General Physics (calculus based) Class Notes

Dr. Rakesh Kapoor, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Former Faculty-University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294


Circuits

Objectives

In this chapter we will introduce the following concepts

Electromotive force  (emf)

Ideal and real emf devices

Kirchhoff’s loop rule

Kirchhoff’s junction rule

Multiloop circuits

Resistors in series

Resistors in parallel

RC circuits, charging and discharging of a capacitor

Electromotive force (emf)

A "charge pump" is needed to produce a steady flow of charges through a resistor.

In other words a device is needed to maintain a potential difference between a pair of terminals.

Such a device is called an emf device.

It is also called a seat of emf.

emf device supplies the energy for the motion of charges.

emf of the device is represented by an arrow with a small circle on the tail.

The arrow points from the negative terminal toward the positive terminal.

Circuits_1.gif Circuits_2.gif

In mechanical analog a water pump transfers water from low to high reservoir.

The pipe through which, the water flows, is the analog of the resistor.

The term emf comes from the outdated phrase electromotive force, which was adopted before scientists clearly understood the function of an emf device.

Examples : Battery, electric generator, solar cells, fuel cells (power the space shuttles), thermopiles (provide onboard electrical power for some spacecraft).
living systems, ranging from electric eels and human beings to plants, have physiological emf devices.

Work, Energy, and emf

Consider a simple electric circuit.

Circuits_3.gif

Suppose a charge dq passes through any cross section of this circuit, such as aa'.

It means charge dq leaves the high - potential end and enter the low - potential end of emf device after passing through resistor R.

To maintain a continuous flow, inside the device, the charge dq must be moved (pumped) from low-potential to high-potential.

For pumping of charge, the device must do work dW on the charge dq.

The emf of the device is defined in terms of work done by the device per unit charge:

Circuits_4.gif

emf of a device is the work per unit charge that the device does in moving charge from its low - potential terminal to its high - potential terminal.

SI unit for emf is the joule per coulomb; This is defined as the volt.

Ideal and Real emf device.

If V is potential difference across terminals a and b, the emf device is said to be ideal emf device when

Circuits_5.gif

In ideal emf device V does not depend upon the current i, that flows through the device.

In real devices the potential difference V across terminals  a and b is given by equation

Circuits_7.gif

Here r is known as the internal resistance of the emf device

E is positive as it is potential difference between low to high, while  r×i  is potential difference between high to low.

Internal resistance of an ideal emf device is zero.

Point to Remember :

When the direction of red arrow is same as direction of current, emf device does the work.

When red arrow is anti parallel to current direction work is done on the emf device.

Circuits_8.gif Circuits_9.gif

In the circuit shown in figure (a), red arrow of emf device B is parallel to the current direction while red arrow for device A is anti parallel

The work is only done by emf device B.

Work is done on motor, emf device A (for charging) and resistor R.

Energy flow chart is shown in figure (b).

Checkpoint 1

The figure shows the current i in a single-loop circuit with a battery B and a resistance R (and wires of negligible resistance),
(a) Should the emf arrow at B be drawn pointing leftward or rightward?
At points a, b, and c, rank (b) the magnitude of the current, (c) the electric potential, and (d) the electric potential energy of the charge carriers, greatest first.

Circuits_10.gif

Current in a Single-Loop Circuit

Energy Method

Assume that current i flows through the circuit due to emf E supplied by the emf device.

Circuits_11.gif

If dq is the charge flowing through the circuit in time dt

Circuits_12.gif

The work done by the emf device in moving charge dq is

Circuits_13.gif

The power Circuits_14.gif delivered by emf device is

Circuits_15.gif

Power dissipated in the resistor R is given as

Circuits_16.gif

Now the power delivered by emf device should be equal to the power dissipated in the resistor R (It is assumed that the resistance of all the connecting wires is zero)

Circuits_17.gif

Above equation gives relation between E and i as

Circuits_18.gif

Potential Method

LOOP RULE: The algebraic sum of the changes in potential encountered in a complete traversal of any loop of a circuit must be zero.

This is referred to as Kirchhoff' s loop rule or Kirchhoff' s voltage law.

Circuits_19.gif

If we start from point a and come back to point a the total potential difference should be zero.

Let us move along the current, potential difference across emf device from negative terminal to positive terminal is +E, potential difference across resistor R is v=-i R, it is negative as we are moving from higher potential to lower potential.

Net potential difference after coming back to a is

Circuits_20.gif

or

Circuits_21.gif

Points to remember :

For measuring potential difference.

Current always flow from higher to lower potential.

Inside an emf device, charges flow from lower to higher potential.

RESISTANCE RULE: For a move through a resistance in the direction of the current, the change in potential is −i R; in the opposite direction it is +i R.
emf RULE: For a move through an ideal emf device in the direction of the emf arrow, the change in potential is +E; in the opposite direction it is  -E.

Other Single loop Circuits

Internal resistance:

Consider a real emf source with internal resistance r connected to a resistance R.

Circuits_22.gif

If we apply the loop rule clockwise beginning at point a, the changes in potential give us

Circuits_23.gif

Circuits_24.gif

Figure b shows change in potential across different elements of the circuit.

Resistances in Series

When a potential difference V is applied across resistances connected in series, the resistances have identical currents i.

The sum of the potential differences across the resistances is equal to the applied potential difference V.

Circuits_25.gif Circuits_26.gif

In the above circuit sum of different potentials can be given as

Circuits_27.gif

Circuits_28.gif

When resistors are connected in series, equivalent resistor Circuits_29.gif is given as

Circuits_30.gif

The extension to n resistances in series is straightforward and is

Circuits_31.gif

Checkpoint 2

In the figure, if R1 > R2 > R3, rank the three resistances according to (a) the current through them and (b) the potential difference across them, greatest first.

Circuits_32.gif

Hint: Current is same through all the elements.

Checkpoint - 3 (Current in single loop)

Two bulbs are connected in series with a 12 V emf device.
(a) What will be the value of current through loop when both the bulbs have same resistance of 10 Ω?
(b) will the brightness of both equal or different? (Hint: brightness of a bulb is proportional to the power consumed)
(c) If we increase the resistance Circuits_33.gif, how the current will change?
(d) If we increase the resistance Circuits_34.gif, how the brightness of the two bulbs will change?
(e) What will happen to brightness of bulbs when we increase Circuits_35.gif?

Potential Difference between two points.

Consider the following circuit. How to calculate potential difference Circuits_37.gif?

Circuits_38.gif

Step-1: Assume potential at point a  is Circuits_39.gif and potential at point b  is Circuits_40.gif.

Step-2 : Start from point a and go along the path of current, add potential difference across any device in the path from  a to  b.

Step-3: This added up potential should be equal to potential Circuits_41.gif at point b.

Circuits_42.gif

Circuits_43.gif

Now we know E and internal resistance r, but we do not know current i.

Step-4: Total resistance across the emf device is r+R, calculate current i as below

Circuits_44.gif

Step-5: Substitute the value of current i in equation giving us Circuits_45.gif.

Circuits_46.gif

We can substitute the values of E, r and R of a given circuit and found the value of Circuits_47.gif.

Circuits_48.gif

Circuits_49.gif

Similarly current i through the circuit is

Circuits_50.gif

Circuits_51.gif

Potential Difference Across a Real Battery

The points are located on the terminal of a real battery, therefore the terminal to the terminal potential difference V across the battery is

Circuits_52.gif

Grounding a Circuit

Symbol for ground is Circuits_53.gif.  Grounding the circuit usually means connecting the circuit to a conducting path to Earth.

When terminal a is Grounded, potential at a is defined to be Circuits_54.gif, so in above example Circuits_55.gif.

When terminal b is Grounded, potential at b is defined to be Circuits_56.gif, so in above example Circuits_57.gif.

Power of Emf Device

The power delivered by emf device to an external device connected to its terminals (Say a fan) is given as

Circuits_58.gif

V is the potential across the terminals of the device. If we substitute the value of V obtained earlier

Circuits_59.gif

The term Circuits_60.gif corresponds to the internally dissipated power. The power of emf device will be i E.

Circuits_61.gif

Circuits_62.gif

Emf device transfers energy both to the charge carriers and to the internal thermal energy.

When you recharge a battery, you have to supply energy for the battery and for the thermal energy loss in internal resistance.

Checkpoint - 4 (Potential Difference between two points)

A 20 Ω Fan is connected with a 12 V emf device.
(a) When the switch is open what is the potential difference across terminals a and b?
(b) When the switch is closed what will be potential difference across a and b?
(c) If the internal resistor r increases, will the potential difference across a and b increase, decrease or remain same?
(d) If the internal resistor r increases, will the current in the loop increase, decrease or remain same?
(e) How the speed of the fan will change with current i?

Problem - 1 (Potential Difference between two points)

(a) In the following figure, what value must R have if the current in the circuit is to be 1.0 mA? Take Circuits_64.gif,  Circuits_65.gifand  Circuits_66.gif. (b) What is the rate at which thermal energy appears in R?

Circuits_67.gif

Since Circuits_68.gif, we can say that the direction of current i is dictated by Circuits_69.gif and it is anti-clockwise.

Total resistance Circuits_70.gif in the circuit is given as

Circuits_71.gif

Let us find the applied potential difference Circuits_72.gif to all the resistors. It is the potential difference across negative terminals of the emf devices. We start from negative terminal of device Circuits_73.gif and go along the direction of current (we have assumed it to be anti-clockwise). Red arrow of Circuits_74.gif is pointing opposite to the current, therefore it is negative, red arrow of Circuits_75.gif is pointing parallel to the current so it is positive.

Circuits_76.gif

Now the current through the resistor will be given as

Circuits_77.gif

Solving the above equation we get the value of R

Circuits_78.gif

Circuits_79.gif

Circuits_80.gif

Power disputed in resistor R will be given as

Circuits_81.gif

Circuits_82.gif

Circuits_83.gif

Multiloop Circuits

Junction Rule: The sum of current entering any junction is equal to the sum of current leaving that junction.

This rule we have derived in last chapter from conservation of charge argument.

Circuits_84.gif

Circuits_85.gif

Resistance in Parallel

Consider a circuit with three resistances Circuits_86.gif, Circuits_87.gif, Circuits_88.gif in parallel.

Let us first consider the junction A (red dot). Current Circuits_89.gif is entering the junction A and current Circuits_90.gif and Circuits_91.gif are leaving the junction. As per junction rule

Circuits_92.gif

Now let us look at the junction B (blue dot). Current i is entering the junction B and current Circuits_93.gif and Circuits_94.gif are leaving the junction. As per junction rule

Circuits_95.gif

By substituting the value of Circuits_97.gif, in above equation we get

Circuits_98.gif

Potential difference across all the three resistor is V the potential difference across the battery.

As per Ohm's law, the potential difference across the three resistor is given as

Circuits_99.gif

Currents Circuits_100.gif, Circuits_101.gif, Circuits_102.gif, can be now written in terms of corresponding resistances and applied potential difference V as

Circuits_103.gif

By substituting the values of Circuits_104.gif, Circuits_105.gif, and Circuits_106.gif, in the total current equation we get

Circuits_107.gif

Circuits_108.gif

Or

Circuits_109.gif

Circuits_110.gif

With similar logic if there are n resistors connected in parallel, we get equivalent resistors as

Circuits_111.gif

Checkpoint -5 (Multiloop circuit)

Three light bulbs of resistance 10 Ω each are arranged as shown in the circuit.
(a) With Switch-1 on, will the current  Circuits_112.gif and Circuits_113.gif be same or different? Arrange the bulbs as per the brightness, higher first.
(b) With both Switch-1 and Switch-2 on, arrange the currents Circuits_114.gif, Circuits_115.gif and Circuits_116.gif in order of magnitude, higher first.
(c) With both Switch-1 and Switch-2 on, arrange the bulbs as per their brightness with higher first.

Ammeter and Voltmeter

Ammeter

Ammeter is an instrument that measures current in a circuit loop.

The current to be measured should passes through the meter. Therefore ammeter is always inserted in the loop.

Resistance Circuits_118.gif of ammeter should be so low that it does not affect the loop current.

In the following circuit, Circuits_119.gif and Circuits_120.gif.

Circuits_121.gif

Voltmeter

Voltmeter is an instrument that measures potential difference across two points in a circuit.

Voltmeter is connected in parallel to the circuit element (resistance, capacitance, emf source etc.).

Voltmeter should not affect the loop current.

Voltmeter resistance Circuits_122.gif should be much higher than the circuit element resistance.

In the following circuit, Circuits_123.gif.

Circuits_124.gif

RC Circuits

Charging of Capacitor

Consider a circuit shown in the figure with uncharged capacitor.

Suppose at time t=0 s, the switch is flipped to the a position and the capacitor starts getting charged.

Circuits_125.gif

Suppose at any instant of time t, i is the current flowing through the loop and q is the charge on the capacitor C.

As per Kirchoff's loop rule we get

Circuits_126.gif

Here i R is potential difference across resistance R and Circuits_127.gif is the potential difference across the capacitor.

Current Through the circuit is defined as

Circuits_128.gif

We can rewrite the equation as

Circuits_129.gif

Or

Circuits_130.gif

This is a linear differential equation. We can say that change in charge of a capacitor in time dt is given as

Circuits_131.gif

Total charge on the capacitor in time t will be sum of these incremental charges, we can compute it by integration.

Circuits_132.gif

Circuits_133.gif

After solving this equation we get the charge at any time t

Circuits_134.gif

Or

Circuits_135.gif

Where τ = RC, is known as the "time constant" of the circuit.

EC is the maximum possible charge on the capacitor.

Ideally, capacitor will get fully charged in time t=∞ s.

In practice the capacitor will be charged to its 99.3% of its maximum charge in t=5τ.

Circuits_136.gif

Discharging of Capacitor

Now suppose the capacitor is charged and caries charge Circuits_137.gif at time t=0 s, now the switch is flipped to the b position and the capacitor starts getting discharged.

Circuits_138.gif

If i is the current flowing through the loop at any instant of time t and q is the charge on the capacitor C, as per Kirchoff's loop rule we get

Circuits_139.gif

Here Circuits_140.gif is the potential difference across the capacitor. Now

Circuits_141.gif

We can rewrite the equation as

Circuits_142.gif

Or

Circuits_143.gif

Solution for this differential equation is

Circuits_144.gif

Ideally capacitor will get fully discharged in t=∞ s.

Practically capacitor will be left with 0.7% of its maximum charge in t=5τ.

Circuits_145.gif

The current at any time is

Circuits_146.gif

If the capacitor was fully charged at t=0 s, Circuits_147.gif.