Introduction to Direct Current (DC) Circuits

In the world of electricity, there are two primary types of electrical currents: Direct Current (DC)
and Alternating Current (AC). For this lesson, we will focus on Direct Current (DC), which is
the type of current that flows in a single direction and is typically used in batteries and other low-
voltage applications. In a DC circuit, electric charge flows consistently in one direction, from the
positive terminal to the negative terminal of the power source, like a battery.
A DC circuit consists of several components: a power source (such as a battery), conductors
(usually wires), load (like a bulb or resistor), and a switch to control the flow of electricity.
Understanding how these components work together in a DC circuit is fundamental for anyone
studying electricity.
Basic Concepts in DC Circuits
Before we dive into the examples, let's go over some key concepts that will help you understand
direct current circuits:
1. Voltage (V): Also known as electric potential difference, voltage is the force that pushes
electric charge through a conductor. It's measured in volts (V). In DC circuits, the voltage
remains constant, unlike in AC circuits where it changes periodically.
2. Current (I): This refers to the flow of electric charge. In a DC circuit, current flows from
the positive terminal to the negative terminal. The unit of current is amperes (A).
3. Resistance (R): Resistance opposes the flow of current. Every electrical component, such
as resistors or even wires, has some degree of resistance. It is measured in ohms (Ω).
4. Ohm's Law: One of the most fundamental laws in electricity is Ohm's Law, which states
that the current (I) flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage (V)
across it and inversely proportional to the resistance (R) in the circuit. Mathematically, it
is expressed as:
V=I×R V=IR
This law is crucial when solving problems in DC circuits.
5. Power (P): Power in a circuit is the rate at which electrical energy is consumed or
generated. It is measured in watts (W) and can be calculated using the formula:
P=V×I P=VI
Series DC Circuits
In a series circuit, all the components are connected end-to-end, forming a single path for
current to flow. One of the key characteristics of a series circuit is that the current remains the
same throughout the circuit, but the voltage is divided across the different components.
Characteristics of Series Circuits:
1. Same Current (I): The current flowing through each component in a series circuit is the
same because there is only one path for the current to travel.
2. Total Voltage (V_total): The total voltage supplied by the source is equal to the sum of
the voltages across each component. If you have multiple resistors in series, the total
voltage across the circuit can be found by adding the individual voltage drops across each
resistor.
Vtotal=V1+V2+V3+…Vn
 3. Total Resistance (R_total): The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of the
resistances of the individual resistors. Adding resistors in series increases the overall
resistance of the circuit, as each resistor adds its own opposition to the flow of current.
Rtotal=R1+R2+R3+…Rn
Example 1: Series Circuit with Three Resistors
Let's consider a simple series circuit consisting of a 12V battery and three resistors with values
4Ω, 6Ω, and 2Ω, respectively. We want to find the total current flowing in the circuit and the
voltage drop across each resistor.
Step 1: Calculate the total resistance (R_total):
Rtotal=R1+R2+R3=4Ω+6Ω+2Ω=12Ω
Step 2: Use Ohm's Law to calculate the total current (I):
I=Vtotal/Rtotal=12V/12Ω=1A
The total current flowing through the circuit is 1A.
Step 3: Calculate the voltage drop across each resistor:
 For the 4Ω resistor: V1=I×R1=1A×4Ω=4VV_1 = I \times R_1 = 1A \times 4Ω = 4VV1
=I×R1=1A×4Ω=4V
 For the 6Ω resistor: V2=I×R2=1A×6Ω=6VV_2 = I \times R_2 = 1A \times 6Ω = 6VV2
=I×R2=1A×6Ω=6V
 For the 2Ω resistor: V3=I×R3=1A×2Ω=2VV_3 = I \times R_3 = 1A \times 2Ω = 2VV3
=I×R3=1A×2Ω=2V
These voltage drops (4V, 6V, and 2V) add up to the total supply voltage of 12V.
Example 2: Series Circuit with a Light Bulb and Resistor
Now, let's consider a series circuit with a 9V battery, a 3Ω resistor, and a light bulb with a
resistance of 5Ω. We want to determine the current flowing in the circuit and the power
consumed by the light bulb.
Step 1: Calculate the total resistance (R_total):
Rtotal=Rresistor+Rbulb=3Ω+5Ω=8ΩR_{\text{total}} = R_{\text{resistor}} + R_{\text{bulb}}
= 3Ω + 5Ω = 8ΩRtotal=Rresistor+Rbulb=3Ω+5Ω=8Ω
Step 2: Calculate the current (I) using Ohm's Law:
I=VtotalRtotal=9V8Ω=1.125AI = \frac{V_{\text{total}}}{R_{\text{total}}} = \frac{9V}{8Ω} =
1.125AI=RtotalVtotal=8Ω9V=1.125A
The current flowing through the circuit is 1.125A.
Step 3: Calculate the power consumed by the light bulb:
Pbulb=Vbulb×I=(I×Rbulb)×I=(1.125A×5Ω)×1.125A=6.328WP_{\text{bulb}} = V_{\
text{bulb}} \times I = (I \times R_{\text{bulb}}) \times I = (1.125A \times 5Ω) \times 1.125A =
6.328WPbulb=Vbulb×I=(I×Rbulb)×I=(1.125A×5Ω)×1.125A=6.328W
So, the light bulb consumes approximately 6.33 watts of power.
Example 3: Series Circuit with Multiple Batteries and Resistors
In this example, we'll use two batteries (each 6V) connected in series, powering a circuit with
two resistors of 10Ω and 15Ω. We will calculate the total current and the voltage drop across
each resistor.
Step 1: Calculate the total voltage (V_total):
Since the batteries are in series, their voltages add up:
Vtotal=V1+V2=6V+6V=12VV_{\text{total}} = V_1 + V_2 = 6V + 6V = 12VVtotal=V1+V2
=6V+6V=12V
Step 2: Calculate the total resistance (R_total):
Rtotal=R1+R2=10Ω+15Ω=25ΩR_{\text{total}} = R_1 + R_2 = 10Ω + 15Ω = 25ΩRtotal=R1
+R2=10Ω+15Ω=25Ω
Step 3: Calculate the current (I) using Ohm's Law:
I=VtotalRtotal=12V25Ω=0.48AI = \frac{V_{\text{total}}}{R_{\text{total}}} = \frac{12V}
{25Ω} = 0.48AI=RtotalVtotal=25Ω12V=0.48A
The total current flowing through the circuit is 0.48A.
Step 4: Calculate the voltage drop across each resistor:
 For the 10Ω resistor: V1=I×R1=0.48A×10Ω=4.8VV_1 = I \times R_1 = 0.48A \times
10Ω = 4.8VV1=I×R1=0.48A×10Ω=4.8V
 For the 15Ω resistor: V2=I×R2=0.48A×15Ω=7.2VV_2 = I \times R_2 = 0.48A \times
15Ω = 7.2VV2=I×R2=0.48A×15Ω=7.2V
These voltage drops (4.8V and 7.2V) add up to the total voltage of 12V.
Conclusion
Series circuits are fundamental in understanding DC circuits and the relationship between
voltage, current, and resistance. In a series circuit, the current remains constant, but the voltage is
divided among the components. Using Ohm's Law, we can easily calculate the current, voltage
drops, and power in such circuits. These concepts form the basis for more advanced studies in
electrical engineering and electronics.
4o