Abstract
In this chapter, we define a few important circuit elements and introduce circuit diagrams. We describe how circuit diagrams are annotated; that is, how voltages and currents are denoted in a manner that permits and facilitates analysis. We present Kirchhoff’s laws, which are the fundamental laws of circuit analysis, and the principle of superposition, which is a powerful tool for analysis of linear circuits.
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Notes
- 1.
So called because earth ground (the grounded part of an electrical receptacle) is often the reference point.
- 2.
The meaning of independent in this context is described in the sequel.
- 3.
The polarity marks and arrows and the letters ν and i (without subscripts) define the voltage and current that appear in the terminal characteristic. They are not part of the symbol for the element.
- 4.
After the German physicist Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824–1887).
- 5.
Kirchhoff’s current law can also be stated as “the sum of currents entering a volume equals zero” or as “the sum of the currents entering a volume equals the sum of the currents leaving the volume.” For the present, it is best to stick with one version of the law.
- 6.
In “leaving” and “entering,” we are referring to the direction of the arrow associated with the current.
- 7.
Here, “current” includes both conduction current and displacement current.
- 8.
Kirchhoff’s voltage law can also be stated as “the sum of voltage rises around any closed path equals zero” or as “the sum of the rises equals the sum of the drops.” Again, for the present, it is best to stick with one version of the law.
- 9.
Review the definitions of independent current and voltage sources in Section 3.6.
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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
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Glisson, T.H. (2011). Circuit Elements, Circuit Diagrams, and Kirchhoff’s Laws. In: Introduction to Circuit Analysis and Design. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9443-8_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9443-8_3
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