Electrical Circuits

Electrical circuit is an interconnection of electrical network elements, such as resistances,

capacitances, inductances, independent and dependent voltages and current sources. Each
network element is associated with two variables: the voltage variable v(t ) and the current
variable i(t ). The determination of voltages and current associated with the elements of an
electric circuit using numerical methods with the application of the governing laws of electrical
circuit or the two postulates of circuit theory – the kirchoff’s voltage and current laws and of the
other laws such as Ohm’s law, Faraday’s law and lenz’s law enables the method of solving tough
problem in a simpler computational method.

a. Kirchhoff’s Laws:
1. The sum of all voltage changes around any closed loop is zero
2. The sum of all currents at any node is zero.
b. Ohm’s law:
The voltage drop ER across a resistor is proportional to the current I passing through the
resistor. ER = RI The proportionality constant R is called the resistance.
c. Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law:
The voltage drop EL across an inductor is proportional to the instantaneous rate of
𝑑𝐼
change of the current I. EL = L 𝑑𝑡 the proportionality constant L is called the inductance.

An RLC circuit is a circuit having only constant resistors, capacitors, and inductors as
elements and an electromotive driving force E(t). The current i (t) and charge q(t) are related by
i(t)=q’(t). The voltage drop across a resistor having resistance R is iR, the drop across a capacitor
having capacitance C is q/C, and the drop across an inductor having inductance L is Li’. The
capacitance C(in Farads), resistance R(in ohms), and inductance L(in Henrys) are all constants.

Differential equations can be constructed for circuits by using Kirchhoff’s law. Now
according to Kirchhoff's second law, the impressed voltage E(t) on a closed loop must equal the
sum of the voltage drops in the loop. This means that the total current entering the junction must
balance the current leaving it (conservation of energy). The voltage law states that the algebraic
sum of the potential rises and drops around any closed loop in a circuit is zero. Since current i(t)
is related to charge q(t) on the capacitor by i = dq/dt, by adding the voltage drops on each
element where:
𝑑𝑖 𝑑2 𝑞
Inductor: 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 = 𝐿 𝑑𝑡 2

𝑑𝑞
Resistor: iR =R 𝑑𝑡

1
Capacitor: 𝐶 𝑞

Equating the sum to the impressed voltage, a second-order differential equation can be obtained.

𝑑2 𝑞 𝑑𝑞 1
𝐿 𝑑𝑡 2 + R + 𝐶 𝑞 = E(t)
𝑑𝑡

This differential equation can also be applied on RC, LC, and RL circuits.