 Similarly
 Class Work 6
[1] For the series-parallel arrangement shown in the diagram Find; (a) The
supply current, (b) The current flowing through each resistor and (c) The
p.d. across each resistor.
 Cont..
 The current through R3 is given by
 Class Work 7
[1] Find Req for the circuit shown in Fig. below

Solution:
To get Req, we combine resistors in series and in parallel. The 6- Ω and
3-Ω resistors are in parallel, so their equivalent resistance is

 (The symbol ∥ is used to indicate a parallel combination.) Also, the

1-Ω and 5-Ω resistors are in series; hence their equivalent resistance
is
 Cont..
Thus the circuit in Fig. we notice that the tw o 2-Ω resistors are in series,
so the equivalent resistance is 2 Ω + 2 Ω = 4 Ω

 This 4-Ω resistor is now in parallel with the 6-Ω resistor in Fig. their
equivalent resistance is

 The three resistors are in series. Hence, the equivalent resistance for
the circuit is
 Homework 4
[1] find Req.
 Homework 5
[1] Calculate the equivalent resistance Rab in the circuit in Fig.

[2] Find Rab for the circuit in Fig.

 D.C. Circuit Theorems
Kirchhoff’s Laws
 Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) states that the algebraic sum of
currents entering a node (or a closed boundary) is zero.

 where N is the number of branches connected to the node and in is

the nth current entering (or leaving) the node. By this law, currents
entering a node may be regarded as positive, while currents leaving
the node may be taken as negative or vice versa.
 Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL)
 By apply KCL Rule

 The sum of the currents entering a node is equal to the sum of the
currents leaving the node.
 Class Discussion
 Apply the KCL in the figure below. Please discuss with a group of
five students
 Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL)
 Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum of all
voltages around a closed path (or loop) is zero.
 Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL)
 By applying KVL rule in the previous slide figure we have,

 which may be interpreted as Sum of voltage drops = Sum of

voltage rises
 Class Work 8
[1] (a) Find the unknown currents marked in the diagram (a) below
and (b) Determine the value of e.m.f. E from diagram b
 Solutions
Ans.
 Class Work 9
[1] For the circuit in Fig. find voltages v1 and v2.

Solution:
To find v1 and v2 we apply Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s voltage law.
Assume that current i flows through the loop as shown in Fig. 2.21(b).
From Ohm’s law,
 Solution for Class Work 9
 Apply KVL Rule
 Homework 6
[1] Determine vo and i in the circuit shown in Fig.

[2] Use Kirchhoff’s laws to determine the currents flowing in

each branch of the network shown in Figure below
 Homework 7
[1] Find the current I3, I4 and I6 in the figure below.

[2] For the networks shown in figure below, find the values of the
currents marked.
 Homework 8
[1] [A] Find the current flowing in the 3Ω resistor for the network
shown in figure below and
[B] Find the potential difference (P.d) across the 10Ω and 2Ω resistors
Thank you for Your
Attention!
End Lecture 1