3/25/08 Notes

Electrical Circuits:

• Closed loop or path
• Consist of charged particles that move
• An electrical current can exist
• Are formed by a source of potential difference and includes one or more resistances

Circuit Elements:

• Source elements - device or system that can produce a potential difference.
• Load elements - device or system to which the source is connected.
• Control elements - used to control the flow of electrical current.
• Path elements - used to interconnect other elements.

Circuit Symbols:

Current:

• The flow of electric charge.
• The time-rate at which charge flows past a given point in a circuit.
• SI unit: ampere (A)
• 1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second
• 1A = 1C/s