Module 3

Licence Category B1, B2 and B3

Electrical Fundamentals

DC Circuits 3.6
The Basic Electric Circuit
• The torch is an example of a basic electric circuit.
• It contains a source of electrical energy (the dry cells in the torch), a
load (the bulb) which changes the electrical energy into a more useful
form of energy (light), and a switch to control the energy delivered to
the load.

?Q.: State the basic three elements of any electrical circuit

Enabling Objectives
DC Circuits

Ohms Law, Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws

Calculations using the above laws to find resistance, voltage and
current
Significance of the internal resistance of a supply
Symbols commonly used in electricity
Basic torch schematic

V
Determining resistance in a basic circuit
Determining voltage in a basic circuit
Determining voltage in a basic circuit
This equation can be used to find the voltage for the circuit
.shown in previous figure

 
I = 0.5 ampere Given:
R = 45 ohms

V = I x RSolution:
V = 0.5 ampere x 45 ohms
V = 22.5 volts
Ohm's law in diagram form
Three variables in a basic circuit
Volt-ampere characteristic
 Relationship between current and resistance

?Q. Describe the Relationship between current and resistance

Comparison of basic and series circuits
Solving for total resistance in a series
circuit
Calculating the value of one resistance in a series circuit
Current in a series circuit
Calculating individual voltage drops in a series
circuit
Solving for applied voltage in a series
circuit
Rules for Series DC Circuits
• The same current flows through each part of a
series circuit.
• The total resistance of a series circuit is equal to
the sum of the individual resistances.
• The total voltage across a series circuit is equal to
the sum of the individual voltage drops.
• The voltage drop across a resistor in a series circuit
is proportional to the ohmic value of the resistor.

? Q.- Describe the current behavior in series DC circuits

Solving for various in a series circuit values
Computing series circuit
values
 Home work Questions
Q. 1. What is represented by this diagram?
a) Potentiometer
b) Rheostat
c) Thermistor

:Q. 2. The current in the circuit below is

a) 5 A
b) 0.2 A
c) 5 mA
:Q. 3. The formula for resistance in series is
a) RT = R1 + R2 + R3...RN
b) RT = R1 x R2 x R3...RN
c) 1/RT = 1/ (R1 x R2 x R3 ...RN)
Q. 4. The ammeter in the following circuit will read
A. 3 A
B. 6 A
C. 12A
 Home work Questions Answers

Q. 1. : A

Q. 2. : C

Q. 3. : A

Q. 4. : B

The End