EEEB113

CIRCUIT ANALYSIS I
Chapter 1
Basic Concepts

Materials from Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, Alexander & Sadiku 5e, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Topics Covered
 Concept of voltage and current.
 Concept of a circuit.
 Sources - provide either a specified voltage or
current.
 Dependent and independent sources.
 Strategy for solving problems.
 Basic Concepts - Chapter 1
3

1.1 Introduction
1.2 System of Units (SI)
1.3 Charge & Current
1.4 Voltage
1.5 Energy & Power
1.6 Circuit Elements
 1.1 Introduction (1)
4

What is electric circuit?

 Interconnection of electrical elements.
 It may consist of only two elements or many more
1.1 Introduction (2)

 An electrical network 1 is an interconnection of

electrical elements such as resistors, inductors,
capacitors, transmission lines, voltage sources, current
sources, and switches.

 An electrical circuit 1 is a network that has a closed

loop, giving a return path for the current.

AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT IS AN INTERCONNECTION OF

ELECTRICAL ELEMENTS
 1.1 Introduction (3)
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 1.2 System of Units (1)
7

When taking measurements,

we must use units to quantify
values

We use the International

Systems of Units (SI for short)

Prefixes on SI units allow for

easy relationships between
large and small values
 1.2 System of Units (3)
8

Common circuit theory SI prefixes

used to signify
e.g. powers of 10

1,000,000 ohms = 1 x 106 ohms

= 1 mega-ohm (MΩ)

100,000 meters = 100 x 103 meters

= 100 kilometers (km)

0.001 second = 1 x 10-3 seconds

= 1 millisecond (ms)

0.0000001 farad = 0.1 x 10-6 farad

= 0.1 microfarad (μF)
 1.3 Charge (1)
9

 Charge, q is a basic SI unit, measured in coulombs (C)

 Charge counts the number of electrons (or positive charges)

present.

 Charge is bipolar i.e. it has – ve and +ve charges

 Charge e on 1 single electron = -1.602  10-19 C

 1 coulomb charge, 1C = 1/(1.60210-19C) = 6.24x1018

electrons
 1.3 Charge (2)
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 In the lab, one typically sees (pC, nC, or μC)

 Charge is always multiple of electron charge

 Charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.

 1.3 Charge & Current
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Electric effects
 Charges separate = create electric force
 Charges move = create electric flow i.e. current

• Electric current is due to flow of

electronic charge in a conductor.

• Historically the moving charges were

thought to be positive

• Thus we always note the direction of the

equivalent positive charges, even if the
moving charges are negative.
 1.3 Current (1)
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 Electric current = time rate of change of charge

measured in ampere, A.
dq
i
dt

 Charge transferred between time t0 and t is

obtained by integrating both sides of above
equation. t
q  idt
t0
 1.3 Current (2)
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Types of Currents

 direct current (dc)

current remains constant with time.
example: battery

 alternating current (ac)

current varies sinusoidally with time.
example: mains power supply
 1.3 Current (3)
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Direction of current flow

 The sign of the current indicates the direction in which the
charge is moving with reference to the direction of interest we
define.
 A positive current through a component is the same as a
negative current flowing in the opposite direction.

(a)Positive current flow

(b)Negative current flow
 1.4 Voltage (1)
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 Electrons move when there is a

difference in charge between
two locations.

 This difference is expressed at

the potential difference, or
voltage (V).

 It is always expressed with

reference to 2 locations.
 1.4 Voltage (2)
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 Voltage (or potential difference) = energy required to

move a unit charge between the 2 locations, measured
in volts (V).
dw
vab 
dq

 where w is energy in joules (J) and q is charge in coulomb (C).

 Positive charge moving from a higher potential to a

lower yields energy.

 Moving from negative to positive requires energy.

 1.4 Voltage (3)
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 Voltage, vab, is always across the circuit element or

between two points in a circuit.
 vab > 0 means the potential of a is higher than potential of b.
 vab < 0 means the potential of a is lower than potential of b.

Point ‘a’ is at higher potential than point ‘b’.

If vab= 3 V, then vba= -3 V because point ‘b’ is

lower than point ‘a’.
 1.4 Voltage (4)
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Figure (a)
Vab = 9 V
Vba = -9 V

Figure (b)
Vab= - (-9)V = 9V
Vba= -9 V

18
 1.5 Energy & Power (1)
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 Voltage alone does not equal power.

 It requires the movement of charge, i.e. a current.

 Power is the product of voltage and current. p  vi

 It is equal to the rate of energy provided or

consumed per unit time.

 It is measured in Watts (W)

 1.5 Energy & Power (2)
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 Energy, w is the capacity to do work, measured in

Joules (J);

 Power, p is the rate of change of energy, measured in

Watts (W) dw
p
dt
dw dq
 From definitions of voltage, v  and current, i 
dq dt
dw dw dq
p    vi
dt dq dt
Passive Sign Convention

 By convention, we say that an element being

supplied power has positive power.

 A power source, such as a battery has negative

power.

 Passive sign convention is satisfied if the direction

of current is selected such that current enters
through the terminal that is more positively biased.
 1.5 Energy & Power (3)
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1. When the current enters through the

positive terminal of an element, the p = + vi
power is delivered to or absorbed by
the element, p=+vi. power absorbed

2. When the current enters through the

negative terminal, the power is
delivered from or supplied by the
element, p=-vi. p = - vi
power supplied
 Passive sign convention is satisfied.
22
 1.5 Energy & Power (4)
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Figure (a) Figure (b)

p = 4(3) p = 4(3)
= 12 W = 12 W
23
 1.5 Energy & Power (5)
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Figure (a) Figure (b)

p = -4(3) p = -4(3)
= -12 W = -12 W
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 1.5 Energy & Power (6)
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 In a circuit,
power absorbed = power supplied
+vi = -vi

 Law of conservation of energy

Algebraic SUM of POWER in a circuit at any instant of time is
ZERO

p0
25
 Conservation of Energy

 In a circuit, energy cannot be created or destroyed. Thus

power also must be conserved

 The sum of all power supplied must be absorbed by the

other elements.

 Energy can be described as watts x time.

 Power companies usually measure energy in watt-hours

 1.6 Circuit Element (1)
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 2 types of electrical/ circuit elements

Active elements Passive elements

 able to generate energy  cannot generate energy

e.g. e.g.
1. Sources 1. Resistor

2. Batteries 2. Capacitor

3. Generators 3. Inductor
 1.6 Circuit Element (2)
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Independent: Dependent:
 Active elements

+
Sources Voltage -
+
-

Current

Voltage Current Voltage Current

1. Independent voltage source active element that provides voltage or

current that is independent of other circuit
elements.
2. Independent current source

active element that depends on voltage or current of

3. Dependent sources
other element.
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 1.6 Circuit Element (3)
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Independent sources:

voltage sources current source

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 1.6 Circuit Element (4)
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Dependent sources:

voltage source current source

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 1.6 Circuit Element (5)
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4 types of Dependent Sources

1. Voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS) +
- 2V0

2. Current-controlled voltage source (CCVS) +

- 2I0

3. Voltage-controlled current source (VCCS) 2V0

4. Current-controlled current source (CCCS) 2I0

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 1.6 Circuit Element (5)
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 The circuit shown below is an example of using a

dependent source.

 The source on the right is controlled by the current

passing through element C.

32
 1.6 Circuit Elements (7)
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Active Elements Passive Elements

• A dependent source is an active

element in which the source quantity
is controlled by another voltage or
current.

• There are four different types: VCVS,

CCVS, VCCS, CCCS. Keep in minds the
Independent Dependant signs of dependent sources.
sources sources
 1.6 Circuit Elements (8)
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Example
Find the power absorbed or supplied by each component of the circuit

Solution
p1 = 5(-8) = -40W p2 = 2(8) = 16W
p3 = (0.6)(5)(3) = 9W p4 = 3(5) = 15W

To check: p = 0 = p1 + p2 + p3 + p4 = -40 + 16 + 9 + 15 = 0 – law of conservation of energy

 1.6 Circuit Elements (9)
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Example
Find the power absorbed or supplied by each component of the circuit

Solution
p1 = 20(-5) = -100W p2 = 12(5) = 60W
p3 = 8(6) = 48W p4 = 8(-0.2)(5) = -8W

To check: p = 0 = p1 + p2 + p3 + p4 = -100 + 60 + 48 +(-8) = 0 – law of conservation of energy

 1.6 Circuit Elements (10)
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Example
Find the power absorbed or supplied by each component of the circuit

Solution
p1 =5(-9) = -45W p2 = 2(9) = 18W
p3 = (0.6)(5)(4) = 12W p4 = 3(5) = 15W

To check: p = 0 = p1 + p2 + p3 + p4 = -45 + 18 + 12 + 15 = 0 – law of conservation of energy

 Problem Solving I
 PROCESS TO DETERMINE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM

1. Carefully define the problem.

2. Present everything you know about the problem.

3. Establish a set of alternative solutions and determine

the one that promises the greatest likelihood of
success.
Problem Solving II

4. Attempt a problem solution.

5. Evaluate the solution and check for accuracy.

6. Has the problem been solved satisfactorily? If so,

present the solution; if not, then return to step 3 and
continue through the process again.
Problem Solving III
 Carefully define the problem
 This is the most important step
 What needs to be solved?

 What questions need to be addressed before solving? Find

the sources to answer them.

 Present everything you know about the problem

 What do you know?
 What don’t you?
Problem Solving IV

 Establish a set of alternative solutions and

determine the one that promises the greatest
likelihood of success.
 Most problems have more than one way to be solved
 But not all solutions are as simple

 Are the required tools available?

 Problem Solving V

 Attempt to solve the problem

 Documenting this process is very important

 Evaluate the solution and check for accuracy

 Does it makes sense?
 Is it consistent with any assumptions made?

 Is the solution satisfactory? If not, try an alternate

solution.