Fundamentals/Theory

Understanding the Basics:

The basics of electrical engineering revolve around understanding how electricity works, how it's generated, and how it's applied in various technologies. Here's a quick overview:

Electricity Fundamentals:

Voltage (V): The potential difference that drives electric current through a circuit, measured in volts.

Current (I) - The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (amps).

Resistance (R) - The opposition to the flow of current, measured in ohms. It determines how much current will flow for a given voltage.

Ohm’s Law - A foundational principle stating that 

V=I×R. This means voltage equals current times resistance.

Power in a circuit - P = V x I Where:

• P is power in Watts (W)

• V is voltage in volts (V)

• I is current in amperes (A)

More in depth - https://youtu.be/mc979OhitAg?si=wkvBbLpB5-TsoIZs 

Examples for Fundamentals of Electricity:

1. Current (I) - In a simple circuit with a 9-volt battery and a 3-ohm resistor, the current can be calculated using Ohm's Law: I = V / R = 9V / 3 Ω= 3A. So, the current flowing through the circuit is 3 amperes. Very simple use of Ohms Law.

2. Voltage (V) - In a household light bulb rated at 120 volts, the voltage is the electrical potential difference provided to the bulb by the mains supply. This potential difference drives the current through the bulb, causing it to light up.

3. Resistance (R) - If you have a resistor with a value of 100 ohms in a circuit, it resists the flow of current. The resistor's resistance value determines how much it limits the current flow when a voltage is applied across it.

4. Ohm's Law - For a circuit with a 12-volt battery and a 6-ohm resistor: I =V / R =12V / 6 Ω = 2A. The current flowing through the circuit is 2 amperes. Similarly, if you know the current and resistance, you can calculate the voltage.

5. Power (P) - Using the above example with a 12-volt battery and a 6-ohm resistor: P = V × R = 12V ×2A =24W. The power dissipated in the resistor is 24 watts. This is the rate at which energy is used or converted into heat by the resistor.

These examples illustrate how each fundamental concept plays a role in understanding and analyzing electrical circuits.

Circuits:

Basic Components of a circuit:

An electrical circuit is a closed loop that allows current to flow. It typically consists Of the following components:

• Power Source (Voltage Source) - This provides the energy needed to move the electrons through the circuit. Common examples include batteries and power supplies.

• Conductors (wires) - These provide a path for the current to flow. Conductors are typically made of materials like copper or aluminium because they have low resistance. 

• Load - The load is any device that consumes electrical energy to perform work, like a light bulb, motor or resistor. 

• Switch - A device that can open or close the circuit, controlling the flow of current.

• Resistor - These are components that resist the flow of current, thereby controlling the amount of current that flows through a circuit. 

Types of circuit:

Series Circuits - Components connected end-to-end, so the current flows through each component in turn. The same current flows through all components, but the voltage is divided among them. If one component fails, the entire circuit is broken.

For example - Christmas lights wired in series, if one bulb goes out, they all go out. 

Parallel Circuits - Components connected across the same voltage source, so the current is divided among them. This creates multiple paths for the current to flow. Each component receives the same voltage, but the current is divided among the branches. If one component fails, the others continue to operate.

For example - Household wiring, if one light goes out, the others stay on. 

https://youtu.be/8Z0jhQeYDUE?si=USihFdxd970yiW8Q 

AC vs DC Circuits

Direct Current (DC) - Current flows in one direction, as in circuits powered by batteries.

Alternating current (AC) - Current changes direction periodically, as in household electricity (e.g. 50 or 60Hz depending on the region). Ac is typically used for power distribution due to its ability to be easily transformed to different voltages. 

https://youtu.be/2jqJZxxX6gQ?si=XX-LVlcb2sZ9UVr7 

Electromagnetism: