Conventional current refers to the convention in which electrical current ( I ) is considered to be a flow of positive charges. The usefulness of this convention is readily observable when dealing with Kirchoff’s Laws ( or Rules ) and the analysis of magnetic fields that encircle a conductor that carries a conventional current. OfContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Conventional Current, Kirchhoff’s Laws, Magnetic Fields, and the Right-Hand Rule”
Tag Archives: conventional current
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Electromagnet Fundamentals
Thus far, we’ve seen how charge ( q ) in motion has the ability to give rise to magnetic fields ( B ) within certain material types. It will now be useful to see how certain rules are used to determine which direction this magnetic flux ( ɸ ) will travel within a given magneticContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Electromagnet Fundamentals”
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: A Conceptual Analysis of Thevenin’s Theorem
A physical system would be meaningless without an observer. Conclusions about electrical systems are oftentimes made from the vantage point of the source ( Vs ), but this need not be the case. If a portion of a circuit is “ opened “, an observer can view the source and other components from the newlyContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: A Conceptual Analysis of Thevenin’s Theorem“
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 )”
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 2 )
The Loop Rule states that the sum of voltage ( V ) rises and drops around a closed loop must equal zero. This observation is an extension of the Law of Conservation of Energy which states that energy is neither created or destroyed, but it has the ability to change form. Furthermore, the direction thatContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 2 )”
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 1 )
Conventional current ( I ) within an electrical circuit travels from a positively charged anode to a negatively charged cathode terminal: In reality, electric field lines are what emerge from the positive terminal and terminate on the negative one; thus, negatively charged electrons actually flow in the opposite direction. Envisioning current as mobile positive chargesContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Kirchhoff’s Laws ( Part 1 )”
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Resistors in Series Circuits
The voltage ( V ) or “ potential difference “ of a DC power source is the drop in energy ( J ) that a coulomb ( C ) of charge will experience by traveling through a resistance ( R ) found within a circuit. The current in question flows along a closed, non-diverging route:Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Resistors in Series Circuits”
RENAISSANCE PHYSICS 