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: Bleeder Current in Multi-Tap Voltage-Divider Circuits

Adding a tap to a series circuit alters the untapped voltage ( V ) output across the resistor ( R ) downstream of it. We will now expand our studies to be inclusive of multi-tap voltage-divider circuits. The objective is to determine the magnitude of the bleeder current ( I3 ) flowing through the lowermostContinue reading INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Bleeder Current in Multi-Tap Voltage-Divider Circuits

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 )

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Divider Principle in Series-Parallel Circuits

The voltage-divider formula is expressed as follows: Vx = ( Rx / RT )( Vs ) This formula is used to determine how series resistors ( R ) split voltage drops apart as current passes through them. The net voltage drop across a series circuit’s resistors is always ( ignoring small losses ) equal toContinue reading INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Voltage Divider Principle in Series-Parallel Circuits

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Two-Resistor Current Divider Derivation

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

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: Series Circuits

A series circuit is one in which electric current ( I ) travels along a closed path that does not split apart: *** Note: Conventional current consists of positive charges that flow from the positively charged anode to the negatively charged cathode. In reality, negatively charged electrons flow in the opposite direction. *** The diagram,Continue reading “INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS: Series Circuits”