Nepal Engineering Council

Registration Examination
Preparation Class

Computer Engineering
Basic Concept
1. Electric Voltage
• Voltage is an electrical force, also known as an electromotive force that aids the
movement of electrons.
• The voltage between two points is equal to the electrical potential difference
between those points.
• It is actually the electromotive force (emf), responsible for the movement of
electrons (electric current) through a circuit.
• Voltage is the cause and current is its effect. Voltage can exist without current.
• Symbol : V
• Unit : Volts, Joule/ coulomb
• Measuring Instrument : Voltmeter
What is the unit of electrical voltage ?

A. Volts B. Joule / Coulomb

C. Both A and B D. Non of the above

1. Electric Current
• A flow of electrons forced into motion by voltage is current.
• Current is the rate of flow of electric charge.
• Current is the effect (voltage being the cause). Current cannot flow
without Voltage.
• Symbol : I
• Unit : Ampere, Coulomb/Sec
• Measuring Instrument : Ammeter
One coulomb passing a point in one second is one

A. Ampere B. Volt

C. Ohm D. Charge
The term used to designate electrical pressure is

A. Voltage B. Current

C. Resistance D. All of the above

Current is considered as the movement of

A. Electron B. Proton

C. Neutron D. All of the above

Current is

A. The presence of positive B. The abundance of

charge electrons

C. The movement of D. The repulsion of

electrons electrons
3. Power
Power is the rate at which work is done, or energy is transmitted.
Power = Voltage X Current
Unit : Watt or Joule/Sec
Power (P)= VI = I2R = V2/R Watts

4. Energy
Energy is the capacity to do work. Energy is power integrated over time.
Energy = Power X time
Unit : Wattsec, Joule
Energy consumed = P*t = I2R t = V2 t/R
Which of the following instrument is used to measure voltage ?

A. Ammeter B. Voltmeter

C. Wattmeter D. Energy meter

Which of the following relation is not correct ?

A. P = VI B. P= I2R

C. P = V2 /R D. P = V2R
Ohm’s Law
Current flowing through conductor is directly proportional to the potential
difference between its two ends, provided that temp. and other physical
parameters remains constant.

IαV
I = V/R

So V= IR
Which of the following relation is not correct ?

A. V=IxR B. V= I/R

C. I = V/R D. R = V/I
Conducting materials
Conductors are those substances which easily allows the passage of
electrical current through them.
Example : Copper, Aluminium, Gold, Silver, Steel, Sea water
Valance band and conduction band overlap each other.
There are large number of free electrons available in a conductor.
Properties of Conducting materials

• Conductor allows current to flow easily through it.

• Electric charge exists on the surface of conductors.
• Conductors don’t store energy when kept in a magnetic field.
• Thermal conductivity ( heat allowance) of a conductor is very high.
• The resistance of a conductor is very low.
• Conductors are used in making electrical equipment.
Insulating materials
Insulators are those substances which do not allows the passage of
electrical current through them.
Example : Rubber, Dry wood, glass, oil, diamond,
Valance band is full but conduction band is empty and there is large energy
gap between them.
Very high electric field is required to push the valance electrons to the
conduction band.
Properties of Insulating materials

• It doesnot allows current to flow easily through it.

• Electric charge are absent in insulator.
• Insulator store energy when kept in a magnetic field.
• Thermal conductivity ( heat allowance) of insulator is very low.
• The resistance of insulator is very high.
• Insulators are used in insulating electrical equipment for safety.
Conductivity level (Decreasing)

Silver Copper Gold Aluminium Calcium

Tungsten Zinc Nickel Steel……………..

……………. Graphite Diamond Sea water

Silicon Glass Rubber Wood Air qurtz

Teflon
The substance which have a large number of free electrons and offer a low
resistance are called

A. Insulators B. Inductors

C. Semiconductors D. Conductors
Which of the following is not a poor conductor ?

A. Cast iron B. Copper

C. Carbon D. Tungstain
Which of the following is insulating material?

A. Gold B. Copper

C. Silver D. Paper
Which is the best conductor of electricity?

A. Iron B. Silver

C. Copper D. Carbon
Which has the poorest electrical conductivity among the following?

A. Silver B. Aluminium

C. Copper D. Gold
Series electric circuits
All components are connected end-to-end to form a single path for current
flow.
The total resistance in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual
resistors, and
The total voltage drop is equal to the sum of the individual voltage drops
across those resistors.

V = V1 + V2 + V3

R = R1 + R2 + R3
When lights are connected in a series circuit and one goes out the circuit
becomes open and no other light works. This is because there is no path
to the negative terminal of the battery when a circuit is open.
Parallel electric circuits
A Parallel circuit includes branches providing multiple paths for current to
flow.
In a parallel circuit, all components share the same electrical nodes.
Therefore, the voltage is the same across all parallel components.
In a parallel circuit,
The voltage is the same across all parallel components.
Total Current (I) = I1 + I2 + I3
Total Conductance (1/R) = (1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3)
Total resistance (R) = {(1/R1) + (1/R2) + (1/R3) }-1
Because of branching, additional paths for current, when light bulbs are in
parallel and one goes out the others remain on.
Calculate the resistance between A and B

A. 7 ohm B. 0 ohm

C. 7.67 ohm D. 9 ohm

Calculate the resistance between A and B

A. 3.56 ohm B. 7 ohm

C. 14.26 ohm D. 29.69 ohm

In a _________ circuit, the total resistance is greater than the largest
resistance in the circuit.

A. Series B. Parallel

C. Either series or D. Neither series nor

parallel parallel
In a _________ circuit, the total resistance is smaller than the smallest
resistance in the circuit.

A. Series B. Parallel

C. Either series or D. Neither series nor

parallel parallel
In a parallel circuit, with a number of resistors, the voltage across each
resistor is

A. Divided equally B. Same for all

among all resistors resistors

C. Divided proportionally
D. Zero for all resistors
among all resistors
The currents in the three branches of a parallel circuit are 3A, 4A and 5A.
What is the current leaving it?

A. 3A B. 0A

C. 5A D. 12 A
Many resistors connected in series will

A. Divide the voltage B. Divide the current

proportionally among the resistors proportionally

C. Increase the source D. Reduce the Power to

voltage zero
What is the voltage measured across a series short ?

A. Zero B. Infinite

C. Value of source voltage D. None of the above

What is the voltage measured across a series short ?

A. Zero B. Infinite

C. Value of source voltage D. None of the above

What happens to the current in the series circuit if the resistance is doubled?

A. It becomes half of its B. It becomes double of its

original value original value

C. It becomes zero D. It becomes infinite

Star delta and Delta star conversion
Star Connection :
In the Star Connection, the similar ends (either start or finish) of the three
windings are connected to a common point called star or neutral point.

Delta Connection :
In Delta (Δ) or Mesh connection, the finished terminal of one resistor is
connected to start terminal of the other and so on which gives a closed
circuit.
Star to delta conversion

R1 = (RaRb + RbRc + RcRa) / Rc R2 = (RaRb + RbRc + RcRa) / Rb

R3 = (RaRb + RbRc + RcRa) / Ra

Delta to star conversion

Ra = ( R1R2 )/ (R1 + R2 + R3 ) Rb = ( R1R3 )/ (R1 + R2 + R3 )

Rc = ( R2R3 )/ (R1 + R2 + R3 )
The value of three resistors when connected in star will be

A. 2.32ohm,1.22ohm, B. 3.55ohm, 4.33ohm,

4.54ohm 5.67ohm

C. 2.78ohm, 1.67ohm, D. 4.53ohm, 6.66ohm,

0.83ohm 1.23ohm
If a 6 ohm, 2ohm and 4ohm resistor is connected in delta, find the
equivalent star connection

A. 1 ohm, 2 ohm, 3 ohm B. 2 ohm, 1/4 ohm, 7ohm

C. 5 ohm, 4 ohm, 2/3 ohm D. 1 ohm, 2 ohm, 2/3 ohm

1. Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL):

• Statement: The algebraic sum of currents meeting at a junction at any

instant of time is zero.
i.e. I1 + (-I2) +(-I3) + I4 =0
I1 + I4 = I2 + I3
KCL deals with the conservation of

A. Momentum B. Mass

C. Potential energy D. charge

KCL is applied at

A. Node B. Mesh

C. Both mesh and node D. Neither mesh nor node

2. Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
• Statement: It states that algebraic sum of all emfs and the product of
resistance and current flowing through it in a closed path at any instant is
zero. i.e Σ emf + Σ IR = 0
KVL deals with the conservation of

A. Momentum B. Mass

C. Potential energy D. charge

KVL is applied at

A. Node B. Mesh

C. Both mesh and node D. Neither mesh nor node

The sum of the voltages over any closed loop is equal to

A. Zero B. Infinity

C. unity D. All of the above

Linear and Non Linear Circuits

A Linear circuit is one whose parameters are constant with time and they do
not change with voltage or current and circuit obeys Ohm's Law.
Example : Circuit with resistors
A Non Linear circuit is that circuit whose parameters change with voltage
or current and circuit does not obey Ohm's Law.
Example : Circuits with diodes
Linear Circuits
• In a linear circuit, the output response of the circuit is directly proportional
to the input.
• In an electric circuit, in which the applied sinusoidal voltage having
frequency “f”, the output (current through a component or voltage between
two points) of that circuit is also sinusoidal having frequency “f”.
• They obey the properties of ohm law.
• The network can be obtained by using the law of superposition.
• Example:
Resistor and resistive circuit
Inductor and inductive circuit
Capacitor and Capacitive circuit
Non Linear Circuits
• circuit parameters (resistance, inductance, capacitance, waveform,
frequency etc.) are not constant
• They donot obey the properties of ohm law.
• The network doesnot obey the law of superposition.
• Example:
Diode
Transformer
Transistor
Iron core inductor
Bilateral and Unilateral circuits
The main difference between unilateral and bilateral circuits lies in
their ability to control or regulate current or voltage levels within
the system in a specific direction.
In unilateral circuits, the property and characteristics of a circuit
changes with the changes in direction of supply voltage or current.
In other words, a unilateral circuit allows the current to flow only
in one direction for specific operation to be performed. Eg. Circuit
with diodes
In bilateral circuits, the property and characteristics of a circuit
does not change with the change in direction of supply voltage or
current. In other words, bilateral circuit allows the current to flow
in both directions for specific operation. Eg. Tr lines
• Bilateral Elements
Conduction of current in both directions in a circuit element with
same magnitude is termed as a bilateral circuit element. It offers
some resistance to current flow in both directions.
Examples: Resistors, inductors, capacitors etc.
A bilateral circuit element can conduct from both sides and offer
same resistance for current from either side.
• Unilateral Elements
The unilateral circuit element does not offer same resistance to the
current of either direction. The resistance of the unilateral circuit
element is different for forward current than that of reverse current.
Examples: diode, transistor etc.
When diode is forward biased it offers very small resistance and
conducts. While it is reverse biased, it offers very high resistance and
doesn’t conduct.
Active and Passive circuits
An active component can supply power to an electric circuit, whereas a
passive component cannot deliver power, it can only absorb the power in
the circuit.
Active elements : Battery, transistor, SCR, MoSFET
Passive elements : Resistor, inductor and Capacitor
• Active element supply electric power to the circuit or power gain in the
circuit.
• Passive element only absorb electrical energy and dissipate it in the form
of heat or store it in a magnetic or electric field. They cannot provide
electric power or power amplification in an electric circuit.
 Active Component Passive Component

An active device transforms and A passive device uses power or energy

injects power or energy into a circuit. from a circuit.

Examples: Diodes, transistors, SCR, Examples: Resistors, capacitors,

integrated circuits, battery,etc. inductors, etc

They are capable of providing power They are incapable of providing

gain (amplifier). power gain.

They are energy donors. They are energy acceptors.

They cannot control the flow of
They can control the flow of current.
current.
• Lumped Elements
When the voltage across and current through the element don’t
vary with dimension of the element, it is called lumped circuit
elements.
Examples: Resistor connected in any electrical circuit.
• Distributed Elements
When the voltage across and current through the element
change with dimensions of the element, it is called distributed
circuit element.
Examples: Resistance of a transmission line. It varies with the
length of the line.