New Era University Virtual Learning Environment

College of Engineering & Technology

PHYSICS 271
Emf, Ohms Law, Power, Energy,
Capacitance, and Simple DC Circuits

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Emf, Ohms Law, Power, Energy,

Capacitance, and Simple DC Circuits
SUB-TOPICS

7/20/2012

Electromotive force, Ohms Law, Power & Energy

Resistors in Series

Resistors in Parallel

Series/Parallel Circuit

Sample Problems

Assessment

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Emf, Ohms Law, Power, Energy,

Capacitance, and Simple DC Circuits
Course Objectives:
At the end of the week, the student should be able to
1. Describe the electromotive force by relating this quantity to
current and resistance in a circuit
2. Identify the characteristics of resistors in series & in parallel.
3. Identify the characteristics of capacitors in series & in
parallel.
4. Illustrate DC circuits by applying the characteristics of series
and of parallel circuit.
5. Calculate energy cost using electric power and energy
equations
6. Simplify DC circuit diagram as analyzed using Ohms Law and
characteristics of series and parallel circuit.
7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Electromotive force (Emf) may be

supplied either by a battery or from
a power supply. Emf force is the
maximum possible voltage that a
battery can provide between its
terminals. It is a difference of potential
that does not decay as charges are
transferred.
Ohms Law described current in a
circuit as I = V/R. If there is no emf in
a circuit, the current will be zero. We
can relate voltage, current and resistance in Ohms Law.

Internal resistance, r
increases as battery ages

V=IR, I=V/R or R= V/I

7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

 The
convention we
used is that
electrons flow
from positive
to negative
terminal.
But current
direction is
from relatively
negative
potential to
potentials that
are relatively
positive.
7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Voltage (E or V) the work required to move a unit positive

charge from the terminal to the +
positive terminal.
- the unit is Volt

w
The equation for voltage across an element is v = ---q
The value of a voltage may be positive or negative.
The direction of voltage is given by its polarities (+, -)
The work required to move a + charge from a to b
or read as the voltage at terminal b wrt a
or the voltage drop from terminal a to b

vab = - vba
7/20/2012

The work required to move a + charge from b to a

or read as the voltage at terminal a wrt b
or the voltage drop from terminal a to b
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Power in Electric circuits

Power is a measure of how much work can be
done in a given amount of time P = W/t
Mechanical power is commonly measured in
horsepower
Electrical power is almost always measured in
watts and can be computed using P=IE
1 horsepower = 745.7 watts
power absorbed = - power supplied

7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Poutput
% eff = -------- x 100
Pinput
7

An historical note: it was James Prescott Joule,

not Georg Simon Ohm, who first discovered the
mathematical relationship between power
dissipation and current through a resistance. This
discovery, published in 1841, followed the form
of the last equation (P = I2R), and is properly
known as Joule's Law. However, these power
equations are so commonly associated with the
Ohm's Law equations relating voltage, current,
and resistance (E=IR ; I=E/R ; and R=E/I) that they
are frequently credited to Ohm.
7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Example #1. Assume that the lights in your kitchen

and living room together use 400 watts. How much
does it cost if the lights are on 24 hours a day, for a
whole month? How much per year? Assume P9/kWh.

400 watts x 24 hours/day x 30 days/month

= 288,000 Total Watt-hours in a month
288,000 Wh (1kWh/ 1000 Wh) = 288 kwh
288 kWh x P9/kWh = P2,592/mo.; 31,104/yr.

7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Voltmeter - connected in parallel with the component

or components under test.
- any current through the voltmeter will
contribute to the overall current in the
tested circuit, potentially affecting the
voltage being measured. A perfect
voltmeter has infinite resistance, so that
it draws no current from the circuit under
test.

Ammeter - connected in series with the component

or components under test.

- ideal ammeter has zero internal resistance,
so as to drop as little voltage as possible as
electrons flow through it.

7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

10

Quick Quiz. A generator driven by diesel engine that

develops 12 hp delivers 30 A at 240 V. What is the

efficiency of the generator?

7/20/2012

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

11

Resistors

E
Characteristics of a series circuit
There is only one path for electrons to flow
Current is the same all throughout the loop, IT =I1 =I2 =I3
E = V1 +V2 +V3
R = R1 +R2 +R3
Total power is greater than any one component dissipation
P = P1 +P2 +P3
Larger resistances have higher voltage drops
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Voltage Divider Equation

The voltage drops in a circuit are proportional
to the resistance values.

Vn =

Rn
VT
R1 +R2 +...+ Rn

Where Vn is the voltage across a resistor Rn

This equation is useful in determining voltage relationship in
series circuit when the total voltage VT is known
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Sources in series

+
+
Series-aiding sources
VT = V 1 + V 2

Series-opposing sources
VT = V 1 - V2

Batteries contain internal resistance. It opposes the flow of charge within the
battery. As the battery ages, internal resistance rises. This is the reason why
a battery loses its power and can no longer supply current when connected
in a circuit
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

IT
E
I1

I2

I3

Characteristics
There is more than one continuous path for electrons to flow
All components are connected between the same set of electrically
common points, points 1,2,3 & 4 are connected together so are 5,6,7,& 8.
Voltage across each branch is the same and equal to E
IT = I1 +I2 +I3
1/RT = 1/R1 +1/R2 +1/R3 (The total R would be less than the smallest R in
the group)
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Junction is where current splits.

IT

Branch is a section between 2

junctions

E
I1

I2

I3

Loop is a closed path in a circuit.

1278 is a loop, so is 2457. How
many loops can you find in this
circuit?

Recall

Conductance (G) = 1/R, hence we can also write

RT = 1/(G1 +G2 +G3) = 1/GT

Hence, conductance is the reciprocal of resistance.
The unit of conductance is mho ( )

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Current Divider Equation

The proportionality between circuit branch
currents is a function of resistance

In = R1 +R2 +...+ Rn I
T
Rn
Where In is the current through a resistor Rn
This equation is useful in determining current relationship in
parallel circuit when the total current IT is known

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Sources in parallel

Each of the parallel sources must have the

same voltage otherwise current will flow
through the lower voltage source
Total voltage will be the same but current
capacity will increase

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Pitfall
One of the most common mistakes made by students
in their application of Ohm's Laws is mixing the
contexts of voltage, current, and resistance. In other
words, a student might mistakenly use a value for I
through one resistor and the value for E across a set of
interconnected resistors, thinking that they'll arrive at
the resistance of that one resistor. Not so! Remember
this important rule: The variables used in Ohm's Law
equations must be common to the same two points in
the circuit under consideration. This is especially
important in series-parallel combination circuits
where nearby components may have different values
for both voltage drop and current.

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

 When using Ohm's Law to calculate a variable pertaining to a

single component, be sure the voltage you're referencing is
solely across that single component and the current you're
referencing is solely through that single component and the
resistance you're referencing is solely for that single component.
For example, if you want to solve
for the
voltage across R2 , that is the
voltage between
points 2 & 3, then by Ohms Law
E32 = I R2

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

 Likewise, when calculating a variable pertaining to a set of

components in a circuit, be sure that the voltage, current, and
resistance values are specific to that complete set of
components only! A good way to remember this is to pay close
attention to the two points terminating the component or set of
components being analyzed, making sure that the voltage in
question is across those two points, that the current in question
is the electron flow from one of those points all the way to the
other point, that the resistance in question is the equivalent of a
single resistor between those two points, and that the power in
question is the total power dissipated by all components
between those two points.
If you want to solve for the voltage across
points 1 and 3, then by Ohms Law
E31 = I (R1 +R2 ) and say
For power dissipated by R1 & R2
P = I2 (R1 +R2 ) = E31 I = E312/(R1 +R2 )
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

R12
R1234
R34

Fig 1

Fig 2

Fig3

Step 1: Assess which resistors in a circuit are connected together in simple series or simple
parallel. In Figure 1, R1 and R2 are connected in parallel, hence to get their
combination, use 1/R12 = 1/R1 + 1/R2 also, 1/R34 = 1/R3 + 1/R4
Step 2: Re-draw the circuit, replacing each of those series or parallel resistor combinations
identified in step 1 with a single, equivalent-value resistor as shown in Figure 2.
Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the entire circuit is reduced to one equivalent resistor
as shown in Figure 3.
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Step 4: Calculate total current from total voltage and

total resistance (I=E/R=24 V/198.70 = 0.12A).
Step 5: Taking total voltage and total current values, go
back to last step in the circuit reduction process and
insert those values where applicable.
R1234

Step 6: Essentially, you will proceed step-by-step from

the simplified version of the circuit back into its original,
complex form, plugging in values of voltage and current
where appropriate until all values of voltage and current
are known using Ohms Law. Note: Please take note of
the what I said in previous slides.
Step 8: Calculate power dissipations from known
voltage, current, and/or resistance values.

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Complicated Circuits
We combine R1 and R2 (series)
We combine R9 and R10 (parallel)
We combine R4 and R5 (parallel)
We combine R1,2 and R9,10 (series)
(see fig. a)
But R6 is neither in series nor in
parallel with other resistors
(see fig b), hence this is a complicated circuit.

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

What is this? Can you simplify this circuit

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Ground and common point

Ground is a common point to which all circuit
values are measured
Considered to be zero volts and is typically
one side of a voltage source

An open circuit has infinite resistance.

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

C1
+

Capacitors in Series
C2

C3

Characteristics of a series circuit

There is only one path for charge q to flow
q is the same all throughout the loop, QT =q1 =q2 =q3
E = V1 +V2 +V3 where V1=q/C1 and V2 = q/C2
1/CT = 1/C1 +1/C2 +1/C3
where CT is less than any individual capacitance

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Capacitors in Parallel
Q

Characteristics
There is more than one continuous path for electrons to flow
Voltage across each branch is the same and equal to E, hence
E = V1=V2 =V3
QT = q1 + q2 + q3
C T = C1 + C2 + C3
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Assessment:

1. Defined as one volt per ampere.

a. Newton
c. Volt

b. Coulomb
d. Ohm

2. It is a section of a circuit between two junctions.

a. loop
b. direct current
c. junction
d. branch
3. A closed conducting path in a circuit.
a. loop
c. junction

b. direct current
d. branch

4. . Any point in the circuit that a current can split.

a. loop
b. direct current
c. junction
d. branch
5. It is the resistance to the flow of charge within the battery.
a. internal resistance
b. maximum voltage
c. electromotive force
d. terminal voltage
6. It is the maximum possible voltage that a battery can provide between its terminals.
a. internal resistance
b. maximum voltage
c. electromotive force
d. terminal voltage
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

Assessment:

7. Which is NOT TRUE for resistors connected in parallel,

a. the same voltage is impressed across all resistors
b. the current through all resistors is the same
c. total resistance is always less than the magnitude of the smallest unit
d. there is an alternative path for current to flow
8. Batteries that are intended to be connected in parallel should always have
a. the same emf
b. different emf
c. different current rating
d. at least of the same size
9. The potential difference applied across the series combination of resistors
a. is the same
b. will divide between resistors
c. will multiply to the number of resistors
d. will accumulate in the circuit
10. Two capacitors are identical. They can be connected in series or in parallel. If you want
the smallest equivalent capacitance for the combination, you connect them in
a. series
b. parallel
c. either way
d. not enough info
11. You have three capacitors and a battery. In which of the following combinations of the
three capacitors will the maximum possible energy be stored when the combination is
attached to the battery?
a. series
b. parallel
c. series-parallel
d. parallel-series
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

12. You have 4 identical bulbs (A,B,C & D) connected as shown, which bulb/s will glow
brightly?
a. A & B
b. B & C
c. A & C
d. B & D

These questions are of low and medium level of cognitive

complexity to measure the learning of the students after the
discussion. When you score below 10 points, you should review
this topic and understand the concept of Ohms Law, Power,
Energy and DC Circuits before proceeding to solve
questions/exercises of higher level of cognitive complexity.
Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH

References
Physics for Scientist and Engrs. By Serway & Jewett, 6th ed. pp.
859-873
Physics for Scientist& Engrs. By Tipler. pp.799-810
Schaums Outlines By Arthur Beiser pp. 288-307
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/cost.html
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/index.html

Phy 271-NEU-CET by LDH