Chapter 2: Resistive Networks Vocab

Lumped Circuit Element

A basic circuit component modeled with defined terminal voltage and current.

Terminal

A connection point where a circuit element connects to other components.

Node

A junction where two or more circuit elements connect.

Branch

A connection between two nodes that contains a circuit element.

Edge

Another name for a circuit branch.

Loop

A closed path through circuit branches.

Branch Current

The current flowing through a circuit branch.

Branch Voltage

The voltage measured across a circuit branch.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law

The rule stating that total current entering a node equals total current leaving it.

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

The rule stating that total voltage changes around a closed loop equal zero.

Independent KCL Equation

A KCL equation that provides new information not already given by other node equations.

Associated Variables Convention

The convention where current enters the terminal marked positive for voltage.

Element Law

An equation that relates voltage and current for a circuit element.

Circuit Analysis

The process of finding all unknown voltages and currents in a circuit.

Conservation of Energy

The principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Voltage Divider

A series-resistor circuit that produces a fraction of an input voltage.

Current Divider

A parallel-resistor circuit that splits an input current among branches.

Series Connection

A connection where components share the same current.

Parallel Connection

A connection where components share the same voltage

Equivalent Resistance

A single resistance that behaves like a group of resistors from the outside terminals.

Ground Node

The circuit reference point defined as zero volts.

Reference Node

Another name for the ground node

Dependent Source

A voltage or current source controlled by another circuit variable.

Voltage-Controlled Current Source

A current source controlled by a voltage elsewhere in the circuit.

Current-Controlled Current Source

A current source controlled by a current elsewhere in the circuit

Voltage-Controlled Voltage Source

A voltage source controlled by another voltage in the circuit.

Current-Controlled Voltage Source

A voltage source controlled by a current in the circuit

Transconductance

The constant relating output current to input voltage in a voltage-controlled current source.

Current Transfer Ratio

The constant relating output current to input current in a current-controlled current source.

Voltage Transfer Ratio

The constant relating output voltage to input voltage in a voltage-controlled voltage source.

Transresistance

The constant relating output voltage to input current in a current-controlled voltage source.

Sequential Analysis

Analyzing the input side of a dependent source first, then analyzing its output side.

Series-Parallel Simplification

Reducing groups of series and parallel resistors into equivalent resistances before solving.

Cramer’s Rule

A matrix method for solving a system of linear equations.