Professor Mason
Engineering 44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycHwPwjI0lM&feature=player_embedded
The circuit photographed below includes three identical light bulbs and two identical batteries,
wired as seen in the photograph. In this photograph the switch is OFF, that is, the circuit is open
at that point. The intensity level of the two light bulbs is identical (well, almost in the
photograph).
What will happen when the switch is turned ON, closing the circuit.
The upper light bulb will:



(a) become brighter.
(b) become dimmer.
(c) stay the same.
The lower light bulb will:



(a) become brighter.
(b) become dimmer.
(c) stay the same.
The center light bulb will:


(a) go ON.
(c) stay OFF.
Charge and Current
The concept of electric charge is the underlying principle
for explaining all electrical phenomena. We all
experience the effect of electric charge when we try to
remove our wool sweater and have it stick to our body or
walk across a carpet and receive a shock.
Charge is an electrical property of the atomic particles of
which matter consists, measured in coulombs (C).
We know from elementary physics that all matter is made
of fundamental building blocks known as atoms and that
each atom consists of electrons, protons, and neutrons.
We also know that the charge e on an electron is negative and equal in magnitude to 1.602 ×
10−19 C, while a proton carries a positive charge of the same magnitude as the electron.
The presence of equal numbers of protons and electrons leaves an atom neutrally charged.
The following points should be noted about electric charge:
1. The coulomb is a large unit for charges. In 1 C of charge, there are 1/(1.602 × 10− 19) =
6.24 × 10 18 electrons. Thus realistic or laboratory values of charges are on the order of
pC, nC, or µC.
2. According to experimental observations, the only charges that occur in nature are integral
multiples of the electronic charge e = − 1.602 × 10− 19 C.
3. The law of conservation of charge states that charge can neither be created nor destroyed,
only transferred. Thus the algebraic sum of the electric charges in a system does not
change.
We now consider the flow of electric charges. A unique feature of electric charge or electricity is
the fact that it is mobile; that is, it can be transferred from one place to another, where it can be
converted to another form of energy.
When a conducting wire (consisting of several atoms) is connected to
a battery (a source of electromotive force), the charges are compelled
to move; positive charges move in one direction while negative
charges move in the opposite direction. This motion of charges
creates electric current. It is conventional to take the current flow as
the movement of positive charges, that is, opposite to the flow of
negative charges, as the figure illustrates. This convention was
introduced by Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), the American scientist and inventor. Although
we now know that current in metallic conductors is due to negatively charged electrons, we will
follow the universally accepted convention that current is the net flow of positive charges.
Electric current is the time rate of change of charge, measured in amperes (A).
Mathematically, the relationship between current i, charge q, and time t is
where current is measured in amperes (A), and 1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second
The charge transferred between time t 0 and t is obtained by integrating of the equation above.
We obtain:
The way we define current as i above suggests that current need not be a constant-valued
function.
If the current does not change with time, but remains constant,
we call it a direct current (dc).
A direct current (dc) is a current that remains constant with
time.
By convention the symbol I is used to represent such a constant
current.
A time-varying current is represented by the symbol i. A common
form of time-varying current is the sinusoidal current or alternating
current (ac).
An alternating current (ac) is a current that varies sinusoidally with
time.
Such current is used in your household, to run the air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine,
and other electric appliances. While AC and DC are the most common types, we will consider
other types later in the course.
Once we define current as the movement of charge, we expect current to have an associated
direction of flow. As mentioned earlier, the direction of current
flow is conventionally taken as the direction of positive charge
movement. Based on this convention, a current of 5 A may be
represented positively or negatively as shown at right. In other
words, a negative current of − 5 A flowing in one direction is
the same as a current of + 5 A flowing in the opposite direction.
The charge transferred in time is given as shown below where the peak value is 10 C and the
time at the maxima is 0.785s. Determine the current, I(t), flowing through the wire.
Determine the total charge flowing through an element for 0 < t < 2 seconds when the
current entering its positive terminal is i(t )  e 2t
Voltage
Moving 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 or Voltage V),
typically from a battery. 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
v ab 
dq
where w is energy in joules (J) and q is charge in coulombs (C). The voltage is
measured in volts (V), named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Antonio
Volta (1745–1827), who invented the first voltaic battery.
From the equation, it is evident that
1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1 newton meter/coulomb
Thus,
Voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit charge through an
element, measured in volts (V).
The figure below shows the voltage across an element (represented by a rectangular block)
connected to points a and b. The plus (+) and minus (−) signs are used to define reference
direction or voltage polarity. The vab can be interpreted in two ways:
(1) Point a is at a potential of vab volts higher than point b
(2) The potential at point a with respect to point b is vab. It follows logically that in general
vab = −vba
For example, in the figure, we have two representations of the
same voltage. In Fig. (a), point a is +9 V above point b; in Fig. (b),
point b is −9 V above point a. We may say that in (a), there is a 9-V
voltage drop from a to b or equivalently a 9-V voltage rise from b to
a. In other words, a voltage drop from a to b is equivalent to a
voltage rise from b to a.
Current and voltage are the two basic variables in electric circuits.
The common term signal is used for an electric quantity such as a current or a voltage (or even
electromagnetic wave) when it is used for conveying information. Engineers prefer to call such
variables signals rather than mathematical functions of time because of their importance in
communications and other disciplines. Like electric current, a constant voltage is called a dc
voltage and is represented by V, whereas a sinusoidally time-varying voltage is called an ac
voltage and is represented by v.
Power and Energy
Although current and voltage are the two basic variables in an electric circuit, they are not
sufficient by themselves. For practical purposes, we need to know how much power an
electric device can handle. We all know from experience that a 100-watt bulb gives more light
than a 60-watt bulb. We also know that when we pay our bills to the electric utility companies,
we are paying for the electric energy consumed over a certain period of time.
We recall from physics that:
Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in watts (W).
We write this relationship as
dw
dt
where p is power in watts (W), w is energy in joules (J), and t is time in seconds (s). It follows
that
dw dw dq
p

*
 VI
dt
dq dt
p
Given v = 10V and i(t) as shown below, sketch the power and energy as a function of time
Solderless Breadboards, Open-circuits and Short-circuits
Overview:
The purpose of this lab assignment is to provide users with an introduction to some of the
equipment which will be used in subsequent lab assignments. The following topics are
discussed:


breadboards
use of digital multimeters (DMMs) to measure resistance.
The concept of electrical resistance is introduced qualitatively in this lab assignment. A more
rigorous discussion of resistance will be presented in later modules and explored more
thoroughly in later lab assignments.
General Discussion:
In this portion of the lab assignment, we will examine the connections between different holes
in your breadboard using a DMM as an ohmmeter. Specifically, we will see which connections
correspond to open circuits and short circuits. We will use jumper wires to change the
connectivity between holes on the breadboard.
Lab Procedures:
In this portion of the assignment, we will use the DMM as an ohmmeter to check the
connectivity of different nodes on a breadboard. In the circuits below, you may need to
use jumper wires in to assist in the connection between the DMM leads and the
breadboard.
1.
Using your DMM as an ohmmeter, connect
the leads of the DMM to two holes in the same
row on your breadboard, as shown in Figure
1(a) at right. The DMM should indicate a very
low resistance between the holes -- generally
fractions of an ohm. Record your results in
your blog.
2.
Check the resistance between two rows of
holes on opposite sides of the central channel
of the breadboard, as shown in Figure 1(b) at
right. Your DMM should indicate a very high
-- or infinite -- resistance between the holes.
Record your results in your lab notebook.
3.
Check the resistance between two arbitrary
holes (not in the same row) of your
breadboard (e.g. between nodes a and c in
Figure 1(b). Your DMM should again indicate
a very high or infinite resistance. Record your
results in your blog
4.
Finally, use a jumper wire to connect two
different rows on the breadboard. Add a jumper
wire between nodes a and c as shown in Figure 1(c)
at right. The DMM should indicate that the
resistance between these nodes is now very low.
Record your results in your lab notebook.
In your lab blog, comment on whether the connections
in lab procedures 1 -- 4 correspond to “open circuit” or
“short circuit” conditions.
Include the following in your blog:
1. Provide the resistance you measured between two holes in same row. State whether these
operate as open or closed circuit.
2. Provide the resistance you measured between two holes opposite sides of channel.
Characterize as open or closed circuit.
3. Provide the resistance you measured between two arbitrary holes in the breadboard.
Characterize as open or closed circuit.
4. Provide the resistance you measured between holes connected by a jumper wire.
Characterize as open or closed circuit.
Power and Energy
The power p is a time-varying quantity and is called the instantaneous power. Thus, the power
absorbed or supplied by an element is the product of the voltage across the element and the
current through it. If the power has a + sign, power is being delivered to or absorbed by the
element. If, on the other hand, the power has a − sign, power is being supplied by the element.
But how do we know when the power has a negative or a positive sign?
Current direction and voltage polarity play a major role in determining
the sign of power. It is therefore important that we pay attention to the
relationship between current I and voltage V in (a). The voltage polarity
and current direction must conform with those shown in Fig. (a) in order
for the power to have a positive sign. This is known as the passive sign
convention. By the passive sign convention, current enters through the
positive polarity of the voltage. In this case, p = +vi or vi > 0 implies that
the element is absorbing power. However, if p = −vi or vi < 0, as in Fig.
(b), the element is releasing or supplying power.
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.
Unless otherwise stated, we will follow the passive sign convention. For example, the element
in both circuits on the left in the figure below have an absorbing power of +12 W because a
positive current enters the positive terminal in both cases.
However, on the right, the element is supplying power of −12 W because a positive current
enters the negative terminal. Of course, an absorbing power of +12 W is equivalent to a
supplying power of −12 W. In general,
Power absorbed = −Power supplied
In fact, the law of conservation of energy must be obeyed in any electric circuit. For this
reason, the algebraic sum of power in a circuit, at any instant of time, must be zero:
p0
This again confirms the fact that the total power supplied to the circuit must balance the total
power absorbed.
From the above equation, the energy absorbed or supplied by an element from time t0 to time t
is
t
t
t0
t0
w   pdt   VIdt
Energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules ( J).
The electric power utility companies measure energy in watt-hours (Wh), where
1 Wh = 3,600 J
The figure shows the current through and voltage across a device. Find the total energy
absorbed by the device for the period 0 < t < 4 seconds.
Dependent and Independent Sources
A circuit element is the basic building block of a circuit. An electric circuit is simply an
interconnection of the elements. Circuit analysis is the process of determining voltages across
(or the currents through) the elements of the circuit.
There are two types of elements found in electric circuits: passive elements and active
elements. An active element is capable of generating energy while a passive element is not.
Passive elements
 Resistors
 Capacitors
 Inductors.
Typical active elements include
 Batteries
 Generators
 operational amplifiers.
The most important active elements are voltage or current sources that generally deliver power
to the circuit connected to them. There are two kinds of sources: independent and dependent
sources.
An ideal independent source is an active element that provides a specified voltage or current
that is completely independent of other circuit variables.
In other words, an ideal independent voltage source delivers to the circuit whatever current is
necessary to maintain its terminal voltage. Physical sources such as batteries and generators
may be regarded as approximations to ideal voltage sources.
Notice that both symbols (a) and (b) can be used to represent
a dc voltage source, but only the symbol in Fig. (a) can be used
for a time-varying voltage source.
Similarly, an ideal independent current source is an active
element that provides a specified current completely
independent of the voltage across the source. That is, the
current source delivers to the circuit whatever voltage is necessary to maintain the
designated current. The symbol for an independent current source is displayed at
right, where the arrow indicates the direction of current i.
Dependent sources are usually designated by diamond-shaped symbols. Since the
control of the dependent source is achieved by a voltage or current of some other element in
the circuit, and the source can be voltage or current, it follows
that there are four possible types of dependent sources,
namely:
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. An example of a current-controlled voltage source is shown at right,
where the voltage 10i of the voltage source depends on the
current through element C. Note that the value of the
dependent voltage source is 10i V (and not 10i A) because it
is a voltage source. The key idea to keep in mind is that a
voltage source comes with polarities (+ −) in its symbol,
while a current source comes with an arrow, irrespective of
what it depends on.
It should be noted that an ideal voltage source (dependent or in-dependent) will produce any
current required to ensure that the terminal voltage is as stated, whereas an ideal current
source will produce the necessary voltage to ensure the stated current flow. Thus an ideal
source could in theory supply an infinite amount of energy. It should also be noted that not
only do sources supply power to a circuit, they can absorb power from a circuit too. For a
voltage source, we know the voltage but not the current supplied or drawn by it. By the same
token, we know the current supplied by a current source but not the voltage across it.
Given the circuit below, find V0. Hint: Be sure to use conservation of energy or that the sum
of the power in all the elements is 0.
FreeMAT Lab
Bring your laptop
Install Waveforms (Digilent website)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxubEUAoTvM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bJ9MvgSkY8&list=PL170A01159D42313D&index=3&fe
ature=plpp_video