- 1.
Electric circuit,
consists of source and load, connected to each other so that an electric current may flow.
In a circuit, an electric field is generated by the source. The current flows through lines and loads from higher potential to lower potential.
Generally, electric circuits are treated in network theory.
In network theory, the sources and loads are generalized to network elements denoted two-terminal, four-terminal, etc., according to the number of external connection lines.
Two-terminal network, a network element with two external connections.
Active two-terminal network, a two-terminal network capable of releasing energy.
Passive two-terminal network, a two-terminal network that does not release energy.
■ An ohmic resistor is a passive two-terminal network ( Fig. 15.1 (a) )
Figure 15.1 
Circuit symbols. (a): resistor. (b): inductor, (c): capacitor.
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© 2002 Springer-Verlag
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(2002). Applications in electrical engineering. In: Benenson, W., Harris, J.W., Stocker, H., Lutz, H. (eds) Handbook of Physics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21632-4_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-21632-4_15
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
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