Foundations of DC Circuits
The module provides foundational knowledge of electrical circuits, focusing on fundamental quantities, circuit elements, and essential laws and techniques for analyzing direct current (DC) systems. Key concepts include voltage, current, power, and energy, alongside circuit components like resistors, inductors, and capacitors. Analytical methods such as Kirchhoff's Laws, Thevenin's and Norton's theorems, and time-domain analysis of first-order circuits are explored, equipping learners with the tools to effectively analyze DC circuits.
Sections
Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.
What we have learnt
- Electricity involves the movement of charge, with key concepts being voltage, current, power, and energy.
- Circuit elements such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors each have specific functions and behaviors in DC circuits.
- Analytical techniques such as Kirchhoff's Laws, Thevenin's and Norton's theorems, and time-domain analysis are essential for understanding and solving DC circuits.
Key Concepts
- -- Voltage
- The electrical potential energy difference per unit charge between two points in a circuit.
- -- Current
- The rate of flow of electric charge, defined as the amount of charge passing through a point in a circuit per unit of time.
- -- Power
- The rate at which energy is transferred or dissipated in a circuit.
- -- Ohm's Law
- A fundamental relationship in electrical circuits stating that voltage equals current times resistance (V=IR).
- -- Kirchhoff's Laws
- Principles used for circuit analysis, including KCL (current entering a node equals current leaving) and KVL (the sum of voltages around a closed loop equals zero).
- -- Time Constant
- A measure of the time required for the voltage or current in an RL or RC circuit to reach approximately 63.2% of its final value during charging or discharging.
- -- Thevenin's Theorem
- A method for simplifying a linear circuit into a single voltage source and series resistance.
- -- Norton's Theorem
- A method for simplifying a linear circuit into a single current source and parallel resistance.
Additional Learning Materials
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.