Chapter 2
Basic Components and
Electric Circuits
Prof. Namyoon Lee
School of EE
Korea University
The SI System
Base units:
} length: meter (m), mass: kilogram (kg),
time - second (s), electrical current - ampere (A), etc.
Derived units:
} work or energy: joule (J)
} power (rate of doing work): watt (W), 1 W = 1 J/s
SI: International System of Unit (1964)
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SI: Units and Prefixes
Any measurement can be expressed in terms
of a unit, or a unit with a “prefix” modifier.
FACTOR NAME SYMBOL
10-9 nano n
10-6 micro μ
10-3 milli m
103 kilo k
106 mega M
109 giga G
Example: 12.3 mW = 0.0123 W =1.23 x 10-2 W
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Charge
} Charge is conserved: it is neither created nor
destroyed
} Symbol: Q or q; units are coulomb (C)
} The smallest charge, the electronic charge, is
carried by an electron (−1.602×10-19 C) or a
proton (+1.602×10-19 C)
} In most circuits, the charges in motion are
electrons
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Current and Charge
Current is the rate of charge flow:
1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second (or 1 A = 1 C/s)
History: the unit of current, ampere (A) is
named after A. M. Ampère, a French physicist.
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Current and Charge
} Current (designated by I or i) is the rate of
flow of charge
} Current must be designated with both a
direction and a magnitude
} These two currents are the same:
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Current and Charge
} Example: Current
Incomplete, improper and Correct definition
incorrect definitions of current
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Current and Charge: i=dq/dt
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Voltage
} When 1 J of work is
required to move 1 C of
charge from A to B, there
is a voltage of 1 volt [J/C]
between A and B.
} Voltage (V or v) across an
element requires both a
magnitude and a polarity.
} Example: (a)=(b), (c)=(d)
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Voltage
} Example
Inadequate
definitions of
current
Correct
definition
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Power: p = v i
} The power required to push a
current i (C/s) into a voltage v
(J/C) is p = vi ( J/s = W).
} When power is positive, the
element is absorbing energy.
} When power is negative, the
element is supplying energy.
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Example: Power
How much power is absorbed by the three elements
above?
Pa = +6 W, Pb = +6 W, Pc = -20 W.
(Note: (c) is actually supplying power)
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Circuit Elements
} A circuit element usually has
two terminals (sometimes
three or more).
} The relationship between the
voltage v across the terminals
and the current i through the
device defines the circuit
element model.
𝑣=𝑓 𝑖
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Voltage Sources
} An ideal voltage source is a circuit element that will
maintain the specified voltage vs across its terminals.
} The current will be determined by other circuit
elements.
?
𝑣! = 𝑓 𝑖
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Battery as Voltage Source
} A voltage source is an idealization (no limit on
current) and generalization (voltage can be time-
varying) of a battery.
} A battery supplies a constant “dc” voltage V but in
practice a battery has a maximum power.
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Current Sources
} An ideal current source is a circuit element that
maintains the specified current flow is through its
terminals.
} The voltage is determined by other circuit elements.
?
𝑖! = 𝑔 𝑣
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Dependent Sources
} Dependent current sources (a) and (b) maintain a
current specified by another circuit variable.
} Dependent voltage sources (c) and (d) maintain a
voltage specified by another circuit variable.
Current-controlled Voltage-controlled Voltage-controlled Current-controlled
current source current source voltage source voltage source
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Example: Dependent Sources
Find the voltage vL in the circuit below.
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Networks and Circuits
} Electrical Network
} Interconnection of two or more simple circuit elements
} Electric Circuit
} Networks containing at least one closed path
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Ohm’s Law: Resistance
} A (linear) resistor is a passive element for which
𝑣 = 𝑖𝑅
where the constant R is a resistance.
} The equation is known as “Ohm’s Law.” (1827)
} Named after an obscure German physicist and mathematic
ian, Georg Simon Ohm.
} The unit of resistance is ohm (Ω).
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Resistors
(a) typical resistors (b) power resistor
(c) a 10 TΩ resistor (d) circuit symbol
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Resistor color
code chart
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The i-v Graph for a Resistor
For a resistor, the plot of current versus voltage
is a straight line:
In this example, the
slope is 4 A / 8 V or
0.5 Ω-1.
This is the graph for
a 2 ohm resistor.
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Power Absorption
Resistors absorb power: since v=iR
𝑝 = 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑣 /𝑅
2 = 𝑖𝑅
2
Positive power means the device is absorbing energy.
Power is always positive for a resistor!
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Example: Resistor Power
A 560 Ω resistor is connected to a circuit which
causes a current of 42.4 mA to flow through it.
Calculate the voltage across the resistor and the
power it is dissipating.
v = iR = (0.0424)(560) = 23.7 V
p = i2R = (0.0424)2(560) = 1.007 W
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Conductance
} We sometimes prefer to work with the
reciprocal of resistance (1/R), which is called
conductance (symbol G, unit siemens (S)).
} A resistor R has conductance G=1/R.
} An older, unofficial unit for conductance is mho (℧)
} The i-v equation (i.e. Ohm’s law) can be written as
𝑖 = 𝐺𝑣
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Open and Short Circuits
} An open(개방) circuit between A and B means i=0.
} Voltage across an open circuit: any value.
} An open circuit is equivalent to R = ∞ Ω.
} A short(단락) circuit between A and B means v=0.
} Current through a short circuit: any value.
} A short circuit is equivalent to R = 0 Ω.
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: Battery Energy & Power
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Summary
} Current,Voltage, Power
} Active Circuit Element
} Voltage Source, Current Source
} Passive Circuit Element
} Resistor (Ohm’s Law)
} Next Class
} Chapter 3:Voltage and Current Laws
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