ECE 2004: Electric Circuit Analysis

Fall 2006, 3 credits, CRN: 91777, 91778, 91779, 91780, 96346: Test#1
Dr. Pushkin Kachroo
The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0111,
pushkin@vt.edu
PROBLEM 1: The total charge q(t), in Coulombs, that enters the terminal of an element is
⎧ 0 t<0
⎪
q (t ) = ⎨ 2t 0≤t ≤2
⎪3 + e − 2 ( t − 2 ) t>2
⎩
Find the current i(t) and sketch its waveform for t ≥ 0 . (10 points)
SOLUTION 1:

⎧0 t <0
dq ( t ) ⎪
i (t ) = i (t ) = ⎨2 0< t < 2
dt ⎪ −2( t − 2 )
⎩−2e t >2

PROBLEM 2: The current through and voltage across an element vary with time as shown in figure. Sketch
the power delivered to the element for t ≥ 0 . What is the total energy delivered to the element between t = 0
to t = 25 s? (10 points)

SOLUTION 2:
30
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 10 s: v = 30 V and i = t = 2t A ∴ P = 30(2t ) = 60t W
15
25
for 10 ≤ t ≤ 15 s: v ( t ) = − t + b ⇒ v (10 ) = 30 V ⇒ b = 80 V
5
v(t ) = −5t + 80 and i (t ) = 2t A ⇒ P = ( 2t )( −5t +80 ) = −10t 2 +160t W
30
for 15 ≤ t ≤ 25 s: v = 5 V and i (t ) = − t +b A
10
i (25) = 0 ⇒ b = 75 ⇒ i (t ) = −3t + 75 A
∴ P = ( 5 )( −3t + 75 ) = −15t + 375 W
 Energy = ∫ P dt = ∫ 60t dt + ∫10 (160t −10t 2 ) dt + ∫15 ( 375−15t ) dt
10 15 25

10 15 25
= 30t 2 + 80t 2 − 10 t 3 + 375t − 15 t 2 = 5833.3 J
0 3 10 2 15

PROBLEM 3: Find the ammeter and the voltmeter readings in figure below (10 points)

SOLUTION 3:
i = −2 Amps ;
Using KVL, we get 12 − 4i − v = 0
v = 12 − 4i = 12 − 4(−2) = 20 Volts
PROBLEM 4: Find the voltmeter reading in figure below (10 points)

SOLUTION 4:
We can label the circuit as shown.

The subscripts suggest a numbering of the

circuit elements. Apply KCL at the top node of
the current source to get

i1 = i 2 + 0.25

Apply Ohm’s law to the resistors to get

v1 = 20 i1 and v 2 = 60 i 2 = 60 ( i1 − 0.25 ) = 60 i1 − 15

Apply KVL to the outside to get

 v 2 + 80 i1 + v1 = 0 ⇒ ( 60 i 1 − 15 ) + 80 i1 + 20 i1 = 0 ⇒ i1 =
15
160
= 0.09375 A

Finally,
v m = 80 i1 = 80 ( 0.09375 ) = 7.5 V
PROBLEM 5: Find the current flowing through the 2 Ohms resistor (on the left) in the direction of the arrow,
and the voltage across the 3A current source. (10 points)

SOLUTION 5:
Let us call the current flowing as shown by the arrow to be i , and the voltage across the 3 Amps current
source (that means voltage at the top minus the voltage at the bottom of the current source) to be v.

Applying KVL gives:

3 − 2i − 8 − v = 0 (1)
Note that the current flowing downwards through the 2 Ohm resistor on the right (given by Ohm’s law) is v/2.

Applying KCL st the top node gives

v
i + 3 = + 1.25 (2)
2
Solving (1) and (2) gives
i = −2.125 Amps; v = −0.75 Volts