Basic Electrical Engineering

Lecture #3

Mr. Muhammad Moazzam

Lecturer (Biomedical Department)
University of the Lahore
Ohms law,
defines the relationship between voltage, current and resistance.
V=IR
These basic electrical units apply to direct current, or alternating
current.

Ohm’s Law is the foundation of electronics and electricity.

This formula is used extensively by electricians.

Without a thorough understanding of “Ohm’s Law” an electrician
can not design or troubleshoot even the simplest of electronic or
electrical circuits.

Ohm established in the late 1820’s that if a voltage was applied to

a resistance then “current would flow and then power would be
consumed”.
Voltage measured in volts, symbolized by
the letters "E" or "V".

Current measured in amps, symbolized by

the letter "I".

Resistance measured in ohms, symbolized

by the letter "R".
Let's see how these equations might work to help us analyze
simple circuits:

If we know the values of any two of the three

quantities (voltage, current, and resistance) in
this circuit, we can use Ohm's Law to determine
the third.
calculate the amount of current (I) in a circuit, given values of voltage
(E) and resistance (R):
calculate the amount of resistance (R) in a circuit, given values of
voltage (E) and current (I):
calculate the amount of voltage supplied by a battery, given values of
current (I) and resistance (R):
Series and Parallel
 Series vs Parallel Circuits
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit
• Electrons only have one • There are MULTIPLE paths
path to flow through. for the current to flow
through.
 Series Circuit
• When electrons have to flow through one part to
get to the next part

– More components = more resistance

– Increase resistance = decrease current (flow)
– Less current = less bright bulbs
– As voltage increases, current increases
 Series Circuit – Pros & Cons
Problems with Series:
• The more devices (resistors) in a series circuit, the less
current passes through (dimmer bulbs).

• If one resistor breaks (a bulb goes out) the entire series is

turned off.
 Series Circuit - Resistance
• Resistors – resists the flow of electrical current
• Increased resistance will reduce the rate at which charge
flows (current)

• Total resistance goes UP with each resistor since the

current has must go through each resistor.
• Total Resistance = Sum of all resistors in the series
Req = R1+R2+ R3…
 Series Circuit - Current

• Current = amount of charge (flow of electrons)

– Like the flow of water
• A current can't just disappear (appear)
– Since only one path if some electrons flow through R1, then they
have to continue flowing through R2 and R3.

– Since the Current is the same through the entire circuit

IT=I1=I2=I3
 Series Circuit - Voltage
• Voltage is the electric equivalent of water pressure.
– The higher the voltage, the faster electrons will flow
through the conductor.
• Each component has resistance that causes a drop
in voltage (reduction in voltage).

• Total Voltage = The sum of voltages across each

series resistors
VT = V1 + V2 + V3…
 Series vs Parallel Chart
Series Parallel

Voltage (V) Vtot = V1 + V2 + V3…

Current (I) Itot=I1=I2=I3

Resistance (R) Req = R1+R2+ R3…

 Series Circuit - Example

• Given
– Vbattery = 12 V
– R1 = 50 W, R2 = 100 W, R3 = 100 W
• Complete the following table
V = I R
1
2
3
-----------------------------------------------
T
 Parallel Circuit - Resistance
• Resistors added side-by-side
• The more paths, the less TOTAL resistance.
1/ Req=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3
• Ex. 2 resistors in parallel with 4Ω each.
• Since the circuit offers two equal pathways
for charge flow, only 1/2 the charge
will choose to pass through a given branch.
 Parallel Circuit - Current
• ALL paths are used!
– But the charge divides up into all branches
– One branch can have more current than another
branch (depends on resistance in branch).
• Total current = sum of current in each path
IT = I1 + I2 + …
 Parallel Circuit - Voltage
• A charge only passes through a single resistor.
• Voltage drop across the resistor that it chooses to
pass through must equal the voltage of the battery.
• Total voltage = the voltage across each individual
resistor
VT = V1 = V2 = …
 Parallel Circuit - Example

• Given
– Vbattery = 12 V
– R1 = 50 W, R2 = 100 W, R3 = 100 W
• Complete the following table:
V = I R
1
2
3
-----------------------------------------------
T
 Parallel Circuit – Pros and Cons
Advantages
• The more devices (resistors) in a parallel circuit, does not
decrease the current (does not dim bulbs).
• If one resistor breaks (a bulb goes out) the rest do not.

Problems
• Current doesn’t stay the same for entire circuit
– So energy is used up quicker
– So the total current increases = faster electrons = hotter
wire = fire?
Which is better? Series or Parallel?
Parallel
• Most things are wired in parallel
• Because of the fact that the more you plug in,
the intensity doesn’t decrease.
• Of course, this also increases the risk of fire
• This is why homes have fuses or circuit
breakers. They turn off everything in the
circuit when current moves too fast.
 Toll Booth Explanation
• Adding toll booths in series increases
resistance and slows the current flow.
• Adding toll booths in parallel lowers
resistance and increases the current
flow.
 Series vs Parallel Chart
Series Parallel

Voltage (V) Vtot = V1 + V2 + V3… Vtot = V1 = V2 = …

Current (I) Itot=I1=I2=I3 Itot = I1 + I2 + …

Resistance (R) Req = R1+R2+ R3… 1/Req=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3

 TERMINOLOGY
In order to discuss the more involved methods
of circuit analysis, we must define a few basic
terms necessary for a clear, concise description
of important circuit features.
Network Topology
 An interconnected set of electrical
components is called a network.

• Each component of a network is called

an element.

• Elements are connected by wires.

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Nodes and Branches
• The interconnections between wires are
called nodes. Example a,b, c, d, e, f and g
• The wire paths between nodes are called
branches. Example:V1,R1,R2,R3,V2,R4,R5,R6,R7
and I
branches

nodes

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 Network Topology
• Essential Node:-A node that joins three or
more elements. Example b, c,e and g
• Essential branch:- Those paths that connect
essential nodes without passing through an
essential node . Example c–a–b, c–d–e, c–f–g,
b–e, e–g, b–g
 Network Topology
• Loop:- A loop is a complete path, i.e., it starts at a
selected node, traces a set of connected basic circuit
elements and returns to the original starting node
without passing through any intermediate node
more than once . Example a b e d c a, a b e g f c a, c d
e b g f c, etc.
• Mesh:- A mesh is a special type of loop, i.e., it does
not contain any other loops within it.Example a b e d
c a, c d e g f c, g e b g (through R7 ) and g e b g
 What is “Ground”

“Ground” refers to the reference terminal to

which all other voltages are measured

V1 + V2 + V3 +
_ _ _

Point of Reference

Figure 1.3
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 The earth is really just one big ground node.

Most people choose the earth as the

reference ground when a connection
to it is available.
V2 +
_

A ground connection to earth is often made

via the third prong of a power cord.

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 Ground Symbol

Positive relative to ground

V1 + V2 + V3 +
_ _ _

V4 +
_

Figure 1.4
Negative relative to ground

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 Voltage Relative to Ground
The white terminal is connected to earth ground
Connect the black terminal to ground

The red terminal is

positive with respect to
“ground”

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Negative Polarity Relative to
Ground

The black terminal is

negative with respect to
ground.

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Current Flow
• Current can flow through the branches of a network.

• The direction of current flow is indicated by an arrow.

+
_

•Note: The voltage sources in the network drive the flow

of current through its branches. (More on this idea later.)
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Every Current has a Value and a Direction

• The direction is defined by the person drawing the network.

• The value is determined by the properties of the circuit.

i1
_
+
_ A
+

Example:

The arrow above defines “positive” current flow i1 as downward in branch A.

Suppose that 4 mA of current flows physically downward in branch A. Then i1 = 4 mA.

Converse:
Suppose that 4 mA of current flows physically upward in branch A. Then i1 = – 4 mA.
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