Basic Elements of Electrical Circuits

• Resistor
• Inductor
• Capacitor
• Voltage source
• Current source
Symbols of basic elements:

Resistor Ohm

Capacitor Farad

Inductor Henry
 Resistor and Resistance

• The circuit element used to model the current –

resisting behavior of a material is the resistor.

• The resistance R of an element denotes its ability

to resist the flow of electric current
• it is measured in ohms (Ω)

• Voltage across a resistance is given by V=IR

 Inductor and inductance
• Any coil of wire is an inductor.

• Inductance is the property of inductor

•Inductor stores energy in the form of

magnetic field.

•The current through and voltage

across an inductor is given by

1
I   Vdt
L
dI
V  L
dt
 Capacitor and capacitance

•Any two conductors separated by

a dielectric form a capacitor.

• Capacitance is the property of capacitor

•It stores energy in the form of

electric field.
1
•The current through and voltage V   Idt
across a capacitor is given by C
dV
I C
dt
 Concept of open circuit and short circuit
Open Circuit:

• What if R =  ?
i(t)=0
The +
Rest of
the –
Circuit
• i(t) = v(t)/R = 0 i(t)=0

In open circuit
Current = 0 ; Voltage at open circuit = v(t)
 Short Circuit:

• What if R = 0 ? i(t)
The +
Rest of v(t)=0
the
Circuit –

• v(t) = R i(t) = 0

At short circuit
Current = Maximum or infinite; voltage = 0
 Concept of series and parallel Circuits

Series Connection:

Two elements are in series if one element is

connected directly to the other with nothing
coming in between.

Note: In series connection, same current will flow through all elements connected in series
Parallel Connection: Two elements are connected in parallel
if both the ends are connected together.
 Note:
 House circuits contain parallel
circuits

 The parallel circuit will continue

to operate even though one
component may be open

 Only the open or defective

component will no longer continue
to operate
Examples of Parallel Circuits:
 Series - Parallel Circuits
 Circuits may contain a combination of series and
parallel components
 Being able to recognize the various connections in
a network is an important step in analyzing these
circuits
Series - Parallel Circuits Contd….
THANK YOU