Electric Circuit

It is a closed path, composed of active and

passive elements.
Active Element : It supplies energy to the circuit.
Passive Element : It receives energy and then
1) either converts it to heat, as in a resistance (R).
2)) or stores it as
(a) Electric Field, in a Capacitor (C).
(b) Magnetic Field, in an Inductor (L).

Properties and Characteristics of

Circuit Elements
There could be many viewpoints to look at a thing.
Different viewpoints are needed to have complete
picture.
A circuit element can be looked upon from following
viewpoints :
1. Circuit Viewpoint
==> expressed in terms of
v and i.
2. Energy Viewpoint
==> expressed in terms of
energy.
3. Geometrical Viewpoint
==> expressed in terms of
physical dimensions.
dimensions

The Resistance Parameter

1.

Circuit Viewpoint:

vi

v
R=
i

It is a linear algebraic equation. The proportionality factor R is

independent of current.
2.

Energy Viewpoint: It has characteristic property of converting

electrical energy
gy into heat.

W =

t2

t1

Ri 2 t = RI 2 t

W
R= 2
I t

2
v
p = vi = i 2 R =
R

It is Joules Law
Law. Heat is stored and then dissipated.
dissipated That is
why power dissipating capability of resistor is important.

3. Geometrical Viewpoint : The resistance parameter is

fundamentally a geometric constant.

1 L
L
R=

R = or
A
A
where
h is
i called
ll d coductivit
d ti ity (S/m).
(S/ )

is resistivity, measured in ohm metre ( m). Inverse of

resistivity is conductivity (S/m), i.e.,

1
(conductivity) =
(resistivity)

RESISTORS

+ v(t )
i (t )
A resistor is a passive element
characterized by an algebraic
relation between the voltage across
its terminals and the current
through it.

The constant, R, is called the

resistance of the component
p
and
is measured in units of Ohm ()

From a dimensional
di
i
l point
i
of
f view
i
Ohms is a derived unit of Volt/Amp

A linear
li
resistor
i
obeys
b
OHMs
Law

v(t ) = Ri (t )

RESISTORS

Conductance

St d d Multiples
Standard
M lti l off Ohm
Oh
M

Mega Ohm(106 )

Kilo Ohm(103 )

If instead
a function
current in
law can be

of e
expressing
pressing voltage
oltage as
of current one expresses
terms of voltage, OHMs
written

i=

1
v
R

1
as Conductance
R
of the component and write
i = Gv
We define G =

The unit of conductance is

Siemens

Some practical resistors

Symbol

Notice passive sign

convention

+
v

Circuit Represent ation

+
v=0

Short

i=0

Circuit

Open
Circuit

R=0
G=

R=
G=0

OHMS LAW PROBLEM SOLVING TIP

v = Ri

i = Gv OHM' s Law

One equation and three variables.

Given ANY two the third can be found

Given current and resistance

Find the voltage

I = 2A
R = 5

Given Voltage and Resistance

Compute Current
V
I=

R = 3

12[V ]

I = 4[ A]

Notice use of Determine direction of the current

passive sign using passive sign convention
convention

V = 10[V ]

Table 1 Keeping Units Straight

Given Current and Voltage

Find Resistance

I = 4[ A]

+
20[V ]

V
R=
I

R = 5

Voltage

Current

Resistance

Volts

Amps

Ohms

Volts

mA

mV

mV

mA

GIVEN VOLTAGE AND CONDUCTANCE

REFERENCE DIRECTIONS SATISFY
PASSIVE SIGN CONVENTION

i ( t ) = Gv ( t ) OHMS LAW
UNITS?
CONDUCTANCE IN SIEMENS, VOLTAGE
IN VOLTS. HENCE CURRENT IN AMPERES

i ( t ) = 8[ A]

OHMS LAW

v (t ) = Ri ( t )

UNITS?

4[V ] = (2) i ( t ) i ( t ) = 2[ A]

4V
+

THE EXAMPLE COULD BE

GIVEN LIKE THIS

v (t ) = Ri (t )
OHMS LAW

RESISTORS AND ELECTRIC POWER

Resistors are passive components

that can only absorb energy.
Combining Ohm
Ohms
s law and the
expressions for power we can derive
several useful expressions

P = vi
(Power)
v = Ri , or i = Gv (Ohm' s Law)

Given P , i
P
v
v = ,R =
i
i

Given i, R
v = Ri , P = vi = Ri 2

Given v, R
v
v2
i = , P = vi =
R
R
Given P, R

i=

P
, v = Ri = PR
R

If not given, the reference

direction for voltage or current
can be chosen and the other is
given by the passive sign convention

Problem
bl
solving
l i
tip:
i
There
h
are four
f
variables (P,v,i,R) and two equations.
Given any two variables one can find
the other two.

A MATTER OF UNITS

Working with SI units Volt, Ampere

Watt, Ohm, there is never a problem.
One must be
b careful
f l when
h
using
i
multiples or sub multiples.

EXAMPLE : R = 400 k, i = 2mA

The basic strategy is to express

all given variables in SI units

v = (40 *103 ) * (2 *10 3 A) = 80[V ]

P = Ri 2 = ( 40 *103 ) * ( 2 *10 3 A) 2 =
160 *10 3 [W ]

DETERMINE CURRENT AND POWER ABSORBED

BY RESISTOR

P =?

3
I
0
.
5

10
[ A]
VS = IR VS =
VS =
= 10[V ]
G
50 106 [ S ]

= 6mA
V 2 P = (12[V ])(6[mA ])
P = VI = I R =
= 72[ mW ]
R
2

0.6[mA ]

I=

I2
0.5 103[ A]
2
2
P=I R=
0
.
5

10
[W ]
P=
=
6
G
50 10 [ S ]
5[ mW ]

V 6[V ]
=
R 10k

VS2
P=
R
VS2 = (10 103 )(3.6 10 3W ) VS = 6[V ]

P = VS I
80[ mW
W]
= 5[V ]
VS =
4[mA]

P = I 2R
80 103[W ]
R=
2
3
4 10 A
R = 5k

Voltage Divider
R1
V1 = V
R1 + R 2
V2 = V

R2
R1 + R2

The voltage appearing across one of the series

resistances is the total voltage times the ratio of
its resistance to the total resistance.

Current Divider

Find I1 and I2 in terms of

currentt I.
I
I1 = I

R2
G1
or I1 = I
G1 + G2
R1 + R2

R1
G2
I2 = I
or I 2 = I
R1 + R2
G1 + G2

The current through one of

the two parallel resistors is
the total current times the
ratio of the other resistance
to the sum of resistances.

Example
Using the voltage divider and current
divider techniques,
techniques determine the
unknown currents through and voltages
across the resistances in the circuit
of the given figure.

Solution: We first combine the

resistances to simplify the circuit.

R p = 4 || 6 = 2.4 ; Rnet = 2 + 2.4 = 4.4

Vs = 2 4.4 = 8.8 V

We now restore the original

circuit.
i
i
Using voltage divider,
find v1 and v2.

and

2
v1 = 8.8
= 4V
2 + 2.4
2.4
v4 = 8.8
= 4.8
4 8V
2 + 2.4

Note that voltage v4 is the same as v2 and v3.

Using Ohm
Ohmss law, get currents i1 and i2.

and

4.8 V
i2 =
= 1.2 A
4
4.8 V
i3 =
= 0.8 A
6