Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B

Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Chapter 2

Circuits

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 1

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Intended Learning Outcomes

• solve problems involving a direct current
source with internal resistance

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 2

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Electrical Materials
• All material may be classified into three
major classes
– conductors
– insulators
– semiconductors

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 3

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Electrical Materials
• The group into which a material falls depends on
the number of ‘free’ electrons it has.
• ‘Free’ electrons are those electrons that have
acquired sufficient energy to leave orbits around
their parent atoms.
• Conductors: have many ‘free’ electrons
• Insulators: have very few or no ‘free’ electrons
• Semiconductors: falls somewhere between the two
extremes.
© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 4
 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Electrical Materials
Electrical conductors & insulators
Conductors Semiconductors Insulators
dirty water silicon pure water
silver germanium air
gold gallium rubber
copper glass
mercury oil
iron diamond
aluminum dry wood
brass plastic
bronze asphalt
graphite ceramic

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 5

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Electric current
• Electric current is the movement, or flow of
electrons through a conductive material
• It is measured as the rate at which the
charge is moved around a circuit, its unit is
ampere (A)
I=Q/t or Q=It
• The unit of the charge is coulombs.
• 1 Ampere=1 coulomb per second
© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 6
 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistance
• Resistance is the 'opposition' to the current
flow
• measured in ohms (Ω)
• Conductors have a low value of resistance
• Insulators have a very high resistance

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 7

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistor
• Substances, which offer certain amount of
resistance to the flow of electrons, are
called resistors
• The resistance of a resistor depends on the
material used, the physical construction of
the resistor and the temperature

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 8

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Equivalent Resistance
• when there are more than one resistor in a
circuit, an useful concept called equivalent
resistance (Req) are used
• For two resistors connected in series
Req = R1 + R2
• For two resistors connected in parallel
1/Req=(1/R1+1/R2+ 1/R3)

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 9

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Electromotive Force
• In order to cause the 'free' electrons to drift
in a given direction an electromotive force
must be applied
• The emf is the 'driving' force in an electrical
circuit
• The symbol for emf is E and the unit of
measurement is the volt (V)

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 10

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Battery or Cells
• Typical sources of emf are cells, batteries and the
symbol of ideal battery is

• In real life, all battery have internal resistance. We

could only use the teminal voltage of a battery
• In simple circuit, we will use the ideal symbol

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 11

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Terminal voltage
Equivalent circuit of a battery

Rint.

E.m.f.=1.5V, Rint.

Terminal voltage VT
=1.4 V

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 12

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Potential Difference (p.d.)

• Whenever current flows through a circuit
element in a circuit such as resistor, there
will be a potential difference(p.d.)
developed across it
• The unit of p.d. is volts(V) and is measured
as the difference in voltage levels between
two points in a circuit

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 13

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Potential Difference (p.d.)

• Emf (being the driving force) causes current
to flow
• potential difference is the result of current
flowing through a circuit element
• Thus emf is a cause and p.d. is an effect

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 14

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Ohm’s Law
• Ohm's law states that the p.d. developed
between the two ends of a resistor is
directly proportional to the value of current
flowing through it, provided that all other
factors (e.g. temperature) remain constant
V∝I

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 15

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Ohm’s Law

V = IR
V
R=
I
V
I=
R
© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 16
 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Series

V1 V2 V3

R1 R2 R3
I

E
© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 17
 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Series
• By Ohm's law
V1 = IR1 volts;
V2 = IR2 volts; and
V3 = IR3 volts
E = V1 + V2 + V3
E = I (R1 + R2 + R3)

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 18

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Series
E = IReq and
Req = R1 + R2 + R3 ohm
where Req is the total circuit resistance

• when resistors are connected in series the

total resistance is found simply by adding
together the resistor values

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 19

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Parallel
I1 R1

I2 R2

I3 R3

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 20

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Parallel
By Ohm’s Law
• I1=E/ R1
• I2=E/ R2
• I3=E/ R3

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 21

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Parallel
• The total current of the circuit I is the sum
of I1, I2 and I3 , thus
I = I1 + I2 +I3

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 22

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Parallel
• The total resistance or the equivalent
resistance(Req) of the circuit is defined to be

Req= E/I

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 23

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Resistors in Parallel
By substituting the above expression for the
currents, we have
E/Req=I=E(1/R1+1/R2+ 1/R3)
• Thus we found
1/Req=(1/R1+1/R2+ 1/R3)

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 24

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Power in a resistive circuit

• Power is equal to the current multiplied by
the voltage and the unit of power is watt (W)
P = IE

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 25

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Power in a resistive circuit

• By Ohm's law E=IR, the above equation can
be modify to be
P = I2R
• Power is equal to the current squared,
multiplied by the resistance.

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 26

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Power in a resistive circuit

• Use Ohm's law again, where I =E/R, we
have
P=E2/R
• Power is equal to the voltage squared,
divided by the resistance.

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 27

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 1
VAB VBC VCD
A B C D
RAB RBC RCD
I 2Ω 5Ω 3Ω

E=10V
© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 28
 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 1

– VAB + VBC + VCD is exactly equal to the

emf=10V

– The total resistance of the circuit is 2+5+3=10Ω

– By Ohm's law V=IR, the current I should be

equal to 1A

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 29

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 1
– VAB = IRAB =1 x 2 = 2V.
– VBC = I RBC =1 x 5 = 5V.
– VCD = IRCD =1 x 3 = 3V.
– Power dissipation in RAB = I2RAB = 12 x 2 = 2W.
– Power dissipation in RBC = I2RBC = 12 x 5 = 5W.
– Power dissipation in RCD = I2RCD = 12 x 3 = 3W.
– Total power dissipated = 2+5+3 =10W

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 30

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 2
I1 R1 2Ω

I2 R2 3Ω

I3 R3 6Ω

E=6V

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 31

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 2
– the potential difference across each of the three
resistors is equal to the battery emf 6V

– Apply Ohm's Law

– E=I1 R1 ; I1=E/R1 = 6/2 = 3A
– E=I2 R2 ; I2=E/R2 = 6/3 = 2A
– E=I3 R3 ; I3=E/R3 = 6/6 = 1A

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 32

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 2
– The total current I is equal to the sum of
currents I1+I2+I3 = 3+2+1 =6A.
– Power dissipation in R1 = I12R1 = 32 x 2 = 18W.
– Power dissipation in R2 = I22R2 = 22 x 3 = 12W.
– Power dissipation in R3 = I32R3 = 12 x 6= 6W.
– Total power dissipated =18+12+6 =36W

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 33

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Potential Divider

Rx
VRx = •E IS
Rx

Rx + R y
E

Ry

Ry
VRy = •E
Rx + R y

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 34

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Potential Divider
In above Figure, Rx = 4kΩ, Ry = 6kΩ, E = 5V. What
are the potential difference of Rx and Ry?

Rx 4k
VRx = •E = • 5V = 2V
Rx + R y 4k + 6k

Ry 6k
VRy = •E = • 5V = 3V
Rx + R y 4k + 6k

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 35

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Current Divider

Ry
I Rx = • IS I

Rx + R y S I
Rx
I
Ry

Rx Ry

Rx
I Ry = • IS
Rx + R y

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 36

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Current Divider
In above Fig., Rx = 2kΩ, Ry = 4kΩ, IS = 48
mA. What is the current of IR1 , IRx and IRy?

Ry 4k
I Rx = • IS = • 48mA = 32mA
Rx + Ry 2k + 4k

Rx 2k
I Ry = • IS = • 48mA = 16mA
Rx + Ry 2k + 4k

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 37

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 3
Given R1 = 6kΩ, Rx = 4kΩ, Ry = 6kΩ, E = 10V.
What are the potential difference of Rx and Ry?
What are the currents of Is, IRx and IRy?
Rx
VRx = • VPQ
Rx + R y
I Rx
4k
P Rx

• 10V = 4V
IS
= I I
4k + 6k
Ry
R1

R1 Ry
E
Ry
VRy = • VPQ
Rx + R y Q

6k
= • 10V = 6V
4k + 6k

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 38

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 3
R1 • ( Rx + R y )
Req =
R1 + ( Rx + R y ) P I Rx
Rx

IS

6k ( 4k + 6k ) I I Ry

= = 3.75k Ω
R1

6k + 4k + 6k R1 Ry
E

E = Req • I S
10 = 3.75k • I S Q

I S = 2.667 mA
Rx + R y ( 4k + 6k )
I R1 = • IS = (2.667 mA) = 1.67 mA
R1 + Rx + R y 6k + 4k + 6k
R1 6k
I Rx = I Ry = • IS = (2.667 mA) = 1mA
R1 + Rx + R y 6k + 4k + 6k

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 39

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 4
Determine the p.d.(potential difference) between
the terminals E and F of the circuit.

10Ω A 5Ω

10Ω

40V 15Ω E

10Ω
F
B

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 40

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Example 4
Answer: 10Ω A 5Ω
Rt = 10Ω + 15Ω// (5Ω+10Ω+ 10Ω)
=19.375Ω 10Ω

40V 15Ω E
It = E / Rt = 40V / 19.375Ω = 2.065A
10Ω
Voltage across 10Ω = It x 10Ω F
B
= 2.065A x 10Ω = 20.65 V

Voltage across 15Ω = VAB = 40V - 20.65 V

= 19.35 V

IEF = VAB / (5Ω+10Ω+ 10Ω) = 19.35 / 25 = 0.774A

Potential difference between EF:

VEF = IEF x REF = 0.774A x 10Ω= 7.74 V

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 41

 Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education Engineering Science B
Diploma of Foundation Studies - Engineering

Reference
Physics and Chemistry by Clear Learning Simple Circuit
http://www.physics-chemistry-interactive-flash-animation.com/
electricity_electromagnetism_interactive/simple_circuit.htm

Physics and Chemistry by Clear Learning Ohm’s Law

http://www.physics-chemistry-interactive-flash-
animation.com/electricity_electromagnetism_interactive/resistance_ohm_law_1.ht
m

Physics and Chemistry by Clear Learning Series or Parallel Circuit

http://www.physics-chemistry-interactive-flash-
animation.com/electricity_electromagnetism_interactive/components_circuits_asso
ciation-series_parallel.htm

© VTC 2022 Circuits Page 42