Lecture 4

Review:

KVL, KCL

Circuit analysis examples

Series, parallel circuit
elements
Related educational materials:
Chapter 1.4, 1.5

Review: KVL & KCL

KVL: algebraic sum of all voltage
differences around any closed loop is
zeroN

v
k 1

(t ) 0

KCL: algebraic sum of all currents

N
entering
i (t ) a0 node is zero

k 1

Review: Circuit analysis

General circuit analysis approach:
Assign element voltages, currents according to
passive sign convention
Apply KVL, KCL, and voltage-current relations
as necessary to solve for desired circuit
parameters
The general idea is to write as many equations
as you have unknowns, and solve for the
desired unknowns

Circuit analysis example 1

For the circuit below, determine: vAC, vX, vDE,
RX, and the power absorbed by the 2
resistor

Example 1 continued

 Talk about open circuit, short circuit

terminology

Circuit analysis tips

There are (generally) multiple ways to do a
problem
Some time spent examining the problem may
be productive!

Subscript notation on voltages provides

desired polarity
It may not be necessary to determine all
voltages in a loop in order to apply KVL
The circuit does not need to be physically
closed in order to apply KVL

More circuit analysis tips

KVL through a current source is generally
not directly helpful
Get another equation, but the voltage across a
current source is not defined additional
unknown introduced

KCL next to a voltage source generally not

directly helpful
Get another equation, but the voltage across a
current source is not defined introduce an
additional unknown

Circuit analysis example 2

Determine the voltages across both
resistors.

Example 2 continued

Circuit analysis example 3

We have a dead battery, which only
provides 2V
Second battery used to charge the
dead battery what is the current to the
dead battery?

Non-ideal voltage source models

Add a source
resistance in
series with an ideal
voltage source
We will define the
term series formally
later

Non-ideal current source models

Add a source
resistance in
parallel with an
ideal current source
We will define the
term parallel formally
later

Example 3 revisited
Our battery charging example can
now make sense
Include internal (source resistances) in
our model

Ideal sources can provide infinite

power
Connect a load to an ideal voltage
source:

 Be sure to discuss previous results

relative to open, short-circuit
expectations

Non-ideal sources limit power

delivery

Loaded non-ideal voltage source

 Validate previous result with open,

short-circuit discussion.

Ideal sources can provide infinite

power
Connect a load to an ideal current
source:

 Be sure to discuss previous results

relative to open, short-circuit
expectations

Non-ideal sources limit power

delivery

Loaded non-ideal current source

 Validate previous results with open

vs. short circuit discussion.

When are ideal source models

good enough?
Ideal and non-ideal voltage sources are the
same if RLoad >> RS

vLoad

RLoad

VS
RS RLoad

vLoad VS if RLoad RS

RS

current
iLoadand
I S non-ideal
iLoadsources
I S if RLoad
RS
Ideal
arethe
RS RLoad
same if RLoad << RS

Series and parallel circuit

elements
Circuit elements are in series if all
elements carry the same current

KCL at node a provides i1 = i2

Series and parallel circuit

elements

Circuit elements are in parallel if all

elements have the same voltage difference

KVL provides v1 = v2

Circuit reduction
In some cases, series and parallel
combinations of circuit elements can be
combined into a single equivalent
element
This process reduces the overall number of
unknowns in the circuit, thus simplifying the
circuit analysis
Fewer elements fewer related voltages,
currents

The process is called circuit reduction