Revision of PHY121

Definition of Current
Current is the rate at which charge is transferred per sec.
Mathematically we can write:
dq = i Coulombs/sec
dt
So, amount of charge q transferred across a terminal carrying a
current i over a specific time t can be found by :

Definition of Voltage
Voltage is the measure of work required to move a positive
charge of 1 C from one terminal to another
1V =
Joules /C

Different Type of Source in Circuits

+
_
Independent Voltage
Source
An Ideal Voltage Source will deliver a
constant voltage, with zero voltage drop
across itself, when connected to any
circuit. The current supplied by it will
depend on the circuit.
Ex: battery.
Sign Convention: Current always comes
out ofDependent
+ve terminal Source:

Independent Current
Source
Ideal Current Source will supply a constant
current , when connected to any circuit. The
voltage generated will depend on the circuit.
Ex: Van de Graff Generator
Sign Convention: The terminal through which
current comes out is of +ve polarity.

Its like an ideal source but its value is proportional to Voltage or Current of some
other part of the circuit. So it could be:
voltage dependent Voltage Source OR Current dependent Voltage Source
Voltage dependent Current source OR Current dependent Current Source
Examples of Dependent Voltage and Dependent current source are shown below

V=3 ix

Current Dependent Voltage

Source

I= -2Vb

Voltage Dependent Current

Source

Electrical Network and Circuit

The interconnection of two or more circuit
elements is called Electrical Network.
If the network has at least one closed path,
its also called an Electrical Circuit.
Every Circuit is a network , but every network
is not circuit

(b)
(a)

Some Circuit Terms:

Branch: Any portion of ckt with two terminals connected to
it. It may have one or more circuit elements.
Node : Junction of two or more branches. A node with two
branches is a trivial node.
Loop : A closed connection of branches.
Mesh : is a loop that does not contain other loops.

Laws and Formulas which help in Circuit

Analysis
Kirchhoffs Current Law: At a node sum of total current is zero i.e.:
The sum of incoming currents = sum of outgoing currents

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law: Sum of voltages around a closed path is

zero i.e.
Sum of source Voltages= sum of load voltages
** any element which absorbs power is called load.

Ohms Law: It states that current flowing through an element is

proportional to the applied voltage. It can be expressed as:
OR V= IR where V is the applied Voltage
I is the current flowing through the element
R, the proportionality constant , is called the
resistance
of the element.

Power
Electrical Power absorbed or delivered is calculated as :

Connections of Resistors in
circuit
R1

R1

+
-

R2
R2

(a)

(b)

Resistors can be connected in series as in fig (a) or in Parallel

as in fig(b).
In series connection, same current flows in both resistors.
In parallel connection, both resistors see the same voltage Vs