Introduction to Circuit Elements and

variables

Current (RIVER)
The movement of electrons from one end to
another end in a conductive or semiconductive
materials constitutes an electric current.
Electric Current is defined as the rate of flow
of charge carrier (Q) per unit time (t).
Expressed Mathematically:Q
Current I
t
A current of 1 coulomb per second (1C/s) is
called Ampere and the unit is (A)
Example:
Current, I = 1C/1s = 1 Ampere or 1A.
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

Types of current
i

Direct current (dc) is

a current that
remains constant
with time

Alternating current
(ac) is a current that
varies sinusoidally
with time

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

Example:
If 20 coulomb of charge pass through a
domestic ceiling fan on 240V supply during
a time interval of 2 minutes, what is the
current in ampere.

Q
I
t

20 C
0.167 A
(2 x60 s )

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

Voltage (LAKE)
The difference in potential energy of the charges
(Q) between two nodes or points is called as
potential difference.
This potential difference in electrical terminology
is known as Voltage which the unit is denoted as
(V). Also known as an electromotive force
(emf).
Voltage = Energy / Charge
V =W/Q

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

Resistance
Resistance is the property of a component
(eg.resistors) which restricts/resist the flow
of electric current or the charge carriers.
Resistance measured in ohm and the unit is .

R
A

Resistance is determined by:

Type of material (resistivity) Where;
Temperature of material
R = resistance, []
= material resistivity, [/m]
Cross-sectional area
l = material length, [m]
Length of material
A = material cross-sectional
area [m2]
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

Power
is the rate of doing work, or the rate of
transfer energy
Work W [ J ]
P

time
t [ s]

Measured in Watt and the unit is (W)

Example: What is the power in watts if the energy equal
to 50 J is used in 2.5s?
P = W / t = 50 J / 2.5 s
= 20 W
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

1. OHMS LAW
George Simon Ohm (1787-1854)
formulated the relationships among
voltage, current, and resistance as
follows:
The current in a circuit is directly
proportional to the applied voltage
and inversely proportional to the
resistance of the circuit.

V IR

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

EXAMPLE
Determine the current in figure
below

V
8V
I
0.08 A
R 100
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

KIRCHHOFFS LAW
Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824 1887)
Models relationship between:
circuit element currents
circuit element voltages
Introduce two laws:
Kirchhoff Current Law (KCL)
Kirchhoff Voltage Law (KVL)

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

2. KIRCHHOFFS CURRENT
Sum of currents
entering
a node is zero
LAW
(KCL)
Convention: +i is entering, -i is leaving

i 0

Or
The summation of currents entering a
node is equal to the summation of
currents leaving the node
Convention: +i is entering and leaving

entering node

ileaving node
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

KIRCHHOFFS CURRENT LAW

(KCL)

entering node

ileaving node
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

3. KIRCHHOFFS VOLTAGE
LAW
(KVL)
The summation
of voltage
rises and voltage

drops in a closed loop is equal to zero

Convention: +v is voltage rises, -v is voltage
drop

Or
The summation of voltage rises is equal to the
summation of voltage drops in a closed loop
Convention: +i is entering and leaving

rises

Vdrop

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

KIRCHHOFFS VOLTAGE LAW

(KVL)

rises

Vdrop
School of Microelectronic Engineering,

CIRCUIT ELEMENTS &

VARIABLES Circuit

Elements

Active elements
capable of
generating electric
energy
Example : voltage
and current
sources

Passive elements
incapable of
generating electric
energy
Example :
resistore, inductor,
capacitor, diode and
etc

School of Microelectronic Engineering,

School of Microelectronic Engineering,