Course Lectures of

Basics of Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering Dept.

First year

Chapter One :
Basic Concepts and Laws

Instructor :
Ali Abdulkareem Al-Hashimi
Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

1.1 SI System of Units :

1.1.1 Basic Units:
Quantity Basic unit Symbol

Length Meter m

Mass Kilogram Kg

Time Second s or sec.

Electric current Ampere A

Temperature Degree Kelvin K

Luminous intensity Candela cd

1.1.2 Some scientific notations :

In many cases, the (SI) units are either too small or too large to use conveniently. Standard
prefixes, correspond to the power of 10, are applied to the basic unit as shown in the table below.

Prefix Symbol Power

Pico p

nano n

micro

milli m

centi c

deci d

kilo k

mega M

giga G

Examples:

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

1.2 Charge and Current :

The concept of electric charge is the most basic quantity in an electric circuit . 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.
When a conducting wire (consisting of several atoms) is connected to a battery, 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.
Electric current is the rate of change of charge measured in amperes (A). It is conventional to take
the current flow as the movement of positive charges, that is, opposite to the flow of negative
charges, as shown below .

The current (i) is mathematically expressed as :

The transferred charge may be obtained by integrating both sides of the equation above, which is :

 A direct current (DC) is a current that remains constant with time. The symbol (I) is usually
used to represent such a current.
 An alternating current (AC) is a current that is varying with time. The symbol (i) is usually
used to represent such a current.

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex: The total charge entering a terminal is given by q = (5t sin 4πt) mC. Calculate the current at t =
0.5 seconds .
Solution:
i = dq / dt
= d/dt (5t sin 4πt) mC/s = (5 sin 4πt + 20πt cos 4πt) mA
At t = 0.5,
i = 5 sin 2π + 10π cos 2π = 0 + 10π = 31.42 mA
Ex: Determine the total charge entering a terminal between t = 1 s and t = 2 s if the current passing
the terminal is i = (3t 2 − t) A.
Solution:

∫( )

( )|

1.3 Voltage:
The voltage (or potential difference) is the energy required to move a unit charge through an
element, measured in volts (V) . figure below shows the polarity of voltage ( )

This means that the potential of point (a) is higher than that of point (b), or :

Like electric current, a constant voltage is called a DC voltage and is represented by (V), whereas
a time-varying voltage is called an AC voltage and is represented by (v).

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

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 :

where ( ) is energy in joules (J) and (q) is charge in coulombs (C) .

1.4 Power and Energy :

Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy, measured in watts (W). We write this
relationship as :

where p is power in watts (W), w is energy in joules (J), and t is time in seconds (s). We have :

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 .

absorbing power supplying power

The energy absorbed or supplied by an element from time ( ) to time ( ) is given by :

∫ ∫

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

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex: Find the power delivered to an element at (t = 3 ms) if the current entering its positive terminal
is (i = 5 cos 60πt A) and the voltage is : (a) v = 3i, (b) v = 3 di/dt .
Solution:
(a) The voltage is v = 3i = 15 cos 60πt ; hence, the power is
p = vi = 75 cos2 60πt W
At t = 3 ms,
p = 75 cos2(60π × 3 × 10−3) = 75 cos2 0.18π = 53.48 W
(b) We find the voltage and the power as
v = 3 * (di / dt)
= 3(−60π)5 sin 60πt = −900π sin 60πt V
p = vi = −4500π sin 60πt cos 60πt W

Ex: How much energy does a 100-W electric bulb consume in two hours?

Solution:
w = pt = 100 W× 2 h = 200 Wh
and
w = 200 Wh * 3600 J = 720 kJ

1.5 Electric Circuit Elements :

An 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.
 A passive element is not capable of generating energy. Examples of passive elements are
resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
 An active element is capable of generating energy. Typical active elements include
generators, batteries, and 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 independent source is an active element that provides a specified voltage or current that is
completely independent of other circuit variables.
A dependent (or controlled) source is an active element in which the source quantity is controlled
by another voltage or current.

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Independent Sources

Dependent Sources

Ex: Calculate the power supplied or absorbed by each element in figure below .

Solution:
p1 = 20(−5) = −100 W Supplied power
p2 = 12(5) = 60 W Absorbed power
p3 = 8(6) = 48 W Absorbed power
p4 = 8(−0.2I) = 8(−0.2 × 5) = −8 W Supplied power
1.5.1 Voltage Source:
It is a device which supplies a fixed terminal voltage even though the current drain may vary.
There are two kinds of it : Ideal and non-ideal.

Ideal Non-ideal

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

1.5.2 Current source:

It is a device which supplies a constant current to the load even though there will be variations in the
terminal voltage.

Ideal Non-ideal

1.6 Basic Laws :

1.6.1 Ohm's Law :
Ohm’s law states that the voltage (V) across a resistor is directly proportional to the current (I)
flowing through the resistor. That is :

Where (R) is the resistance which denotes the ability of an element to resist the flow of an electric
current. It is measured in ohms ( ) . The resistance of any material with a uniform cross-sectional

area (A) depends on (A) and its length ( ), as shown in figure below.

In mathematical form,

where (ρ) is known as the resistivity of the material in ( ).

Good conductors, such as copper and aluminum, have low
resistivities, while insulators, such as mica and paper, have high
resistivities.

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

 A short circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching zero.

 An open circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching infinity.

Short circuit Open circuit

1.6.2 Conductance :
A useful quantity in circuit analysis is the reciprocal of resistance (R), known as (conductance)
and denoted by (G) :

The conductance is a measure of how well an element will conduct electric current. It is measured
in mhos ( ) or siemens ( S ).

and

or

Ex: In the circuit shown, calculate the current, the conductance, and the power.
Solution:

or ( )

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

1.6.3 Nodes, Branches, and Loops :

 A branch represents a single element such as a voltage source or a resistor.
 A node is the point of connection between two or more branches.
 A loop is any closed path in a circuit.

Ex: Determine the number of branches, nodes, and loops in the circuit shown in figure below :

solution: there are 4 branches, 3 nodes, and 2 loops.

Notes :
 Two or more elements connected in series carry the same current.
 Two or more elements connected to the same two nodes are in parallel and carry the same
voltage across them.

1.6.4 Kirchoff's laws :

Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):
It states that the algebraic sum of currents entering a node (or a closed boundary) is zero, or : The
sum of the currents entering a node is equal to the sum of the currents leaving the node.
Mathematically :

or

∑ ∑

Where ( ) are the currents entering the node, while ( ) are the currents leaving the node.

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex: For the network shown, calculate the total current.

Solution:
By KCL

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL):

It states that the algebraic sum of all voltages around a closed path(or loop) is zero.
Mathematically, it is expressed as :

Where (M) is the number of voltages in the loop, and ( ) is the ( ) voltage.

Ex: For the circuit shown:

If we go around the loop in clockwise direction, the equation
becomes :

If we go around the loop in counterclockwise direction, the

equation becomes :

Ex: For the circuit shown, find V1 & V2 .

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Solution:
V1 = 2I , V2 = 3I
Applying KVL :
∑
20 - V1 + V2 = 0
20 – 2I + 3I =0
5I = 20 ⇒I = 4 A
V1 = 8 V , V2 = 12 V

Ex: Determine (I) and (Vo) in the circuit shown .

Solution:
By KVL :

By ohm's law :

By substituting (I), we get :

( )

⇒
and

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Note:
( )

( )

where (a) and (b) are constants.
Ex:
a)

b)

c)

( )
d)

e)

f)

Tutorial :
1) Write the following quantities in a shorter form.
a) 50000 W
b) 0.0008 A
c) 0.000003 F

2) The voltage (v) across an element and the current through it are :
( )
( )
( )

Calculate:
a) Total charge in the element from t = 2 s to t = 4 s .
b) The power in the element at t = 1 s .
c) Is this element supplying or absorbing power ?

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

3) Find (Vo) and (Io) in the circuit below.

4) Find the currents and voltages in the circuit below.

5) Find (I) and (Vab) in the circuit shown below.

6) Determine all the currents and voltages in the figure below.

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Homeworks:
1) The current flowing through an element is :

Calculate the total charge from t = 0 s to t = 2 s

[6.667 C]

2) The voltage across an element and the current through it are given by :
( )
( )
( )

Determine:
a) Total charge between t = 0 and t = 2 s.
b) The power
c) The energy absorbed in 3 s.
[80 mC, 15.6 kJ]

3) Find the power in each element in the circuit below .

4) Find the resistance of a lightbulb whose rated 60 W, 220 V.

[806.6 Ω]

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

5) Determine the voltages V1 to V4 shown in figure below.

[- 4 V, - 6 V, 4 V, - 2 V]

6) For the circuit below, find (Vo) and the power in the controlled source .

[-4.44 V, 98.75 W]