Chapter 1: Basic concepts and Laws

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

 Basic concepts and laws
 1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
1.2 Circuit Elements
1.3 Power and Energy
1.4 Basic Laws: Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws
1.5 Basic Transformations

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
■ An electronic circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements.

Fig 1.1.1: Electric circuit of a radio transmitter

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
■ Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles, measured in
coulombs (C).
■ Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, measured in
amperes (A).

i : current
dq 
i= q : charge
dt 
 t : time
■ 1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second.
Fig 1.1.2: Electric current due to flow of
electronic charge in a conductor

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1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
■ A direct current (DC) is a current that remains
constant with time.
■ An alternating current (AC) is a current that
varies with time.
■ The direction of current flow is the direction
of positive charge movement.

Fig 1.1.3: Two common types of currents:

(a) direct current, (b) alternating current

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1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
■ Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a
unit charge through an element.
■ Voltage is measured in volts (V).

 u : voltage (V )
dw 
uab = w : energy ( joules − J)
dq  uab
 q : ch arg e (C )

■ 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 Nm/coulomb.

Fig 1.1.4: Polarity of voltage uab.

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1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage

Fig 1.1.5: Two equivalent representations of

the same voltage uab.

■ A DC voltage is a constant voltage.

■ An AC voltage is a time-varying voltage.

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

 Basic concepts and laws
1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
 1.2 Circuit Elements
1.3 Power and Energy
1.4 Basic Laws: Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws
1.5 Basic Transformations

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.2 Circuit Elements
■ An ideal independent source is an active element that provides a
specified voltage or current that is completely independent of other
circuit elements.
■ There are two kinds of independent sources: independent voltage
source and independent current source.

e(t) E

(a) (b) (c)

Fig 1.2.1: Symbols for independent sources: (a) used for AC and DC
voltage; (b) used for DC voltage; (c) used for current source.
Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT
1.2 Circuit Elements
■ An ideal dependent (or controlled) source is an active element in
which the source quantity is controlled by another voltage or current.
■ Threre are four possible types of dependent sources, namely:

i. A voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS).

ii. A current-controlled voltage source (CCVS).
iii. A voltage-controlled current source (VCCS).
iv. A current-controlled current source (CCCS).

Fig 1.2.2: Symbols for: (a) dependent voltage

source, (b) dependent current source.
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1.2 Circuit Elements

(a) (b)

Fig 1.2.3: Examples of: (a) CCVS , (b) CCCS.

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1.2 Circuit Elements
■ A resistor is a passive electrical component with the primary function to
limit the flow of electric current. Resistors are measured in Ohms ().

(a) (b) (c)

Fig 1.2.4: (a) A common kind of resistor, (b) Resistor symbol -

ANSI stadard, (c) another resistor symbol

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.2 Circuit Elements
■ A capacitor consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulator
(or dielectric).
■ Capacitance is the ratio of the charge on one plate of a capacitor to the
voltage difference between the two plates, measured in farads (F).

iC(t) iC(t)

+ uC(t) - + uuC(t) -
(a) (b) (c)
Fig 1.2.5: (a) A typical capacitor, (b) fixed capacitor symbol, (c)
variable capacitor symbol

𝜀𝐴 𝑑𝑢𝐶 (𝑡)
𝐶= ; 𝑖𝐶 (𝑡) = 𝐶
𝑑 𝑑𝑡 Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT
 1.2 Circuit Elements
■ An inductor consists of a coil of conducting wire.
■ Inductance is the property whereby an inductor exhibits opposition to
the change of current flowing through it, measured in henrys (H).

𝑁: 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑠
𝑁 2 𝜇𝐴 𝜇: 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒
(a) 𝐿=
𝑙 𝐴: 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
iL(t) 𝑙: 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑖𝑙
+
uL(t) (b)
- 𝑑𝑖𝐿 (𝑡)
𝑢𝐿 𝑡 = 𝐿
𝑑𝑡
Fig 1.2.6: (a) A typical inductor,
(b) fixed inductor symbol Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT
1.2 Circuit Elements
■ When two or more coils are magnetically linked together by a common
magnetic flux they are said to have the property of Mutual Inductance.

M = kC L1L2 0  kC  1
M
 di1 di 2
 u1 = L1 dt + M dt
u1 u2  di di
u2 = L2 2 + M 1
 dt dt

Fig 1.2.7: Mutual inductance and its symbol

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1.2 Circuit Elements
■ Electrical transformer is a static device which transforms electrical energy
from one circuit to another without any direct electrical connection, with
the help of mutual inductance.
■ An ideal transformer is an imaginary transformer which does not have
any loss in it.

i1 i2  u1 N1
 u = N
u1 u2  i 2 N2
 1 =− 2
 i 2 N1

Fig 1.2.8: (Ideal) transformer and its symbol

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 Basic concepts and laws
1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
1.2 Circuit Elements
 1.3 Power and Energy
1.4 Basic Laws: Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws
1.5 Basic Transformations

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.3 Power and Energy
■ Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in
watts (W).
dw dw dq
■ Instantaneous power: p(t) = = . = u(t).i(t)
dt dq dt
T
1
■ Average power: P = T  p(t)dt
0
• P > 0: absorbing power
• P < 0: supplying power u u
■ Law of conservation of energy:

P = 0
in a circuit
(a) (b)
Fig 1.3.8: (a) p = u.i (b) p = -u.i

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1.3 Power and Energy
■ Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules (J).
t t
w =  pdt =  u.idt
t0 t0
■ 1Wh (watt-hours) = 3600J; 1KWh = 3600000J.
■ Passive elements (R, L, C, transformer, etc): W > 0.
■ Active elements (such as independent voltage or current sources): W < 0.

Example 1.3.1: A family in the rural area uses a 40W light bulb in 6 hours per
day, the electricity price is 1484VND/KWh, with 10%VAT. How much does the
electricity cost within a month (30 days)?

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1.3 Power and Energy
Elements Average Power Energy
t

Resistor PR = Ri2 WR = R  i 2dt

t0

1 2
Capacitor PC = 0 WC = CuC
2
1 2
Inductor PL = 0 WL = LiL
2

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1.3 Power and Energy
■ Example 1.3.2: Find the power of all elements in the circuit below:

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

 Basic concepts and laws
1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
1.2 Circuit Elements
1.3 Power and Energy
 1.4 Basic Laws: Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws
1.5 Basic Transformations

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.4 Basic Laws
■ Ohm's law states the the voltage u across a resistor is directly
proportional to the current i flowing through that resistor.
u(t) = R.i(t)
■ A short circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching zero.
■ A open circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching infinity.
■ Power dissipated by a resistor: p = u(t).i(t) = i2(t)R = u2(t)/R. u
■ Conductance is the ability of an element to conduct electric curent,
it is measured in mhos (℧) or siemens (S).
1 i
G= =
R u

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1.4 Basic Laws
■ A branch represents any two-terminal element.
■ A node is the point of connection between two or more branches.
■ A loop is a closed path in a circuit where there is no node which is
traversed twice except the initial point.
■ A mesh is a loop with no path inside.

Fig 1.4.1: Branches, nodes,

loops and meshes.

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1.4 Basic Laws
■ Kirchhoff's current law (KCL) states that the algebraic sum of currents
entering a node (or a closed boundary) is zero.

For the node in Fig 1.4.2

i1 + (-i2) + i3 + i4 + (-i5) = 0
or i1 + i3 + i4 = i2 + i5

(a) (b)
Fig 1.4.2: (a) Currents at a node (b)
Applying KCL to a closed boundary

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1.4 Basic Laws
■ Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL) states that the algebraic sum of all voltages
around a loop is zero.
u2 u3

u1
u1 u
4
uab u2 uab = u1 + u2 - u3

u5
-u1 + u2 + u3 - u4 + u5 = 0 u3
 u1 + u4 = u2 + u3 + u5

Fig 1.4.3: Illustrating KVL

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1.4 Basic Laws
■ Example 1.4.1: Find u1 and u2 in the circuit of Fig 1.4.4 (a).
■ Example 1.4.2: Determine ux and u0 in the circuit of Fig 1.4.4 (b).

u1 ux
2ux
u2

+ u0 -
(a) (b)
Fig 1.4.4: Circuit for Example 1.4.1 and Example 1.4.2

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1.4 Basic Laws
■ Example 1.4.3: Find i0 and u0 in the circuit of Fig 1.4.5, then calculate the
power of all elements.

u0

Fig 1.4.5: Circuit for Example 1.4.3

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

 Basic concepts and laws
1.1 Introduction: Current and Voltage
1.2 Circuit Elements
1.3 Power and Energy
1.4 Basic Laws: Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws
 1.5 Basic Transformations

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.5 Basic Transformation
■ The equivalent resistance of 2 resistors connected in series is the sum of
the individual resistances.

u1 u2 u
u u Req = R1 + R2

(a) (b)
Fig 1.5.1: (a) A circuit with two resistors in series and (b) equivalent circuit
R1 R2
■ Voltage division: u1 = u; u2 = u;
R1 + R2 R1 + R2

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - HCMUT

1.5 Basic Transformation
■ The equivalent resistance of multiple resistors connected in series is the
sum of the individual resistances.

Fig 1.5.2: (a) A circuit with multiple resistors in series and (b) equivalent circuit
𝑅1 𝑅𝑛
■ Voltage division: 𝑢1 = 𝑢; 𝑢𝑛 = 𝑢;
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + ⋯ +𝑅𝑛 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + ⋯ +𝑅𝑛

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1.5 Basic Transformations
■ The equivalent conductance of 2 resistors connected in parallel is the
sum of the individual conductances.

Geq = G1 + G2
u u u 1 1 1
 = +
Req R1 R2
(a) (b)

Fig 1.5.3: (a) A circuit with two resistors in parallel and (b) equivalent circuit
R2 R1
■ Current division: i1 = i; i 2 = i;
R1 + R2 R1 + R2

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1.5 Basic Transformations
■ The equivalent conductance of multiple resistors connected in parallel is
the sum of the individual conductances.

Fig 1.5.4: (a) A circuit with multiple resistors in parallel and (b) equivalent circuit

■ Current division: i1 = ???

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1.5 Basic Transformations
■ Wye-Delta (Y-) transformations:
RbRc
R1 =
Ra + Rb + Rc
RcRa
R2 =
Ra + Rb + Rc
Ra Rb
R3 =
(a) (b) Ra + Rb + Rc
Fig 1.5.5: (a) Y network and (b)  network
R1R2 + R2R3 + R3R1 R1R2 + R2R3 + R3R1
Ra = Rb =
R1 R2
R1R2 + R2R3 + R3R1
Rc =
R3
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1.5 Basic Transformations
Example 1.5.1: For the bridge network in Fig 1.5.4, find Rab and i.

Fig 1.5.6: Circuit for Example 1.5.1

Answer: 40, 6A.

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1.5 Basic Transformations
■ Source transformations:

'E' is usually used 'J' is usually used

to denote a to denote a
voltage source current source

Fig 1.5.7: Source transformations

■ Two circuits in Fig 1.5.5 will be equivalent if and only if E = J.R.

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1.5 Basic Transformations
Example 1.5.2: In the circuit shown in Fig 1.5.6, determine ux and the power
absorbed by the 12 resistor.

+ ux -

Fig 1.5.8: Circuit for Example 1.5.2

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This is the end of Chapter 1

Created by: Nguyen Phuoc Bao Duy - Bach Khoa University