Fundamentals of

Electrical CircuitsITSE-1261
Lecture 01: Course Overview, Basic
Electric Circuit Concepts

Abayneh Tefera ([email protected])

Center for Information Technology and Scientific Computing,
Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT)
2014/2015, Semester II

Abayneh
Tefera
(AAiT)
Abayneh
Tefera
(AAiT)

Fundamentals
Electronics 2014/2015, 2014/2015,
Semester ISemester II
Fundamentals
of Electrical of
Circuits

Course Overview

Course Outline

Resistors, sources, and switches

Ohms law
Kirchhoffs laws of Voltage and Current
Current and Voltage Division
Mesh and Node Analysis
Source Transformations, Superposition, and
Equivalent Circuits

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Course Overview

Course Outline

Capacitors and inductors

RL, RC, and RLC Circuits
Phasors
AC Steady-State Power
Transformers
Two-Port Networks

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Course Overview

Textbook:
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, Charles K.
Alexander and Matthew N.O. Sadiku, 5th Edition,
McGraw-Hill
Other required material:
Introductory Circuit Analysis, Robert L.
Boylestad, 11th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall

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Course Overview

Course Objectives:
By the end of the course the student should be able to:
Explain the concept and parameters associated
with: voltage, current, power, energy, resistance,
capacitance and inductance.
Apply Kirchhoffs laws, linearity, superposition,
and Thevenins theorem in design and analysis of
circuits.
Analyze AC circuits involving active circuit
elements and elementary amplifiers.

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Course Overview

Course Objectives:
By the end of the course the student should be able to:
Determine the transient response of energy
storage elements using periodic functions, RMS
values and phasors.
Demonstrate the ability to analyze sinusoids in
steady-state response, resonance, Q, and
bandwidth
Graph the frequency response of the circuits.

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Course Overview

Grading:

Quizzes:
20%
Assignments: 15%
Mid:
25%
Final:
40%

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Course Overview

Academic Integrity:

Students are expected to be honest and to

submit their own work on quizzes, exams and
assignments
Cheating during an exam results F!

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Course Overview

Questions?

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Introduction

About the course

Electric circuit & Electromagnetic theories are fundamentals to
fields of studies such as
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering,
Electric circuit is a base in areas such as Electronics,
Communications and Control Systems.

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Introduction

About the course

Hence, the course Fundamentals of Electrical Circuit course is
best starting point for your career!
Added to the fact that, the course includes applied mathematics,
physics
Helps you improve your problem solving skills which is vital in
your career!

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Introduction

Why Electric Circuit?

Transferring/Communicating energy from point A to point B is the

most important topic in electronics.

Transferring/Communicating energy requires interconnection of

electrical devices.

This interconnection of electrical devices is called Electric

Circuit.
A

Transferring energy

Fig. electric circuit-interconnection of electric devices

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Introduction

Why Electric Circuit?

Electric circuit is the interconnection of electric elements.
Example(Simple):

Fig. a simple electric circuit.

Three electric elements above: Battery, connecting wire, lamp.

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Introduction

Why Electric Circuit?

Electric circuit is the interconnection of electric elements.
Example(Complex):

Fig. electric circuit of a radio transmitter.

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Introduction

Our goal?

Learning various analytical techniques for describing the

behavior of circuits like this.
Our objective?
Not the applications of the circuits!
We are interested in the analysis!
What do we mean by analysis?
How does the circuit respond to a given input?
How do the elements in the circuit interacts?

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

First?
We define some basic concepts such as system units,
charge, current, voltage, power,
System of Units:
We use the SI (System International) units. The system uses:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

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meters (m)
kilograms (kg)
seconds (s)
ampere (A)
degree kelvin (OK)
candela(for luminous intensity) (cd),
coulomb (C) as the fundamental units.

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We use the following prefixes:

pica (p): 10-12

tera (T): 1012

nano (n): 10-9

giga (G) : 109

micro (): 10-6

milli (m): 10-3

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mega (M): 106

kilo (k): 103

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Course
OutlineCircuit Concepts
Basic Electric

What is electricity?

One might define electricity as the separation of positive and negative

electric charge.

When the charges are separated and stationary we call this static electricity.
The charging of a capacitor is an example.

The separation of charge between clouds and the earth before a lighting
discharge is a static electricity.

When the charges are in motion (changing with time relative to one another)
we have variable electricity.

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Charge

Charge is the most fundamental quantity of electric circuits. In most

electric circuits, the basic charge is that of an electron, which is
-1.602x10-19 coulombs (C).

The entity, charge, is expressed as Q or q. If the charge is constant we

use Q. If the charge is in motion we use q(t) or q.

According to fundamental laws, charge cannot be either created or

destroyed, only transferred from one point to another.

We define charge in motion as current. That is,

dq
i (t )
dt
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Electric Current
Current charge in motion.
The flowing of charges through something.

We typically think of charge flowing through a wire, but it can also

flow through water, air and even vacuum.
You can think of current as water flowing through the interior of a
pipe, though current actually flows through the empty spaces
between atoms in a wire.
Current is a through variable, meaning that in order to measure it,
you need the current to go through something.

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Current

The unit of current is the ampere (A).

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Current

The unit of current is the ampere (A). We note that
1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second
We normally refer to current as being either direct (dc) or
alternating (ac).

0 .8

0 .6

0 .4

i(t)

i(t)

0 .2

-0 . 2
-0 . 4

t
dc current

-0 . 6

-0 . 8

-1

0 .5

t
a c current
1

1 .5

ac cu rren t
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2 .5

3 .5

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Current

In solving for current in a circuit, we must assume a direction,
solve for the current, then reconcile our answer. This is
illustrated below.
I1 = 4 A

C ircu it 1

I2 = - 3 A

C ircuit 2

(a )

(b )

In the diagram above(a), current I1 is 4A as assumed.

In the diagram above(b), the negative sign for current I2 tells us that the
assumed direction for the analysis is the opposite to the actual direction.

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Voltage

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Basic Quantities: Voltage

The next quantity of interest is voltage. Voltage is also called an
electromotive force (emf). It is also called potential (coming from
the expression, potential energy. However, voltage is not
energy.)
Suppose one coulomb of charge is located at point b and one joule
of energy is required to move the charge to point a. Then we say
that Vab = 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 newton.meter/coulomb.
Vab = 1 volt states that the potential of point a (voltage at point a)
is l volt (positive) with respect to point b.
The sign associated with a voltage is also called its polarity.
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Voltage

As in the case for current, we must assume a positive direction (polarity) for
the voltage. Consider the three diagrams below.

+
v=4v

vab = 4 v

v=4v

(a)

.
.

(b)

(c)

Each of the above gives the same information.

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Voltage

We need to keep in mind that we assume a polarity for the voltage.
When we solve the circuit for the voltage, we may find that the
actual polarity is not the polarity we assumed.
+

v = -6 v

v=6v

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Voltage

In summary, we should remember that,

w
v
q

(2)

Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit

charge through an element, measured in volts (V).
This can be expressed in differential form as,

dw
v
dq
w: energy in joules
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(3)
q: charge in coulombs

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Power

Power is defined as the time rate of change of doing work. We
express this as,

dw
p
dt

(3)

We can write equation (3) as follows:

dw dq
p
vi
dq dt

(4)

Power has units of watts.

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Power

In any closed electric circuit, power is both supplied and absorbed.
The amount that is supplied must be equal to the amount that is
absorbed.
Stated another way, we can say that the law of conversation of
energy must hold. Therefore, in any electric circuit the algebraic
sum of the power must be zero.

p0

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Power and Energy

When we pay our electric bills we pay for (watt)(hours) but
because this is such as large number we usually think kWH.
A profile of the power you use during a day may be as shown below.

The energy we pay for is the area under the power-time curve.
t

w pdt
to

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vidt

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Power

We adopt a passive sign convention in order to define the sign of
supplied power and the sign of absorbed power. Consider the following.
Power supplied: If the assumed
direction of the current leaves the
assumed positive polarity of the
voltage, power is supplied.
(a) p = +vi = +12W
(b) p = +vi = +12W

Power absorbed: If the assumed

direction of the current enters the
assumed positive polarity of the
voltage, power is absorbed.
(a) p = -vi = -12W
(b) p = -vi = -12W
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Basic Quantities: Power

We consider the following examples:
I=4A

I=4A

I=4A

I=4A

v=5v

v=5v

v=5v

(a) P = 20W

(b) P = 20W

(c) P = -20W

absorbed

absorbed

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absorbed

Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits

_
v=5v

+
(d) P = -20W
absorbed

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Circuit Elements:
We classify circuit elements as passive and active.
Passive elements cannot generate energy. Common examples of
passive elements are resistors, capacitors and inductors. We will
see later that capacitors and inductors can store energy but cannot
generate energy.
Active elements can generate energy. Common examples of active
elements are power supplies, batteries, operational amplifiers.
For the present time we will be concerned only with sources. The types
of sources we consider are independent and dependent.

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Circuit Elements:

Ideal independent voltage source

An ideal independent voltage source is characterized as having a

constant voltage across its terminals, regardless of the load
connected to the terminals.
The ideal voltage source can supply any amount of current.
Furthermore, the ideal independent voltage source can supply any
amount of power.
The standard symbols of the ideal independent voltage source are
shown below.

v(t)

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_+

Most often
used

Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits

Sometimes
used
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Circuit Elements:

Ideal independent current sources

An ideal independent current source is characterized as

providing a constant value of current, regardless of the load.
If the current source is truly ideal, it can provided any value
of voltage and any amount of power.
The standard symbol used for the ideal independent current
source is shown below.
+

i(t)

1 am p

1 m eg

V
-

V=?

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Circuit Elements:

Comments about ideal model

The ideal independent voltage and current sources are models.

As such, they are subject to limitations.
For example, an independent voltage source, that one commonly
works with, cannot put-out 1x10320 volts.
Neither can an ordinary independent current source put out
4x10765 amps.
We must always keep these limitations in mind. Otherwise one
might think that one could start an automobile engine with a
12 V radio battery!

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Circuit Elements:

Dependent voltage source

A dependent voltage source is characterized by depending on

a voltage or current somewhere else in the circuit. The symbol
For the voltage source is shown below. Note the diamond shape.

A circuit containing a dependent voltage source is shown below.

10

20
30

5 V

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+_

1 0 Iy

Iy
12

Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits

A circuit with a current

controlled dependent
voltage source.
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Circuit Elements:

Dependent current source

A dependent current source is characterized by depending on

a voltage or current somewhere else in the circuit. The symbol
for a dependent current source is shown as follows:

A circuit containing a dependent current source is shown below.

10

20
30

5 V

+_

4vx

12

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Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits

A circuit with a voltage

controlled dependent
current source
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Current, Charge Examples:

Background:
We have seen that,

dq
i (t )
dt

(7)

It follows that,

q (t ) i (t )dt q (0)

(8)

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Current, Charge Examples:

Find the current in a element if the charge flowing through
the element is q(t) = 3t3 + 6t2 +8t 4.

dq d (3t 6t 8t 4)
i (t )
dt
dt
3

It follows that,

i (t ) 9t 12t 8
2

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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Current, Charge Examples:

If the current in an electrical device is given by,
i(t) = 2t + 4
With q(0) = 1.5 C
Find the charge flowing through the device.
From Eq. (8) we have,

q (t ) i (t )dt q (0)
0

(2t 4)dt 1.5

0

q (t ) t 2 4t 1.5
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Power Balance Examples:

You are given the circuit shown below.
+

8 V

20 V

2 A

24 V

+_
_

0 .5 I x

4 V

Ix = 4 A

(a) Calculate the power supplied by each device.

(b) Show that the p 0
(c) Verify that Psup = Pabs = 104 W
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Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Power Balance Examples:

B
(a) PA = 24V*4A = 96w

(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

PB = - (8V*4A) = -32w
PC = - (24 - 8)V * 0.5Ix = -32w
PD = - (20V*2A) = -40w
PE = 4V*2A = 8w

8 V

D
_

20 V

2 A

A
24 V

(f)

= 96w 32w 32w 40w + 8w

= 0w.
(g) Psup = 96w + 8w = 104w,
Pabs = 32 + 32 + 40 = 104w.

C
+_
_

0 .5 Ix

_
+

Ix = 4 A

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E
4 V

Basic Electric Circuit Concepts

Homework

. Determine

the current flowing through an element if the charge flow is given b

I. q(t) = (8t2 + 4t - 2) C
II. q(t) = 10 sin 120 t pC
. If the current flowing through an element is given by
i(t) =
plot the charge stored in the element over 0 t 20 s.
. The charge entering the positive terminal of an element is
q = 5 sin 4 t mC
while the voltage v across the element (plus to minus) is
v = 3 cos 4 t V
I. Find the power delivered to the element at t = 0.3s.
II. Calculate the energy delivered to the element between 0 and 0.6s.

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