Name of Student: ____________________________________________________________ Year and Section:

__________________________
MODULE ON ELECTRIC CIRCUITS AND ELECTRICAL POWER
Learning Objectives
After reading and working on this module on electric circuits and electrical power, you are
expected to
1. Relate voltage, current and resistance in a circuit.
2. Differentiate the ways on how loads can be connected in a circuit.
3. Apply Ohms Law in resolving series, parallel and combination circuits.
4. Calculate the amount of electrical power dissipated by an electric device.
What is an electric circuit?
It is a closed path that allows passage
of electric current.
It is composed of two major
components: the source (battery or
other related devices) and the
connecting wire. The source provides
energy that will push the stream of
electrons from higher to lower
potential.
A third component called load is
connected to the circuit for the
purpose of harnessing electrical
energy for practical use.

This practically refers to the amount

of push provided to move electrons
from one point to another.
In the SI system, it is expressed as
joule/coulomb
(J/C)
or
more
commonly known as the volt (V).

2. Amount of Electric Current (I)

A quantity which refers to the amount
of charge passing at any point per
unit time.
More commonly known as the speed
of electrons.
In the SI system, it is expressed as
coulomb/second (C/s) or more
commonly known as the ampere (A)
3. Resistance (R)
This quantity refers to ability of
materials to resist flow of electric
current. This resistance is manifested
by transforming electrical energy into
heat, light, sound or other forms of
energy.
Mathematically, it is the ratio of
voltage drop per load and amount of
electric current passing through it.
In the SI system, it expressed as
volt/ampere
(V/A)
or
more
commonly known as the ohm ()

Three
Major
Electrical
Related to Electric Circuits

Quantities

Ohms Law
A law formulated by German physicist
and mathematician Georg Simon Ohm
It
describes
mathematically
the
relationship
among
voltage
(E),
current (I) and resistance (R) in a
circuit.
According to this law, at constant
resistance, voltage varies directly with
current. (Ibig sabihin pag malakas ang
boltahe ng kuryente, mabilis ang
daloy)
Likewise, at constant voltage, current
varies inversely with resistance.
(Bumabagal ang takbo ng kuryente
pag mataas ang resistance ng isang
material sa circuit.)
In equation form: E = IR

1. Voltage (E)
This refers to the amount of work
done per unit charge.

Module on Electric Circuits and Electrical Power

AY 2014-2015

Sample Problems on Ohms Law

1. Whats the voltage across a 3.0-
resistor with a current of 1.0 A going
through it?

2. If a load of 5 is connected to a 12-V

power source, how much current does
this load receive?

R1

R2

Task: Determine the total resistance and total

current in the circuit. Determine the
individual voltage drops and amount of
current flowing through each resistor.

Note: Not all circuits are single-loaded.

In most cases, there can be more than
one load connected in a circuit.
These loads can be connected in two
major ways: series or parallel.
Series Circuit
A circuit whose loads are connected
through a single line.
Also known as single-loop circuits.
Since, it has only one loop, it has no
junctions or points where currents
meet or part.

Characteristics of a Series Circuit

1. If any point on the path is broken, the
circuit becomes open. Hence, it will
not function.
2. If one of the loads malfunctions, the
entire circuit becomes open.
3. Since theres only one line in the
circuit, the amount of current received
by each load is the same. This also
represents the total current flowing in
the circuit.

IT = I 1 = I 2 = I 3 = = I n

Parallel Circuit
A circuit characterized by the
presence of junctions.
Each junction has a line where one
load is connected.
It has more than one loop. Loads are
connected through lines that resemble
as parallel lines.

4. The total resistance of a series circuit

is the sum of all resistances
connected in the circuit.

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + + R n

5. The total voltage of a series circuit is

the sum of all the voltage drops
across each load in a circuit.

ET = E 1 + E 2 + E 3 + + E n
Lets use these characteristics in resolving
the following series circuit.
R3
Module on Electric Circuits and Electrical Power

AY 2014-2015

Characteristics of a Parallel Circuit

1. If any point on the path is broken, the
circuit may or may not function. If the
defect is between any of the
junctions, the other load/s will still
function. If it is a point between the
switch or battery and the first
junction, the entire circuit will not
function.
2. If one of the loads malfunctions, the
other loads may still function.
3. Voltage distribution in a parallel circuit
is constant. This means that total
voltage is the same with the individual
voltage drop across each load.

Lets use these characteristics in resolving

the following parallel circuit.

ET = E 1 = E 2 = E 3 = = E n
4. As current from the positive terminal
of the circuit reaches every junction, it
decreases. But it is conserved as they
return to the negative terminal of the
circuit. Therefore, the total current in
a parallel circuit is the sum total of all
the current received by each load in a
circuit.

IT = I 1 + I 2 + I 3 + + I n
5. In parallel circuits, the reciprocal of
the total resistance is equal to the
sum of the reciprocals of the
individual resistances.

Task: Determine the total resistance and total

current in the circuit. Determine the
individual voltage drops and amount of
current flowing through each resistor.

1
1 1 1
1
= + + +
R T R 1 R 2 R3
Rn
This equation implies that as more
loads are connected in a parallel
circuit, the total resistance of the
circuit decreases. Following Ohms
Law, as the resistance of the circuit
increases, more current flows in the
circuit. When too much current is
produced, the circuit might overheat.
Tips in Finding the Total Resistance
Instead of using the reciprocal formula
for finding the total resistance, you may use
the product over sum method. This is a
simplification of the reciprocal formula using
algebra. Here are examples.

Module on Electric Circuits and Electrical Power

AY 2014-2015

These equations can be summarized using

the POWER WHEEL.

Electrical Power
Recall the concept of mechanical
power. It is the rate by which work is
done.
In electric circuits, it means how much
electrical work is done per unit time.
Mathematically, it is defined as the
product of voltage and current across
a load.

Sample Problems on Electrical Power

1. How much current does a 60 W light bulb
draw when connected to its proper
voltage, 120 V?

P = (voltage)(current) = IE

work
P=
charge

P=

)( charge
time )

work J
= =watt (W )
time s

The equation tells us that an electric device

with high power rating consumes more
electric current.

2. An electric iron of resistance 20 takes a

current of 5.0 A. Calculate the amount of
thermal energy, in joules, developed in 30
s.

Using Ohms equation, we can derive more

equations on electrical power.

3. An electric broiler develops 400 cal/s

when the current through it is 8.0 A.
Determine the resistance of the broiler.

Module on Electric Circuits and Electrical Power

AY 2014-2015

4. What should be the resistance of a

heating coil which will be used to raise
the temperature of water from 28C to its
boiling point in 2.0 minutes. The coil is
connected to a 110-V line.

Module on Electric Circuits and Electrical Power

AY 2014-2015

Name of Student: ____________________________________________________________ Year and Section:

__________________________
TAKE HOME QUIZ ON ELECTRICTY

1. Draw a circuit diagram for the following resistors installed in series (R 1 = 3 , R2 =

4 , R3 = 2.5 , R4 = 4.5 and R5 = 2 ) and are connected to a 30-V power
supply.
a. Calculate the total resistance of the circuit. (5 points)
b. Calculate the total current of the circuit. (3 points)
c. Calculate the individual voltage drop across each resistor. (3 points each)
d. How much power is dissipated in the circuit? (3 points)
2. Draw a circuit diagram for the same set of resistors mentioned in the preceding
item but they must be installed in parallel.
a. Calculate the total resistance of the circuit. (5 points)
b. Calculate the total current of the circuit. (3 points)
c. Calculate the individual current received by each resistor. (3 points each)
e. How much power is dissipated in the circuit? (3 points)
3. A tank containing 200 kg of water was used at constant-temperature bath. How long would
it take to heat the bath from 20C to 25C with a 250-W immersion heater? (7 points)