The Laws of Electric Circuit - you can learn and practice by just reading

copyright. Charles Kim 2006
 
OVERVIEW
 
Circuit Theory or Whatever
I have taught Network Analysis I and 2, or Circuit Theory I and II equivalent. Somewhere else they are called Electric Circuit I and II, or similar titles. These two courses on electric circuit usually cover about to dozen subjects. I can name them without opening a textbook for the table of contents. I have taught the subjects several years. They are: voltage, current, power, resistive circuit, series and parallel resistance, voltage divider, current divider, D'Arsonval meter movement, Wheatstone bridge, Delta-to-Y transformation, node voltage method, mesh current method, Thevenin equivalent circuit, maximum power transfer, operational amplifier, inductors and capacitors, transient analysis of first order and second order circuits, Laplace transformation, Laplace transformation application in circuit theory, passive filters, active filters, sinusoidal source, single phase power calculation, and three phase power calculation.
 
As you see here there are too many subject to cover in 2 semesters. Worse, many universities are now moving to merge two courses together into one course saying electric circuit, and cover these ALL subject within a semester. Of course they cannot teach them all in a semester. Some subject they try to move to upper level courses like signal and systems or electronics, etc. Ironically, in the upper course, the lecturer always assumes you know ALL the subjects and hits the next subject after saying in the effect of "since you took the electric circuit which is a pre-requisite of this course, we move on to the next subject." Well, raising you hand and raising the issue would not impress the lecturer nor persuade to spend extra time to cover the necessary pre-requisite material.
 
Moreover, due to the fast-moving class with numerous topics, your understanding of very funamental concept may be superficial and shallow. If you are smart and real smart, and you are a self-learner and quick-learner, and reading your think textbook over pizza is your norm, and you get A from the course, this Circuit Law is unnecessary for you. You are not my reader. Congratulations! Again Circuit Law is NOT for those students who want to have deeper understanding of the subject covered only in equations and with variables. My intended readers are those who are not satisfied with a "theory" but who are only satisfied with a real sense of the theory. In other words, I write this to answer any silly questions you may have but hold because of being afraid of rejection or embarrassment. Actually, I originally started this series after I received several e-mail questions on my lecture notes posted. Answering the questions over email required me to write in words not in equations. So comes "the other side" of the circuit theory - Circuit Law. I am going to add and I am doing now questions for you guys and my answers in words so that the topics covered are expanded and richer so that it evolves into a better edition of the other side of circuit theory. So shoot your question, and become a good circuit lawyer.
 
Before I move on: Remember, though, the other side exists only there is one side. So do not ignore the side where you are with your textbook and your lecture wherever you are.  Here some of my lecture notes on Circuit Theory and Labs: Circuit 1, Circuit 2, Circuit Lab (with Pspice Simulation), and Lecture-Lab Hybrid Circuit Course with personal instrumentation (Mobile Studio).
 

 

Topics
 
How to become a lawyer at electric circuit?
 
Dependent Source?
 
Have You Played Minesweeper Lately?
 
Degree of Freedom or Sort of
 
KCL and Zero Cash Flow
 
KVL and Roller Coaster Ride
 
Power Calculation Blue
 
A Convention where Talks Are All About Polarity and Flow Direction
 
Resistor Specification
 
Series and Parallel Resistors
 
D2Y
 
Voltage Divider
 
Current Divider
D'Arsonval Movement and Voltmeter Sensitivity
 
TabletPC and Windows Journal Viewer
 
Node Voltage Method
 
Mesh Current Method
 
Things to know for Node Voltage Method
 
Tips for Test Preparation
How the Elements are connected - Dummy bare wire
Thevenin Theorem? Prove it!
 
Poor Georg
 
Do we need this subject?
 
WMD (Weapons of Mass Diminution)
 
Node Voltage in Op Amp Circuit
 
Test Voltage Method
 
Oh! Hail Mary!
 
Before and After t=0 Analyses
 
Why Transient Analysis?
 
Five Tau Rule
 
Oh! Hail Mary! (2)
 
Can You Take This Case and Save Kevin?
 
 

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