Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

Electric Circuits
UNIT 1 (Basic Circuit concepts)

1.

What do you mean by an electric network and an electric circuit

Interconnection of two or more simple circuit elements (voltage sources,

resistors, inductors and capacitors) is called an electric network. If a network

contains at least one closed path, it is called an electric circuit.

2.

i)

Classify the network elements

Active or passive

ii)

Unilateral or bilateral

iii)

Linear or non linear

iv)

Lumped or distributed

3.

Differentiate active and passive elements

Energy sources (voltage or current sources) are active elements, capable of

delivering power to some external device. The passive elements are those which are
capable only of receiving power.

4.

Differentiate bilateral and unilateral elements

In the bilateral element, the voltage - current relation is the same for current

flowing in either direction. In contrast, a unilateral element has different relations

between voltage and current for the two possible directions of current.

5.

Differentiate linear and nonlinear elements

An element is said to be linear, if it satisfies the linear voltage current

relationship. That means the current through the element is multiplied by some

constant , and results in the multiplication of voltage across the element by the
same constant.
An element which does not satisfy this relation is called a nonlinear element.

6.

Define lumped and distributed elements in electric circuits

The elements which are separated physically are known as lumped elements,

like resistors, capacitors and inductors. Distributed elements, on the other hand, are
those which are not separable for analytical purposes.

7.

Write the equations of energy stored by an inductor and capacitor

Energy stored by an inductor is,

W = LI2 / 2
I Current flow through the inductor
Energy stored by a capacitor
W = CV2 / 2
V Voltage across capacitor

8.

State Kirchhoffs voltage and current law

Kirchhoffs voltage law:

It states that the algebraic sum of voltages around any closed path in a circuit
is

always

zero.

Kirchhoffs current law:

It states that the sum of currents entering into any point is equal to the sum of
the currents leaving that point.

9.

Write the equation for voltage for the given circuit using voltage division
technique

Write the equation for current for the given circuit using current division

10.

technique

13. How

can a practical voltage source, having an ideal voltage V S and internal

series resistance RV be replaced by a current source?

The practical voltage source, having an ideal voltage V s and internal series
resistance RV be replaced by a current source I = V S / RV in parallel with an internal
resistance

RI = RV

UNIT II (Sinusoidal steady state analysis)

1.

Write the equation for Instantaneous active power, Average power, Apparent
power

Instantaneous active power,

P(t) = VmIm[Cos(2t+)+Cos ] / 2
Average power,
Pav = VmIm Cos / 2
Apparent power,
Papp = Veff Ieff

2.

Define Power factor

It is defined as the ratio of average power to the apparent power, whereas the
apparent power is the product of the effective values of the current and the voltage.
Power factor = Pav / (Veff Ieff)
It is also defined as the factor with which the volt amperes are to be multiplied
to get true power in the circuit

3.

Draw the power triangle

4.

Give any one application of resonance

In the area of communications, the ability of a radio receiver to select a certain

frequency, transmitted by a station and to eliminate frequencies from other stations is

based on the principle of resonance.

5.

Define resonance frequency for a series RLC circuit

The frequency at which resonance occurs is called the resonant frequency.

fr = 1 / (2LC)
L Inductance of the circuit
C Capacitance of the circuit

6.

Define Bandwidth of a RLC circuit

It is the range of frequencies for which the current or output voltage is equal to

70.7 % of its value at the resonant frequency.

7.

Define the Q factor of a RLC series circuit

The Quality factor, Q, is the ratio of the reactive power in the inductor or

capacitor to the true power in the resistance in series with the coil or capacitor.
Q = 2 * (maximum energy stored / energy dissipated per cycle)

8.

Define Magnification in resonance

The ratio of voltage across either L or C to the voltage applied at resonance

can be defined as magnification.

Magnification = (VL / V) or (VC / V)

9.

What is tank circuit?

The parallel resonant circuit is generally called a tank circuit, because of the

fact that, the circuit stores energy in the magnetic field of the coil and in the electric
field of the capacitor. The stored energy is transferred back and forth between the
capacitor and coil, and vice-versa.

10. Write

the types of balanced and unbalanced loads in a three phase system?

Types of balanced loads:

i)
ii)

Balanced delta connected load

Balanced star connected load

Types of unbalanced loads:

i)
ii)
iii)

Unbalanced delta connected load

Unbalanced three wire star connected load
Unbalanced four wire star connected load

11. The

neutral point of an unbalanced three wire star connected load is called as

a floating neutral point. Why?

The potential of the load star point is different from that of the supply star
point. The result is that the load phase voltages are not equal to the supply phase
voltage and they are not only unequal in magnitude, but also subtend angles other
than 120o with one another. The magnitude of each phase voltages depends upon
the individual phase loads. The potential of the load neutral point changes according
to changes in the impedances of the phases, that is why sometimes the load neutral
is also called floating neutral point.

12. When

the wattmeter will give down scale reading? How to measure the power

under such condition?

If the phase angle between the line voltage and current is greater than 90 o,
the corresponding wattmeter would indicate downscale reading. To obtain upscale
reading, the connections of either the current coil or the pressure coil have to be
interchanged. Reading obtained after reversal of coil connection should be taken as
negative. Then, the algebraic sum of the two wattmeter readings gives the total
power.

Unit III (Circuits and theorems)

1.

What do you mean by a planar and a non planar circuit?

A circuit is said to be planar, if it can be drawn on a plane surface without

crossovers. A non planar circuit cannot be drawn on a plane surface without a
crossover.
2.

State Superposition theorem

It states that in any linear network containing two or more sources, the
response in any element is equal to the algebraic sum of the responses caused by
individual sources acting alone, while the other sources are non operative; that is,
while considering the effect of individual sources, other ideal voltage sources and
ideal current sources in the network are replaced by short circuit and open circuit
across their terminals. This theorem is valid only for linear systems.
The Superposition theorem is not valid for power responses. It is applicable
only for computing voltage and current responses.

3.

State Thevenins theorem

It states that any circuit having a number of voltage sources, resistances
(impedances) and open output terminals can be replaced by a simple equivalent
circuit consisting of a single voltage source in series with a resistance (impedances),
where the value of the voltage source is equal to the open circuit voltage across the
output terminals, and resistance (impedance) is equal to the resistance seen in to
the network across the output terminals.

4.

State Nortons theorem

It states that any circuit with voltage sources, resistances (impedances) and
open output terminals can be replaced by a single current source in parallel with
single resistance (impedance), where the value of current source is equal to the
current passing through the short circuit output terminals and the value of the
resistance (impedance) is equal to the resistance seen into the output terminals.

5.

State Reciprocity theorem

According to this theorem, if we apply some input( from either a current
source, or a voltage source) to a circuit which consists of resistors, inductors,
capacitors and transformers, including coupled circuits, the ratio of response(output)
in any element to the input is constant even when the position of input and output
terminals are interchanged. This is called the Reciprocity theorem.

6.

State Compensation(Substitution) theorem

It states that any element in the network, linear or non linear, may be replaced
by a voltage source of magnitude equal to line current, passing through the element
multiplied by the value of the element, provided the currents and voltages in other
parts of the circuit remain unaltered.
This theorem is useful to find the changes in current or voltage when the
value of resistance is changed in the circuit.

7.

State Reciprocity theorem

It states that maximum power is delivered from a source to a load when the
load resistance is equal to the source resistance.

8.

State Millmans theorem

Unit IV (Response of Electric Circuits)

1.

What is transient state?

If a network contains energy storage elements, with change in excitation, the current
and voltages change from one state to other state. The behaviour of the voltage (or)
current when it is changed from one state to another state is called transient state.

2.

What is natural response?

If a circuit containing storage elements which are independent of sources, the

response depends upon the nature of the circuit, it is called natural response.

3.

What is meant by natural frequency?

If the damping is made zero then the response oscillates with natural frequency
without any opposition, such a frequency is called natural frequency of oscillation,
denoted as n.

4.

Define Damping ratio.

It is the ratio of actual resistance R in the circuit to the critical resistance R C. It is

denoted by greek letter zeta .
.

5.

Write down few applications of RL, RC and RLC circuits.

The few applications of RL,RC and RLC circuits are given below.
Coupling circuits,
Phase-shift circuits,
Filters,
Resonant circuits,
AC bridge circuits, and
Transformers.

6.

What is the time-constant for RL and RC circuits?

Time constant for RL circuit,

=L/R

Time constant for RC circuit,

=1/RC

7.

How does an inductor act at t=0+ and t=?

An inductor will act as a open circuit at t=0 + and will act as a short circuit at t=.

8.

Obtain the natural frequency and time constant of an RLC series circuit with
R=1K
, L=100mH and C=0.1
F.

9.

What is meant by over damped and under damped system?

10. When

do we get transient response?

Whenever a circuit is switched from one condition to another either by a change in

the applied source (or) change in the circuit elements there is a transitional period
during which the branch currents and voltage change from their values to new ones,
this period is called transient.

11. Distinguish

SL.No
1
2
3
4

between steady state and transient response of an electric circuit.

STEADY STATE RESPONSE

Amplitude will not change.
Frequency will not change.
Constant voltage and current
with time.
Algebraic equations are used.

12. What

TRANSIENT RESPONSE
Amplitude may change.
Frequency may change.
Change from one steady state to
another.
Integro-differential equations are
used

are the causes of transient behavior occurring in a circuit?

The causes are

a)

It may be due to the sudden change of applied voltage.

b)

When the voltage source is shorted.

c)

When a circuit is connected or disconnected and

d)

Due to storage elements in the circuit.

13. Define

14. What

Decrement factor or logarithmic decrement.

is the Laplace transform ?

15. What

is the cause of free response in electric circuits?

The presence of storage element such as inductors or capacitors or both in a

network in the absence of external energy source is the cause of free response.

16. Find

the poles and zeros for the function , and also obtain the pole-zero plot.

Unit V (Two port network and Filters)

1.

Define one-port network.

A pair of terminals at which a signal may enter (or) leave a terminal is called a port. A
network having only one such pair of terminals is called one-port network.

3.

Define transmission parameters.

6.

Write ABCD parameters in terms of Z-parameters.

ABCD parameters in terms of Z-parameters is given below.

7.

What is steady state?

A circuit consisting of constant sources is said to be in steady state if the voltages

and currents do not change with time.

8.

What is meant by free response?

Free response is due to the internal energy stored in the network. It depends upon
the type of elements, their size etc. This response is independent of the source. This
response dies gradually, i.e., it approaches zero as time becomes infinity. Free
response is also known as natural (or) transient response.

9.

Distinguish between free and forced response.

When a circuit contains storage elements which are independent of the sources, the
response depends upon the nature of circuit. This response is called natural (or) free
response.
The storage elements deliver the energy to the resistances. So the response
changes with time, gets saturated after some time. It is referred to as the transient
response. When we consider sources acting on a circuit, the response depends on
the nature of such sources. This response is called forced response.
10. What is a Low pass filter?

11. Draw the characteristics of ideal low pass filter.

12. What is a high pass filter?

A high-pass filter is a filter that passes high frequencies well, but attenuates
(reduces the amplitude of) frequencies lower than the cutoff frequency.
13. Draw a high pass and low pass filter using RC.

14. Give the applications of filter.

High-pass and low-pass filters are also used in digital image processing to
perform
transformations in the spatial frequency domain.
Most high-pass filters have zero gain (-inf dB) at DC. Such a high-pass filter
with
very low cutoff frequency can be used to block DC from a signal that is undesired
in that signal (and pass nearly everything else). These are sometimes called
DC
blocking filters.

15. A constant

k high pass filter is required for a cut-off frequency of 2500Hz. The

resistance of load circuit is 600. Determine the value of the components

required.
SOLUTION:

16. Each

of the series elements of a T-type Low pass filter consists of an

inductance of 30mH having negligible resistance and the shunt element has
a capacitance of 0.2F. Calculate the cut-off frequency and determine the
iterative impedance at a frequency of 1000Hz.
GIVEN:
L/2=30mHL=60mH, C=0.2F
SOLUTION:
CONFIGURATION OF T-SECTION

Iterative impedance (or) Characteristic impedance,