Kandahar University

Engineering Faculty
Energy Department

Chapter 1
Basic Concepts

Lecturer: Eng. Abdul Majeed Azizi Date : 2023 / Apr / 29

 Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Charge and Current
3. Voltage
4. Power and Energy
5. Circuit Elements

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 1. Introduction
➢ Electric circuit theory and electromagnetic theory are the two fundamental
theories upon which all branches of electrical engineering are built.
➢ Many branches of electrical engineering, such as power, electric machines,
control, electronics, communications, and instrumentation, are based on electric
circuit theory.

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 1. Introduction
➢ In electrical engineering, we are often interested in communicating or
transferring energy from one point to another. which requires the
interconnection of electrical devices.
➢ Such interconnection is referred to as an electric circuit, and each component of
the circuit is known as an element.
➢ An electric circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements.

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 1. Introduction
➢ Or, it is a compound of structures which is used to generate, transmit, distribute
and energy exchange
➢ Elements of an electric circuit:
1. Source
2. Load (consumer)
3. Conductive Wires
4. Some sub elements (measurement equipment, fuses etc.)

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 1. Introduction
Types of Electric Circuit Diagrams

Schematic Diagram
One-line Diagram

6 Pictorial Diagram Date : 2023 / Apr / 29

Cont.

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 1. Introduction
➢ Electric circuits are used in numerous electrical systems to accomplish different
tasks.
➢ Our objective in this book is not the study of various uses and applications of
circuits.
➢ Rather, our major concern is the analysis of the circuits.
➢ By the analysis of a circuit, we mean a study of the behavior of the circuit:
1. How does it respond to a given input?
2. How do the interconnected elements and devices in the circuit interact?
➢ We commence our study by defining some basic concepts.
➢ These concepts include charge, current, voltage, circuit elements, power, and
energy.

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 2. Charge and Current
➢ The most basic quantity in an electric circuit is the electric charge.
➢ Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of which matter consists,
measured in coulombs (C). The presence of equal numbers of protons and
electrons leaves an atom neutrally charged.

➢ In 1 C of charge, there are 6.24 × 1018 electrons.

➢ The law of conservation of charge

states that a charge can neither be
created nor destroyed, only
transferred.
➢ Thus the algebraic sum of the electric
charges in a system does not change.

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Cont.

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

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

The charge transferred between time t0 and t is obtained by integrating both
sides of equation. We obtain:

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Cont.
➢ A direct current (dc) is a current that remains constant with time. (I)
➢ An alternating current (ac) is a current that varies sinusoidally with time. (i)
➢ The direction of current flow is conventionally taken as the direction of
positive charge movement.

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 3. Voltage
➢ To move the electron in a conductor in a particular direction requires some
work or energy transfer.
➢ This work is performed by an external electromotive force (emf), typically
represented by the battery.
➢ This emf is also known as voltage or potential difference.
➢ 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,

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

➢ Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move

a unit charge through an element, measured in volts (V).
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Cont.

➢ For example, in Figure we have two representations of the same voltage.

➢ In Figure, point a is +9V above point b, point b is -9 V above point a.
➢ We may say that, there is a 9-V voltage drop from a to b or equivalently a 9-V
voltage rise from b to a.
➢ In other words, a voltage drop from a to b is equivalent to a voltage rise from b
to a.
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Cont. Example 1.4

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

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

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 4. Power and Energy

➢ Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in watts (W).

➢ If the power has a + sign, power is being delivered to or absorbed by the element.

➢ If, the power has a - sign, power is being supplied by the element.
➢ But how do we know when the power has a negative or a positive sign?
➢ Current direction and voltage polarity play a major role in determining the sign of
power.
➢ By the passive sign convention, current enters through the positive polarity of the
voltage. In this case, element is absorbing power.
➢ However, if or, as in other case, the element is releasing or supplying power.
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Cont.

➢ 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.

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Cont.
➢ 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:

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

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Cont.
➢ An energy source forces a constant current of 2 A for 10 s to flow through a
light bulb. If 2.3 kJ is given off in the form of light and heat energy, calculate
the voltage drop across the bulb.

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 5. Circuit Elements
➢ 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.

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 5. Circuit Elements
➢ Typical active elements include generators, batteries, and operational
amplifiers.
➢ The most important active elements are voltage or current sources that deliver
power to the circuit connected to them.
➢ 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.
➢ Voltage source
➢ Current Source

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Cont.

➢ An ideal dependent (or controlled) source is an active element in which the

source quantity is controlled by another voltage or current.
➢ 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).
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Cont. Example 1.4
Calculate the power supplied or absorbed by each element in Figure.

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Cont. Example 1.4

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Cont. Homework !

Solve both the problems and comprehensive problems of

chapter one.

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