BEEE-Unit 1

Electrical Circuit Symbols

Electrical circuits often contain one or more resistors
grouped together and attached to an energy source,
such as a battery.

The following symbols are often used:

Ground Battery Resistor

+ -

+ - + -
- + - + -
 Resistances in Series
Resistors are said to be connected in series when there is a single path
for the current.

The current I is the same for each

resistor R1, R2 and R3.
R1
I R2
VT R3

Only one current

For series I = I1 = I2 = I3
connections: VT = V1 + V2 + V3
 Equivalent Resistance: Series
The equivalent resistance Re of a number of
resistors connected in series is equal to the
sum of the individual resistances.

VT = V1 + V2 + V3 ; (V = IR)
R1 ITRe = I1R1+ I2R2 + I3R3
I R2
VT R3 But . . . IT = I1 = I2 = I3

Equivalent Resistance Re = R1 + R2 + R3
Example 1: Find the equivalent resistance Re. What
is the current I in the circuit?
Re = R1 + R2 + R3
2W
3W 1W Re = 3 W + 2 W + 1 W = 6 W
12 V
Equivalent Re = 6 W

The current is found from Ohm’s law: V = IRe

V 12 V
I= = I=2A
Re 6 W
 Example 1 (Cont.): Show that the voltage drops
across the three resistors totals the 12-V emf.
Re = 6 W I=2A
2W
3W 1W
Current I = 2 A same in each R.
12 V
V1 = IR1; V2 = IR2; V3 = IR3

V1 = (2 A)(1 W) = 2 V V1 + V2 + V3 = VT

V1 = (2 A)(2 W) = 4 V 2 V + 4 V + 6 V = 12 V

V1 = (2 A)(3 W) = 6 V Check !
 Sources of EMF in Series
The output direction from a - + b
a
source of emf is from + side: E
Thus, from a to b the potential increases by E;
From b to a, the potential decreases by E.
A
Example: Find DV for path AB -
and then for path BA. R
9V
AB: DV = +9 V – 3 V = +6 V 3V

+
- +
BA: DV = +3 V - 9 V = -6 V B
 A Single Complete Circuit
Consider the simple series circuit drawn below:
D A Path ABCD: Energy and V
2W -
increase through the 15-V
4W 15 V source and decrease
3V through the 3-V source.
+
- +
C B E = 15 V - 3 V = 12 V

The net gain in potential is lost through the two

resistors: these voltage drops are IR2 and IR4,
so that the sum is zero for the entire loop.
 Finding I in a Simple Circuit.
Example 2: Find the current I in the circuit below:
D A  E = 18V − 3 V = 15V
2W -
R =3 W + 2 W = 5 W
3W 18 V
3V Applying Ohm’s law:
+
- +
C B  E 15 V
I= = I=3A
R 5 W

In general for a E
I=
single loop circuit: R
Summary: Single Loop Circuits:

R2
Resistance Rule: Re = R
E E2
Current : I= R1
R E1

Voltage Rule: E = IR

 Complex Circuits
A complex circuit is one
containing more than a
I3
single loop and different
current paths. R3 E2
R1
At junctions m and n: m n
I1 = I2 + I3 or I2 + I3 = I1 I1
R2 E1
Junction Rule:
I2
I (enter) = I (leaving)
 Parallel Connections
Resistors are said to be connected in parallel
when there is more than one path for current.
For Parallel Resistors:
Parallel Connection:
V2 = V4 = V6 = VT
2W 4W 6W
I 2 + I 4 + I6 = I T

For Series Resistors:

Series Connection:
I 2 = I 4 = I6 = I T
2W 4W 6W V2 + V4 + V6 = VT
 Equivalent Resistance: Parallel
VT = V1 = V2 = V3 Parallel Connection:
IT = I1 + I2 + I3 VT
R1 R2 R3
V
Ohm’s law: I =
R
VT V1 V2 V3 1 1 1 1
= + + = + +
Re R1 R2 R3 Re R1 R2 R3
N
The equivalent resistance 1
=
1
for Parallel resistors: Re i =1 Ri
 Example 3. Find the equivalent resistance Re
for the three resistors below.
N
1 1
= VT R1 R2 R3
Re i =1 Ri
2W 4W 6W
1 1 1 1
= + +
Re R1 R2 R3
1 1 1 1
= + + = 0.500 + 0.250 + 0.167
Re 2 W 4 W 6 W
1 1
= 0.917; Re = = 1.09 W Re = 1.09 W
Re 0.917

For parallel resistors, Re is less than the least Ri.

Example 3 (Cont.): Assume a 12-V emf is connected to
the circuit as shown. What is the total current leaving
the source of emf?

VT R1 R2 R3 VT = 12 V; Re = 1.09 W
2W 4W 6W V1 = V2 = V3 = 12 V
12 V IT = I1 + I2 + I3

V VT 12 V
Ohm’s Law: I = Ie = =
R Re 1.09 W

Total current: IT = 11.0 A

 Example 3 (Cont.): Show that the current leaving the
source IT is the sum of the currents through the
resistors R1, R2, and R3.

VT R1 R2 R3 IT = 11 A; Re = 1.09 W
2W 4W 6W V1 = V2 = V3 = 12 V
12 V IT = I1 + I2 + I3
12 V 12 V 12 V
I1 = =6A I2 = =3A I3 = =2A
2W 4W 6W

6 A + 3 A + 2 A = 11 A Check !
 Short Cut: Two Parallel Resistors
The equivalent resistance Re for two parallel
resistors is the product divided by the sum.
1 1 1 R1 R2
= + ; Re =
Re R1 R2 R1 + R2

Example: (3 W)(6 W)
VT R1 R2 Re =
3W + 6 W
6W 3W
Re = 2 W
 Series and Parallel Combinations
In complex circuits resistors are often connected
in both series and parallel. R
1

In such cases, it’s best to VT R2 R3

use rules for series and
parallel resistances to
reduce the circuit to a
simple circuit containing
one source of emf and VT Re
one equivalent resistance.
Example 4. Find the equivalent resistance for the
circuit drawn below (assume VT = 12 V).
(3 W)(6 W)
4W R3,6 = = 2W
3W + 6 W
VT 3W 6W
Re = 4 W + 2 W
Re = 6 W

4W

12 V 2W 12 V 6W
 Example 3 (Cont.) Find the total current IT.
Re = 6 W
4W
VT 12 V
VT 3W 6W I= =
Re 6 W

IT = 2.00 A

4W
IT
12 V 2W 12 V 6W
 Example 3 (Cont.) Find the currents and the
voltages across each resistor.

4W I4 = I T = 2 A

VT 3W 6W V4 = (2 A)(4 W) = 8 V

The remainder of the voltage: (12 V – 8 V = 4 V)

drops across EACH of the parallel resistors.

This can also be found from

V3 = V6 = 4 V V3,6 = I3,6R3,6 = (2 A)(2 W)

(Continued . . .)
 Example 3 (Cont.) Find the currents and voltages
across each resistor.

V4 = 8 V V6 = V3 = 4 V 4W

V3 4 V VT 3W 6W
I3 = = I3 = 1.33 A
R3 3 W
V6 4 V
I6 = = I6 = 0.667 A I4 = 2 A
R6 6 W

Note that the junction rule is satisfied:

I (enter) = I (leaving) IT = I4 = I3 + I6