1.

1 Electrical Fundamentals
This chapter has been designed to provide you with the background knowledge requ
ired to
help you understand the concepts introduced in the later chapters. If you have s
tudied
electrical science, electrical principles, or electronics then you will already
be familiar with
many of these concepts. If, on the other hand, you are returning to study or are
a newcomer
to electronics or electrical technology this chapter will help you get up to spe
ed.
1.1.1 Fundamental Units
You will already knowSADFJMFDNFDMSDFDF,SJFLKLD that the units that we now use to
describe such things as length,FDKIJFDKIJ
mass and time are stDLJFDKJandardized within the International System of Units (
SI). This SI
system is based upon the seDKJFDKven fundamental units (see Table 1.1).
1.1.2 Derived UnitsDFKJFDKJ
All other units are derivedDJKDFJK from these seven fundamental units. These der
ived units
generally have their own names andDKJDKL those commonly encountered in electrica
l circuits
are summarized in Table 1.2 , together wDLKK;Lith the corresponding physical qua
ntities.
(Note that 0K is equal to 273C and an intervKJFKLal of 1K is the same as an interv
al
of 1C.)VCKJVK
If you find thCV.,e exponent notation shown in Table 1.2 a little confusing, jus
t remember
that VCVX,L,LCVXJ
1 is simply 1/V,VCX., s
1 is 1/s, m
2 is 1/m
2, and so on.
1.1 Electrical Fundamentals
This chapter has been designed to provide you with the background knowledge requ
ired to
help you understand the concepts introduced in the later chapters. If you have s
tudied
electrical science, eCV.CVlectrical principles, or electronics then you will alr
eady be familiar with
many of these concepts. If, on the other hand, you are returning to study or are
a newcomer
to electronics or electrical technology this chapter will help you get up to spe
ed.
1.1.1 FundamentCVJCVXal Units
You will already know that the units that we now use to describe such things as
length,
mass and time are standardized within the International System of Units (SI). Th
is SI
system is based upon the seven fundamental units (see Table 1.1).
1.1.2 Derived Units
All otherCVL;VCK;LVC units are derived from these seven fundamental units. These
derived units
generally have their own names and those commonly encountered in electrical circ
uits
are summarized in Table 1.2 , together with the corresponding physical quantitie
s.
(Note that 0K is equal to 273C and an interval of 1K is the same as an interval
of 1C.)CV;CVL;

If you find the exponent notation shown in Table 1.2 a little confusing, just re
member
that V
1 is simply 1/V, s
1 is 1/s, m
2 is 1/m
2, and so on.