series-parallel combination circuit

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem

Q: What is the total current ( IT ) and voltage ( V3 ) across resistor R3? A: In order to begin evaluating the circuit from the vantage point of Vs1, we place a short across Vs2 : Within this circuit, negatively charged electrons move upward and across the R3 resistor towards the positively chargedContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem“

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem

Q: How much current flows across R2? What is the voltage drop across R2? A: We begin by evaluating the circuit from two points of view: Vs1 and Vs2. In order to begin our journey, the Vs2 voltage source is shorted: From the vantage point of Vs1, resistor R1 is in series with resistors R2Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem“

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem

Most of the circuits we’ve encountered thus far contain a single voltage ( V ) source that provides current ( I ) to the system. Suppose, however, that a current determination must be made for the following dual-voltage circuit type: The presence of two voltage sources eliminates any series-parallel relationships that would exist between theContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Superposition Theorem“

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Wheatstone Bridge Voltage and Current Determination

A Wheatstone bridge circuit has the following voltage ( Vs ) and resistor ( R ) values: Q: What is the value for the voltage ( VL ) drop and current ( I ) across the load resistor ( RL )? A: We begin by removing the load resistor and marking the new terminals ofContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Wheatstone Bridge Voltage and Current Determination“

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Thevenizing a Wheatstone Bridge Circuit

Many simple circuits can be categorized as being either a series circuit, parallel circuit, or a combination series-parallel circuit. To the contrary, analysis of Wheatstone bridge circuits is comparatively difficult, because no clear cut series-parallel relationship exists between its component resistors: Thevenin’s theorem enables us to analyze the circuit with convenience via removal of theContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Thevenizing a Wheatstone Bridge Circuit”

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: 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: The Balanced Wheatstone Bridge

The voltage ( V ) drops across parallel-circuit resistors ( R ) are equal in magnitude; conversely, the currents ( I ) traveling through parallel branches may or may not be the same. For this reason, parallel circuits are sometimes referred to as being current dividers. Take the following diagram into consideration: Since the R1Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: The Balanced Wheatstone Bridge“

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Dividers With Resistive Loads ( Part 2 )

In a previous exercise, we saw how the addition of a stiff voltage divider to a two-resistor series circuit lowers the voltage ( V ) drop across the lattermost resistor. We are now ready to examine this phenomena with a circuit that contains unequal resistor values: Q: a. What is the unloaded output voltage? b.Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Dividers With Resistive Loads ( Part 2 )“

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Dividers With Resistive Loads ( Part 1 )

A series circuit that contains two equal-value resistors ( R ) will split the amount of work ( J ) done by the charges equally: Prior to arrival at R1, a coulomb of charged particles ( I ) will contain 10.0 J of energy available to perform work. After passing through R1, the charges willContinue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Dividers With Resistive Loads ( Part 1 )“