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Akash 08

The document defines the basic elements of an electric circuit. [1] Active elements, such as voltage sources, current sources, and transistors supply energy to the circuit. [2] Passive elements, such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors can only receive, store, or dissipate energy from the circuit. The key elements - voltage source, current source, resistor, inductor, capacitor and their symbols - are defined in detail.

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137 views6 pages

Akash 08

The document defines the basic elements of an electric circuit. [1] Active elements, such as voltage sources, current sources, and transistors supply energy to the circuit. [2] Passive elements, such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors can only receive, store, or dissipate energy from the circuit. The key elements - voltage source, current source, resistor, inductor, capacitor and their symbols - are defined in detail.

Uploaded by

Akash
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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QUESTION- Explain the basic elements of a circuit? Define each element in detail.

BY -AKASH AGARWAL (08)

What is an Electric Circuit ?

The system in which electric current can flow from source to load through one path and after delivering energy at load,
the current can return to the other terminal of source through another path is referred as electric circuit. An electric
current is a flow of electric charge (electrons).The amount of current flowing is determined by the number of electrons
that pass through a cross-section of a conductor in given time. Current is measured in amperes(amp). The letter A is the
symbol for amps.

BASIC ELEMENTS IN A CIRCUIT


Basic circuit elements are classified into active or passive elements, based on their capability to generate energy.

1.ACTIVE CIRCUIT ELEMENTS


An active component is an electronic component which supplies energy to a circuit. Active elements have the ability
to electrically control electron flow (i.e. the flow of charge). All electronic circuits must contain at least one active
component.

Common examples of active components include:

 Voltage sources

 Current sources

 Generators (such as alternators and DC generators)

 All different types of transistors (such as bipolar junction transistors, MOSFETS, FETs, and JFET)
 Diodes (such as Zener diodes, photodiodes, Schottky diodes, and LEDs)

VOLTAGE SOURCES

Voltage is electromotive force. It is the force or push on electrons in the circuit– It is referred to as potential
difference

– Has the potential to do work, but does nothing by itself

– It’s measured in volts (V or E)

A voltage source is an example of an active component in a circuit. When current leaves from the positive terminal of
the voltage source, energy is being supplied to the circuit. As per the definition of an active element, a battery can
also be considered as an active element, as it continuously delivers energy to the circuit during discharging.

SYMBOL OF BATTERY IN A CIRCUIT

BATTERY

CURRENT SOURCES

A current source is also considered an active component. The current supplied to the circuit by an ideal current
source is independent of circuit voltage. As a current source is controlling the flow of charge in a circuit, it is classified
as an active element.

GENERATORS

In electricity generation, a generator[1] is a device that converts motive power (mechanical energy) into electrical
power for use in an external circuit. Direct current (DC)- An important class of direct-current generators are the
dynamos - these are electrical machines with commutators to produce (DC) direct current, and are self excited - their
field electromagnets are powered by the machine's own output.
Other types of DC generator use a separate source of direct current to energize their field magnets.

TRANSISTORS

Although not as obvious as a current or voltage source – transistors are also an active circuit
component. This is because transistors are able to amplify the power of a signal.

A bit of current on the base produces a current of maybe 100 times more (depending on the transistor) through the
Collector and Emitter. We can use this effect to build amplifiers.

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)

A Light Emitting Diode – or LED for short – is a component that can give light. We use LEDs to give a visual feedback
from our circuit. For example to show that the circuit has power.

SYMBOL OF LED IN A CIRCUIT

2. PASSIVE CIRCUIT ELEMENTS


A passive component is an electronic component which can only receive energy, which it can either dissipate,
absorb or store it in an electric field or a magnetic field. Passive elements do not need any form of electrical
power to operate,

As the name ‘passive’ suggests – passive devices do not provide gain or amplification. Passive components
cannot amplify, oscillate, or generate an electrical signal.

Common examples of passive components include:

 Resistors

 Inductors
 Capacitors

 Transformers

RESISTORS

A resistor is taken as a passive element since it can not deliver any energy to a circuit. Instead resistors can only
receive energy which they can dissipate as heat as long as current flows through it.

SYMBOL OF RESISTOR IN A CIRCUIT

INDUCTORS
An inductor is also considered as passive element of circuit, because it can store energy in it as a magnetic
field, and can deliver that energy to the circuit, but not in continuous basis. The energy absorbing and
delivering capacity of an inductor is limited and transient in nature. That is why an inductor is taken as a
passive element of a circuit.

SYMBOL OF INDUCTOR IN A CIRCUIT

CAPACITORS
A capacitor is considered as a passive element because it can store energy in it as electric field. The energy dealing
capacity of a capacitor is limited and transient – it is not actually supplying energy, it is storing it for later use.

As such it is not considered an active component since no energy is being supplied or amplified.
SYMBOL OF CAPACITOR IN A CIRCUIT

TRANSFORMERS

A transformer is also a passive electronic component. Although this can seem surprising since transformers
are often used to raise voltage levels – remember that power is kept constant.

When transformers step up (or step down) voltage, power and energy remain the same on the primary and
secondary side. As energy is not actually being amplified – a transformer is classified as a passive element.

SYMBOL OF TRANSFORMER IN A CIRCUIT

SUBMITTED BY: AKASH AGARWAL (08)

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