CIRCUIT THEORY

1. What do you mean by electric network and electric circuit?

An electric network is any possible interconnection of electric circuit elements (e.g. R, L, C)
or branches. An electric circuit is a closed energized network. A network is not necessarily a
circuit example T network.

2. Define current, voltage and power.

The time rate of flow of electric charge across a cross-sectional boundary is termed as current.
Voltage is defined as work done in moving a unit positive charge once around the closed path.

The instantaneous power delivered to circuit elements is the product of the instantaneous value
of voltage and current of the element.

In terms of energy, power is defined as "The time rate of change of energy is called power".

3. What is self-inductance (L)?

The property of coil due to which it opposes any increase or decrease of current or flux through
it is called self-inductance.

4. What is mutual-inductance (M)?

Mutual-inductance is the property of two coil because of which each opposes any change
in the current flowing through the other by developing an induced emf.

5. What are lumped network?

A network in which physically separate resistors, capacitors and inductors can be
represented.

6. What are distributed network?

A network in which resistors, capacitors and inductors cannot be electrically separable and
isolated as individual elements. A transmission line has distributed resistor, inductor and
capacitor which are not isolated from the network.

7. What is the difference between the unilateral and bilateral network?

A unilateral network is one whose elements follow different laws relating to voltage and
current for different direction of voltage and current polarities. For example, vacuum tubes,
crystal and metal rectifiers are unilateral elements. A bilateral network is defined as those
whose elements can transmit well in either direction. For example, elements made of high
conductivity material like iron core conductor is bilateral elements.

8. What are linear networks?

A linear network is one for which the principle of superposition holds. A circuit element
is linear if the relation between voltage and current involves a constant coefficient.
Therefore, it is concluded that a linear network must be bilateral but a bilateral network is
not necessarily linear. For example, an iron core conductor is bilateral but it is non linear.

9. What is a current source?

A generator which maintains its output current independent of the voltage across its
terminals. It is indicated by a circle enclosing an arrow for reference current direction. An
ideal current source has infinite internal resistance.
10. What is a voltage source?
A generator which maintains its value of potential independent of the output current. An
AC source is indicated by a circle enclosing a wavy line. An ideal voltage source has zero
internal resistance.

11. What should be the internal resistance of an ideal voltmeter and ammeter?
Ideally the internal resistance of a voltmeter should be infinite and ideally the internal
resistance of an ammeter should be zero.

12. State Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL).

It is based on conservation of charge. It states that, “The algebraic sum of currents at any
node of a circuit is zero”.

13. State Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL).

It is based on conservation of energy. It states that, “The algebraic sum of voltages in any
closed path of network that is traversed in any single direction is zero”.

14. State clearly the Thevenin’s theorem.

This theorem states that a linear, bilateral network consisting of active and passive
elements can be replaced by a voltage source connected in series with impedance. The
value of voltage source is equal to the open circuited voltage seen across the terminals and
the impedance is equal to the impedance seen across the open circuited terminals with all
sources replaced by their internal impedances.

15. Explain the usefulness of Thevenin’s theorem in linear network?

Thevenin’s theorem is very useful in linear network analysis because using Thevenin’s
theorem a large part of network, often a complicated and uninteresting part, can be replaced
by a very simple equivalent which enables us to make rapid calculations. It is very useful
when it is desired to determine the current through or voltage across any one element in a
network instead of going through the lengthy method of soling the network.

16. State clearly the superposition theorem.

This theorem states that the voltage across or current through any element due to multiple
sources present in a linear network is equal to the algebraic sum of voltage across or current
through that element due to individual source with all other sources replaced by their
internal impedances.

17. Explain the usefulness of superposition theorem in linear network?

Superposition theorem is very useful in linear network analysis because a complex
network can be solved easily by breaking it in simpler networks and using superposition
theorem. This theorem is very useful to calculate the voltage and current when more than
one active source is present in the network.

18. What is Reciprocity theorem?

This theorem states that the current in branch X due to voltage source in branch Y of a
linear bilateral network is same as the current in branch Y when the same voltage source
is connected in branch X of the network.
• Only one source should be present in the network.
• Initial condition must be zero.
 • Network must be time invariant.
• Dependent source are not permitted.

19. State Norton’s Theorem.

It states that, any two terminals of a network containing linear passive and active elements
may be replaced by an equivalent current source IN in parallel with a resistance RN where
IN is the current flowing through a short circuit placed across the terminals and RN is the
equivalent resistance of the network as seen from the two terminals with all the
independent sources suppressed.

20. What is the condition for maximum power transfer to take place?
For maximum power transfer to take place the resistance of the load should be equal to the
source resistance and the reactance of the load should be equal to that of source in
magnitude but opposite in sign. It means, if load is capacitive then source is inductive and
vice-versa.

21. Where the study of resonance is very useful?

The study of resonance is very useful in the area of communication particularly. For
example, the ability of a radio receiver to select a certain frequency transmitted by a station
and to eliminate frequencies from other stations is based on the principle of resonance.

22. The relation between the resistances in the given Wheatstone bridge circuit is
_____________

The relation is P/Q=R/S or PS=QR.

23. Write the current division rule.
 24. What is the equivalent resistance when ‘N’ resistors are in (a) series (b) in parallel?

(a) Series Connection

(b) Parallel Connection

25. What is meant by electric energy?

Electrical energy is the total amount of work done and hence is the product of power and time.

26. Define electrical power.

The rate at which work is done in an electrical circuit is called electrical power and its
unit is joule per second or watt. When one coulomb of electric charge is moved through
a potential difference of one volt in one second, the rate of work is one joule per second
or one watt. Hence power in electric circuits is obtained as a product of the voltage (V)
and current (I).

P = V.I Watts

We may write this as

P = I2 R (or)

P = V2/R

27. What is the use of superposition theorem?

This theorem is used in order to check whether a given element is linear or non-linear.

28. For which network, the superposition theorem is not applicable?

Superposition theorem is not applicable to the network containing unilateral elements
and non linear elements.

29. What is transient response?

Transients are present in circuit, when circuit is subjected to any changes either by
changing source magnitude or by changing any circuit elements provided circuit should
 consists of any energy storage elements. Transient response depends only on circuit
components and their layout that is on system not on input and output.

30. Is it possible to obtain transient free response in RLC circuit?

In RLC circuit it is not possible to obtain transient free response, since circuit is having
two independent energy storage elements Land C.

31. What is Resonance?

Resonance is the condition when the voltage across a circuit becomes in phase with the
current supplied to the circuit. At resonance, the circuit behaves like a resistive circuit.

32. What is power factor?

It is the cosine of the angle between the voltage and current in any AC circuit. For a
resistive circuit power factor is unity. For a capacitive circuit power factor is leading
(i.e. current leads the voltage) and for an inductive circuit power factor is lagging (i.e.
current lags the voltage).

33. What will be the power factor of the circuit at resonance?

At resonance, the circuit behaves like a resistive circuit, so the power factor of the
circuit at resonance is unity.

34. hat is the Q factor or quality factor?

The ratio of resonant frequency to the bandwidth is an indication of the degree of
selectivity of the circuit. This is known as quality factor (Q).

35. What will be the effect of Quality factor on bandwidth?

A higher value of Quality factor results in a smaller bandwidth and a lower value of
Quality factor cause a larger bandwidth.

36. What is the difference between Apparent power and Reactive power?
Apparent Power- The product VI is called the apparent power and it is usually indicated
by the symbol ‘S’. It is expressed in VA.
Reactive Power- The product of rms value of current and voltage and sine of the angle
between them is called reactive power. It is denoted by ‘Q’ and is expressed in VAR.

37. What is Power Triangle?

The equations associated with the average, apparent and reactive power can be
developed geometrically on a right triangle called the power triangle.

38. What is the use of Hybrid (h) parameter?

Hybrid parameters are used in constructing models for transistors.

39. What is image impedance of the network?

If two impedance Zi1 and Zi2 are such that Zi1 is driving point impedance at port 1 with
Zi2 connected to port 2 and Zi2 is driving point impedance at port 2 with Zi1 connected
to port 1 then Zi1 and Zi2 are called image impedance of the network.

40. What is magnetic coupling?

When a portion of magnetic flux established by one circuit interlinks with the second
circuit, the two circuits are said to be coupled magnetically and energy may be
 transferred from one circuit to other through the medium of magnetic flux which is
common to both.

41. Define bandwidth of series RLC circuit.

The bandwidth of a series RLC circuit is defined as the range of frequency for which
the power delivered to the resistance is greater than or equal to half the power delivered
at resonance.

42. Define “Tree” of a connected graph?

A tree is a connected sub-graph of a connected graph containing all the nodes of the
graph but containing no loops.
A “Tree” is a very important concept in linear graph theory which is a set of branches
with every node connected to every other node (directly or in directly) such that
removal of any single branch destroys this property.

43. How does “tree” aid in network analysis?

The tree is helpful in finding the fundamental cut set matrix which gives the branch
voltage and branch current of each branch on solving. The tree is also helpful in finding
the rank of a graph.

44. What are the properties of a tree?

The properties of a tree are as follows-
There should be only one single path between the two nodes of the tree.
• There should not be any closed path.
• Tree contains all the nodes of the graph.
• The number of branches in the tree = (n-1)
• Rank of the tree = (n-1) = rank of the graph.

45. What is twig?

Branches of the tree are called twig, it is also called edge.

46. What is co-tree and links?

Remaining part of a graph after removal of twigs is called co-tree. It is collection of
rings. Links are branches removed from the graph to make a tree.

47. What is fundamental cut set matrix?

Fundamental cut set matrix is a group of branch containing only one twig and the
minimum number of links. Fundamental cut set matrix can be used to write KCL
equations for the given network.

48. Distinguish between mesh and loop of an electric circuit.

A loop is a closed path in a electric circuit formed by a number of connected branches.

Mesh is a loop that contains no other loop within it.

49. State Ohm’s law.

Ohm's law states that the voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the
current flowing through it, provided all physical conditions and temperature, remain
constant.
50. What are the limitations of Ohm’s law?

Ohm’s law cannot be applied to the circuits consisting of (i) electronic tubes or
transistors (because such elements are not bilateral) and (ii) nonlinear elements such as
powdered iron, electric arc etc.

51. In what respect is Norton’s theorem similar to Thevenin’s theorem? In what

respect do they differ?

Norton’s theorem is in fact, an alternative to the Thevenin’s theorem. Whereas by

Thevenin’s theorem a complex two-terminal network may be simplified for solution by
reducing it into a simple circuit in which the so called open-circuit voltage and looking-
back resistance are connected in series with the load resistance, by Norton’s theorem
network is reduced into a simple circuit in which a parallel combination of constant
current source and looking-hack resistance feeds the load resistance.

In both theorems use of resistance looking back into the network from the load
terminals, with all sources removed leaving their internal resistances in the circuit is
made. However, while solving circuit by Thevenin’s theorem, the open-circuit voltage
is determined at the load terminals with the load removed whereas in Norton’s method
use of a fictitious constant current source is made, the constant current delivered being
equal to the current that would pass into a short circuit connected across the output
terminals of the given network.
R, L, C in series and parallel
 Kirchhoff’s law

Current Division Rule

Voltage Division Rule

 Super Position Theorem

What is Thevenin's Theorem

Star to Delta and Delta to Star Conversion

RC Circuit
RL Circuit
RLS Series and Parallel circuit