Basic DC Circuit Concepts

Electric Circuit Analysis

(CSE-251)
Yanbu University College
Electrical Safety

Electric Shock
• Electrical shock is caused by
the flow of current through
your body.
• Current needs a closed path to
flow (a bird can sit on a high-
voltage wire without harm!)
• The severity of the electrical
shock depends on the amount
of voltage and the path that
the current takes through your
body.
Electrical Safety

Effects of the current on the human body

Electrical Safety

Safety Precautions
• Always shut off power before you touch a circuit.
• Never assume that an electrical circuit is dead.
Always check to be sure.
• Use safety devices when necessary, and wear
suitable clothing (insulated shoes, gloves, etc.).
• Never use two hands when testing high-voltage
circuits. Current through one hand to the other
hand has a direct path through your heart.
• Do not touch an electrical appliance when you
are wet. Remember that water conducts
electricity.
Electrical Safety

Safety Precautions
• Be extremely careful when working with
electronic appliances such as radio and TV
because these appliances have large capacitors
in them. The capacitors take time to discharge
after the power is disconnected.
• Always have another person present when
working on a wiring system, just in case of an
accident.
• Know the location of the emergency power-off
switch and emergency exit.
SI Base Units

The International System of Units (SI)

Prefixes

Prefixes come in handy when trying to express high or low

numbers.
Prefixes Symbol Value
atto a 10-18
EXAMPLES:
femto f 10-15
1,000 1k pico p 10-12
nano n 10-9
5.68×10-3 5.68 m micro µ 10-6
1,212,000,000 1.212 G milli m 10-3
kilo k 103
0.000000000005 5p mega M 106
2.5×10-10 250 p giga G 109
tera T 1012
Electrical Charge

• Electrical Charge (q) is an electrical property of

matter that exists because of an excess or deficiency
of electrons.
• Electrical charge is measured in Coulombs (C).
1 C = 6.25 x 1018 electrons.
• The total charge for a given number of electrons:

• A single electron has a charge of C.

• A single proton has a charge of C.
• A constant charge (that does not change with time) is
represented by Q.
• An instantaneous amount of charge is represented
by q(t) or simply q.
Current

• The current at a specific point flowing in a specific

direction is defined as the rate at which net positive
charge is moving past the point in the specified
direction.

• Unfortunately, this is a historical definition. However,

current is actually the motion of a negative charge.
• Current has a numerical value and a direction
associated with it.
• Current is symbolized by I (for constant value) and i
(for instantaneous value).
Current

• The unit of current is ampere (A) or amps.

• .

Example: If 60 C of charge pass through an electric conductor

in 30 seconds, determine the current in the conductor.
Δ 𝑄 60
𝐼= = =2 𝐴
Δ 𝑡 30
Basic Circuit Symbols

Independent Voltage Source Dependent Voltage Source Batteries

Representations of voltage supplies

Independent Current Source Dependent Current Source

Representations of current supplies

Basic Circuit Symbols

Symbol for: (a) DC voltage source; Symbol for an independent

(b) battery; (c) ac voltage source. current source.

The four different types of dependent sources:

(a) current-controlled current source (b) voltage-controlled current source
(c) voltage-controlled voltage source (d) current-controlled voltage source
Basic Circuit Symbols

Ground

Ground is used as a reference and is typically at a 0 volt

potential.

Resistor

Resistors represent a hindrance to electrical current.

Voltage (V)

Voltage is an electrical pressure which causes current to flow

through a resistance.

It is measured in volts (V).

Two common DC voltage supplies are shown below:

(Batteries) (Independent Voltage Source)

The “long side” or + terminal of a battery is called the anode.

The “short side” or – terminal of a battery is called the cathode.
Voltage
Continued…

Voltage can be compared to the pressure of water in a tank. As

the height of water in a tank increases, so does the water
pressure. This increase in pressure causes more water to flow
out of an opening in the bottom of a tank, much like how a
higher voltage (higher electrical pressure) produces more
current through a resistance.

3A
9V 3Ω
Voltage
Continued…

Voltage can be compared to the pressure of water in a tank. As

the height of water in a tank increases, so does the water
pressure. This increase in pressure causes more water to flow
out of an opening in the bottom of a tank, much like how a
higher voltage (higher electrical pressure) produces more
current through a resistance.

2A
6V 3Ω
Voltage
Continued…

Voltage can be compared to the pressure of water in a tank. As

the height of water in a tank increases, so does the water
pressure. This increase in pressure causes more water to flow
out of an opening in the bottom of a tank, much like how a
higher voltage (higher electrical pressure) produces more
current through a resistance.

1A
3V 3Ω
Voltage Polarity

Voltage polarity is denoted by a + and – symbol. When

connecting the positive (red) lead of a multimeter to the
positive terminal of the battery with the negative
(black) lead to the negative terminal of the battery, a
positive value of voltage will be displayed. However,
if you connect the red lead to the negative terminal and
the black lead to the positive terminal, a negative
voltage would be displayed.

Let’s look at the following source:

Voltage Polarity

Here we get 9 V, since the red lead is hooked to the

positive terminal of the battery and the black is connected
to the negative terminal.
Vo = 9 V

+
9V
The
9V Vo Digital Multimeter multimeter is
- + - essentially an
open circuit
when
measuring
voltage.
Now let’s see what happens when polarity is reversed.
Voltage Polarity

Here we get -9 V, since the red lead is hooked to the

negative terminal of the battery and the black is connected
to the positive terminal.
Vo = -9 V

-
-9 V
9V Vo Digital Multimeter
+ + -
Current (I)

• The common DC current source is shown below:

(Independent Current Sources)

The arrow of the independent current source represents

the direction of current flow.
Current

Current is not across two points as is voltage, but flows through a

circuit element. Note: Multimeter is set to measur
current here. It essentially acts a
Let’s consider the following circuit: a short circuit to take this
measurement.
1 kΩ

I 9 mA
9 mA
Digital Multimeter
+ -
1 kΩ Current is
+ I denoted positive
9 mA when entering
- the red
(positive) lead.
Click to see what happens when leads are switched.
Current

Current is not across two points as is voltage, but flows through a

circuit element. Note: Multimeter is set to measur
current here. It essentially acts a
Let’s consider the following circuit: a short circuit to take this
measurement.
1 kΩ

I -9 mA
9 mA
Digital Multimeter
+ -
1 kΩ -
I Current is
9 mA
denoted negative
when entering
+ the black
(negative) lead.
Current
Continued…

Current can only flow through a closed loop. It must travel

where there is a defined path. This concept is pictured below
with current depicted in red.

R1 R3
Notice, there is a zero
R2
current flow through R3,
since there is no closed
path for current to flow.
Current
Continued…

During analysis, the sign of current flowing from a positive

terminal of a voltage supply to a negative terminal is
considered positive by historical convention (shown below in
red). However, experience tells us that negatively charged
electrons flow in the opposite direction (shown below in
purple).
R1
+I
-I R2
Power

• Power is the rate of change of the energy

(work), with time. It is the rate at which the
energy is absorbed or delivered.
• Mathematically, power is defined as:
𝑑𝑊 𝑑𝑊 𝑑𝑞
𝑝= = × =𝑣𝑖 watts(W)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡
• A Watt is defined as a Joule per second.
• Light bulbs are rated in [W]. Thus, a 100-W
light bulb is one that absorbs 100 Joules
every second when it is turned on.
Passive Sign Convention

 The passive sign convention

is when the reference polarity
for the current is in the direction
of the reference voltage drop.
 When the current arrow is
directed into the element at the
plus-marked terminal, we
satisfy the passive sign
convention and this element is
considered a passive element
absorbing a power .
Passive Sign Convention

Example:

(a) (absorbed)
(b) (absorbed)
(c) (supplied)
Passive Sign Convention

Example:
Passive Sign Convention

Determine the power supplied or observed by

the elements in the circuit.
Resistance (R)

Resistance is a hindrance/opposition to the passage of an

electrical current. Resistance in a circuit is represented by a
resistor. The unit of resistance is the ohm (Ω).
The symbol used to represent a resistor is

schematic capture actual representation

Materials such as metal (conductors) have a small resistance,

where materials such as rubber (insulators) have a large
resistance.
Material Properties

Resistivity (ρ)– Resistivity is the intrinsic property that accounts

for the nature of a material. It is defined as the ability of a material
to resist electrical conduction, with units ohm-meter (Ωm).

The resistance of a material is related to its resistivity such that:

R = ρ (L/A) where,
L Some ρ = resistivity of material
Material
L = length of conductor which
I current flows along
h
A = cross-sectional area of
w
conductor that current flows
through
Material Properties
Continued…
Conductivity (σ) – Conductivity is the inverse of resistivity. It is
defined as the ability of a material to conduct electricity, with
units inversed ohm-meter (Ωm-1).
The conductance of a material is related to its conductivity by:

G = σ (A/L) = 1/R, where

L Some σ = conductivity of material
Material
L = length of conductor which
I
h
current flows through
w A = cross-sectional area of
conductor that current
flows through