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CHAPTER 1 - BASIC CONCEPTS

List of topics for this chapter:

Systems and Units
Charge and Current
Voltage, Power, and Energy
Circuit Elements

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SYSTEMS AND UNITS

Problem 1.1 Simplify the following units. Try to express each as a single unit.
volt· coulomb second
(a) (b) volt· ampere· second (c) b
second vo1t· cou1om

(a) watt (b) joule (c) 1 /watt

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CHARGE AND CURRENT

Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of which matter consists, measured in
coulombs (C).

Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, measured in amperes (A). A direct current
(de) is a current that remains constant with time. An alternating current (ac) is a current that
varies sinusoidally with time. ·

Problem 1.2 The charge transferred in time is given in Figure 1.1. Determine the current,
i(t), flowing through the wire.

q (C)

- Figure 1.1
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The relationship between current, charge, and time is
i(t) = dq(t)/dt
Therefore,
. d .
1(t) =dt (10sm(2t))
i(t) = 20cos(2t) amps

Problem 1.3 [1.5/ Determine the total charge flowing through an element
for 0 < t < 2 seconds when the current entering its positive terminal is i(t) = e·21 mA.

q(t) = Ji(t) dt
-1 -1 -1
q=
J 2 e-21 dt = - e-2'J 2 = ( - e-4 - - eo ) = --1(e•4 -1)
0 2 ° 2 2 2
q = 0.4908 mC

Problem 1.4 The current flowing through a wire is given by Figure 1.2. Determine the net
charge moving through the wire if q(O) = 0.

-
\..
·(t) ..
4
2 6 8 .......
t
-2
Figure 1.2
The net charge moving through the wire is

q(t)

4C +--- 2tC 0<t<2

q(t)=i -2t+8C 2<t<4
2C 2t-8C 4<t<6
-2t +16 C 6 < t < 8

2 4 6 8 t

• This indicates a problem from Fundamentals of Electric Circuits by Alexander and Sadiku.

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VOLTAGE, POWER, AND ENERGY

Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit charge through an element,
measured in volts (V). Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in
watts (W). Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules (J).

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.

Problem 1.5
Given v = 10 volts and i(t) as shown in Figure 1.3, sketch the power and
energy.
i(t) ,l
2A
l

2 4 6
' ..
t

-
-2

Figure

r2A 0<t<2
i(t)=i-2A 2<t<4
loA 4<t<6
Therefore,
r 20W 0<t<2 r 2ot J 0<t<2
p(t) = v(t)i(t) = -20 W 2<t<4 w(t) = fp(t) dt =i 80- 20t J 2<t<4
low 4<t<6 l oJ 4<t<6

Sketches of the power and energy are shown in the figures below.
w(t)
p(t) -
40J +---
20W
20 J
2 4 6
'
....
...

-
t
-20W
2 4 6

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 Problem 1.6 [1.13J Figure 1.4 shows the current through and the voltage across
a device. Find the total energy absorbed by the device for the period 0 < t < 4 seconds.

i (mA) v(V)
-
50 ,. 10

2 4 t (s) 0 1 3 4 t (s)
Figure 1.4

The curves in Figure 1.4 are represented by

25t mA 0 <t < f l0t V 0<t<l

{
2 i(t)= 100-25tmA 2<t<4 v(t) = 10 V l<t<3
l40-10t V 3<t<4

So,

w=
0
I

foot)(25t) dt+
2

I
f00)(25t) dt+
3
f
w(t) = v(t)i(t) dt
4

f (10)(100-25t) dt+ f(40-10t)(100-25t) dt

2 3
-
w=250 2 3 4
I
[
ft2 dt+ dt+ (4-t)dt+ (16-8t+t2 ]
ft f2 f3 )dt
20
3 2 I

= 250[t llo +t 1 2+(4t - t )1 3+(16t - 4t 2 + t3)1 4]

W
3 2 2 I
3 2 3

w=25olr(1 3-
o
) +(4 - + ( 12-9 -8+
2
4) +(64- -48+36- 21 )1 J
1) 2
2 64+64
2 3 3
w = 250 [0.3333 + 1.5 +1.5 + 0.3333]
w = 916.7 mJ

Problem 1.7 Given that the power absorbed by an element is p( t) = 10 cos 2 ( 4t) watts
and the current through the element is i(t) = 20cos(4t) mA, find the voltage across the
element.

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v(t) = 500 cos(4t) volts

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CffiCUIT ELEMENTS

An electric circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements.

An ideal independent source is an active element that provides a specified voltage or current that
is completely independent of other circuit variables. An ideal dependent (or controlled) source is
an active element in which the source quantity is controlled by another voltage or current.

Problem 1.8 Given the circuit in Figure 1.5, find V0•

2A
+

50V

- Figure 1.5

This circuit, like any other electric circuit, must obey the law of conservation of energy. Hence,
L p=0
The power absorbed by the voltage source is
Pabssov = -(50)(3) = -150 watts

The power absorbed by each circuit element in the bridge is

pa b s ov = (20)(2) = 40 watts Pabs v = (40)(1) = 40 watts
2
4

Pabs = (Vo)(l) =
Vo
V

Pabs v = (30)(1) = 30 Pabs v = (10)(2) = 20 watts

watts 3 1

Thus,

L p=0=-150+40+40+pabs +30+20
Pabsv =150-40-40-30-20
0

5
 V

-
V

p abs = 20 watts

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but

Pabsy 0
= (V )(l) = V
0 0

Therefore,
V = 20 volts
0

Problem 1.9 [1.17] Find V0 in the circuit of Figure 1.6.

Io=2 A + 28V

6A + 12V + 28V
1A

3A

+
30V' + 510
Vo

Since L p=
Figure 1.6
-
0, -(30)(6) +(12)(6) + +(28)(1 ) +(28)(1)-(5IJ(3) =
3V 0
0 0

where l = 2.
0

-180 + 72 + 3V +(28)(2) + 28- (5)(2)(3)

0
=0
3V + 156 = 210
0

3V = 54
0
V = 18 volts
0

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