Course Lectures of

Basics of Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering Dept.

First year

Chapter Two :
DC Circuits Analysis

Instructor :
Ali Abdulkareem Al-Hashimi
Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

2.1 Laws of Resistance:

The resistance R offered by a conductor depends on the following factors :
(i) It varies directly as its length, (l or ).
(ii) It varies inversely as the cross-section A of the conductor.
(iii) It depends on the nature of the material.
(iv) It also depends on the temperature of the conductor.

Neglecting the last factor for the time being, we can say that :

=

Where:
: the specific resistance or resistivity. It is a constant depending on the nature of the
material of the conductor. It is measured in (.m)
: The length of the conductor. It is measured in (m).
: The cross-sectional area. It is measured in (2 ).

Ex1: Determine the resistance of a (30 cm) copper wire with a diameter of (0.032 cm), given the
resistivity of copper is (1.72 106 . ).
Solution:
= 30 102 = 0.3
= 0.032 102 = 32 105
2
= = 8.0424 108 2
4
= 1.72 106 102 = 1.72 108 .
= 0.064159

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex2: A coil consists of (2000 turns) of wire having a cross-sectional area of (0.8 2 ). The mean
length per turn is (80 cm) and the resistivity is (0.02 .m). Find the resistance of the coil and
power absorbed by the coil when connected across (110 V) DC supply.
Solution:
l = 0.8 2000 = 1600 m
= 0.8 2 = 0.8 106 2
1600
= 0.02 106 = 40
0.8 106
2 1102
= = = 302.5
40

Ex3: A rectangular carbon block has dimensions 1.0 cm 1.0 cm 50 cm.

(i) What is the resistance measured between the two square ends ?
(ii) between two opposing rectangular faces / Resistivity of carbon is 3.5 105 .m.
Solution:
(i)

=

= 1 1 = 1 2 = 104 2
= 0.5
= 3.5 105 0.5 / 104 = 0.175
(ii)
= 1 = 102
= 1 50 = 50 2 = 5 103 2
= 3.5 105 102 / 5 103 = 7 105

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

2.2 Temperature Coefficient of Resistance :

The effect of rise in temperature is :
(i) to increase the resistance of pure metals.
(ii) to increase the resistance of alloys, though in their case, the increase is relatively small and
irregular.
(iii) to decrease the resistance of insulators (such as paper, rubber, glass, mica etc.) and partial
conductors such as carbon.
the temperature-coefficient of a material () may be defined as : A constant which represents the
increase in resistance per ohm original resistance (per C) rise in temperature.
Let a metallic conductor having a resistance of (Ro) at (0C) be heated to (tC) and let its
resistance at this temperature be (Rt), then the temperature-coefficient at (0 C) is given by (o) , and
at (t C) it is given by (t).
= (1 + )

=
1 +
If the material is working in two different temperatures (t1 & t2), then the resistances can be
computed as :
1 = (1 + 1 )
2 = (1 + 2 )

Ex4: A copper conductor has a resistance temperature coefficient of (1/254.5) per C at (20C).
Find the resistance temperature-coefficient at (60C).
Solution:

60 =
1 + 60
1
20 = =
1 + 20 254.5 1 + 20
1
0 =
234.5
1
60 =
294.5

Ex5: A platinum coil has a resistance of (3.146 ) at (40C) and (3.767 ) at (100C). Find the
resistance at (0C) and the temperature-coefficient of resistance at (40C).

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Solution:
R100 = R0 (1 + 100 * 0)
R40 = R0 (1 + 40 * 0)
3.767 R0 (1 + 100 0)
= 0 = 0.00379
3.146 R0 (1 + 40 0)
100 = (1 + 100)
3.767 = (1 + 0.00379 100) = 2.732
0.00739 1
40 = = =
1 + 40 1 + 0.00739 40 304

Note:
1) A resistor that obeys Ohms law is known as a linear resistor. It has a constant resistance and
thus its current-voltage characteristic is as illustrated in figure below, its i-v graph is a straight
line passing through the origin.

2) A nonlinear resistor does not obey Ohms law. Its resistance varies with current and its i-v
characteristic is typically shown in figure below. Examples of devices with nonlinear
resistance are the lightbulb and the diode.

Linear resistance Non-linear resistance

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

2.3 Series Circuits :

Two elements are in series only if they have one point in common and they both carry the same
current.
For the series circuit shown, using KVL we
have:
1 2 = 0
= 1 1 + 2 2
= 1 + 2
= (1 + 2 )
=

= = 1 + 2

In general, for a series circuit with containing (N) resistors, then the total resistance of such a circuit
( ) is given as :
= 1 + 2 + 3 + +

Ex6: For the circuit shown, calculate:

a) The equivalent resistance.
b) The total current
c) The voltage in each resistance.
Solution:
a) = 1 + 2 + 3
= 2 + 1 + 5 = 6
20
b) = = 6
= 2.5

c) 1 = 1 = 2.5 2 = 5
2 = 2 = 2.5 1 = 2.5
3 = 3 = 2.5 5 = 12.5
Note:
= 1 + 2 + 3
20 = 5 + 2.5 + 12.5
20 = 20
Which means that solution is correct.

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

2.3.1 Voltage Sources in Series :

The resultant will be a single voltage source and its value is the algebraic sum of all sources that
are connected in series.

= 1 + 2 3
= 10 + 2 6
= 6

2.3.2 Voltage Divider Rule :

Consider the circuit shown, we have :
= 1 + 2

And =

1
1 = 1 = . 1 =
1 + 2
2
Also 2 = 2 = . 2 =
1 +2

This circuit is called a voltage divider.

Ex7: Determine the voltages (1 , 3 , ) for the circuit shown

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

2.4 Ground Potential :

It is common, for safety purposes and as a reference, to ground electrical and electronic systems.
The symbol ground connection is :

With its defined potential level of (zero volts), we can use it as a reference to calculate some
voltages in other elements of the circuit. Also, it might help us to redraw the same circuit in a more
understandable form. For example:

Ex8: Using the voltage divider rule, determine the voltages (1 & 2 ) for the circuit shown below.
(1 = 6 , 2 = 12).

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex9: For the circuit shown, determine ( , , , )

2.5 Parallel Circuits :

Two elements or branches in a circuits are said to be in parallel if they have two points in
common; as a result, they both have the same voltage. For the parallel circuit shown, using (KCL)
we have :
= 1 + 2 + 3
1 2 3
= + +
1 2 3
1 = 2 = 3 = =

=


= + +
1 2 3
1 1 1 1
= + +
1 2 3

In general, for (N) resistors connected in parallel, then :

1 1 1 1 1
= + + + +
1 2 3

And if we use conductance (G), then the equation above becomes :

= 1 + 2 + 3 + +

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex10: Determine the total resistance for the circuit shown.

Ex11: For the parallel network shown,( = 27 , 1 = 9 , 2 = 18 )

a) Calculate the total resistance.
b) Determine the circuit current.
c) Calculate 1 and 2 .
d) Determine the power to each resistive load.
e) Determine the total power delivered by the source
and compare it with the powers dissipated by the
resistive loads.

2.5.1 Current Divider Rule :

Consider the parallel circuit shown, we have :

= =

1 . 2
=
1 + 2
1 . 2
1 + 2
1 = = =
1 1 1
2
1 =
1 + 2

Similarly, for (2 ) we have :

1 . 2
1 + 2
2 = = =
2 2 2
1
2 =
1 + 2

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Basics of Electrical Engineering Lectures University of Missan / College of Engineering

Ex: For the circuit below, calculate 1 and 3 ( = 42 , 1 = 6, 2 = 24, 3 = 8)

Notes :
Open circuit : an open circuit is simply two isolated terminals not connected by any element
of any kind.
Since the current equals zero, then :
= =

In general, an open circuit can have a voltage across its

terminals but the current is always zero.

Short circuit : a short circuit is a direct connection of zero ohms across an element or a
combination of elements.
The current in the second resistor is zero.
Then :

= =
1
and = 0

In general, a short circuit can carry current of any level, but the potential difference (voltage)
across its terminals is always zero.

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