MODULE 1 IN AUTO 202 (Fundamentals of Electronics)

FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY

Preparede by:

Junryl S. Español and Christopher E. Barientos, MTE

Contact Info:
E-mail Address: junryl.norsubsc@gmail.com
Facebook Account: (Lyrnuj Cidroz) https://www.facebook.com/WalayAlam/
Number: 09675203978

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INTRODUCTION
Can you imagine life without electricity? I think the most obvious answer is that, it is unimaginable.
Electricity has many uses in our day to day life. Perhaps, it is the most amazing and life-changing innovation
made by humans. Survival without electricity is unimaginable now but long time ago, people lived without
light and electronic appliances. However nowadays, it created major impact in making our life comfortable.

Electricity is one of our basic needs for survival. We use electricity in our daily life and the general idea of
electricity is familiar. It is transmitted from the power plants to our houses in big cables hung high on
electrical post. Once it gets to our houses, it travels through wires through the walls until it gets to electrical
outlets. From there, we plug in power cords to get the electricity into the electrical devices we depend on
every day. In order to understand the theory on how electricity works, this module revolves around
introducing to learners the basic concepts of electricity and the sources and advantages as well as the basic
elements of an electrical circuit.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, the students are expected to understand the basic concepts
revolving around fundamental concepts of electricity and apply knowledge in electronics to meet
curriculum requirements (4. 1.1.).

CONTENTS OF THE MODULE

This module contains the following lessons:

Lesson 1. General Concepts Electricity.
Lesson 2. Basic Electrical Circuits.
Lesson 3. Basic Electrical Laws.

DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO USE THE MODULE PROPERLY

In order to benefit profoundly from this module, please be guided by all the key points
presented below.
1. This module contains three (3) lessons so that you could understand the subject fully.
2. On the first page of each lesson, you will find the specific learning outcomes (SLOs) of each
lesson. SLOs are knowledge and skills you are expected to acquire at the end of the lesson. Read
them heartily.
3. You must answer the Learning Activities/Exercises (LAEs). The LAEs are designed to help you
acquire the SLOs.
4. Feel free to chat, call, text or send an email message to me if you have questions, clarifications,
reactions, or reflections about the contents or activities in the module.
5. The Practice Task/Assessment and I will be checking the Assignment.

LESSON 1 – General Concepts of Electricity

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:
1. Describe electricity and kinds of electricity.
2. Distinguish between electrical conductors and insulators.
3. Identify electricity sources and their advantages.
4. Understand the basic principles of electrical laws.

Motivation/Prompting Questions

Where does electricity come from? Where do this electricity flowing? If your device is not working,
will you directly touch the wires and socket to check? Why does it hurt when you get electrocuted?

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 Discussion

1.0 Electricity
Electricity is a form of energy produced by the flow of particles of matter and consists of commonly
attractive positively (protons [+]) and negatively (electrons[-]) charged atomic particles. A stream of
electron, or an electric current.

1.1 Kinds of Electricity

Static Electricity
 Is an electric charges build up on the surface of a materials.
Examples:
Rubbing the cap of your ball pen in your head
Lightning struck the ground

Current Electricity
 is an electric charges caused by flowing electrons on insulators or electronic
components.
Example:
Power Lines
Automobile
Appliances

Concepts of Electricity Generation

Generators
In electricity generation, a generator is a device that converts automotive power (mechanical
energy) into electrical power for use in an external circuit. Sources of mechanical energy include
steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, internal combustion engines, wind turbines and even
hand cranks. The first electromagnetic generator, the Faraday disk, was invented in 1831 by British
scientist Michael Faraday. Generators provide nearly all of the power for electric power grids.

Fig 1. Electrical power generator structure

Types of Generators
1. Alternating Current Generator- also known as alternator
2. Direct Current Generator

What do we need to make a generator for a power station?

 Strong magnets
 Lots of wire
 Then, lots of energy to turn the generator.

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1.2 Sources of Electricity
Electricity can be produced in different sources, it may be artificial or natural. A little brief discussion
will be discussed here:

 Biomass
 Is a renewable and sustainable source of energy coming from biological or organic
matters.
 It produces electricity through combustion or burning in biomass power plant.

Advantages
• Produces less pollution than fossil fuels.
• Does not cause acid rain.
• Can be found locally.
• It is renewable.

Disadvantages
• Inefficient (only 30% efficiency).
• Releases harmful solid carbon particles into the atmosphere.

Fig 2. Biomass energy process

 Natural Gas
Is a colorless and odorless source of energy coming from fossils fuels, it has a high methane
composition (90%) and the rest are other compounds such as carbon. And primarily source of
energy of the 1/5 of the world population.

Fig 3. Typical gas power plant

Advantages
 Natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels.
 It’s safer and easier to store when compared to other fossil fuels.
 Natural gas is extremely reliable, unlike electric power that can be knocked out during a
storm.
 Natural gas is less expensive than other fossil fuels.

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 Disadvantages
 Natural gas must be handled carefully because it is a combustible material.
 Like all fossil fuels, natural gas is not a renewable energy source.
 Natural gas does contribute to greenhouse gases.

 Nuclear Energy
It is the energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Atoms are tiny units that make up all
matter in the universe, and energy is what holds the nucleus together. There is a huge amount
of energy in an atom's dense nucleus.

Advantages
• Green House gases are not made.
• Only a small amount of fuel is needed to create a lot of energy.

Disadvantages
• Harmful radioactive waste is created.
• Uranium supplies may only last for another 50 years.
• Non-renewable
• Radiation may cause cancer

Fig 4. Typical nuclear power plant diagram

 Wind Energy
An energy generated by wind by converting its kinetic energy to mechanical energy then to
electrical energy.

Fig 5. Wind turbine energy diagram

Advantages
• Wind is renewable.
• Wind is free.
• No greenhouse gases are made.

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 • There are few safety risks.

Disadvantages
• Lots of wind turbines are needed to produce enough power.
• Turbines can only be put in windy areas.
• It is not always windy.
• Some people don’t like the look of the turbines.

 Solar Energy
An energy generated from the ultra violet of the sun. it was harness through solar panel that is made up
of semiconductors and convert it into thermal or electrical energy. Also known as the cleanest
renewable energy.

Fig 6. Solar power system

Advantages and Disadvantages

 Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is heat derived within the sub-surface of the earth. Water and/or steam carry
the geothermal energy to the Earth's surface. Depending on its characteristics, geothermal energy
can be used for heating and cooling purposes or be harnessed to generate clean electricity.

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 Fig 7. Geothermal power plant

Advantages
• Geothermal energy does not produce greenhouse gases.
• The energy source is free and will not run out.
•
Disadvantages
• There are not many places where we can build geothermal power stations.
• Harmful gases and minerals may occasionally come up from the ground below. These can be
• difficult to control.

 Hydroelectric Energy
Flowing water is used to turn a turbine which generates electricity.

Fig 8. Hydro power plant

Advantages
• When the electricity is generated, no greenhouse gases are made.
• The water used is free.
• It is a renewable energy source.

Disadvantages
• The dam is expensive to build.
• By building a dam, the nearby area has to be flooded and this could affect nearby habitats.
• If it does not rain much we may not have enough water to turn the turbines.

 Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock with a high amount of carbon and
hydrocarbons. Coal is classified as a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to
form. Coal contains the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago in
swampy forests.

Fig 9. Coal power plant

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Advantages and Disadvantages

 Tidal

Tidal power or tidal energy is the form of hydropower that converts the energy obtained from tides
into useful forms of power, mainly electricity. Although not yet widely used, tidal energy has the
potential for future electricity generation. Tides are more prdictable than the wind and the sun.

Fig 10. Tidal energy

Advantages
• Tides are free and will not run out.
• No greenhouse gases are produced.
• It is reliable because we know exactly when the tides happen.

Disadvantages
• A dam to make the water flow through the generators might be needed.
• Plants and animals that live nearby might get harmed
• The tides only happen twice a day, so can only produce electricity at that time.

Now that we already know what is generator and what are some sources of electricity. So what now?
How do electricity works?

Electricity is produced when one single electron jumps or moved to one atom to another atom.

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 Fig 11. Movement of electrons

1.3 Basic Electrical/Electronic Terms

Before we proceed to another discussion lets define some terms.

Definition of Terms:

Electronics- is the science that deals with the flow of electrons through electronic components such
as resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc.

Electricity- a form of energy produced by the flow of particles of matter and consists of commonly
attractive positively (protons [+]) and negatively (electrons[-]) charged atomic particles. A stream of
electron, or an electric current.

Voltage- that force which is generated to cause electron to flow in an electrical circuit. It is also
referred to as electromotive force or electrical potential. Voltage is measured in Volts ( V). One Volt
is equal to one joule per coulomb.
1J
1V=
C
Current- the flow of electric charge carried by electrons as they jump from atom to atom. It is
expressed in Ampere.

Two types of Current

1. Direct Current or DC- a steady flow of electrons moving steadily and continually in the same
direction along a conductor from negative to positive and has polarity. Sources are dry cells, solar
panel and storage battery etc.

It has no waveform

2. Alternating Current or AC- electric current in which the direction of flow is reversed at
frequent intervals usually 100 or 120 times per second (50 or 60 cycles per second or 50/60 Hz)
and has no polarity. Sources are the electricity from NORECO, alternator, windmill etc.

It has a waveform
Peak (+)
0
Peak (-)
Resistance- opposition or retarding force offered by a circuit or component of a circuit to the passage
of electrical current through it. Measured in Ohms and represented the Greek letter Omega
(Ω).

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Circuit- the course followed by an electric current through a succession of conductors from its
starting point and back to its starting point.
Power- is the amount of work performed. It depends on the amount of voltage and current flow.
J
Measure in watts or
s

1.4 Conductors and Insulators

An electrical conductor is a substance in which electrical charge carriers, usually electrons, move easily
from atom to atom with the application of voltage.

Fig 12. Atomic structure of a conductor

As seen in the picture a conductor has a free electrons or valence electrons which can jump or move
freely from one atom to another atom.

Fig 13. Examples of electrical conductors

An electrical insulator is a material in which the electron does not flow freely or the atom of
the insulator have tightly bound electrons whose internal electric charges do not flow freely; very
little electric current will flow through it under the influence of an electric field.

Fig 14. Insulator valence shell

In insulators the valence band is fully occupied with electrons due to the covalent bonds. The
electrons cannot move because they're "locked up" between the atoms.

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 Fig 15. Common examples of electrical insulators

Activity No.1

1. What is the source of your electricity at home? Explain. (10 points)

2. Enumerate 5 examples of conductors and 5 insulators that you can see in your house.
(10 points)

LESSON 2 – Basic Electrical Circuits

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Understand the basic principles of electrical circuit.
2. Distinguish parallel and series circuits.
3. Explain the flow of electrons in a circuit.

Motivation/Prompting Questions
When we say electrical circuit, what comes into your mind? Do you know how to open your mobile
and check the circuit board? Do you think there are any appliances without a circuit? If you are given
the proper tools, can you open any device and check the circuit?

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Discussion

2.0 What is an Electrical Circuit

An electric circuit allows electrons to flow from a negative pole (excess electrons) to a positive pole
(deficient in electrons). The path may be closed (joined at both ends), making it a loop. A closed
circuit makes electrical current flow possible.

Fig 16. Electrical circuit

What are needed in a circuit?
A circuit is compost of the following:
 Energy Source
 Conductor
 Load

So how circuit works?

 Electrons flow from negative to positive; therefore, a complete circuit must have wires that
connect the negative pole of the energy source to the positive pole of the energy source.
 The circuit is established when there is a continuous path for electricity to travel from one end
of the energy source to the other end.

2.1 Components and symbols

Component Symbol/Image

Resistors
Resistors are passive elements that oppose/restrict the flow
of current.Units: Ohms (Ω).

Capacitors

 Behave like a tiny rechargeable battery. (store energy and

release it later)
 Are made of two parallel conductors separated by a
dielectric.
 Are used for filtering, tuning, separating signals , etc. The
unit of capacitance is the Farad.
Transistors
Transistors are commonly used for signal amplification,
switching, voltage regulation, etc.

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 Diodes are semiconductor devices that allowcurrent in only
one direction.

Fuses are devices that protect the circuit from

overload.Are made of a wire that melts when the current
through it exceeds a specified value.

Inductors
An inductor, also called a coil, choke, or reactor, is a passive
two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a
magnetic field when electric current flows through it.
LEDs- Light Emitting Diodes
A special kind of diode: They allow current to flow in one
direction.
The LED will light up when the proper amount of current
passes through.
Integrated Circuits
A small scale electronic CKT on a substrate of
semiconductor material

A switch is a component which controls the open-ness or

closed-ness of an electric circuit. They allow control over
current flow in a circuit (without having to actually get in
there and manually cut or splice the wires).

2.2 Types of Circuits

How are we going to identify which circuit it is?

Circuits are distinguished based on the way in which loads are connected.

 Series Circuit- only one path for electrons to flow.

Fig 17. Series circuit

 All of the loads in a series circuit share the same current.

 If there is any break in the circuit, the charges will stop flowing.

 Parallel Circuit- more than one path for electrons to flow. Voltage is the same across each
component of the parallel circuit. The sum of the currents through each path is equal to the
total current that flows from the source.

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 Fig 18. Parallel circuit

 The electric current branches so that electrons flow through each of the paths
 If one path is broken, electrons continue to flow to the other pat

Activity No.2

1. Draw a circuit diagram of a battery cell (10 points).

LESSON 3 – Basic Electrical Laws

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Understand the basic application of Ohm’s Law.
2. Understand the basic concepts of Power Law.
3. Do simple calculation of electrical laws application.

Motivation/Prompting Questions
Do you know the basic electrical laws? If you are given a chance to work in the field in the field of
power generation or Electronics Company, do you know how to deal with electricity? It has been said
that strong foundation for any electrical worker is built on a thorough knowledge of the laws that
govern the operation of electricity. Now, it’s time to learn some of the basic electrical laws then.

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 Discussion

3.0 What is an Electrical Law

What is electrical law?

This is the fundamental law of electricity that are set by different persons to come up with a theories
and formulas.

3.1 Ohm’s Law

Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to
the voltage across the two points. Introducing the constant of proportionality, the resistance. Ohm’s
Law is the foundation of electronics and electricity.

Ohm's Law addresses the key quantities at work in circuits:

Unit of
Ohm's Law
Quantity measure Role in circuits In case you're wondering:
symbol
(abbreviation)
Pressure that triggers E = electromotive force (old-school
Voltage E Volt (V)
electron flow term)
Ampere, amp
Current I Rate of electron flow I = intensity
(A)
Resistance R Ohm (Ω) Flow inhibitor Ω = Greek letter omega

Fig 19. Ohm’s law pyramid

Rules:
If two of these values are known, technicians can reconfigure Ohm's Law to calculate the third. Just
modify the pyramid as follows:

V=AΩ if Current and Resistance is given you can solve for Voltage
A=V/Ω if Voltage and Resistance is given you can solve for Current
Ω= V/A if Voltage and Current is given you can solve for Resistance

Example:

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Series Circuit

Given:
R1= 150Ω R2= 350Ω R3= 680Ω

V1 V2 V3

V s =12V

Problem: Find the V1, V2 and V3.

Solution:

1. Solve Total Resistance, the formula is: Rt =¿R ¿ + R2+ R3+R…….

1

Rt ¿ R1+ R2+ R3
Rt =150Ω+350Ω+680Ω
Rt =1,180Ω or 1.18KΩ
V
2. Solve Total Current, the formula is: I=
R
12V
I=
1.18 KΩ
I=0.01A

3. You can now solve for V1, V2 and V3

V 1= I R 1 V 2= I R 2 V 3 = I R3
V 1= 0.01Ax150ΩV 2= 0.01Ax350ΩV 3= 0.01Ax680Ω
V 1= 1.5V V 2= 3.5V V 3= 6.8V
4. Checking:
V s ¿ V 1+V 2+V 3
V s = 1.5V+3.5V+6.8V
V s = 11.8V

V s = 12V

Parallel Circuit

Given:

R1= 150Ω

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 R2=350Ω
R3=680Ω
I=0.01A

Problem: find the Total Resistance.

Solution:

1
1. Solve Total Resistance, the formula is Rt = 1 1 1 1
+ + +
R1 R 2 R 3 R … …
Note:
for Parallel Circuit with two Resistance the formula is
R1 x R
( Rt = 2
)
R 1+ R 2

1
Rt = 1 1 1
+ +
R1 R 2 R 3
1
Rt = 1 1 1
+ +
150 Ω 350 Ω 680Ω
1
Rt =
0.0067 Ω+0.0029 Ω+0.0015 Ω
1
Rt =
0.0111
Rt = 90.1Ω

3.2 Power Law

What is power law?

Also known as Watt’s Law or Joule’s Law

 The amount of current times the voltage level at a given point measured in wattage or watts.
It states that the power dissipated in a device is inversely proportional to the squared value of the
voltage across it.
 Power Law is named after Scottish mathematician James Watt.

Note: 1 Watt is equal to 1 Joule per second

Formula:

P=Power
E= Electromotive Force in Voltage
I= Current Intensity in Ampere
Ω= Resistance in Ohms

When Voltage and Current is given:

P=E x I P=12Vx1A= 12Watts or 12 Joules/second

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 When Voltage and Resistance is given:
E2 P= 102 = 100 = 50Watts or 50 Joules/second
❑
P=
Ω 50Ω 50Ω
When Current and Resistance is given:
P= I 2xΩ P= 2 A 2x5Ω=4Ax5Ω=20Watts or 20 Joules/second

Fig 20. Formula reference

Quick example of power law:

If power is equal to 1W and volts is12V so what is the value of current?

Solution:

P
I=
V

1W
I=
12V
I= 0.083A

Teacher Intervention
Read the discussions presented in this module and do the activities
as well as the succeeding assessments and assignments as per instructions. If
you have clarifications and confusion that you need to consult, you can
discuss it in our group discussion via group chat. This will provide an
avenue for you to clarify and at the same time, others who have similar queries can listen and
benefit from it. Also, feel free to reach me via chat, sms or email at the following contact
information:

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 Learning Activities / Exercises

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Write your answers on a SHORT BOND PAPER (Answers Only) with your Name, Section
and Module number.
2. All answers must be HAND WRITTEN
3. Take a CLEAR PICTURE of your answer sheets (names must be included).
4. Send the pictures taken to me by PRIVATE MESSAGE via FACEBOOK MESSENGER.
5. To those who can’t comply through online, put your answer sheets in a small brown envelop
with your Name, Subject and Section then submit it to NORSU GATE DROP BOX
addressed to CIT.

Activity No.3

Test I. Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter of the correct answer. (2 points

1. It is a colorless and odorless source of energy?

a. Wind energy
b. Biomass
c. Nuclear
d. Natural gas
e. Solar energy

2. It is an energy source that has a disadvantage of producing radioactive waste?

a) Wind energy
b) Biomass
c) Nuclear
d) Natural gas
e) Solar energy

3. It is an energy source that is also known as the cleanest renewable energy?

a) Wind energy
b) Biomass
c) Nuclear
d) Natural gas
e) Solar energy

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4. It is an energy source that derived from the sub-stance of the surface of the earth
a) Nuclear
b) Natural gas
c) Solar energy
d) Coal
e) Wind energy

5. It is an energy source that need dams?

a) Nuclear
b) Natural gas
c) Solar energy
d) Coal
Test II. Problem Solving . Solve the folloing application problems. Show your solution, use an
extra sheet of clean bond paper for your solution if needed. (10 points each).

1. Given:
R1= 10Ω R2= 5Ω R3= 8Ω

V s =5V

Problem: Find the V1, V2 and V3.

2. Given:
I=0.01A

R1= 10Ω
R2=5Ω
R3=8Ω

Problem: find the Total Resistance and total voltage

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 3. What is the total Power if E=5v and R=23Ω

References

1. Gibilisco, Stan, (2002), Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics 3rd Ed., New York: McGraw-Hill
2. Malvino, Albert Paul, (2015), Electronic Principles 6th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill
3. Herman, Stephen L. (20013), Electronics for Electrician 5th ed. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar
Learning
4. Schultz, Mitchel E., (20014) Grob’s Basic Electronics: Fundamentals of DC and AC Circuits Boston:
McGraw-Hill
5. Meade, Russell L., (2007), Foundations of Electronics Australia: Thomson Delmar Learning
6. Alexander, Charles K., (2014), Fundamentals of Electric Circuits Boston: McGraw Hill Pub.
7. M. Andres Sr. (2004) Simple Electronics (Basic) Andes Mountain Printers
8. Rutledge, David B. The Electronics of Radio, Cambridge University Press. C. 1999
9. Narciso M. Balamiento. Electronic EnthusiastsProjects&Circuits Vol. 1.
10. Workbook on Electronics Component (Basic and Advance) by Dr. Alan Obate
11. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php#:~:text=The%20three
%20major%20categories%20of,geothermal%2C%20and%20solar%20thermal%20energy.

12. 
13.
14. Department of Computer
Engineering College of Engineering
15. Digital Signal Processing
and Sound Effects

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