Circuits

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Table of Contents

#UCLA #Y1Q3 #Physics1B

Circuits


Key Definitions

Steady-state circuit - circuit which maintains constant current

Power - the rate of energy delivered or extracted from a circuit


Steady-State Circuits


Potential in a Circuit

The net change in potential energy for a travelling around a circuit must be zero Thus, the electric potential around a circuit must also be 0. I.e.

\(V_{source}=IR\)

Energy and Power

The power flowing through a circuit is given by:

\(P=IV\)

The power is independent of Ohm’s Law, but if the law is true, then:

\(P=IV=I^2R=\frac{V^2}{R}\)

Circuit Organization

In Series

Potential Difference

\(\Delta V_{eq}=\sum \Delta V_{R_i}\)

Current

\(I_{eq} = I_{R_i}\)

Resistance

\(R_{eq}=\sum R_i\)

Capacitance

\(\frac{1}{C_{eq}}=\sum \frac{1}{C_i}\)

In Parallel

Potential Difference

\(\Delta V_{eq}=\Delta V_{R_i}\)

Current

\(I_{eq}=\sum I_{R_i}\)

Resistance

\(\frac{1}{R_{eq}} = \sum \frac{1}{R_i}\)

Capacitance

\(C_{eq}=\sum C_i\)

Kirchhoff’s Rules

Current/Junction Rule

The current entering a junction is equivalent to the current leaving the junction:

\(\sum I_{in} = \sum I_{out}\)

Voltage/Loop Rule

Because in a DC circuit the draining the current in the circuit is conservative:

\(\oint \vec E \cdot d\vec l = 0\)

Thus in closed loop circuits:

\((\sum \Delta V)_{loop}=0\)