Title: DC Circuits Lab
1DC Circuits Lab
2Outline
- Basic Components of a Circuit
- Series Circuit
- Parallel Circuit
- Ohms Law
- Lab Overview
3Basic Circuit Components
We represent real electrical components with
symbols
A Battery
can be represented with this symbol
called a DC voltage source
- A DC Voltage Source
- Provides Power for our circuit
- Battery or Lab power supply is an example
- DC voltage is supplied across the two terminals
- Its voltage is VOLTS (V)
4Basic Circuit Components
We represent real electrical components with
symbols
can be represented with this symbol
called a resistor
5Basic Circuit Components
We represent real electrical components with
symbols
The Earth
can be represented with this symbol
called the ground symbol
6Basic Circuit Components
We represent real electrical components with
symbols
A Tollboothor any barrier
can be represented with this symbol
called a diode
7Basic Circuit Components
The Diode is Like a Switch That Takes 0.7V To
Close
- The Diode Has Two Modes of Operation
- Negative DC Voltage Source
- When the Anode is at least 0.7V. Replace the
diode by a -0.7V DC Source. - Open Circuit
- When the Anode is less than 0.7V, the diode is
an open circuit. This means no current can flow
through it!
0.7V
8Building a Circuit
- We wish to power our flashlights light bulb
- We need to attach the light bulb to the battery
- We use wires to connect the light bulb to the
battery
Insteadlet's represent the real components with
their symbols
9Building a Circuit
creating a schematic
- Replace the battery with a DC Voltage Source
symbol
- Replace the light bulb with a Resistor symbol
.5 O
- Mark the symbols values (V, R, etc.)
Since this node is at GND (OV) this node
must be 1.5Volts higher
0V
Insteadlet's represent the real components with
their symbols
10Analyzing the Circuitusing Ohms Law
- When we attach the resistor to the DC voltage
source, current begins to flow
- How much current will flow?
.5K O
- Ohms Law (VIR)
- -gtDescribes the relationship between the voltage
(V), current (I), and resistance (R) in a circuit
- Using Ohms Law, we can determine how much
current is flowing through our circuit
0V
11Analyzing the Circuitusing Ohms Law
- How much current will flow?
- Use Ohms Law
- V I x R
- 1.5V I x .5K O
- Solve for I
- I 1.5V / .5 KO 3 mA
.5K O
0V
So, 3 mA will flow through the .5kO resistor,
when 1.5 Volts are across it
12Resistors in Series
- Resistors connected by only 1 terminal,
back-to-back, are considered to be in series
R1 .5K O
- We can replace the two series resistors with 1
single resistor, we call Req - The value of Req is the SUM of R1 R2
- ReqR1R2.5K O .5K O 1KO
R2 .5K O
Req 1K O
0V
13Resistors in Series
- Now we can find the current through the circuit
using Ohms Law
- Use Ohms Law
- V I x Req
- 1.5V I x 1K O
- Solve for I
- I 1.5V / 1K O 1.5 mA
Req 1K O
0V
The bigger the resistance in the circuit, the
harder it is for current to flow
14Resistors in Series
- Back to our original series circuit, with R1 and
R2
- The current is the SAME through each resistor
R1 .5K O
- Current flows like water through the circuit,
notice how the 1.5 mA stream of current flows
through both resistors equally
R2 .5K O
- Ohms Law shows us voltage across each resistor
- V(R1) 1.5mA x .5K O .75V
- V(R2) 1.5mA x .5K O .75V
0V
15Resistors in Parallel
- Resistors connected at 2 terminals, sharing the
same node on each side, are considered to be in
parallel
- Unlike before, we cannot just add them. We must
add their inverses to find Req
R1 .5K O
R2 .5K O
0V
16Resistors in Parallel
- This is the equivalent circuit
- Use Ohms Law, we find the current through Req
- V I x Req
- 1.5V I x .25K O
- Solve for I
- I 1.5V / .25KO 6 mA
Req .25K O
0V
The smaller the resistance in the circuit, the
easier it is for current to flow
17Resistors in Parallel
- Back to our original series circuit, with R1 and
R2
- The current is NOT the SAME through all parts of
the circuit
- Current flows like water through the circuit,
notice how the 6 mA stream of current splits to
flow into the two resistors
R1 .5K O
R2 .5KO
- The Voltage across each resistor is equal when
they are in parallel
0V
18Resistors in Parallel
- The voltage is 1.5 V across each resistor
- Ohms Law tells us the current through each
- I(R1)V/R 1.5V /.5KO 3mA
- I(R2)V/R 1.5V /.5KO 3mA
- The 6mA of current has split down the two legs of
our circuit - It split equally between the two legs, because
the resistors have the same value
R1 .5K O
R2 .5K O
0V
The current will split differently if the
resistors are not equal
19Resistors in Parallel
- This is the equivalent circuit
- Use Ohms Law, we find the current through Req
- V I x Req
- 1.5V I x .25K O
- Solve for I
- I 1.5V / .25K O 6 mA
Req .25K O
0V
The smaller the resistance in the circuit, the
easier it is for current to flow
20Including a Diode
- Steps to Analyze the Circuit
Anode 1.5V
- First, is the anode potential at least 0.7V?
- Yes, it is at 1.5V. So, replace the diode with a
-0.7V DC Source.
R .5K O
0V
21Including a Diode
- Steps to Analyze the Circuit
- Voltage sources in series can be combined.
0.7V
- 1.5V (-0.7)V 0.8V
- Use that 0.8V value as the V in Ohms Law!
R .5K O
0V
22Including a Diode
- Steps to Analyze the Circuit
- Now, how much current will flow through R?
- Use Ohms Law
- V I x R
- 0.8V I x .5K O
- Solve for I
- I 0.8V / .5 O 1.6 mA
R .5K O
0V
23Including a Diode
- The Voltage on the Left (From the DC Source)
Should equal the Voltage Drops on the Right.
0.7V
- Use Ohms Law For the Resistor
- VR I x R
- 0.8V 1.6mA x .5K O
- For the Diode
- VD 0.7V
- Add the Voltage Drops
- VR VD 0.8V0.7V 1.5V
- This matches our voltage sourceYAY!
R .5K O
0V
24Including a Diode
- Steps to Analyze the Circuit
Anode 0.5V
- First, is the anode potential at least 0.7V?
R .5K O
- No, it is at 0.5V. Therefore, no current can
flow through the resistor.
0V
25In Summary
- Ohms Law VIR
- Describes the relationship between the voltage
(V), current (I), and resistance (R) in a circuit - Current is equal through two resistors in series
- Voltage drops across each resistor
- Req R1 R2 . . .
- Voltage is equal across two resistors in parallel
- Current splits through branches of parallel
circuits - 1/Req 1/R1 1/R2
26In Summary
- Diodes
- There is a voltage cost associated with every
diode. - Current will only flow through the diode if the
voltage at the anode is to that cost.
27In Lab Today
- You will build series circuits
- Build parallel circuits
- Work with a breadboard
- Verify Ohms Law by measuring voltage using a
multimeter - And yes, there is HW!