Lecture 03: Circuits

Resistance

Ohm’s Law

Circuits
 Series
 Parallel

Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule

Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule

RC Circuits
 Charging Capacitors
 Discharging Capacitors
 Intermediate Behavior
 Current

Moving Charge (usually in the context of
charges moving through the wires of a circuit)

Units: Amps (A)

Symbol: I

∆Q
I=
∆t
 Resistors

Resistance depends on:
Length of the material
Cross sectional Area of the material
The Resistivity of the material

L
R=ρ
A

Units: Ohms (Ω)
 Ohm’s Law

The Voltage across a Resistor, is proportional to the
Current through the Resistor:

V = I ⋅R
 Power

Resistors dissipate energy:
2
V
P = I ⋅V = I R = 2

R

Units: Watts (W)
 Series Circuits

Elements (such as resistors) are connected in series
if and only if every loop that contains one element
ALSO contains the other.

Resistors in series have the same current through
them:
I total = I1 = I 2

Resistors connected in series are added by: R2

Rtotal = R1 + R2
R1

The potential difference across resistors in series
are added to get the total:

Vtotal = V1 + V2
 Parallel Circuits

Elements (such as resistors) are connected in
parallel if and only if you can make a loop that
has ONLY those two elements in it.

Resistors in parallel have the same voltage (or
potential difference) across them:

Vtotal = V1 = V2

Resistors connected in parallel are added by:
1 1 1
= + R1 R2
Rtotal R1 R2

The current through resistors in parallel are
added to get the total:
I total = I1 + I 2
 Resistors vs. Capacitors
Summary
Resistors: Capacitors:

L A
R=ρ C = εo
A d
Q
V = I ⋅R V=
C
1
P = I ⋅V U = QV
2
 Summary of Concepts

Resistors
Resistance determined by the physical
characteristics of the resistor.

Ohm’s Law
Voltage and Current are proportional.

Circuits
Series
Parallel
 Summary of Equations
Resistors in General:

L P = I ⋅V
R=ρ V = I ⋅R
A
Series Circuits: Parallel Circuits:

1 1 1
Rtotal = R1 + R2 = +
Rtotal R1 R2
I total = I1 = I 2 Vtotal = V1 = V2
Vtotal = V1 + V2 I total = I1 + I 2
 Example

Given the following circuit:

R2 = 4 Ω
R1 = 13 Ω
V = 12 V
R3 = 7 Ω

Find the total current and the total power in the circuit .
 Example

Given the following circuit:

R2 = 4 Ω
R1 = 13 Ω
V = 12 V
R3 = 7 Ω

R1 and R2 are neither in series nor parallel. How about R1

and R3?
 Example

Given the following circuit:

R2 = 4 Ω
R1 = 13 Ω
V = 12 V
R3 = 7 Ω

R1 and R3 are neither in series nor parallel. How about R2

and R3?
 Example

R2 and R3 have been combined as R23:

R1 = 13 Ω
R23 = 11 Ω
V = 12 V

What about R1 and R23?

 Example

R1 and R23 have been combined as Rtotal:

Rtotal = 5.96 Ω
V = 12 V

Now we can find Itotal and Ptotal.

 Example

Find Itotal:

V = I ⋅R Itotal = 12 / 5.96 = 2.01 A

Find Ptotal:

P = I ⋅V Ptotal = 2.01 x 12 = 24.2 W

 Kirchhoff’s Rules

Kirchhoff’s Rules are the fundamental concepts

behind ANY circuit.

Some circuits need it…for example:

I3 V2 R1

I2 I1
R3

R2 V1
 The Junction Rule

Conceptual Basis: conservation of charge

At any junction in a circuit, the current that enters

the junction equals the current that leaves the
junction.

Example:
I3 V2 R1

At the junction shown: I2 I1

R3
I1 + I2 = I3
R2 V1
 The Loop Rule

Conceptual Basis: conservation of energy

Going around any complete loop in a circuit, the

sum total of all the potential differences is zero.

Example:

I3 V2
Going around the right loop:
I2 I1
V1 – I1R1 – V2 + I2R2 = 0 R3

R2 V1
 When Using the Rules…

Junction Rule:
 Label currents in the circuit
 Pick any junction
 Set current entering the junction equal to current leaving the junction
 Pick a new junction (if it provides a new equation)

Loop Rule:
 Pick a loop
 Moving from – to + across a battery is an increase in potential
(moving from + to – across a battery is a decrease in potential)
 Moving with the current across a resistor is a decrease in potential
(moving against the current across a resistor is an increase in
potential)
 Pick a new loop (if it provides a new equation)
 Summary of Concepts

Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule:
At any junction in a circuit, the current that enters
the junction equals the current that leaves the
junction.

Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule:

Going around any complete loop in a circuit, the
sum total of all the potential differences is zero.
 Example

Given the following circuit:

V2 = 12 V R1 = 13 Ω
R3 = 7 Ω

R2 = 4 Ω
V1 = 12 V

Find the current through R1.

 Example

Label the currents:

I3

V2 = 12 V R1 = 13 Ω
R3 = 7 Ω
I2 I1
R2 = 4 Ω
V1 = 12 V

We need a new current for each branch of the circuit.

The direction we pick for the current is arbitrary. (If we
pick the “wrong” direction, the final answer will be
negative.)
 Example

Write down a loop rule equation for the right loop:

I3

V2 = 12 V R1 = 13 Ω
R3 = 7 Ω
I2 I1
R2 = 4 Ω
V1 = 12 V

Start at the lower right corner of this loop. Be careful to

watch your signs:

V1 – I1R1 – V2 + I2R2 = 0
 Example

Write down a junction rule equation:

I3

V2 = 12 V R1 = 13 Ω
R3 = 7 Ω
I2 I1
R2 = 4 Ω
V1 = 12 V

Either junction would give the same equation:

I1 + I2 = I3
 Example

Write down a loop rule equation for the left loop:

I3
V2 = 12 V R1 = 13 Ω
R3 = 7 Ω I2
I1

R2 = 4 Ω V1 = 12 V

Be careful to watch your signs:

-I2R2 + V2 - I3R3 = 0
 Example

Finally, solve the system of equations for the currents:

V1 – I1R1 – V2 + I2R2 = 0 -13I1 + 4I2 + 0I3 = 0

I1 + I2 = I3 I1 + I2 - I3 = 0
-I2R2 + V2 - I3R3 = 0 0I1 - 4I2 - 7I3 = -12

Since all the currents were positive, the directions shown

in our diagram are correct!

I1 = +.28 A I2 = +.91 A I3 = +1.19 A

 RC Circuits

Circuits that have both resistors and capacitors:

R1
C
R2

S S V

With resistance in the circuits, capacitors do not

charge and discharge instantaneously – it takes time
(even if only fractions of a second).
 Capacitors

Charge on Capacitors cannot change instantly.

Short term behavior of Capacitor:
 If the capacitor starts with no charge, it has no potential difference
across it and acts as a wire.
 If the capacitor starts with charge, it has a potential difference across
it and acts as a battery.

Current through a Capacitor eventually goes to zero.

Long term behavior of Capacitor:
 If the capacitor is charging, when fully charged no current flows and
capacitor acts as an open circuit.
 If capacitor is discharging, potential difference goes to zero and no
current flows.
 Charging Capacitors

Example: an RC circuit with a switch C

R

When switch is first closed…

(short term behavior): S V
 No charge on the capacitor since charge can not change
instantly – the capacitor acts as a wire or short circuit

After switch has been closed for a while…

(long term behavior):
 No current flows through the capacitor – the capacitor
acts as a break in the circuit or open circuit
 Discharging Capacitors

Example: a charged RC circuit with a switch

C
R

When switch is first closed…
(short term behavior):
 Full charge is on the capacitor since charge can not S
change instantly – the capacitor acts as a battery

After switch has been closed for a while…

(long term behavior):
 No current flows through the capacitor – the
capacitor is fully discharged
 Intermediate Behavior

While a capacitor is charging:

(
Q(t ) = Q∞ 1 − e − t / RC
) I (t ) = I 0 e( − t / RC
)

While a capacitor is discharging:

Q(t ) = Q0 e ( − t / RC
) (
I (t ) = I 0 e − t / RC
)
 What is the time constant?

The time constant τ = RC.

Given a capacitor starting with no charge, the time

constant is the amount of time an RC circuit takes to
charge a capacitor to about 63.2% of its final value.

The time constant is the amount of time an RC

circuit takes to discharge a capacitor by about 63.2%
of its original value.
 Summary of Concepts

Charging Capacitors
Short Term: capacitor has no charge, no potential difference, acts
as a wire
Long Term: capacitor fully charged, no current flows through
capacitor, acts as an open circuit

Discharging Capacitors
Short Term: capacitor is fully charged, potential difference is a
maximum, acts as a battery
Long Term: capacitor is fully discharged, potential difference is
zero, no current flows

Intermediate Behavior
Charge & Current exponentially approach their long-term values
τ = RC
 Example

Originally the capacitor has no charge on it. S1 is closed
for a “long time” to fully charge the capacitor. Then S1 is
opened.

R1 = 7 Ω
C = 12 mF

R2 = 3 Ω
V=9V

S2 S1

Later, S2 is closed allowing the capacitor to discharge.

What is the current in the circuit 8 ms after S2 is closed?
 Example

First look at the time when S1 is closed. From Kirchhoff’s
Loop Rule, we know that the sum of the voltages across R1
and C must always equal the voltage of the battery:

VR + VC = 9
R1 = 7 Ω
C = 12 mF
0 + VC = 9

V=9V VC = 9 V
S1

After a “long time” the capacitor is fully charged and there

is no current flowing in the circuit. Thus the potential
difference across the resistor is zero (V = IR) and the
potential difference across the capacitor must be 9 V.
 Example

Next look at when S2 is closed. Using Kirchhoff’s Loop
Rule, we know the potential difference across R2 and C are
always the same, so initially the current flowing in the
circuit (using V = IR) is 3 A.

VR = VC = 9 V
IR = 9 V
C = 12 mF
R2 = 3 Ω I0 = 3 A

S2

Finally solve for the current after 8 ms:

(
I (t ) = I 0 e − t / RC
) = 3(e −8 x10 −3 / 3⋅12 x10 −3
)= 2.4 A