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Electrical Circuit Concepts

INTRODUCTION
What is Voltage and Current?

MCB1033 EPM

Mechanical Engineering Department Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 18-03-19 05-368 7147

Rosmawati Mat Zain

rosmawati@petronas.com.my

Voltage, V Voltage

Voltage, V Voltage
The difference in energy level of a unit charge located at each of two points in a circuit, and therefore, represents the energy required to move the unit charge from one point to the other

Every source of voltage is established by simply creating a separation of positive and negative Charges

Still do not understand?

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Close your eyes.. Electrical Circuit Concepts

Voltage (potential difference)
The energy required to move a unit charge through an element, measured in volts, V

Imagine water flow from a reservoir

v ab =
vab = -vba

dw dq
vab = voltage drop vba = voltage rise

How do we measure Voltage?

Current, I Current
Time rate of change of charge, measured in Ampere. Time rate of flow of electric charge past a given point.
t

dq i = dt
The sign of the current indicates the direction of flow

q =
_

t0

idt
_

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Current, I

Example of current

Types of current: direct current (dc): current re main constant with time. e.g. batteries and some special generators

alternating current (ac): current that

varies sinusoidally with time.

e.g. household current which varies with time

How do we measure Current?

Electrical Circuit Concepts Voltage and Current? Which came first? Chicken Egg

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Voltage or Current? Active vs. Passive Elements

Active elements can generate energy:
Batteries Voltage and current sources

The Applied voltage is the starting mechanism the current is a reaction to the applied voltage

The applied voltage (Potential Difference) in an elec trical system is the Pressure to set the system in motion, and the current is the reaction to that pres sure.

Passive elements cannot generate energy:

Resistors Capacitors and Inductors (but CAN store energy)

Electrical Circuit Concepts

Energy
The capacity to do work, measured in joules (J) [1]

Sign Convention
Passive sign convention : current enters through the positive polarity of the voltage I +
Circuit Element

Power

Time rate of expanding or absorbing energy, measured in watts,W. [1]

Consequence for P = VI
Positive (+) Power: element absorbs power, P

dw p = dt = vi

dw dq = . dq dt

= vi Negative (-) Power: element supplies power, P = -vi

Law of conservation of energy:

+ Power absorbed = - Power supplied, or p = 0

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Basic Electrical Quantities

Basic quantities:

current, voltage and power

Current: time rate of change of electric charge

I = dq/dt

1 Amp = 1 Coulomb/sec

Voltage: electromotive force or potential, V

1 Volt = 1 Joule/Coulomb = 1 Nm/coulomb

Power: P=IV 1 Watt = 1 VoltAmp = 1 Joule/sec