Problem set number 1.

Deadline: July 20, 2019. Before start of class.

Instructions: Use short bond paper as your answers sheet. Use only the front side of your answer
sheets. You can work in groups of 3 but you need to submit answers individually. Also, write the name
of your groupmates on your answer sheet. Read chapters 1-4 of electric circuits by Nilsson and Riedel.

Part I Voltmeter and Ammeter

A voltmeter is used to measure voltage. It is connected in parallel to the voltage to be measured.

An ammeter is used to measure current. It is connected in series with the current to be measured.

For example, if we want to measure the current and voltage of the resistor in figure 1.1, the connection
of the ammeter and voltmeter is shown in figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1

It is important to note that both current and voltage are vector values, i.e., they have both magnitude
and direction. In the case of an ammeter, if the current goes into the + port of the ammeter, the
measurement would be positive. Conversely, if the current goes out of the + port of the ammeter, the
current measurement would be negative. While in the case of a voltmeter, if the positive port of the
voltmeter is connected to the node with a higher potential than the negative port, the reading would be
positive. Conversely, if the positive port of the voltmeter is connected to the node with a lower potential
than the negative port, the reading would be negative.

If we would measure the voltage of a 9V battery, we would connect our voltmeter as shown in figure
1.2. The voltmeter would read positive 9V but in case we made the mistake of connecting the positive
port of the voltmeter to the negative port of the battery as shown in figure 1.3, the voltage meter would
read -9V.

Figure 1.2 Figure 1.3

If we would measure the current output of a current source, we would connect our ammeter as shown
in figure 1.4. The ammeter would read positive 1A but in case we made the mistake of connecting the
ammeter as shown in figure 1.5, the ammeter would read -1A.

Figure 1.4 Figure 1.5

Part I Problems
1.1 What is the current read by the ammeter in figure 1.6?

1.2 What is the voltage measured by the voltmeter in figure 1.7?

Figure 1.6 Figure 1.7

Part II Resistors
Let’s say we connect a voltage source to a black box then measure the current going into the black box
and the voltage across the black box as shown in figure 2.1. We then vary the voltage level of the
voltage supply. The voltage vs current plot is shown in figure 2.2.

Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2

We make a few important observations about the plot in Figure 2.2. First, we see that the voltage is
linearly related to the current with the x and y intercept both at 0. We can mathematically model the
relationship of the current and voltage across the black box using the equation of the line in slope-
intercept form, y = mx + b: replacing y with the V to represent voltage, x with I to represent current, and
b with 0 since the y intercept is always 0. We also observe that the slope of the line is always greater
than or equal to 0, i.e., increasing the V would result in increase in I and vice versa. Lastly, we will use
the variable R in order to represent the slope of the line.

In basic circuit analysis, we represent a component with V proportional to I as resistor. The value of a
resistor represents the slope the slope of the voltage vs current graph of the resistor. The value of a
resistor is more commonly known as resistance. Precisely, this is represented as V = IR. This is more
commonly known as Ohm’s law.

We must note that in basic circuit analysis, a resistor is a concept used to represent a linear relationship
between current and voltage. This means that even if we don’t have a physical resistor component, we
can use the resistor in order to model the behavior of a circuit.

Part II Problems
2.1 The voltage vs current graph of a resistor is shown in figure 2.3. What is the resistance of the
resistor?

2.2 In figure 2.4. What is the current i1?

2.3 In figure 2.5. What is the voltage v1?

Figure 2.3 Figure 2.4 Figure 2.5

Part III Kirchhoff’s laws

We say that a circuit is solved when all the currents and voltages across all the circuit components have
been determined. In solving circuits with voltage sources, currents sources, and resistors, Ohm’s law
may not be enough. We will see that Kirchhoff’s laws combined with Ohm’s law will be enough in solving
these types of circuits.

Before we introduce the first of Kirchhoffs’s laws, we first define the concept of a node. A node is a
point where two or more circuit elements meet.

Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL)

The algebraic sum of all the currents at any node in a circuit equals zero.

Since current is a vector value, we need to define a sign convention for currents leaving the node and
currents entering the node. We assign a positive sign for currents leaving the node and a negative sign
for currents entering the node.

To demonstrate this, we use the circuit in figure 3.1. In order to declare that we have solved the circuit
in Figure 3.1, we need to determine i1, i2, v1, v2, vm. Algebra tells us that we need 5 independent
equations in order find a solution for the 5 variables. By inspection, we see that the 1A from the current
source M1 is going into node n1 so we assign a negative sign to the current. While in i1 and i2 we assign
a positive sign since they are both leaving node n1. Finally, we arrive at equation 3.1 by applying KCL at
node n1. We add all the three currents directly connected to n1 which should sum up to zero. Also, we
obtain equations 3.2 and 3.3 using ohm’s law which completes our independent equations.

(eq. 3.1) -1 + i1 + i2 = 0

(eq. 3.2) v1 = i1 * R1
(eq. 3.3) v2 = i2 * R2

We still need two more independent equations in order to complete our equations. We can obtain them
using the second of Kirchhoff’s laws which is Kirchhoff’s voltage law.

Figure 3.1 Figure 3.2

Figure 3.3 Figure 3.4

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)

In defining Kirchhoff’s law, it is necessary to define what a closed path or loop means. Starting at an
arbitrarily selected node, we trace a closed path in a circuit through selected circuit elements and return
to the original node without passing through any intermediate node more than once. In figure 3.1 we
can define three different closed loops. These are shown in figure 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4.

KVL states that the algebraic sum of all the voltages around any closed path in a circuit equals zero.

To use Kirchhoff’s voltage law, we must assign an algebraic sign (reference direction) to each voltage in
the loop. As we trace a closed path, a voltage will appear either as a rise or drop in the tracing direction.
Conversely, giving a negative sign to a voltage rise requires giving a positive sign to a voltage drop.

We demonstrate this using the closed path shown in figure 3.2 and 3.3. In the closed path shown in
figure 3.2 we start at node n1 then down R2. We assign a positive sign to v2 since we are going through
a voltage drop in the tracing direction. Conversely, we assign a negative sign to voltage v1 since we are
going through a voltage rise in the tracing direction. Applying KVL results in equation 3.4. Doing the
same process to the closed path in figure 3.3 will result in equation 3.5. This completes our equations.

(eq. 3.4) v2 – v1 = 0
(eq. 3.5) v1 – vm = 0

Solving for the 5 variables results in

v1 = 50V
v2 = 50V
vm = 50V
i1 = 500mA
i2 = 500mA
Part III Problems

Figure 3.5

3.1 Sum the voltages around each designated path in the circuit shown in figure 3.5.

Path a
Path b
Path c
Path d
 Figure 3.2

3.2 is =
3.3 V1 =
3.4 vo =

Resistors in Series
When only two elements connect at a single node, they are said to be in series. Using KCL it can be
shown that circuit elements in series carry the same current. This is demonstrated in figure 4.1. Equation
4.1 is derived using KCL. Using KVL results in equation 4.2. Factoring out is gives us equation 4.3. Moving
the resistances to the other side of the equation results in equation 4.4 which gives the value of is.

Figure 4.1

(Eq. 4.1) is = i6 = i7 = i8 = i5 = i9 = i10 = i11

(Eq. 4.2) vs = is*R6 + is*R7 + is*R8 + is*R5 + is*R9 + is*R10 + is*R11

(Eq. 4.3) Vs = is(R6 + R7 + R8 + R5 + R9 + R10 + R11)

(Eq. 4.4) Vs/(R6 + R7 + R8 + R5 + R9 + R10 + R11) = is

Substituting (R6 + R7 + R8 + R5 + R9 + R10 + R11) with Req results in equation 4.5.

(Eq. 4.5) Vs/Req = is

Using equation 4.5, we can simplify the circuit in figure 4.1. This is shown in figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2

In general, if n resistors are connected in series, the equivalent single resistor has a resistance equal to
the sum of the n resistances.

Resistors in Parallel
When two elements connect at a single node pair, they are said to be in parallel. Parallel-connected
circuit elements have the same voltage across their terminals. Figure 4.3 shows resistors in parallel to a
voltage source.

Figure 4.3

It is easier to find the equivalent resistance of parallel capacitors by first converting the resistance into
conductance. Then, solve for the equivalent conductance. Finally, convert back the equivalent
conductance into resistance.
Equation 4.6 shows the conversion from resistance to conductance wherein G is the variable used to
represent conductance.

(Eq. 4.6) G = 1/R

Figure 4.4

Figure 4.4 shows the equivalent circuit using the conductance.

Figure 4.5 shows the circuit with the equivalent conductance. The equivalent conductance is given by
equation 4.7. Lastly, the Geq can be converted back to Req using equation 4.6. Equation 4.8 shows Req
in terms of R1, R2, and R3.

(Eq. 4.7) Geq = G1 + G2 + G3

1
(Eq. 4.8) 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 1 + 1 + 1
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3
Part IV Problems
4.1 In figure 4.5, find the voltage v.

Figure 4.5

RC circuits

Part V Problems
5.1) Refer to the circuit shown in figure 5.1. Consider the state of the circuit at t→∞

5.1a) vc =
5.1b) ic =
5.1c) ir =
5.1d vr =

Figure 5.1

5.2) Refer to the circuit shown in figure 5.2. Consider the state of the circuit at t→∞

5.1a) vc =
5.1b) ic =
5.1c) ir =
5.1d vr =

Figure 5.2
5.3) Refer to the circuit in figure 5.3. At t < 0, vc = 0 and SW1 is open. Then, at t=0, SW1 is closed.

5.3a) at t<0, ic =
5.3b) at t<0, vr =
5.3c) at t<0, ir =

5.3d) at t=0, ic =
5.3e) at t=0, vc =
5.3f) at t=0, ir =
5.3g) at t=0, vr =

5.3h) at t→∞, vc =
5.3i) at t→∞, ic =
5.3j) at t→∞, vr = Figure 5.3

5.3k) at t→∞, ir =

5.3l) at t=0, is the capacitor charging or discharging?

5.3m) at t=0, τ=
5.3n) Using the voltage vs time plane, sketch the shape of vc vs time starting from t = 0 to t = 5ms.
5.3o) at t=0, What is the equation that relates vc vs time.
5.3p) at t = 5ms, vc =

5.4) Refer to the circuit in figure 5.4. At t < 0, SW1 is closed for a very long time. Then, at t = 0, SW1 is
opened.

5.4a) at t<0, ic =
5.4b) at t<0, vc =
5.4c) at t<0, ir =

5.4d) at t=0, ic =
5.4e) at t=0, vc =
5.4f) at t=0, ir =

5.4g) at t→∞, vc =
5.4h) at t→∞, ic = Figure 5.4

5.4i) at t→∞, ir =

5.4j) at t=0, is the capacitor charging or discharging?

5.4k) at t=0, τ=
5.4l) Using the voltage vs time plane, sketch the shape of vc vs time starting from t = 0 to t = 5ms.
5.4m) at t=0, what is the equation that relates vc vs time.
5.4n) at t = 5ms, vc =
THE ALGEBRA OF COMPLEX NUMBERS

We define j as the imaginary unit with property j2 = -1. We can obtain a complex number by adding and
multiplying real numbers to the imaginary unit. An example of an imaginary number is a + bj where a
and b are real numbers; bj = b*j. In our example, we call a as the real part of a complex number, and we
call b as the imaginary part of a complex number. If a = 0, i.e. bj, the number is said to be purely
imaginary; if b = 0, i.e. a, it is said to be real. Zero is the only number which is at once real and purely
imaginary. Two complex numbers are equal if and only if they have the same real part and the same
imaginary part. (Ahlfors, 1979)

Addition of Complex numbers

We demonstrate the addition of two complex numbers in equation 6.1 where a, b, c and d are real
numbers. In adding complex numbers, we add the real parts to the real parts; we add imaginary parts to
imaginary parts. Examples 6.1 to 6.4 illustrates this.

(eq. 6.1) (a + bj) + (c + dj) = (a + c) + (b + d)j

(e.g. 6.1) (1 + 2j) + (3 + 4j) = (1 + 3) + (2 + 4)j = 4 + 6j

(e.g. 6.2) 1 + (2 + 3j) = 3 + 3j

(e.g. 6.3) j + (2 + 3j) = 2 + (1 + 3)*j = 2 + 4j

(e.g. 6.4) j + 2j = (1 + 2)j = 3j

Multiplication of Complex numbers

We demonstrate the addition of two complex numbers in equation 6.2 where a, b, c and d are real
numbers. In multiplying complex numbers, we apply the distributive property of addition. Then, we
continue with adding complex numbers as described earlier. Note that j2 = -1, j3 = -j, j0 = 1, and j4 = 1.
Examples 6.5 to 6.8 demonstrate multiplication of complex numbers.
(eq. 6.2) (a + bj)(c + dj) = ac + adj + bcj + bdj2 = (ac - bd) + (ad + bc)j

(e.g. 6.5) (1 + 2j)(3 + 4j) = 1*3 + 1*4j + 2*3j + 2*4j2 = (3 - 8) + (4 + 6)j = -5 + 10j

(e.g. 6.6) 2(3+4j) = 2*3 + (2*4)j = 6 + 8j

(e.g. 6.7) 2j(3+4j) = 2*3j + 2*4j2 = -8 + 6j

(e.g. 6.8) 2j(3j) = 6j2 = -6

Division of Complex numbers

It is also possible to divide complex numbers. This is shown in equation 6.3 where a, b, c and d are real
numbers and b + dj ≠ 0. Example 6.9 demonstrates this.
 𝑎+𝑏j 𝑎+𝑏j 𝑐−𝑑j (𝑎𝑐+𝑏𝑑)+(𝑏𝑐−𝑎𝑑)j 𝑎𝑐+𝑏𝑑 (𝑏𝑐−𝑎𝑑)
(eq. 6.3) = ∗ = = + 2 2 j
𝑐+𝑑j 𝑐+𝑑j 𝑐−𝑑j (𝑐 2 + 𝑑 2 ) (𝑐 2 + 𝑑 2 ) (𝑐 + 𝑑 )

1+2j 1+2j 3−4j (1∗3+2∗4)+(2∗3−1∗4)j 11 2

(e.g. 6.9) 3+4j
= 3+4j
∗ 3−4j = (32 + 4 2 )
= 25
+ 25 j

Part VI Problems

Problem 6.1 What is the imaginary part of 1 + 2j?

Problem 6.2 What is the real part of 1 + 2j?
Problem 6.3 (5 + 6j) + (7 + 8j) =
Problem 6.4 5 + (6 + 7j) =
Problem 6.5 5j + (6 + 7j) =
Problem 6.6 5j + 6j =
Problem 6.7 2j – 3j =

Complex impedance
The voltage vs current relationship for a resistor can be described by V = IR where R is the resistance
value of the resistors. For a capacitor and inductor, the voltage vs current relationship is described by
equations 7.1 and 7.2.

𝑑𝑣
(eq. 7.1) 𝑖=𝐶
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑖
(eq. 7.2) 𝑣=𝐿
𝑑𝑡

In the time domain, the relationship between voltage and current for a capacitor and inductor are in
differential form. However, if we analyze this relationship in the frequency domain, the relationship can
be described as shown in equation 7.3, where V and I are the voltages in the frequency domain; Z is the
impedance of the passive element.

(eq. 7.3) 𝑉 = 𝑍𝐼

Circuit Element Impedance Reactance

Resistor R -
Inductor jωL ωl
Capacitor j(-1/ωC) -1/ωC

Table 7.1

Table 7.1 shows the summary for the impedance and reactance of a resistor, inductor and capacitor.

Impedance in the frequency domain is the quantity analogous to resistance, inductance and capacitance
in the time domain. The imaginary part of the impedance is called reactance. (Nilsson and Riedel, 2011)
This means that in the frequency domain, we can represent all the passive components with their
impedances then solve the circuit as though we are working with a resistor network.

(e.g. 7.1) Refer to figure 7.1. Find the Zeq as seen by the voltage source.

First, find the impedance for all the passive elements. Refer to table 7.1
for the equivalent impedances of passive elements.
Z1 = 1k ohms
Zc1 = -j/ω(1000000) ohms

Then, solving for Zeq we can just add impedance Z1 and Zc1 since they are in
series. Thus
−1000000
𝑍𝑒𝑞 = 𝑍1 + 𝑍𝑐1 = 1000 + ω
j Figure 7.1

Part VII Problems

Problem 7.1 Refer to figure 7.2. Find the equivalent impedance as seen by the voltage source.
Problem 7.2 Refer to figure 7.3. Find the equivalent impedance as seen by the voltage source.
Problem 7.3 Refer to figure 7.4. Find the equivalent impedance as seen by the voltage source.
Problem 7.4 Refer to figure 7.5. Find the equivalent impedance as seen by the voltage source.

Figure 7.2 Figure 7.3 Figure 7.4 Figure 7.5