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Jul 31, 2024 · electric circuit, path for transmitting electric current. An electric circuit includes a device that gives energy to the charged particles constituting the current, such as a battery or a generator; devices that use current, such as lamps, electric motors, or computers; and the connecting wires or transmission lines. Two of the basic laws that ...
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A circuit diagram, also known as an electrical diagram, elementary diagram, or electronic schematic, is a graphical representation that simplifies an electrical circuit. It serves as a visual tool for the design, construction, and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment.
- A circuit diagram, also called an electrical diagram, elementary diagram or electronic schematic is a simplified graphical representation of an ele...
- Circuit diagrams are used for the design, construction and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment.
- The electrical symbols of various electrical devices such as batteries, resistors and electric bulbs are used in a circuit diagram.
- A simple circuit is a circuit that contains the three basic components needed for an electric circuit to function. The three basic components are a...
- A pictorial circuit diagram uses simple images of components, while a schematic diagram shows the components of the circuit as simplified standard...
A circuit is an unbroken loop of conductive material that allows charge carriers to flow through continuously without beginning or end. If a circuit is “broken,” that means its conductive elements no longer form a complete path, and continuous charge flow cannot occur in it. The location of a break in a circuit is irrelevant to its ...
Jump To Next Lesson: Journey of a Typical Electron. An electric circuit involves the flow of charge in a complete conducting loop. When here is an electric circuit light bulbs light, motors run, and a compass needle placed near a wire in the circuit will undergo a deflection. When there is an electric circuit, a current is said to exist.
- Overview
- Circuit
- Schematic
- Schematic equivalence
- A schematic puzzle
- Concept check: Equivalence
- Drawing a good schematic
Glossary of terms we need to talk about circuits and schematics. Nodes, branches, loops and meshes, reference node and ground, and schematic "equivalence." Written by Willy McAllister.
We are developing methods for analyzing a circuit. So far we've defined the most common components (resistor, capacitor, and inductor) and sources (voltage and current). Now we need a crisp vocabulary to talk about circuits. This article is a glossary of terms and concepts we use in circuit analysis and design.
•(Choice A)
3 nodes
•(Choice B)
4 nodes
Circuit comes from the word circle. A circuit is a collection of real components, power sources, and signal sources, all connected so current can flow in a complete circle.
Closed circuit – A circuit is closed if the circle is complete, if all currents have a path back to where they came from.
Open circuit – A circuit is open if the circle is not complete, if there is a gap or opening in the path.
Short circuit – A short happens when a path of low resistance is connected (usually by mistake) to a component. The resistor shown below is the intended path for current, and the curved wire going around it is the short. Current is diverted away from its intended path, sometimes with damaging results. The wire shorts out the resistor by providing a low-resistance path for current (probably not what the designer intended).
A schematic is a drawing of a circuit. A schematic represents circuit elements with symbols and connections as lines.
Elements – The term elements means "components and sources."
Symbols – Elements are represented in schematics by symbols. Symbols for common 2-terminal elements are shown here,
Lines – Connections between elements are drawn as lines, which we often think of as "wires". On a schematic, these lines represent perfect conductors with zero resistance. Every component or source terminal touched by a line is at the same voltage.
Dots – Connections between lines can be indicated by dots. Dots are an unambiguous indication that lines are connected. If the connection is obvious, you don't have to use a dot.
Reference designator – When you place a component in a schematic you often give it a unique name, known as a reference designator. Examples of reference designators are R1 , C6 , and VBAT . The 1 in R1 is part of the name, and does not indicate the resistance value. Reference designators are by definition unique for each schematic. They let you identify components by name even if some of them have the same value. It is okay to use reference designators in equations. R1 can be assigned a resistance value, R1=4.7kΩ , and it can be used as a variable in expressions, as in R2⋅C6=4.7kΩ⋅2μF .
We need to take a second to talk about the idea of schematic equivalence. This is important because a circuit can be represented by schematics drawn in different ways.
The following two schematics are drawn differently. The schematic on the left shows a voltage source and three resistors in numerical order. In the schematic the right, resistor R3 appears to the left of the voltage source.
Do both of these schematics properly represent the intended circuit? Or said another way,
Are these two schematics equivalent?
We say a real circuit and a schematic (or two schematics), are equivalent if they have the same nodes and branches.
To be equivalent, two schematics must:
I'm going to point out something that may seem baffling, (but only for a moment). As we just established, the following two schematics are equivalent. But, not everything is exactly the same. The individual point-to-point connections of the lines between elements are not the same.
Look at the blue arrow in the left schematic. That wire carries the current flowing towards R2 and R3 .
Can you find the equivalent wire in the schematic on the right?
(Find a wire carrying the current going to R2 and R3 .)
[Where is that wire?]
What is going on? It is a trick question, to highlight something about the nature of schematics.
Here is a brainteaser to help you check your understanding of schematic equivalence.
Which of these schematics represent the same circuit (are equivalent)?
Assume all resistors have the same value.
Take your time, this isn't simple.
Hint: There are three answers.
[show a hint]
A good schematic serves a number of noble purposes. A good schematic
•captures the design of a circuit in an unambiguous way.
•allows you to share your design with other people.
•helps you remember how your circuit works, even a month from now.
Both you and your colleagues will appreciate these drawing habits for creating good schematics,
•Place inputs on the left, and outputs on the right.
A circuit is a path that starts and stops at the same place, which is exactly what we're doing. Click this link to see a simulation of current flowing through a simple circuit. This simulation requires Java to run. *Benjamin Franklin originally wrote that electricity flows from the positive side of a voltage source to the negative side.
People also ask
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Circuit diagram. A circuit diagram (or: wiring diagram, electrical diagram, elementary diagram, electronic schematic) is a graphical representation of an electrical circuit. A pictorial circuit diagram uses simple images of components, while a schematic diagram shows the components and interconnections of the circuit using standardized symbolic ...
