DC Circuit Analysis and Efficiency

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to DC circuit analysis, batteries, efficiency, and related electrical engineering principles.

Current Divider

A circuit that splits a current into two or more branches.

Batteries

Devices that store and supply electrical energy through chemical reactions.

Charge Capacity

The total amount of electric charge a battery can store, usually measured in ampere-hours (A·h).

Internal Resistance

Resistive losses within a battery that cause the terminal voltage to drop under load.

Efficiency (η)

The ratio of useful power output to total power input, often expressed as a percentage.

Ampere-Hour (A·h)

A unit of electric charge equal to one ampere flowing for one hour.

Nominal Voltage (Vs)

The stated voltage of a battery, typically under no load conditions.

Terminal Voltage (Vt)

The voltage output of a battery while under load, accounting for internal resistance.

Voltage Divider Equation

A formula used to calculate the terminal voltage across a load resistor in the presence of internal resistance.

Power Transfer Efficiency

The effective transfer of power from a source to a load.

Energy Stored in a Battery

Calculated as stored charge multiplied by voltage: W = Q × V.

Voltage Source

An ideal device that maintains a constant voltage regardless of the current drawn.

Chemical Potential Energy

The energy stored in a battery due to its chemical composition.

1 A·h to Coulombs (C)

1 A·h is equal to 3600 C.

Lead-Acid Battery

A type of rechargeable battery known for its high charge capacity and low internal resistance.

Coin Cell Battery

A small, round battery commonly used in watches and small electronic devices.

Simulation

An experiment or model that replicates the behavior of real-world systems to analyze performance.

Power Dissipation

The process of energy being converted into heat within components like resistors.

KVL (Kirchhoff's Voltage Law)

A law stating that the total voltage around a closed loop in a circuit must be zero.

Ohm's Law

A fundamental law stating that V = I × R, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.

coulomb (C)

The unit of electric charge, defined as the charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second.

Ideal Voltage Source

A voltage source that provides a constant voltage, regardless of the current drawn from it.

Load Resistor (Rl)

A resistor connected to a power source in a circuit that consumes power.

Energy Density of TNT

Approximately 4.18 MJ/kg, used as a comparison for energy stored in batteries.

Inductive Load

A load in which the current lags behind the voltage due to inductance.

RLC Circuit

A circuit containing resistors (R), inductors (L), and capacitors (C) which can affect the phase and amplitude of voltages and currents.

Transient Response

The behavior of a circuit immediately after a change in voltage or current before it reaches a steady state.

Steady State Response

The behavior of a circuit after transients have settled; consisting of constant voltages and currents.

Phasor Representation

A complex number representation of sinusoidal functions used in AC circuit analysis.

Impedance (Z)

The total opposition a circuit presents to AC current, combining resistance and reactance.

Reactance

The resistance of a capacitor or inductor to a change in current; frequency-dependent.

Capacitance (C)

A measure of a capacitor's ability to store charge, expressed in farads (F).

Inductance (L)

A measure of an inductor's ability to store energy in a magnetic field, expressed in henries (H).

RMS Voltage (Vrms)

The effective value of an AC voltage, calculated as Vpeak/√2.

Average Power (Pavg)

The average amount of power dissipated over one complete cycle of an AC waveform.