Chapter 1: Circuit Variables

Communication Systems

electrical systems that generate, transmit, and distribute information.

Computer systems

systems that use electric signals to process information ranging from word processing to mathematical computations.

Control systems

systems that use electric signals to regulate processes

Power Systems

Systems that generate and distribute electric power

Signal Processing Systems

systems that act on electric signals that represent information

Circuit Theory

a special case of electromagnetic field theory: the study of static and moving electric charges.

Lumped Parameter System

A system that is small enough so that we can make the assumption that electrical effects happen instantaneously throughout a system

frequency

the signal wavelength divided by the speed of light; measured in hertz (Hz)

derived units

units formed by fundamental SI units

Ideal Circuit Component

a mathematical model of an actual electrical component, like a battery or a light bulb

Circuit Analysis

the use of mathematical techniques to predict the behavior of the circuit model and its ideal circuit components.

Physical Prototype

an actual to predict the behavior of the circuit model and its ideal circuit components.

Electric Circuit

a mathematical model that approximates the behavior of an actual electrical system.

Voltage

the energy per unit charge created by the separation

Electric Current

the rate of charge flow

Ideal Basic Circuit Element

A circuit element that only has 2 terminals, described mathematically in terms of current and voltage, and cannot be subdivided into other elements

Passive Sign Convention

Whenever the reference direction for the current in an element is in the direction of the reference voltage drop across the element, use a positive sign in any expression that relates the voltage to the current. Otherwise, use a negative sign.

Power

the product of current in the element and the voltage across the element when associated with a basic circuit element