CHP 1: Circuit Theory

MEC523 Applied Electronics &
Microprocessors
Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal,

UiTM Shah Alam
CHAPTER 1: CIRCUIT THEORY
 Circuit Concepts :
 Voltage,V & Current, I,
 Resistance, R
 Circuit Laws :
 Ohm’s Law,
 Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL),
 Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL),
 Circuit Elements in Series & Parallel,
 Thevenin’s Theorem
Power voltage
Resistor
What is voltage and current?
 Voltage is the measure of specific potential
energy (potential energy per unit charge)
between two locations.
 When a voltage source is connected to a circuit,
the voltage will cause a uniform flow of electrons
through that circuit called a current.
Voltage = Energy / charge = E/Q

Analogy:
Concept of Voltage & Current
With the “+” and “-” ends of the battery not

connected to anything, there will be The same principle holds true for the water reservoir
voltage between those two points, but and pump analogy: without a return pipe back to the
there will be no flow of electrons through pond, stored energy in the reservoir cannot be released
the battery, because there is no in the form of water flow. Once the reservoir is
continuous path for the electrons to move. completely filled up, no flow can occur, no matter how
much pressure the pump may generate.
Analogy: Concept of Voltage & Current - cont.
We can provide such a path for the battery by

connecting a piece of wire from one end of the
battery to the other. Forming a circuit with a
There needs to be a complete path (circuit) for loop of wire, we will initiate a continuous flow
water to flow from the pond, to the reservoir, of electrons in a clockwise direction:
and back to the pond in order for continuous
flow to occur.
Ohm’s Law
 Ohm’s Law simply states that current in a
resistive circuit is directly proportional to its
applied voltage and inversely proportional to
its resistance.
Ω
Example – Ohm’s Law
Ω Ω
Ω
Ω
Cont..
 As with all circuit elements, we need to know how the

current through and voltage across the device are related
 Materials with a linear relationship satisfy Ohm’s law: v
= ± mi
 The slope, m, is equal to the resistance of the element
 Ohm’s Law: v = iR
Voltage Symbols
Ω
Series Resistor
R1 R2
I
+ VR1 - + VR2 -
+
Vs VRN RN
-
- VR3 +
R3
 Total Resistance: RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + …….. + RN

The supplied power = Total power dissipated by resistors
PT = PR1 + PR2 + PR3 + …….. + PRN
VS
I
RT
Parallel Resistor
IT
I1 I2 I3
Vs R1 R2 RN
1 1 1 1
   ....... 
RT R1 R2 RN
The total current is equal to the total sum of the branch current,
IT = I1 + I2 + …….. + IN
Exercise 1.1:
0.2941 mA
9.66 V
4k Ω
6.76 V
1.324 mA
SHORT CIRCUIT
 A short circuit is simply a low resistance connection between

the two conductors supplying electrical power to any circuit.
(An element with zero resistance (R = 0) is called a ‘short
circuit’).
 Often just drawn as a wire (line)
 This results in excessive current flow in the power source
through the 'short,' and may even cause the power source to
be destroyed.
OPEN CIRCUIT
∞Ω
 Current can only exist when there is a

conductive path (e.g. a length of a wire).
 In the circuit shown in the figure above, i = 0,
since there is no conductor between points a
and b. We refer to this as an ‘open circuit’,
with infinite resistance (R = ∞)
Kirchoff’s Laws
 The foundation of circuit analysis is
- The defining equations for circuit elements (e.g. Ohm’s law)
- Kirchoff’s current law (KCL)
- Kirchoff’s voltage law (KVL)
 The defining equations tell us how the voltage and current
within a circuit element are related
 Kirchoff’s laws tell us how the voltages and currents in
different branches are related
Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL)
 Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL): the algebraic sum of currents entering a

node (or a closed boundary) is zero
 The sum of currents entering a node is equal to the sum of the currents
leaving a node
Kirchoff’s Current Law for Boundaries
Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
 Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL): the algebraic sum of

voltages around a closed path (or loop) is zero
 Voltage drop at each element must be same with the
voltage supply.
v4 + v1 + v2 + v3 = 0
V4 + i1R1 + i2R2 + i3R3 = 0

Kirchoff’s Laws
 Step by step;
 1. Define the number of loops in a circuit
 2. Identify the Passive sign convention of
the element (current enters the positive
terminal of an element)
 3. Write the Kirchoff’s laws equation
Example – KCL
Example – KVL Solution:
Consider the circuit shown in the figure From Loop 1 we get:

above, with the following Parameters: V1 − VR3 − VR1 = 0
V1 = 15V
V2 = 7V From Loop 2 we get:
V2 − VR3 − VR2 = 0
R1 = 20Ω
R2 = 5Ω
R3 = 10Ω
Find current through R3 using Kirchhoff's
Voltage Law.
Continue.. It is clear that: from (3)
..... (1)
and
V2 + (I1 − I2) * R3 − I2 * R2 = 0
Substitute the Above Result into (2)
... (2)
By equating above (1) and (2) we can

eliminate I2 and hence get the following:
... (3)
The Negative sign for IR3 only tells us that

Current IR3 flows in the same direction to I2
direction.
Voltage Divider Rule
 The voltage divider is useful in
determining the voltage drop across a
resistor within a series circuit.
Example
Analyze a simple series circuit, determining
the voltage drops across individual
resistors
R T = R 1 + R 2 + R3
Current Divider Rule
 Current Divider Rule is useful in
determining the current flow through one
branch of parallel circuit.
IT
I1 I2 R2
I1  T
+ + R 1  R2
V1 R1 V2
Vs - -
R1
I2  T
R 1  R2
Thevenin’s Theorem
 Thevenin's Theorem states that it is possible to simplify any
linear circuit, no matter how complex, to an equivalent circuit
with just a single voltage source and series resistance
connected to a load
From Step 1 and Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Then find the current through

RL for values of 2 , 10 and 100 Ω
Solution:
Example
Given the following circuit, determine the

equivalent Thevenin’s Circuit between points
A & B. Calculate the:
 Equivalent Thevenin’s Voltage, VTH
 Equivalent Thevenin’s Resistance, RTH
Example
The original circuit
Calculating the equivalent output voltage

Continue..
Calculating the equivalent resistance

The equivalent circuit

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MEC523 Applied Electronics &

Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal,

Voltage = Energy / charge = E/Q

With the “+” and “-” ends of the battery not

We can provide such a path for the battery by

 As with all circuit elements, we need to know how the

 Total Resistance: RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + …….. + RN

 A short circuit is simply a low resistance connection between

 Current can only exist when there is a

 Kirchoff’s Current Law (KCL): the algebraic sum of currents entering a

 Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL): the algebraic sum of

V4 + i1R1 + i2R2 + i3R3 = 0

Consider the circuit shown in the figure From Loop 1 we get:

By equating above (1) and (2) we can

The Negative sign for IR3 only tells us that

Then find the current through

Given the following circuit, determine the

The original circuit

Calculating the equivalent output voltage

Calculating the equivalent resistance

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