Applied Circuit Analysis Flashcards (Items 1–130)

Vocabulary-style practice flashcards covering basic concepts, resistance, power, energy, and circuit analysis laws from Chapters 1–6.

Circuit Theory

The study of electrical circuits and the relationship between voltage, current, resistance, and power.

Electric Circuit

A closed path through which electric current flows.

International System of Units (SI)

The internationally accepted system of measurement.

Electric Charge

The basic property of matter responsible for electrical phenomena.

Coulomb (C)

The SI unit of electric charge.

Law of Conservation of Charge

States that electric charge cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred.

Electric Current

The movement of electric charge through a conductor.

Ampere (A)

The SI unit of electric current.

Direct Current (DC)

A type of current that flows continuously in one direction.

Alternating Current (AC)

A type of current that periodically reverses direction.

Conductors

Materials that easily allow the flow of electric current.

Semiconductors

Materials that partially conduct electricity.

Insulators

Materials that strongly resist the flow of electric current or rubber and glass.

Voltage

The electrical pressure that causes current to flow.

Volt (V)

The SI unit of voltage.

Power

The rate at which electrical energy is transferred or converted.

Watt (W)

The SI unit of electrical power.

Energy

The ability to perform work, equal to power multiplied by time.

Law of Conservation of Energy

States that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Passive Sign Convention

States that an element absorbs power when current enters its positive terminal.

Resistance

The opposition to the flow of electric current.

Ohm ($\Omega$)

The SI unit of resistance.

Resistivity

The property of a material that opposes electric current; copper and silver have low resistivity.

Ohm's Law

States that voltage is directly proportional to current and resistance, expressed as $V = IR$.

Fixed Resistor

A resistor whose resistance cannot be changed.

Variable Resistor

A resistor whose resistance can be adjusted.

Potentiometer

A three-terminal variable resistor used as a voltage divider.

Rheostat

A two-terminal variable resistor used to control current.

Linear Resistor

A resistor that follows Ohm's Law.

Resistor Color Code

The colored markings used to identify resistor values.

Voltmeter

An instrument used to measure voltage, always connected in parallel.

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure current, always connected in series.

Ohmmeter

The instrument used to measure resistance.

Multimeter

An instrument that combines the functions of a voltmeter, ammeter, and ohmmeter.

Short Circuit

A condition in which resistance becomes nearly zero; a common cause of a blown fuse.

Open Circuit

A condition where the current path is broken, often caused by a burned-out resistor.

American Wire Gauge (AWG)

The standard used to specify wire diameter.

Conductance

The reciprocal of resistance.

Siemens (S)

The SI unit of conductance.

Ohm's Law Triangle

A common illustration showing the relationship among voltage, current, and resistance.

Current Calculation Formula

$$I = \frac{V}{R}$$

Electrical Power

The rate at which electrical energy is converted into another form.

Joule (J)

The SI unit of energy.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

The commercial unit used by electric companies to measure electrical energy consumption.

Power Formulas

$P = VI$, $P = I^2R$, and $P = \frac{V^2}{R}$.

Power Rating

The maximum amount of power a resistor can safely dissipate.

Efficiency

The ratio of useful output power to input power, commonly expressed as a percentage ($\%$).

Fuse

A protective device that melts when excessive current flows.

Circuit Breaker

A reusable protective device that opens a circuit during overload or short circuit.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

Protects people from electric shock by detecting leakage current.

Wattmeter

The instrument used to measure electrical power.

Watt-hour Meter

The instrument used to measure electrical energy consumption.

Efficiency Limit

No electrical device can exceed $100\%$ efficiency.

Branch

A single electrical element such as a resistor or voltage source.

Node

The point where two or more branches are connected.

Loop

Any closed conducting path in a circuit.

Series Circuit

A configuration where two or more elements carry the same current; current remains constant throughout.

Equivalent Resistance ($R_T$)

The total resistance of resistors connected in series (the sum of all resistors) or the resistance replacing parallel resistors.

Voltage Drop

The decrease in electrical potential across a resistor; a negative change in potential.

Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL)

Based on conservation of energy, it states the algebraic sum of voltages around any closed loop is zero.

Voltage Rise

A positive change in electrical potential.

Voltage Division

The process of distributing source voltage among resistors connected in series.

Voltage Divider Rule

The formula used to determine voltage across individual series resistors.

Ground

The reference point used for measuring voltage, also called earthing.

Zero Volt ($0\,V$)

The voltage assigned to the ground reference.

Independent Loop

A loop containing at least one branch not shared by another loop.

Parallel Circuit

Components connected across the same two nodes; voltage is the same across all branches.

Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL)

Based on conservation of charge, it states the algebraic sum of currents entering and leaving a node is zero.

Current Source

A source that supplies a constant current regardless of the load.

Ideal Current Source

A current source having infinite internal resistance.

Equivalent Circuit

The process of replacing several circuit elements with one equivalent component.

Current Divider Rule

The rule used to determine the current flowing through each branch of a parallel circuit.

Troubleshooting

The process of locating faults in an electrical circuit.

Series-Parallel Circuit

A circuit containing both series and parallel connections.

Ladder Network

A special series-parallel circuit shaped like a ladder.

R-2R Ladder

A ladder network commonly used in digital-to-analog converters.

Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)

A device that converts digital signals into analog signals.

Most Significant Bit (MSB)

The bit that has the greatest effect on the output of a DAC.

Least Significant Bit (LSB)

The bit that has the least effect on the output of a DAC.

Dependent Source

A source whose output depends on another voltage or current in the circuit.

Independent Source

A source whose output is unaffected by other circuit variables.

Voltage-Controlled Voltage Source (VCVS)

A voltage source controlled by another voltage.

Voltage-Controlled Current Source (VCCS)

A current source controlled by a voltage.

Current-Controlled Voltage Source (CCVS)

A voltage source controlled by a current.

Current-Controlled Current Source (CCCS)

A current source controlled by a current.

Loading Effect

The effect a measuring instrument has on the circuit being measured.

Ideal Voltmeter Resistance

Infinite.

Ideal Ammeter Resistance

Zero.

Wheatstone Bridge

A circuit used for accurate measurement of unknown resistance.

Galvanometer

The instrument used in a Wheatstone Bridge to detect balance.