Introduction

Abstract

The theory of electrical networks or circuits has a very specific and useful purpose: it is to allow the calculation of the currents which will flow in the different components or branches of a particular network when one or more electrical signals, or sources of electrical energy, are applied to it. Of course, the motion of the electrical charges which make up the electrical currents takes place under the influence of either electrostatic or magnetic forces and will, therefore, strictly be determined by the basic laws of electricity and magnetism. Similarly, the effects which the moving charges cause as they pass along or are stored in conductors in different configurations will be governed by those same laws. However, for the purpose of electrical network theory, whether for constant (dc) or alternating (ac) currents, an attempt is made to simplify the analysis by expressing the various effects in terms of the properties of specific circuit elements such as resistors, capacitors or inductors. At the same time, the forces acting on the charges are expressed in terms of electromotive forces or electrical potentials while the movement of charges is described by reference to the electric currents.