INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Thevenin Voltage and Resistance Determination

Now that a conceptual understanding of Thevenin’s theorem has been established, we are ready to determine the Thevenin voltage ( VTH ) and Thevenin resistance ( RTH ) for an open circuit: The equivalent voltage will represent a system in which the voltage source ( Vs ) has been replaced by a voltage that “Continue reading INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Thevenin Voltage and Resistance Determination

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: 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 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 )”