# Category Archives: Electrical Circuits

All about Electrical Circuits including articles and solved problems.

# Find Voltage Using Voltage Division Rule

Determine voltage across $R_2$ and $R_4$ using voltage division rule.
Assume that
$V_1=20 V$, $R_1=10 \Omega$, $R_2=5 \Omega$, $R_3=30 \Omega$ and $R_4=10 \Omega$

Solution:
Please note that the voltage division rule cannot be directly applied. This is to say that:

# Find currents using KVL

Find resistor currents using KVL.

Solution:

$R_1$ and $V_1$ are parallel. So the voltage across $R_1$ is equal to $V_1$. This can be also calculated using KVL in the left hand side loop:

# Total Energy Stored - Circuit with Capacitors and Inductors

Find the total energy stored in the circuit.

Fig. (1-28-1) - The circuit

Solution
The circuit contains only dc sources. Recall that an inductor is a short circuit to dc and a capacitor is an open circuit to dc. These can be easily verified from their current-voltage characteristics. For an inductor, we have $v(t)=L \frac{d i(t)}{dt}$. Since a dc current does not vary with time, $\frac{d i(t)}{dt}=0$. Hence, the voltage across the inductor is zero for any dc current. This is to say that dc current passes through the inductor without any voltage drop, exactly similar to a short circuit. For a capacitor, the current-voltage terminal characteristics is $i(t)=L \frac{d v(t)}{dt}$. Voltage drop across passive elements due to dc currents does not vary with time. Therefore, $\frac{d v(t)}{dt}=0$ and consequently the current of the capacitor is zero. This is to say that dc current does not pass through the capacitor regardless of the voltage amount. This is similar to the behavior of an open circuit. Please note that unlike dc current, ac current passes through capacitors in general.

# Thévenin's Theorem - Circuit with Two Independent Sources

Use Thévenin's theorem to determine $I_O$.

Fig. (1-27-1) - Circuit with two independent sources

Solution
Lets break the circuit at the $3\Omega$ load as shown in Fig. (1-27-2).

# Thévenin's Theorem - Circuit with An Independent Source

Use Thévenin's theorem to determine $V_O$.

Fig. (1-26-1) - The Circuit

Solution
To find the Thévenin equivalent, we break the circuit at the $4\Omega$ load as shown below.

# Superposition Method - Circuit With Dependent Sources

Determine $I_x$, $I_y$ and $V_z$ using the superposition method.

Solution
I. Contribution of the $-2V$ voltage source:
We need to turn off the current source by replacing it with an open circuit. Recall that we do not turn off dependent sources. The resulting circuit is shown below.

# Superposition Problem with Four Voltage and Current Sources

Determine $V_x$ and $I_x$ using the superposition method.

Solution
I. Contribution of the $-5V$ voltage source:

To find the contribution of the $-5V$ voltage source, other three sources should be turned off. The $3V$ voltage source should be replaced by short circuit. The current source should be replaced with open circuits, as shown below.

# Turning Sources Off

Turning off a source, which is usually used in solving circuits with superposition method, means setting its value equal to zero. For a voltage source, setting the voltage equal to zero means that it produces zero voltage between its terminals. Therefore, the voltage source must insure that the voltage across two terminals is zero. Replacing the source with a short circuit can do that. Thus, voltage sources become a short circuit when turned off.

For a current source, setting the current equal to zero means that it produces zero current. Therefore, the current source must insure that no current flows through its branch. An open circuit can do that. Hence, to turn off a current source it should be replaced by an open circuit.

How about dependent sources? The voltage/current of a dependent source is dependent on other variables of the circuit. Therefore, dependent sources cannot be turned off.

Example I: Turn off sources one by one.

Example 1

Solution:
I) The voltage source:

Turning off the voltage source

# Nodal Analysis eBook

content

• Introduction
• Reference Node
• Node Voltages
• Nodal Analysis Steps
• Complicated Cases

• Circuits with Non-grounded Voltage Sources
• Circuits with Dependent Current Sources
• Circuits with Dependent Voltage Sources

• More Problems