We have previously seen how parallel circuits with two resistors ( R ) may be added together using specialized techniques. In one such case, the resistors had equal values, and in other cases, the values differed. These resistance values were then used to ascertain how currents ( I ) divide along each branch of theContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Two-Resistor Current Divider Derivation“
Category Archives: Electricity
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Series-Parallel Circuits
For the most part, the circuits we’ve encountered have been either series or parallel circuits with no deviance from either extreme. The only exception to this trend regarded circuits that had multiple voltage sources positioned within their multi-loop matrix. Adding to this complexity was the fact that these voltage sources could be oriented in anyContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Series-Parallel Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Power in Parallel Circuits
Power is the rate at which energy is deposited within ( or liberated from ) some medium. As pertains to electronics, the watt is a measure of how many joules ( J ) of energy are deposited per second within the resistive elements of a circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt (Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Power in Parallel Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Parallel Circuits
In the study of parallel resistor ( Rx ) circuits, where “ x “ is the number of a particular resistor ( x = 1, 2, 3, … n ), a common point of confusion regards how the total resistance ( Rt ) of the circuit is always less than the lowest calculated resistor value.Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Parallel Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Current-Divider Formula
As we have seen, the voltage ( V ) drops that occur across resistors ( R ) in parallel circuits are equal in magnitude to the voltage of the source. In addition to this, the currents ( I ) within parallel circuits split apart ( and later recombine ) at nodes. The magnitude of theContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Current-Divider Formula“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Parallel Circuits
We have previously seen how all of the current ( I ) within a series circuit will pass through each resistor ( R ) situated within it. The sum of the energy drops that a coulomb ( C ) of charge loses as it traverses a circuit is equal to the voltage ( V )Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Parallel Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Power in Series Circuits
Thus far, we have seen how the net resistance ( R ) to current ( I ) flow within a series circuit is the sum of all the resistors that are present: Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 +…Rn The voltage ( V ) drop that occurs as a coulomb ( C ) ofContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Power in Series Circuits“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 5 )
We are now ready to complete the Part 3 exercise using Kirchhoff’s Node and Loop Rules: Due to the presence of nodes at points C and E, differing current ( I ) values will be used to evaluate the voltage ( V ) drops that occur around each loop. There are three unique circuit pathwaysContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 5 )“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 4 )
Prior to completion of the previous lecture’s circuit problem, some additional practice identifying nodes and branches within a multi-loop circuit will be helpful: We begin our journey at the 3 V source located at the far-left side of the diagram. As the current ( I ) moves upward and to the right, we encounter ourContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 4 )“
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 3 )
Thus far, we have used a single-loop series circuit to demonstrate the principles of Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule. What if, however, a circuit has multiple loops through which current ( I ) travels? To further complicate things, what if each loop contains a voltage ( V ) source? How will it be possible to determine theContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 3 )”