CPA101: FUNDAMENTALS OF

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
PREPARED BY: ENGR. MONICA B. MAGNATE
 CIRCUIT TOPOLOGIES AND
DC EXCITATIONS
(INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS)
“DON’T BE PUSHED AROUND BY THE FEARS IN YOUR MIND.
BE LED BY THE DREAMS IN YOUR HEART.”
“HAVEN’T I COMMENDED YOU: BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS? DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED,
FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” – JOSHUA 1:9

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this module you should be able to:

1. Understand the system of units;
2. learn various circuit topologies like charge, current, voltage,
circuit elements, power, and energy;
3. solve problems related with these circuit topologies; and
4. learn some practical applications of the concepts developed
in this chapter.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION
SYSTEMS OF UNITS
CHARGE AND CURRENT
VOLTAGE
POWER AND ENERGY
CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
APPLICATIONS
SUMMARY
CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM
 INTRODUCTION:
Electronic Circuits and Components
An “Electronic Circuit “ is a combination of electronic components and conductive wires
interconnected in a way as to achieve an outcome:
- Achieve a current /voltage of a certain value (signal)
- Amplify a signal
- Transfer data

Input CIRCUIT Output

The purpose of an electronic component is to allow the designer to control the flow of current as to
achieve a specified result/output.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 INTRODUCTION:
Electronic Circuits and Components

Figure 1.2: A not so simple electric circuit

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:
International System of Units (SI) is adopted by the General Conference on Weights
and Measures in 1960.
Quantity Unit Symbol
length meter m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
temperature Kelvin K
luminous intensity candela cd
amount of substance mole mol

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:
Except for current, all electrical and magnetic units are derived from the fundamental
units. Current is a fundamental unit.
Quantity Unit Symbol
electric current ampere A
Charge coulomb C
Voltage volt V
Resistance ohm Ω
power watt W

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Scientific and Engineering Notation

Very large and very small numbers are represented
with scientific and engineering notation.

47,000,000 = 4.7 x 107 (Scientific Notation)

= 47. x 106 (Engineering Notation)

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Scientific and Engineering Notation

0.000 027 = 2.7 x 10-5 (Scientific Notation)

= 27 x 10-6 (Engineering Notation)

0.605 = 6.05 x 10-1 (Scientific Notation)

= 605 x 10-3 (Engineering Notation)

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Metric Conversions
When converting from a larger unit to a smaller unit, move the decimal point to the right. Remember,
a smaller unit means the number must be larger.

Smaller unit

0.47 MW = 470 kW

Larger number

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Metric Conversions
When converting from a smaller unit to a larger unit, move the decimal point to the left.

Larger unit

10,000 pF = 0.01 mF

Smaller number

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Metric Arithmetic
When adding or subtracting numbers with a metric prefix, convert them to the same prefix first.

10,000 W + 22 kW =
10,000 W + 22,000 W = 32,000 W
Alternatively,
10 kW + 22 kW = 32 kW

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Metric Arithmetic
When adding or subtracting numbers with a metric prefix, convert them to the same prefix first.

200 μA + 1.0 mA =
200 μ A + 1,000 μ A = 1200 μ A
Alternatively,
0.200 mA + 1.0 mA = 1.2 mA

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SYSTEMS OF UNITS:

Selected Key Terms

Engineering A system for representing any number as a one-, two-, or
notation three-digit number times a power of ten with an exponent that
is a multiple of three.

Exponent The number to which a base is raised.

Metric prefix A symbol that is used to replace the power of ten in numbers
expressed in scientific or engineering notation.

Scientific notation A system for representing any number as a number

between 1 and 10 times a power of ten.
CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM
 CHARGE AND CURRENT

Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of which matter consists,

measured in coulombs (C).
The following points should be noted about electric charge:
1. The coulomb is a large unit for charges. In 1 C of charge, there are 1/(1.602 x 10-19) =
6.24 x 1018 electrons. Thus realistic or laboratory values of charges are on the order of pC,
nC, or μC.
2. According to experimental observations, the only charges that occur in nature are
integral multiples of the electronic charge e = 1.602 x 10-19C.
3. The law of conservation of charge states that charge can neither be created nor
destroyed, only transferred. Thus the algebraic sum of the electric charges in a system
does not change.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CHARGE AND CURRENT

Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, measured in amperes (A).

 Positive charges move in one direction while negative charges move in the opposite direction. This motion of
charges creates electric current.
 It is conventional to take the current flow as the movement of positive charges. That is, opposite to the flow of
negative charges. This convention was introduced by Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), the American scientist
and inventor.
CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM
 CHARGE AND CURRENT

Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, measured in amperes (A).
Mathematically, the relationship between current i, charge q, and time t is

where current is measured in amperes (A), and 1 ampere = 1 Coulomb/second

The charge transferred between time and t0 is obtained by integrating both sides of Eq. (1.1). We
obtain

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CHARGE AND CURRENT

A direct current (dc) is a current that remains constant with time.

An alternating current (ac) is a current that varies sinusoidally with time.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CHARGE AND CURRENT

How much charge is represented by 4,600 electrons?

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CHARGE AND CURRENT

The total charge entering a terminal is given by q = 5t sin4πt mC. Calculate the current at 0.5 s.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CHARGE AND CURRENT

Determine the total charge entering a terminal between t = 1 s and t = 2 s if the current passing the
terminal is i = (3t2 – t) A.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CHARGE AND CURRENT

The total charge entering a terminal is given by q = (10 – 10e-2t) mC. Calculate the current at 0.5 s.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 VOLTAGE

Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit charge through an element,
measured in volts (V).
The voltage between two points a and b in an electric circuit is the energy (or work) needed to
move a unit charge from a to b; mathematically,

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

1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 newton-meter/coulomb

The plus (+) and minus (-) signs are used to define reference direction
or voltage polarity. The vab can be interpreted in two ways: (1) point a
is at a potential of vab volts higher than point b, or (2) the potential at
point a with respect to point b is . It follows logically that in general Figure 1.6: Polarity of voltage Vab
vab = - vba

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 VOLTAGE

Like electric current, a constant voltage is called a dc voltage and is represented by V, whereas
a sinusoidally time-varying voltage is called an ac voltage and is represented by v. A dc voltage
is commonly produced by a battery; ac voltage is produced by an electric generator.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 POWER AND ENERGY

To relate power and energy to voltage and current, we recall from physics that:

Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in watts (W).
We write this relationship as

where p is power in watts (W), w is energy in joules (J), and t is time in seconds (s).

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 POWER AND ENERGY

Passive sign convention is satisfied when the current enters through the positive
terminal of an element and p = vi. If the current enters through the negative
terminal, p = - vi.

absorbing power supplying power. P = 12 W P = 12 W

+ Power absorbed = - Power supplied

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM
 POWER AND ENERGY

In fact, the law of conservation of energy must be obeyed in any electric circuit. For this reason, the algebraic
sum of power in a circuit, at any instant of time, must be zero:

This again confirms the fact that the total power supplied to the circuit must balance the total power
absorbed. From Eq. (1.6), the energy absorbed or supplied by an element from time to time t is

Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules (J).

The electric power utility companies measure energy in watt-hours (Wh), where
1 Wh = 3,600 J

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 POWER AND ENERGY

An energy source forces a constant current of 2 A for 10 s to flow through a

lightbulb. If 2.3 kJ is given off in the form of light and heat energy, calculate the voltage drop
across the bulb.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 POWER AND ENERGY

Find the power delivered to an element at t = 3 ms if the current entering its positive terminal is
i = 5cos60πt A
and the voltage is: (a) v = 3i, (b) v = 3di/dt.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 POWER AND ENERGY

How much energy does a 100-W electric bulb consume in two hours?

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 POWER AND ENERGY

  Find the power delivered in an element at t = 5ms if the current is i = 5cos60πt A

and the voltage is: (a) v = 2i V, (b) v = (10 + 5)V.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CIRCUIT ELEMENTS

Circuit analysis is the process of determining voltages across (or

the currents through) the elements of the circuit.
There are two types of elements found in electric circuits: passive
elements and active elements.
An active element is capable of generating energy while a passive
element is not. Examples of passive elements are resistors,
capacitors, and inductors. Typical active elements include
generators, batteries, and operational amplifiers. Our aim in this
section is to gain familiarity with some important active elements.
The most important active elements are voltage or current sources
that generally deliver power to the circuit connected to them.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CIRCUIT ELEMENTS

There are two kinds of sources: independent and dependent sources.

An ideal independent source is an active element that provides a specified voltage or

current that is completely independent of other circuit elements.

Symbols for independent voltage sources:

(a) used for constant or time-varying voltage, (b)
used for constant voltage (dc).

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CIRCUIT ELEMENTS

There are two kinds of sources: independent and dependent sources.

An ideal dependent (or controlled) source is an active element in which the source quantity is controlled by
another voltage or current.

Symbols for: (a) dependent voltage

source, (b) dependent current source.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 CIRCUIT ELEMENTS

Since the control of the dependent source is achieved by a voltage or current of some other element in the
circuit, and the source can be voltage or current, it follows that there are four possible types of dependent
sources, namely:
1. A voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS).
2. A current-controlled voltage source (CCVS).
3. A voltage-controlled current source (VCCS).
4. A current-controlled current source (CCCS)

The source on the right-hand side is a current-controlled voltage source.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM
 APPLICATIONS

TV Picture Tube
One important application of the motion of electrons is found in both the transmission and reception of TV
signals. At the transmission end, a TV camera reduces a scene from an optical image to an electrical signal.
Scanning is accomplished with a thin beam of electrons in an iconoscope camera tube. At the receiving end,
the image is reconstructed by using a cathode ray tube (CRT) located in the TV receiver.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 APPLICATIONS

The electron beam in a TV picture tube carries 1015 electrons per second. As a design
engineer, determine the voltage needed to accelerate the electron beam to achieve 4W.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 APPLICATIONS

Electricity Bills
The cost of electricity depends upon the amount of energy consumed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). (Other factors
that affect the cost include demand and power factors; we will ignore these for now.) However, even if a
consumer uses no energy at all, there is a minimum service charge the customer must pay because it costs
money to stay connected to the power line. As energy consumption increases, the cost per kWh drops.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 APPLICATIONS

A homeowner consumes 700 kWh in January. Determine the electricity bill for
the month using the following residential rate schedule: Base monthly charge of $12.00. First
100 kWh per month at 16 cents/kWh. Next 200 kWh per month at 10 cents/kWh. Over 300
kWh per month at 6 cents/kWh.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SUMMARY

1. An electric circuit consists of electrical elements connected together.

2. The International System of Units (SI) is the international measurement language, which enables
engineers to communicate their results. From the six principal units, the units of other physical quantities can
be derived.
3. Current is the rate of charge flow.

4. Voltage is the energy required to move 1 C of charge through an element.

5. Power is the energy supplied or absorbed per unit time. It is also the product of voltage and current.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 SUMMARY

6. According to the passive sign convention, power assumes a positive sign when the current
enters the positive polarity of the voltage across an element.
7. An ideal voltage source produces a specific potential difference across its terminals
regardless of what is connected to it. An ideal current source produces a specific current
through its terminals regardless of what is connected to it.
8. Voltage and current sources can be dependent or independent. A dependent source is one
whose value depends on some other circuit variable.
9. Two areas of application of the concepts covered in this chapter are the TV picture tube
and electricity billing procedure.

CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM

 END OF DISCUSSION…

Thank you!


CPA101 - FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS PREPARED BY ENGR. MM