Lecture 6 – DC Resistive
Circuits
Prof. Naomi Harte
KCL in action
Figure 1.22 See Exercise 1.7 in Hambley
2
KVL in action
Figure 1.31 Exercise 1.9 in Hambley
3
Actual circuits….
4
A simple circuit
Example from Fig 1.39 in Hambley
5
A more complicated circuit
Figure 1.43 Circuit for Example 1.9.
6
More examples
• Chapter 1 in Hambley
7
More resistors
8
Resistors in Series
Consider the configuration shown below where N resistors are connected
end-to-end and are referred to as being connected in series. A battery of
𝑉𝑠 Volts is used to drive the circuit so that a current I flows into the
terminals of the combination of resistors. Note that the same current
flows through each of the resistors as charge must be conserved. The
dashed line in the circuit is not intended to represent any electrical break
in the connection but merely to indicate that the series arrangement can
be extended to any number of resistors, N.
current I R1 R2 R3 RN
_ _ _ _
+ + + +
+ V1 V2 V3 VN
𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑆
𝑅𝐸𝑞
_
9
DC Circuits Case Study 1 – Series
Resistors
Find the equivalent resistance of the circuit shown below and the current
which it draws from the battery supply. In addition, determine the
potential difference developed across each of the individual resistors.
R1
I 4kΩ I
𝑉𝑠 10V 2.5kΩ R2 ≡ 𝑉𝑠 10V REQ
1.5kΩ
R3
The equivalent single resistance of the circuit is given as:
REQ = R1 + R2 + R3 = 4k + 2.5k + 1.5k = 8k
VS 10V
The current drawn from the source is I= = = 1.25mA
R EQ 8k 10
DC Circuits Case Study 1
The potential differences developed across each of the individual resistors
i.e. voltage drop across each of the resistors are:
V1 = I R1 = 1.25 10−3 4 103 = 5V
V2 = I R 2 = 1.25 10−3 2.5 103 = 3.125V
V3 = I R 3 = 1.25 10−3 1.5 103 = 1.875V
𝑉1 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉3 = 𝑉𝑠 𝑉1
R1
I 4kΩ I
𝑉𝑠 2.5kΩ 𝑉2 ≡ 𝑉𝑠 10V REQ
10V
R2
1.5kΩ
R3
𝑉3
11
Resistors in Parallel
Consider the configuration shown below where N resistors are connected side-by-
side and are referred to as being connected in parallel. A battery of 𝑉𝑠 Volts is used
to drive the circuit so that a current I flows into the terminals of the combination of
resistors. Note that this time the same potential difference is developed across each
of the resistors and is equal to the battery voltage V. The dashed line in the circuit is
again not intended to represent any electrical break in the connection but merely to
indicate that the parallel arrangement can be extended to any number of resistors,
N. We want then a single resistance such that in accordance with Ohm’s Law gives
𝑉
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝐼𝑠 or 𝑉𝑠 = 𝐼𝑅𝑒𝑞
current I
+ I1 I2 I3 IN
+ + + +
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2 V3 R3 VN RN
_ _ _ _
_
12
Resistors in Parallel
current I
+ I1 I2 I3 IN
+ + + +
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2 V3 R3 VN RN
_ _ _ _
_
𝑉𝑠
We want then a single resistance such that 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = or 𝑉𝑠 = 𝐼𝑅𝑒𝑞
𝐼
Inspecting the circuit we see that 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 + 𝐼3 + . . +𝐼𝑁 = σ𝑁
𝑛=1 𝐼𝑛
also 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 = 𝑉3 =. . = 𝑉𝑁 = 𝑉𝑠
and 𝐼1 = 𝑉1ൗ𝑅1 , 𝐼2 = 𝑉2ൗ𝑅2, etc.
𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑛 1
So it apparent that we require 𝐼 = = σ𝑁
𝑛=1 = 𝑉𝑠 σ𝑁
𝑛=1
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅𝑛 𝑅𝑛
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝑺𝒐 = + + +. . +
𝑹𝒆𝒒 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝟑 𝑹𝑵 13
Two Resistors in Parallel
current I
+ I1 I2
+ +
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
_ _
_
Consider the particular case of only two resistors in parallel:
1 1 1 R + R2 RR
= + = 1 or REQ = 1 2
REQ R1 R2 R1R2 R1 + R2
14
DC Circuits Case Study 2 – Parallel
Resistors
Find the equivalent resistance of the circuit shown below and the
current which it draws from the battery supply. In addition,
determine the current which flows through each of the individual
resistors.
I I
R1 R2 R3 REQ
𝑉𝑠 10V ≡ 𝑉𝑠 10V
4kΩ 2.5kΩ 1.5kΩ
15
DC Circuits Case Study 2 – Parallel
Resistors
I I
R1 R2 R3 REQ
𝑉𝑠 10V ≡ 𝑉𝑠 10V
4kΩ 2.5kΩ 1.5kΩ
10 10 10
I1 = = 2.5mA, I = = 4 mA, I = = 6.7 mA
4 10 2.5 10 1.5 10
3 2 3 3 3
Total current drawn I 1 + I 2 + I 3 = 2.5 + 4 + 6.7 = 13.2mA
For the equivalent circuit Vs 10
I= = = 13.2mA
R EQ 0.76 10 3
16
DC Circuits Case Study 2 – Parallel
Resistors
I I
R1 R2 R3 REQ
𝑉𝑠 10V ≡ 𝑉𝑠 10V
4kΩ 2.5kΩ 1.5kΩ
1 1 1 1
= + +
REQ 4 103 2.5 103 1.5 103
1
= 1.32 10 −3
R EQ
1
Giving REQ = −3
= 760
1.32 10
17
The Potential Divider
In electronic circuits using semiconductor and other active elements it is often
necessary to obtain a range of dc voltages, other than the battery or supply
voltage, for the correct operation of these devices. A simple potential divider
network for this purpose is shown below where two resistors are connected in
series across the battery supply.
I
+
V1 R1
𝑉𝑠
_ V2 R2 VO
18
The Potential Divider
In electronic circuits using semiconductor and other active elements it is often necessary to obtain a range of
dc voltages, other than the battery or supply voltage, for the correct operation of these devices. A simple
potential divider network for this purpose is shown below where two resistors are connected in series across
the battery supply.
Analysis VO = V2 = I 2 R2 = IR2
Vs
I =
R1 + R2
I Vs R2
+ VO = R2 = Vs
V1 R1
R1 + R2 R1 + R2
𝑉𝑠
The ratio of the resistors therefore sets the potential VO
_ V2 R2 VO as a fraction of the supply voltage Vs . The values of the
resistors R1 and R2 can be chosen accordingly to obtain
any desired bias voltage from any supply voltage.
19
DC Circuits Case Study – The potential divider and
the effect of loading
I
+
V1 R1
𝑉𝑠
_ V2 R2 VO Analysis VO = V2 = I 2 R2 = IR2
Vs
I=
R1 + R2
Vs R2
VO = R2 = Vs
R1 + R2 R1 + R2
The ratio of the resistors therefore sets
the potential VO as a fraction of the
supply voltage Vs . The values of the
resistors R1 and R2 can be chosen
accordingly to obtain any desired bias
voltage from any supply voltage.
20
The potential divider and the effect of loading
For an unloaded potential divider
I we have seen that
+
V1 R1
R2
𝑉𝑠 VO = Vs
R1 + R2
_ V2 R2 RL VO
When a load of resistance RL is 𝑅𝑇
𝑉0 = 𝑉
connected across the output 𝑅1 + 𝑅𝑇 𝑆
𝑅2 𝑅𝐿 𝑅2
Here 𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅2 ∕∕ 𝑅𝐿 = = 𝑅
𝑅2 +𝑅𝐿 1+ 2
𝑅𝐿
2 𝑅
so if 𝑅𝐿 ≫ 𝑅2 we see 𝑅𝑇 ≅ 1+0 = 𝑅2
This shows that for the loaded potential divider to deliver the desired voltage Vo then we
should have 𝑅𝐿 ≫ 𝑅2 . Note that this suggests making 𝑅2 ‘small’ but this is often not
desirable as we want to keep the current drawn from the source 𝑉𝑆 as low as is reasonable. 21
Current Splitting
Sometimes in electronic circuits it necessary to divide current
between different paths or branches in a circuit. Of the total current
drawn from the supply, it may be required to deliver a fixed
proportion or percentage to a particular element or load. A current
splitting network such as is shown below accomplishes this purpose.
+ I I2
I1
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
22
Current Splitting
+ I I2
I1
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
Analysis: The same potential drop is developed across both resistors
so that: V1 = V2 = Vs
Vs Vs V ( R + R2 )
I= = = s 1
REQ R1 // R2 R1 R2
V1 Vs V2 V s I 1 Vs R1 R2 R2
I1 = = and I2 = = then = =
R1 R1 R2 R2 I R1 Vs ( R1 + R2 ) R1 + R2
23
Current Splitting
+ I I2
I1
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
V1 Vs V2 Vs
I1 = = and I2 = =
R1 R1 R2 R2
then I1 Vs R1 R2 R2
= =
I R1 Vs ( R1 + R2 ) R1 + R2
R2
Therefore: I1 = I
R1 + R2
24
Current Splitting
+ I I2
I1
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
R2 _
So I1 = I
R1 + R2
I 2 Vs R1 R2 R1 R1
Similarly: = = giving I2 = I
I R2 Vs ( R1 + R2 ) R1 + R2 R1 + R2
It can be seen therefore that the current drawn from the supply is
split between the two branches of the circuit in the ratio of the
resistances of the opposite branches. This analysis can be carried out
for a combination of more resistors in parallel but gives a more
complex expression.
25
Summary current
I
R1
+ I2 1 1 1 R + R2
I1 = + = 1
I + + R EQ R1 R2 R1 R2
𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
V R2 REQ = R1 + R2 + R3 _ _ R EQ =
R1 R2
_ R1 + R2
R3
+ I I1 I2
+ I
V1
R1
𝑉𝑠 𝑉𝑠 V1 R1 V2 R2
V2
_ R2 VO _
R2 R1
VO = Vs I1 =
R2
I I2 = I
R1 + R2 R1 + R2 R1 + R2
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