DC Circuits:

Basic Concepts 1

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
An electric circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements.

A simple electric circuit

Electric circuit of
a radio receiver
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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-ELEC231/ElEC235-Final International University

Six basic SI units and one derived unit relevant to this course.

Quantity Basic Unit Symbol

Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric current ampere A
Thermodynamic Temperature kelvin K
Luminous intensity candela cd
Charge coulomb C
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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Prefix

SI Prefixes Most
frequently
used

micro

pico
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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-ELEC231/ElEC235-Final International University

Charge and Current
• Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of
matter, measured in coulombs (C).

 1 C of charge requires 6.24 x 1018 electrons.

 1 electron charge e = −1.602 x 10−19 C .
 Law of Conservation of Charge: Charge can only
be transferred. Cannot be created/destroyed.
Charge Direction

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-ELEC231/ElEC235-Final International University

 Charge and Current
• Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, in
other words, the flow of charge, measured in amperes (A).

dq
• Current is defined by: i 
dt
where i = current in amperes (A),
q = charge in coulombs (C),
t = time in seconds (s).

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1 A = 1 C/s
t
• Charge transferred between time t0 and t : Q  
Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-ELEC231/ElEC235-Final International University t 0
i dt
 Charge and Current
• Direct Current (dc) is the current that
remains constant with time.

• Alternating Current (ac) is the current

that varries sinusoidally with time.

• dc current is represented by I and ac current is represented by i.

• Conventional current flow: Both

methods represents the same
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current. (a) positive current flow, (b)
negative current flow.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-ELEC231/ElEC235-Final International University
 Charge and Current : Problems
Ex. 1.1:

Ex. 1.2:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Charge and Current : Problems
Ex. 1.3:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
Voltage
• Voltage (potential difference/electromotive force) is the energy
required to move a unit charge through an element, measured in
volts (V).

•
dω υ = voltage in volts (V),
The voltage,
between two points a and b:
υ ab  ω = energy in joules (J),
dq q = charge in coulombs (C).

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• 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb
Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-
ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
Voltage
• Voltage pushes charge in one direction.
• We use polarity (+ and −) on batteries to indicate which
direction the charge is being pushed.

Two equivalent representation of the

same voltage: (a) point a is 9 V above
point b, (b) point b is −9 V above point a.

• dc voltage is represented by V and ac voltage is represented by υ.

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
Power and Energy
• Power is the rate of expending and absorbing energy,
measured in watts(W). p = power in watts (W = J/s),
ω = energy in joules (J),
dω
p  i
t = time in seconds (s).
υ = voltage in volts (V).
dt i = current in amperes (A).

p=±υi
• Circuit elements that absorb power has positive value of p.
• Circuit elements that supply (produce) power has negative value of p.

(a) Absorbing power (b) supplying power.

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
Power and Energy
• Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules(J).
p = power in watts (W),
t t ω = energy in joules (J),
  p dt     i dt t = time in seconds (s).
t0 t 0 υ = voltage in volts (V).
i = current in amperes (A).

t
• If current and voltage are constant (dc). The power is:  t0
pdt p(t  t0 )
• In adddition to joules, Watt-hour can also be used to measure energy.
1 Wh = 3,600 J
• Law of conservation of energy. Total power in a circuit at any instant is must be
zero.
 p0 13

+Power absorbed = −Power supplied

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-
ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Power and Energy : Problems
Ex. 1.4:

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Power and Energy : Problems
Ex. 1.5:

15

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Power and Energy : Problems
Ex. 1.6:

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
Passive Sign Convention
• Passive sign Convention (PSC) is satisfied when current
enters through the positive terminal of an element.
• Most two terminal circuit elements (i.e batteries, light bulbs,
resistors, switches) are characterized by a single single
equation that relates voltage to current: υ=±f(i) or i=±g(υ).

• PSC determines the sign relationship

 If PSC is satisfied: υ=f(i) or i=g(υ).
 If PSC is not satisfied: υ= − f(i) or i=−g(υ).

• This is also true for power

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 If PSC is satisfied: p= υi
 If PSC is not satisfied: p=−υi
Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-ELEC231/ElEC235-Final International University
 Passive Sign Convention
Ex. 1.7:

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Circuit Elements
• Ideal Independent Source: provides a specified voltage or
current that is completely independent of other circuit variables

• Ideal Independent Voltage source:

(a) Independent voltage source
(constant / time varying)
(b) Independent voltage source (battery).

• Ideal Independent Current source: 19

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University
 Circuit Elements
• Ideal dependent sources: controlled by other voltage or current.

(a) dependent voltage source

(b) dependent current source

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Pouya. Bolourchi-

ELEC231/ElEC235-Final
International University