SI Prexes

Basic Concepts Overview

Basic Concepts

Denitions: Current, Voltage, Power, & Energy

ECE 221

Passive sign convention

Circuit elements
Ideal Sources

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Circuit Analysis: Introduction

Ver. 1.24

An electric circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements

Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles which
matter consists, measured in coulombs (C)
1 C of charge requires 6.24 1018 electrons

ECE 221

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

Law of conservation of charge: charge cannot be created or

destroyed, only transferred.

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Prefix
tera
giga
mega
kilo

n
p
f
a

Symbol
T
G
M
k

Example
TB
GB
MHz
k
V
mH
A
ns
pF

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

10

Ver. 1.24

SI Prefixes
These are used throughout the curriculum and by engineers

milli
micro
nano
pico
femto
atto

Basic Concepts

1.5 V

1.5 V

Flashlight Circuit

Light Bulb

Switch

ECE 221

Multiplier
1012
109
106
103
100
103
106
109
1012
1015
1018

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Batteries
1.5 V
Each

A ashlight circuit has 4 circuit elements

ECE 221

We will use symbols for circuit elements

Facilitates analysis

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Electric Current
Electric Current is the rate of change of charge, measured in
amperes (A)
1 A = 1 C/s

i=
q=
t=

i=

dq
dt

Basic Concepts

current in amperes
charge in coulombs
time in seconds

ECE 221

Propagation Rate
i

10

Ver. 1.24

Ver. 1.24

Two main types

Direct Current (DC): Current remains constant
Alternating Current (AC): Current varies sinusoidally with
time

where

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1.5 V

1.5 V

Average drift velocity is very small (mm/sec)

Basic Concepts

Propagation is very fast (close to speed of light)

Eects appear to be instantaneous

ECE 221

Similar to a hose full of water

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1.5 V

1.5 V

Notes on Current

i
e-

10

Current in circuits physically realized by movement of electrons

Direction of current must be specied by an arrow

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

By convention, current direction dened as ow of positive charge

Note positive charge is not owing physically

Electrons have a negative charge

ECE 221

They move in the opposite direction of current

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Key Assumptions

For the duration of this class, we will make the following assumptions.

Propagation is instantaneous (lumped-parameter system)

Net charge stored by all circuit elements is 0 (zero)

Nothing can store electrons

ECE 221

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

No magnetic coupling between wires or circuit elements

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Voltage
Voltage is the energy absorbed or expended as a unit charge
moves through a circuit element
Analogous to pressure in a hydraulic system
Sometimes called potential dierence
Can be created by a separation of charge
Is a measure of the potential between two points
Voltage pushes charge in one direction

dw
dq

where
v=
w=
q=

ECE 221

voltage in volts
energy in Joules
charge in coulombs

Basic Concepts

Example 1: Voltage Concept

Reservoir

Sponge

Ver. 1.24

We use polarity (+ and on batteries) to indicate which direction

the charge is being pushed

v=

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Pressure

Current

1.5 V

1.5 V

10

Voltage Concept
i

3V
-

The voltage sources push current through the circuit

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

Ver. 1.24

12

10

The current is the rate of ow of charge (i.e. electrons)

ECE 221

The light bulb (resistor) resists the ow of current

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Example 2: Voltage Concept

mg

Basic Concepts

Voltage Force due to gravity (mg)

ECE 221

Voltage Pressure

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Electric Current Marble velocity

Ver. 1.24

Electric Current Water Current

Basic Concepts

Viscosity Resistance

ECE 221

Sponge Porosity Resistance

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Power
Power: time rate of expending or absorbing energy
Denoted by p

dw
p=
dt
p = vi

power in watts (W = J/s)

energy in joules (J)
time in seconds (s)
voltage in volts (V)
current in amperes (A)

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

By convention
Circuit elements that absorb power have a positive value of p
Circuit elements that produce power have a negative value of
p

where
p=
w=
t=
v=
i=
ECE 221

Energy

Law of Conservation of Energy: the net power absorbed by a

circuit is equal to 0

t0

v(t)i(t) dt

p dt = p(t t0 )

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

In other words
The total energy produced in a circuit is equal to the total
energy absorbed
Every Watt absorbed by an element must be produced by some
other element(s)
t

t0

p(t) dt =

Energy: capacity to do work, measured in joules (J)

w=

t0

ECE 221

w=

If current and voltage are constant (DC),

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Example 3: Passive Sign Convention

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Passive Sign Convention

Suppose the circuit element shown below is characterized by

v = f (i) and i = g(v). Determine whether the PSC is satised and
write the equations for the voltage, current, and power for each of the
diagrams below.

i
+

i
-

Ver. 1.24

Basic Concepts

ECE 221

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Passive Sign Convention (PSC): Current enters the positive

terminal of an element
Equivalent: Current leaves the negative terminal

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

Most two-terminal circuit elements (e.g. batteries, light bulbs,

resistors, switches) are characterized by a single equation that
relates voltage to current: v = f (i) or i = g(v)
Called the defining equation
The PSC determines the sign of the relationship
If PSC is satised: v = f (i) or i = g(v)
If PSC is not satised: v = f (i) or i = g(v)

ECE 221

This is also true of power

If PSC is satised: p = +vi
If PSC is not satised: p = vi

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Example 4: Passive Sign Convention

2A

2A

Find the power (absorbed) for each element.

2A

2A
4V

+
4V

+
4V

4V
+

Ver. 1.24

Basic Concepts

ECE 221

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Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

Voltage
(V)
-18
-18
2
20
16
36

va
+

ia

vc

Basic Concepts

ic

5V

1 k

ve

vd

Example 5: Passive Sign Convention

Power
(W)

ECE 221

Voltage Drops & Rises Defined

Current
(A)
-51
45
-6
-20
-14
31

Find the total power absorbed in the circuit.

a
b
c
d
e
f

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ECE 221

Basic Concepts

id

ie

if

Ver. 1.24

Ver. 1.24

In most cases, we will be concerned with voltage drops

The rst expression is the most common

The following statements are true and equivalent

There is a 5 V drop from a to b
There is a 5 V rise from b to a
There is a 5 V rise from a to b
There is a 5 V drop from b to a

Passive Sign Convention Remarks

Failure to comply with the PSC will result in a wrong equation in
the early stages of circuit analysis
All of the results that follow will be wrong
This translates to many lost points on exams
One of the key ideas is that the dening equations depend on the
voltage polarity and current direction
Example: p = vi

ECE 221

You must examine how the polarity of v and the direction of i is

labeled on the circuit diagram to determine the sign

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vf

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Vs

Independent
Source

c I1

Dedependent
Source

Ideal Voltage Sources

Vs

Independent
Source
(Battery)

Ideal Voltage Source: produces Vs volts regardless of the

current absorbed or produced by the device

12 V

= -12 V

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

The voltage produced may depend on some other circuit variable

(current or voltage)

ECE 221

= -12 V

The sign of Vs can be negative

12 V

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Notes on Ideal Sources

Ideal sources are models used to simplify analysis
These devices do not exist physically
How much power can an ideal source produce?
How much power can a battery produce?
Ideal models serve as a good approximation of physical devices,
but only over a limited operating range

ECE 221

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

We will use and discuss more accurate models later in the term

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Dedependent
Source

c V1

Ideal Current Sources

Is

Independent
Source

Ideal Current Source: produces Is amps regardless of the

current in the device

2A

= -2 A

Basic Concepts

Ver. 1.24

The current produced may depend on some other circuit variable

(current or voltage)

ECE 221

= -2 A

Note the sign of Is can be negative

2A

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