Electrical Circuit Theory

Basics

Circuit Theory Laws

This presentation will
Define voltage, current, and resistance. Define and apply Ohms Law. Introduce series circuits.
o Current in a series circuit o Resistance in a series circuit o Voltage in a series circuit

Define and apply Kirchhoffs Voltage Law. Introduce parallel circuits.

o Current in a parallel circuit o Resistance in a parallel circuit o Voltage in a parallel circuit

Define and apply Kirchhoffs Current Law.

Electricity The Basics

An understanding of the basics of electricity requires the understanding of three fundamental concepts.

Voltage Current Resistance

A direct mathematical relationship exists between voltage, resistance, and current in all electronic circuits.

Voltage, Current, & Resistance

Current Current is the flow of electrical charge through an electronic circuit. The direction of a current is opposite to the direction of electron flow. Current is measured in AMPERES (AMPS).

Andre Ampere 1775-1836 French Physicist

Voltage
Voltage Voltage is the electrical force that causes current to flow in a circuit. It is measured in VOLTS.

Alessandro Volta 1745-1827 Italian Physicist

Current
Current Current is the flow of electrical charge through an electronic circuit. The direction of a current is opposite to the direction of electron flow. Current is measured in AMPERES (AMPS).

Andre Ampere 1775-1836 French Physicist

First, An Analogy
The flow of water from one tank to another is a good analogy for an electrical circuit and the mathematical relationship between voltage, resistance, and current.
Force: The difference in the water levels Voltage Flow: The flow of the water between the tanks Current Opposition: The valve that limits the amount of water Resistance

Force Flow

Opposition

Anatomy of a Flashlight

Switch
Light Bulb

Switch Light Bulb

Battery

Battery

Block Diagram

Schematic Diagram
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Flashlight Schematic
Current Resistance

+
Voltage

Closed circuit (switch closed) Current flow

Open circuit (switch open) No current flow

Lamp is on
Lamp is resistance, uses energy to produce light (and heat)

Lamp is off
Lamp is resistance, but is not using any energy
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Current Flow
Conventional Current assumes that current flows out of the positive side of the battery, through the circuit, and back to the negative side of the battery. This was the convention established when electricity was first discovered, but it is incorrect! Electron Flow is what actually happens. The electrons flow out of the negative side of the battery, through the circuit, and back to the positive side of the battery.
Conventional Current

Electron Flow
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Engineering vs. Science

The direction that the current flows does not affect what the current is doing; thus, it doesnt make any difference which convention is used as long as you are consistent. Both Conventional Current and Electron Flow are used. In general, the science disciplines use Electron Flow, whereas the engineering disciplines use Conventional Current. Since this is an engineering course, we will use Conventional Current .

Electron Flow

Conventional Current
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Ohms Law
Defines the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electric circuit Ohms Law:
Current in a resistor varies in direct proportion to the voltage applied to it and is inversely proportional to the resistors value.

Stated mathematically:
V I R

+
I

V R

Where: I is the current (amperes) V is the potential difference (volts) R is the resistance (ohms)

Ohms Law Triangle

V I R

V I ( amperes , A ) R
V R ( ohms , ) I

V I R

V I R

V I R ( volts, V )

Example: Ohms Law

Example: The flashlight shown uses a 6 volt battery and has a bulb with a resistance of 150 . When the flashlight is on, how much current will be drawn from the battery?

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Example: Ohms Law

Example: The flashlight shown uses a 6 volt battery and has a bulb with a resistance of 150 . When the flashlight is on, how much current will be drawn from the battery? Solution:
Schematic Diagram

IR + VR I V R

VT =

IR

VR 6V 0.04 A 40 mA R 150

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Circuit Configuration
Components in a circuit can be connected in one of two ways.
Series Circuits
Components are connected end-to-end. There is only a single path for current to flow.

Parallel Circuits
Both ends of the components are connected together. There are multiple paths for current to flow.

Components
(i.e., resistors, batteries, capacitors, etc.)

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Series Circuits
Characteristics of a series circuit
The current flowing through every series component is equal. The total resistance (RT) is equal to the sum of all of the resistances (i.e., R1 + R2 + R3). The sum of all of the voltage drops (VR1 + VR2 + VR2) is equal to the total applied voltage (VT). This is called Kirchhoffs Voltage Law.
VR1 IT + -

+ VR2 -

VT
-

RT

VR3

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Example: Series Circuit

Example: For the series circuit shown, use the laws of circuit theory to calculate the following: The total resistance (RT) The current flowing through each component (IT, IR1, IR2, & IR3) The voltage across each component (VT, VR1, VR2, & VR3) Use the results to verify Kirchhoffs Voltage Law.
IT + VR1 -

+ VT -

IR1 IR2 IR3

+ VR2 -

RT

VR3

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Example: Series Circuit

Solution: Total Resistance:
R T R1 R2 R3 R T 220 470 1.2 k R T 1890 1.89 k

Current Through Each Component:

VT RT

IT IT

(Ohm' s Law)

V I R

12 v 6.349 mAmp 1.89 k

Since this is a series circuit : IT IR1 IR2 IR3 6.349 mAmp

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Example: Series Circuit

Solution: Voltage Across Each Component:

VR1 IR1 R1

(Ohm' s Law)

VR1 6.349 mA 220 1.397 volts VR2 IR2 R2 (Ohm' s Law) VR2 6.349 mA 470 2.984 volts VR3 IR3 R3 (Ohm' s Law) VR3 6.349 mA 1.2 K 7.619 volts
I V R

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Example: Series Circuit

Solution: Verify Kirchhoffs Voltage Law:
VT VR1 VR2 VR3 12 v 1.397 v 2.984 v 7.619 v 12 v 12 v

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Parallel Circuits
Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit
The voltage across every parallel component is equal. The total resistance (RT) is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocal: 1 1 1 1 1
RT R1 R2 R3 RT 1 1 1 R1 R 2 R 3

The sum of all of the currents in each branch (IR1 + IR2 + IR3) is equal to the total current (IT). This is called Kirchhoffs Current Law.
IT

+ VT VR1

+ VR2 -

+ VR3 -

+ -

22 RT

Example: Parallel Circuit

Example: For the parallel circuit shown, use the laws of circuit theory to calculate the following: The total resistance (RT) The voltage across each component (VT, VR1, VR2, & VR3)

The current flowing through each component (IT, IR1, IR2, & IR3)
Use the results to verify Kirchhoffs Current Law.
IT

IR1
+ + VR1 VR2 +

IR2 + VR3 -

IR3

VT

23 RT

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Example: Parallel Circuit

Solution: Total Resistance: 1 RT 1 1 1 R1 R 2 R 3
1 RT 1 1 1 470 2.2 k 3.3 k R T 346.59

Voltage Across Each Component:

Since this is a parallel circuit : VT VR1 VR2 VR3 15 volts
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Example: Parallel Circuit

Solution: Current Through Each Component:
VR1 (Ohm' s Law) R1 V 15 v IR1 R1 31.915 mAmps R1 470 IR1 IR2 VR2 15 v 6.818 mAmps R2 2.2 k VR3 15 v 4.545 mAmp R3 3.3 k
V
I R

IR3

IT

VT 15 v 43.278 mAmp RT 346.59

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Example: Parallel Circuit

Solution: Verify Kirchhoffs Current Law:
IT IR1 IR2 IR3 43.278 mAmps 31.915 mA 6.818 mA 4.545 mA 43.278 mAmps 43.278 mAmps

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Summary of Kirchhoffs Laws

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law (KVL): The sum of all of the voltage drops in a series circuit equals the total applied voltage.
Gustav Kirchhoff 1824-1887 German Physicist

Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL): The total current in a parallel circuit equals the sum of the individual branch currents.

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