Chapter 4:

Basic Electric Circuits

Important Terms:

Equivalent Series Resistances = The sum of the individual resistances.

Equivalent Parallel Resistances = The value of a single resistor that could replace any
number of resistors and maintain the same current through the battery.

Kirchhoff’s Rules = A general method for analyzing multi-loop circuits which embody
the conservation of charge and the conservation of energy.

Junction (Node) = A point at which three or more wires are joined.

Branch = A path connecting two junctions.

Kirchhoff’s Junction Theorem = The algebraic sum of the currents at any junction is
zero.

Kirchhoff’s Loop Theorem = The algebraic sum of the potential differences across all
of the elements of any closed loop is zero.

RC Circuit = A circuit that is made of a resistor and a capacitor connected in series.

Time constant = It is a special value to express the charging time.

Ammeter = It measures the current through circuit elements.

Voltmeter = It measures the voltage across circuit elements

Galvanometer = A basic component of both ammeter and voltmeter.

Fuse = Common to older homes which limits the current in a circuit.

Circuit Breaker = They are used extensively in wiring new homes which uses bimetallic
strip which also limits the current in a circuit.

Grounded Plug = It is the large round prong connects with the dedicated grounding
wire.

Polarized Plug = A two prong plug that fits in the socket only one way because one
prong is wider than the other and one of the slits of the receptacle is also larger.
Important Equations

Equivalent Series Resistance

R S=R1 + R2 + R3 +… . .

Where: R = resistance, Ω

Equivalent Parallel Resistance

1 1 1 1
= + + +… . .
R P R1 R2 R3

Where: R = resistance, Ω

Kirchhoff’s Rules
❑

∑ I i=0
i
❑
∑ V i=0
i

Where: I = Current, A
V = Voltage, v

Charging Voltage across a Capacitor in an RC Circuit

V C =V O ( 1−e−t / RC )

Where: Vc = voltage of a charging capacitor, v

Vo = Voltage of the battery, v
t = time, s
R = resistance, Ω
C = capacitance, F

Time Constant for an RC Circuit

τ = RC

Where: τ = time constant

R = resistance, Ω
C = Capacitance, F

Discharging Voltage across a Capacitor in an RC Circuit

−t /RC −t /τ
V C =V O e =V O e

Where: Vc = voltage of a charging capacitor, v

Vo = Voltage of the battery, v
t = time, s
R = resistance, Ω
 C = capacitance, F
τ = time constant

Galvanometer Current used as Ammeter

IR s
I g=
r + Rs

Where: Ig = galvanometer currnt, A

I = current, A
Rs = shunt resistance, Ω
r = resistance of the galvanometer coil

Galvanometer Current used as Voltmeter

V
I g=
r + Rm

Where: Ig = galvanometer current, A

V= voltage, v
Rm = resistance, Ω
r = resistance of the galvanometer coil

Example 1: What is the equivalent resistance of three resistors (1.0Ω, 2.0Ω, and 3.0Ω)
when they are connected (a) in series and (b) in parallel? (c) What current will be
delivered from a 12 –volt battery for each of these arrangements?

Given: Required:
R1 = 1.0Ω , I=?
R2 = 2.0Ω ,
R3 = 3.0Ω ;
V = 12v;

Solution:
Series
RT =R1 + R2 + R3=1+2+3=6 Ω
V 12
I T = T = =2 A=I 1=I 2=I 3
RT 6

V1 = I1R1 = 2(1Ω) = 2v
V2 = I2R2 = 2(2) = 4v
V3 = I3R3 = 2(3) = 6v
VT = 12v

PT =I T V T =2 x 12=24 W
P1=I 1 V 1 =2 x 2=4 W
P2=I 2 V 2 =2 x 4=8 W
P3=I 3 V 3=2 x 6=12W
PT =24 W
Parallel
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6+3+2 11
= + + = + + = =
R T R 1 R2 R 3 1 2 3 6 6
6
RT = Ω
11

V T 12
I T= = =22 A
RT 6
11

V T =V 1=V 2 =V 3=12 V

V 1 12V
I 1= = =12 A
R1 1Ω
V 2 12 V
I 2= = =6 A
R2 2Ω
V 12 V
I 3= 3 = =4 A
R3 3 Ω
I T =22 A

PT =I T V T =22 A x 12 V =264 W

P1=I 1 V 1 =12 A x 12 V =144 W

P2=I 2 V 2 =6 A x 12V =72 W
P3=I 3 V 3=4 A x 12V =48 W
PT =264 W

Example 2: What are the voltages across and the current in each of the resistors (R1 to
R5) in the figure below? How much power is dissipated in each of the resistors?

R1= 6.00 Ώ
R5= 2.50 Ώ

R2= 4.00 Ώ

R3= 6.00 Ώ R4= 2.00 Ώ

Given: Required:

R1= 6.00 Ώ Currents & Voltages

R2= 4.00 Ώ
R3= 6.00 Ώ
R4= 2.00 Ώ
R5= 2.50 Ώ
Solution:
1 1 1 1 1 1+3 4 V2345 = I2345R2345 = 3(2) = 6v =V2 = V345
= + = + = =
R 34 R3 R 4 6 2 6 6
R34 = 1.5Ω V2 6v
I 2= = =1.5 A
R2 4
V 345 6 v
I 345= = =1.5 A=I 5=I 34
R 345 4
R345 = 2.5 + 1.5 = 4Ω V5 = I5R5 = 1.5(2.5) = 3.75v
V34 = I34R34 = 1.5(1.5) = 2.25v = V3 = V4

V 3 2.25
1 1 1 1 1 2 I 3= = =0.375 A
= + = + = R3 6
R 2345 R2 R345 4 4 4
V 4 2.25
R2345 = 2Ω I 4= = =1.125 A
R4 2

PT = VTIT = 24(3) = 72w

RT =R1 + R2345 =6+2=8 Ω P1 = I1V1 = 3(18) = 54w

P2 = I2V2 = 1.5(6) = 9w
V T 24 P3 = I3V3 = 0.375 (2.25) = 0.84375w
I T= = =3 A=I 1=I 2345 P4 = I4V4 = 1.125(2.25) = 2.53125w
RT 8
P5=I 5 V 5=1.5(3.75)=5.625 w
V1 = I1R1 = 3(6) = 18v
P T =72.00000 w
Example 3: Three resistors are connected in parallel across a 36.0-volt battery. Use
Kirchhoff’s rule to calculate (a) the current through each resistor and the battery and (b)
the equivalent resistance of the pair.

A C E
B D
2.50
36v 6.0 3.0

KCL @ PT.1 KVL @ Loop 1

A – B – C=0 −6 B+36=0
B=6 A
KCL @ PT.2
C – D – E=0 KVL @ Loop 2
6 B – 3 D=0
6( 6) – 3 D=0 36
E= =14.4 A
36 2.5
D= =12 A
3
C=D+ E=12+ 14.4=26.4 A
KVL @ Loop 3
3 D – 2.5 E=0 A=B+ C=6+26.4=32.4 A
3(12) – 2.5 E=0
Example 4: What are the voltages across the current in each of the resistors (R1 to R4) in
the figure below? (Use the Kirchhoff’s law).
9Ω Given:
R3=2.00Ω
B
V2=12.00V
R3=2.00Ω

Required:
12.00V
A Voltages
C

6Ω

6V

KCL @ PT.1
A – B – C=0 eq .1 *3&4
3( A+ 3C=3)
KVL @ Loop 1 11 A – 9 C=12
−9 B – 2 A +12=0 3 A +9 C=9
2 A +9 B=12 eq . 2 11 A – 9 C=12
14 A=21
KVL @ Loop 2 A=3/ 2∨1.5 A
6+ 6C – 12+2 A=0

( 32 )+ 9 B=12
2 A+ 6 C=6
2
2
A+3 C=3 eq . 3 3+9 B=12
9 B=12 – 3
*1&2 B=1 A
9( A – B – C=0)
2 A+9 B=12 3
9 A – 9 B – 9 C=0 +3 C=3
2
2 A+ 9 B=12 3 3
11 A – 9C=12 eq .4 3 C=3 – =
2 2
3 1
C= = A
2(3) 2
Example 5: The capacitance resistance in the RC circuit is 6.0 µF and 0.25MΩ,
respectively, and the battery has a 12-volt terminal voltage. (a) The capacitor was initially
uncharged. What is the voltage across it one time constant after the switch is closed? (b)
What are the voltage across the capacitor and the capacitor’s charge at t = 5.0s?

a . V C =0.63V O =0.63 ( 12 )=7.56 v

−t / τ −5 /1.5
b . V C =V O (1 – e )=12(1−e )=11.57 V
τ =RC= ( 6 x 10 F )( 0.25 x 10 Ω )=1.5 s
−6 6

Q=C V C =6 x 10−6 F (11.57)=6.94 x 10−5 C

Example 6: A galvanometer that can safely carry a maximum coil current of 200 µA
(called the full-scale sensitivity) has a coil resistance of 50 Ω. It is to be used in an
ammeter designed to read currents up to 3.0 A (at full scale). What is the required shunt
resistance?

Given: Required:
−6
I g=200 µA=200 x 10 A R S=?
R = 50Ω
I = 3A

Solution:
I RS −6 3 RS
I g= ; 200 x 10 =
R+ R S 50+ RS

−6 −6
200 x 10 (50)+ 200 x 10 RS =3 R S

0.01=2.9998 R S
0.01 −3
R S= =3.33 x 10 Ω
2.9998

Example 7: Suppose that the galvanometer in latter problem is to be used instead in a

voltmeter with a full-scale reading of 3.0 V. What is the required multiplier resistance?

Given: Required:
V = 3V R M =?

Solution:
V 3
I g= ; 200 x 10−6=
R+ R M 50+ R M
 3
RM= −6
−50=1.495 x 104 Ω
200 x 10

Name:
Course/Year/Section:
Assignment No.:

1. Three resistors with values 1.0 ohm, 2.0 ohm, and 4.0 ohm are connected in
parallel in a circuit with a 6.0v battery. What are the (a) the total equivalent
resistance, (b) the voltage across each resistors, and (c) the power dissipated in the
resistors?

2. Three resistors with values 5.0 ohm, 2.5 ohm, and 4.0 ohm are connected in series
in a circuit with a 36.0v battery. What are the (a) the total equivalent resistance,
(b) the voltage across each resistors, and (c) the power dissipated in the resistors?

3. Use the Kirchhoff’s law to determine the power dissipated in the resistors.
10.0 A 7.0
C

B
9.0
36 v 6.0

8.0 5.0
4. In a flashing neon light circuit, at a time constant of 2.0 s is desired. If you have a
1.0 micro farad capacitor, what resistance should you use in the circuits?

5. A galvanometer has a coil resistance of 20 ohm. A current of 200 microamperes

deflects the needle through 10 divisions of full scale. What resistance is needed to
convert the galvanometer to a full scale 10-volt meter?

6. A voltmeter has a resistance of 300k-ohms. What is the current through the meter
when it is connected across a 10 ohm resistor that is wired to a 6.0 volt source?