Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I

The first semester, 2024

Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon
1. 1 Introduction
- Many branches of electrical engineering, such as power, electric
machines, control, electronics, communications, and instrumentations, are
based on electric circuit theory.
- In electrical engineering, we are often interested in communicating or
transferring energy from one point to another. To do this requires an
interconnection of electrical devices. Such interconnection is referred to
as an electric circuit, and each component of the circuit is known as an
element.
An electric circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements

<Fig.1.1> A simple electric circuit

1.2 Systems of Units

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Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I
The first semester, 2024
Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon
1.3 Charge and Current
Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of which matter
consists, measured in coulombs(C).
- the charge e on an electron is negative and equal in magnitude to
1.602  10 19
- In 1 C of charge, there are 1 /(1.602  10 19 )  6.24  1018 electrons.
- The charges that occur in nature are integral multiples of the
electronic charge e  1.602  10 19 C.
- Charge can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred.(The
law of conservation of charge)

Property of electric charge or electricity -> mobile

<Fig 1.3> Electric current due to flow of electronic charge in a conductor.

Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, measured in

amperes (A)

 dq
i ( A) (1.1)
dt
(1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second)

The charge transferred between time t 0 and t is obtained by integrating

both sides of Eq. (1.1) as follows:

 t
Q   idt
t0

A direct current (dc) is a current that remains constant with time.

An alternating current (ac) is a current that changes direction with
respect to time.

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Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I
The first semester, 2024
Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon

<Fig 1.4> Two common types of current: (a) dc (b) ac

<Fig 1.5> Conventional current flow:

(a) positive current, flow (b) negative current flow

See <Example 1.1, 1.2>

1.4. Voltage
- To move the electron in a conductor in a particular direction requires
some work or energy transfer. This work is performed by an external
electromotive force (emf), typically represented by the battery in Fig. 1.3.
This emf is also known as voltage or potential difference.

- The voltage vab between two points a and b in an electric circuit is

the energy (or work) needed to move a unit charge from a to b ;

mathematically
 dw
vab 
dq
Where w is energy in joules (J) and q is charge in coulombs(c).

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Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I
The first semester, 2024
Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon
1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 newton-meter/coulomb
Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit
charge through an element, measured in volts (V).

<Fig.1.6> Polarity of voltage vab

<Fig.1.7> Two equivalent representations of the same voltage vab

(a) point a is 9V above point b (b) point b is -9V above point a

1.5 Power and energy

Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in
watts (W)
dw 
p 
dt
where p (time-varying and instantaneous power) is power in watts (W),
w is energy in joules (J), and t is time in seconds (s).
dw dw dq
p    vi
dt dq dt

<Fig.1.8> Reference polarities for power using the passive sign

convention: (a) absorbing power, (b) supplying power
+ sign in power : power is being delivered to or absorbed by the element

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Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I
The first semester, 2024
Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon
- sign in power: power is being supplied by the element.
Passive sign convention is satisfied when the current enters through the
positive terminal of an element and p=+vi. If the current enters through
the negative terminal, p=-vi

- Law of conservation of energy: p0

(+ power absorbed = - power supplied)

- The energy absorbed or supplied by an element from t 0 and t is

t t
w   pdt   vidt
t0 t0

See <Example 1.4 and 1.5>

1.6 Circuit Elements

- Passive elements : not capable of generating energy (R, L, C)
- Active elements: capable of generating energy (Generators, batteries,
operational amplifies, voltage sources, current sources, and so on.)

An ideal independent source is an active element that provides a

specified voltage or current that is completely independent of other
elements (batteries, generators, and so on)

<Fig.1.11> Symbols for independent voltage sources: (a) used for

constant or time-varying voltage, (b) used for constant voltage (dc)

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Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I
The first semester, 2024
Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon

<Fig.1.12> Symbol for independent current source

An ideal dependent (or controlled) source is an active element in which

the source quantity is controlled by another voltage or current
Types of dependent source
1. A voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS)
2. A current-controlled voltage source (CCVS)
3. A voltage-controlled current source(VCCS)
4. A current-controlled current source(CCCS)

Dependent sources are useful in modeling elements such as transistors,

operational amplifiers, and integrated circuits.

Figure 1.14 The source in the right-hand side is a current-controlled

voltage source

Note that not only do sources supply power to a circuit, they can absorb
power from a circuit too.

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Chungbuk National University Electric Engineering – Circuit Theory I
The first semester, 2024
Chapter 1- Basic Concepts
Written by Ohmin Kwon
<Example 1.7>