ECE 2070 Basic Electrical Engineering

ECE 307 Lecture 1

DC Circuit Components, Connections, and KCL

Department of Electrical and Computer

Engineering
Clemson University

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Electric Charge
Electric charge is the physical property of matter that causes it
to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field.
The SI unit of charge is Coulomb.

Electric charges are quantized

It comes in integer multiples of individual small units called the
elementary charge (e), approximately equal to 1.6021019 coulombs
(except for particles called quarks, which have charges that are integer
multiples of e/3).

There are two types of charges: positive and negative. The

proton has a charge of +e, and the electron has a charge of e.

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Electrical Work
Electrical work is the work done on a charged particle
by an electric field. The SI unit for electric work is
Joule.
a

+++++++++++++
a
Q

b
b

Wab Q E dr
a

F = q0E

ha
hb

F = mg

F = mg

F = q0E
-------------

Wab mg (ha hb )

Q is the charge of the particle, E is the electric field

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Electric Potential
The electric potential at a point in an electric field is
defined as the work done in moving a unit positive
charge from infinity to that point.
The SI unit for electrical potential is Volt.
a

Wa
Va
E dr
Q

The electric potential difference

b

Wab
Vab Va Vb
E dr
Q
a

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Electric Current
Electric Current is defined as the time flow rate of electric
charges
The SI unit for electric current is Ampere [coulombs per
second)

dQ
I
dt

The Electrical Engineering convention

The positive direction of current flow is that of
positive charges.
Direct Current (DC): the flow of electric charges
(current) is unidirectional.
Alternating Current (AC): the flow of electric charges
(current) periodically reverses its direction.

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Electric Power
Electric power, like mechanical power, is the rate of
doing work, measured in watts [joules per second].
Electric Power =

Work Work Charge

=

Voltage Current
Time Charge Time

P VI
Electrical Engineering convention
The power dissipated by a load is a positive
quantity
Power is generated/stored (negative) or dissipated
(positive) when charges are moved between different
electric potentials.

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Overview of DC Electric Circuits

Reductions
Connections
Source Transformation
Terminal
Parallel
Node
Series
Branch
Thevenin Equivalent
Loop
Circuit Components Mesh
Norton Equivalent
Electric Circuit
Resistor
Similar
Voltage Source
Performs a function:
Electric Circuit
Current Source
oProcess Information
Switch
oTransfer Power
Characterized by:
Analysis Tools
oVoltages
Kirchoffs Current Law
DC Lecture 1 oCurrents
Node Voltage Method
DC Circuit Components,
oPower
Kirchoffs Voltage Law
Connections, and KCL
oEnergy
Mesh Current Method
Superposition

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Overview of Lecture
Introduce Six Elements Used in a DC Circuit
Constant Voltage Source
Constant Current Source
Resistor
Open Circuit, Short Circuit, Switch
Connect the Elements to Build a Circuit
Define Connection Terminology: Terminal, Node,
Branch, Loop, Mesh
Define Series and Parallel Connections
Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)
Describes the currents at a connection

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Constant Voltage Source

Examples of Constant Voltage Sources:
Car Battery supplies
constant 12V to power the
lights and accessories
Solar Cell used to convert
light into electricity to power
this toy robot creates 0.5V
constant voltage.

AA Battery used in a
flashlight to supply a
constant 1.5V.

Rechargeable Battery
supplies 3.7V to power
the cell phone

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Constant Voltage Source

Produces a constant voltage that

is not affected by connections to
other components

Mathematical Model:
Voltage is Constant
Current
oCurrent is determined by
connections to other
components
oCan supply any current

Voltage

Behavior:
Constant -> no change over time
Time

Symbol:

+
+
-

vS

vS
or

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Constant Voltage Source

What does it do when connected to other components?
Case 1:

Case 2:

Does work to move electrons and

supply energy to the rest of the
electric circuit
Current results from this connection

The electric circuit does work to

charge the battery
Current results from this connection

+
-

vS
-

Electric
Circuit

+
-

vS

Battery
Charging
Circuit

Note: We will have to solve the entire circuit in order

to know the amount of current.

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Constant Current Source

Examples of Constant Current Sources:
Cell Phone charger
supplies constant current at
the beginning of a fullcharge cycle.

Welder supplies constant

current to create the heat
needed to fuse metal pieces.

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Behavior:
Produces a constant current that
is not affected by connections to
other components
Mathematical Model:
Current is Constant
Voltage
oVoltage is determined by
connections to other
components
oCan supply any voltage

Current

Constant Current Source

Constant -> no change over time

Time

Symbol:

is

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Constant Current Source

What does it do when connected to other components?

Does work to move electrons and supply energy to the rest of the electric
circuit

A voltage can be
measured across +
v
the current
source as a result of this
connection

is

Electric
Circuit
-

Note: We will have to solve the entire circuit in

order to know the amount of voltage.

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Resistor
Examples of Resistors:
The Heating Element of a
toaster (the part that gets hot)
resists the flow of electrons and
gets hot.

An extension cord is used

to connect appliances and
has very low resistance.

The resistance of the extension cord is not zero and can be

significant depending on the application.

The Filament in a light bulb

(the part that produces light)
resists the flow of electrons and
gets very hot to produce light.

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Behavior:
Constant relationship between
voltage and current.

Current

Resistor

1
slope =
R
is constant.
Voltage

Mathematical Model:
Constant R summarizes material
properties, temperature, and size.
Ohms Law relates the voltage
and current using R:

v = iR

Symbol:

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Resistor
What does it do when connected to other components?
Resists the flow of electrons. A resistor removes energy from the circuit
and dissipates it as heat.
Current results from this connection
A voltage can be
measured across
the resistor as a
result of this
connection

+i
v

Electric
Circuit

Note: We will have to solve the entire circuit in order to

know either the voltage or the current. We do know that
voltage and current are related by Ohms Law as v = iR

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Application of Ohms Law

R is a circuit model of a physical material that
has length, width, height, and property of
conductivity that constitute the resistance.
Examples (given same size):

+
v

Copper wire (low resistance)

R
-

Nichrome wire (medium resistance)

Gold wire (low resistance)
Insulation on wire (high resistance)

For the current referenced into a voltage drop as shown

v=iR

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Application of Ohms Law

Must adjust the sign (+/-) in Ohms law for other referenced
directions,
i

+
v

v= - iR

v= iR

This is the standard

convention

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Example 1: Applying Ohms Law given fixed voltage

and current references
2A

2A

2A

+
v

10W

v= iR
= 2A(10W)
= 20V

10W

v= - iR
= -(-2A)(10W)
= 20V

10W

+
v= iR
= (-2A)(10W)
= -20V

These are all the same circuit. 2A goes into the resistor from the top and there is a
20 V drop from top to bottom.

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Open and Short Circuits

Open Circuit:

Short Circuit:

No current can flow, ~ infinite R

No resistance to current flow, ~ zero R

Current

No Current

Resistance is

Electric
Circuit

Resistance
is zero

NO current can be
measured across
the opening

NO voltage can be
measured across
the short

Electric
Circuit

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Switch
Examples of Switches:

Switch on the wall turns

the lights on or off.

Switch on the coffee

maker turns the appliance
on or off.

Each button on the phone

or key on the keyboard is a
Switch.

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Switch

Behavior:
Can stop or allow the flow of current.

Mathematical Model:
No current flows when the switch
is open.
Current flows freely when switch
is closed.

Symbol:

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Switch
What does it do when connected to other components?
Connects or disconnects part of the circuit
Open:
Closed:
Acts like an open circuit
No Current

Acts like a short circuit

Current

R
-

Electric
Circuit

v=0V

Electric
Circuit

NO current can be
measured across
the opening

NO voltage can be
measured across
the switch

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Connect Components to Create an Electric Circuit

Example: Connect a battery and a resistor to build a
portable light.

1.5A
1.5V

1.5V

1.5A

Device: Flashlight

Circuit Model

1W

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Electric Circuit (Electric Network)

Connection of Components
Terms to describe the connection of components
Terminal
Node
Branch
Learning a new
Loop
vocabulary !
Mesh

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Electric Circuit Connections

Terminal point where a component or part of the
circuit connects to other components or other parts of
the circuit
Node connection point
R1

Pick a point and call it the node

R1
R2

R3

Electrically anywhere
in here is the
connection point

R4

R3

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Example 2: Identify Terminals

+
+
-

v1

R Terminals

These internal
connections are
not the terminals
v1of the connected
components.
R1

+
-

v1

R3

R1
R4

R2
Each element alone
has two terminals

R2

R3
A connection of
components has terminals

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Example 3: Identify Nodes

Label the nodes in the circuit.

+
-

v1

Electrically,
anywhere along
the wires in this
area is the
connection point

R1

R2

R3

Pick a point and

call it the node

Note that this connection

is an electrical circuit and
could be a model for a
system such as the
electrical system in a car

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Electric Circuit Connections

Branch portion of a circuit with only two external
terminals
t
1

t1

+
-

+
-

v1

t4

terminals

t2

R1

R1

v1
t2

R2
t3

t3

Each element is a branch.

The connection between
t1 and t3 is also a branch

Each element is a branch. The

connection is NOT a branch
because it has 3 external terminals
t1 , t3, and t4 and three
components connect at t2 .

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Example 4: Identify Branches

Find branches in the circuit.
First identify the nodes.

3W

40V +

2W

6W

1W

4W
2W

Each of the components are individually a branch, 8

components means 8 branches.
There is a branch containing the 40V source and the 3W and
1W resistors the connection has two terminals.
The branch at the right has two terminals that connect this
sub-circuit to the rest of the circuit.

28A

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Parallel Connection
Elements of a circuit which share the same two nodes

v1

Electrically,
anywhere along
the wires in this
area is the
connection point

+
-

i1

R1

R2

R3

Pick a point and

call it the node
All components of the circuit connect to the same two
nodes and are therefore in parallel.
We often use the symbol || to indicate that elements
are in parallel, here v1 || i1 || R1 || R2 || R3

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Example 5: Indentify Parallel Elements

Which elements in the circuit are connected in parallel?
First indentify the nodes.

3W

40V +

2W

6W

1W

The branch containing

the 40V source and the
3W and 1W resistors is
in parallel with 6W
resistor

4W

28A

2W

4 W and 28A source are

in parallel.
No other individual
components are in parallel

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Electric Circuit Connections

Loop a closed connection of branches
Mesh a loop that does not contain other loops
R1

+
-

v1

R4
R2

R5

How many nodes?

How many meshes?

How many loops?

2+1=3

The two meshes plus the

third exterior loop
R3

Form a closed connection of branches by starting at a node and

traversing the circuit until we get back to the starting node.
Cannot use the same node twice.

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Example 6: Identify nodes, loops, meshes

N2

N1

N3

R1

+
-

v1

R2
v2

R3

i1
R5

+
-

R4

N4

How many nodes?

How many meshes?

4
5

How many loops? 5 + +

What is not a loop? A path that crosses the same node twice

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Kirchhoffs Current Law (KCL)

Equal amounts of charge enter and exit a node.
Algebraic sum of currents into and out of a node is
N
zero:
i 0
n 1

Convention 1: Current labeled as pointing into a

node is given a negative sign in the summation and
current labeled as pointing out of the node is
positive.
Convention 2: Current labeled as pointing into a
node is given a positive sign in the summation and
current labeled as pointing out of the node is
negative.

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Example 7: Applying KCL

Node
Find i3 in terms of the other currents.

i1

i2

Using Convention 1:
4

n 1
(i out of node +)

i3

i 0 i1 i2 i3 i4 0

Solve for i3:

i3 i1 i2 i4

i4

Using Convention 2:
4

n 1
(i out of node -)

i 0 i1 i2 i3 i4 0

Solve for i3:

i3 i1 i2 i4

Both conventions yield the

same result. We will
generally use Convention 1

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Example 7 (cont): Applying KCL

Note: i2 = -3A means
that the current actually
flows in the direction
opposite to the arrow

Node

i2

i1

Given:

i3

i1 5A

i2 3A

i4

i4 2A
Find

i3:

n 1
(i out of node +)

i 0 i1 i2 i3 i4 0

i3 i1 i2 i4 (5 A) 3 A (2 A)
0A

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Example 8: Applying KCL

Same problem with some of the current directions
changed. Find i3 in terms of the other currents.
Using Convention 1:
4

n 1
(i out of node +)

i3 i1 i2 i4

Using Convention 2:

n 1
(i out of node -)

i2

i1
i3

i 0 i1 i2 i3 i4 0

Solve for i3:

Node

i 0 i1 i2 i3 i4 0

Solve for i3: i3 i1 i2 i4

i4
Both conventions yield the
same result. We will
generally use Convention 1

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Example 9: Applying KCL in a Circuit

Apply KCL at each node.
Identify the nodes in the circuit and label.

N1
i4
R4

+
-

v1

R1
i1

is

R2
i2

R3
i3

N2
KCL at Node 1 :
5

at Node 2:

i 0 iS i1 i2 i3 i4 0

i 0 iS i1 i2 i3 i4 0

n 1
(i out of node +)
5
n 1
(i out of node +)

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Example 9 (cont): Applying KCL in a Circuit

If we knew some actual values:

iS 5A , i1 i2 i3 1A
Node 1:

2:

5A 1A 1A 1A i4 0 i4 2A
5A 1A 1A 1A i4 0 i4 2A

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Example 10: Solving a Circuit Using KCL

What is the current through the 5W resistor?

5A

15A

1
ia

8A

va

5W

We need to solve for ia.

Identify the nodes in the circuit and apply KCL to create equations to solve for ia.
KCL at the
top node
yields:

i 0 -5 A -15 A 8 A ia 0
n 1
ia 5 A 15 A -8 A 12 A
(i out of node 1)

Once we know the current in a resistor,

we can use Ohms law to find the voltage:

Here we only
needed to write 1
equation and solve
for the 1 unknown.

va ia R 12 A 5W 60V

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Series Connections
Elements of a circuit connected so that the current out
of one component goes into the next.
3W

40V +

2W

6W

1W

4W
2W

We say that the 40V source, the 3W resistor, and the 1W

resistor are connected in series.

28A

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Example 11: Show that series components have the

same current.
N1

3W

N2

2W

N3

ia
40V

+
-

6W

ib

2W

1W
N4

ic

28A

4W

N5

N6

Write KCL equations at nodes N1 and N4:

4

N1 :

n 1
(i out of node +)

i 0 ia ib 0

ia ib ic

N 24 :

n 1
(i out of node +)

i 0 ib ic 0

44

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Summary
Connections
Terminal
Node
Branch
Loop
Circuit Components Mesh
Resistor
Voltage Source
Current Source
Switch
DC Lecture 1 DC Circuit Components,
Connections, and KCL

Reductions
Source Transformation
Parallel same voltage
Series same current
Thevenin
Norton
Electric Circuit
Similar
Performs a function:
Electric Circuit
oProcess Information
oTransfer Power
Characterized by:
Analysis Tools
oVoltages
Kirchoffs Current Law
oCurrents
Node Voltage Method
oPower
Kirchoffs Voltage Law
oEnergy
Mesh Current Method
Superposition