Electric charge

  • Electric charge is quantized, that is, exists in discrete quantities which are integer multiples of the elementary charge
    • The charge of an electron is and the charge of a proton is
    • The SI unit of charge is the coulomb (C)
  • Conservation of charge: the total charge in an isolated system remains constant
  • An object can become charged by:
    • rubbing (friction)
    • conduction (transfer of charge from one charged object to another by touching)
    • induction

Coulomb’s Law

\documentclass[varwidth]{standalone}
\usepackage{xcolor,tikz,amsmath}
\newcommand*\circled[2]{\tikz[baseline=(char.base)]{\node[shape=circle,draw,fill=#1,inner sep=2pt] (char) {#2};}}
\begin{document}
$\underset{q_1}{\circled{red!40}{$\pm$}}$ 
$\underset{\vec{\mathbf{F}}_{12}}{\longrightarrow}$ 
$\underset{\vec{\mathbf{F}}_{21}}{\longleftarrow}$ 
$\underset{q_2}{\circled{blue!40}{$\mp$}}$
\\
$\underset{\vec{\mathbf{F}}_{12}}{\longleftarrow}$
$\underset{q_1}{\circled{red!40}{$\pm$}}$
$\underset{q_2}{\circled{red!40}{$\pm$}}$ 
$\underset{\vec{\mathbf{F}}_{21}}{\longrightarrow}$
\end{document}
  • is the electrostatic force (or Coulomb force) between two charges (in )

    • and are the magnitudes of the charges (in )
    • is the distance between the charges (in )
    • is Coulomb’s constant
    • is the permittivity of free space
  • limitations and assumptions of Coulomb’s Lawtodo

    • point charges
    • objects are at rest (electrostatics force)
    • electric force

Electric field

  • The electric field of is defined as a vector field that associates to each point in space the force per unit of charge exerted on an infinitesimal test charge at rest at that point
  • SI unit of electric field is
  • is Coulomb’s constant
  • (vector form: )
    • is the electric field that a charge experiences (in )
    • is the force on a charge (in )
    • is the test charge (in )
  • is the electric field (uniform )
    • is the potential difference between points and (in )
    • is the distance between the points (in )

Electric field of a single point charge

  • (vector form: )
    • is the point in space where the electric field is being calculated
    • is the point charge creating the electric field (in )
    • is the electric field created by a point charge (in )
    • is the distance between the charge and the point in space (in )
    • is the unit vector pointing from the charge to the point in space
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\definecolor{_red}{HTML}{D63146}
\definecolor{_pink}{HTML}{ef3875}
\definecolor{_green}{HTML}{5dc3ad}
\newcommand{\customarrow}[5]{
	\draw[ultra thick, arrows = {-Stealth[reversed, reversed]}, color=#4] (#1,#2) -- (#3,#2) node[midway, below] {#5};
}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\customarrow{0}{0}{1}{_red}{$\vec{\mathbf{E}}$}
\draw[fill] (0,0) circle [radius=0.08] node[above] {$P$};
\draw[fill=_green, draw=none] (2,0) circle [radius=0.2] node[right, xshift=0.2cm] {$Q$};
\node at (2, 0) {$-$};
\node at (4, 0) {$\mathsf{negative\ charge}$};
\draw[|-|] (0,0.7) -- (2,0.7) node[midway, below] {$r$};
\customarrow{0}{-1}{-1}{_red}{$\vec{\mathbf{E}}$}
\draw[fill] (0,-1) circle [radius=0.08] node[above] {$P$};
\draw[fill=_pink, draw=none] (2,-1) circle [radius=0.2] node[right, xshift=0.2cm] {$Q$};
\node at (2, -1) {$+$};
\node at (4, -1) {$\mathsf{positive\ charge}$};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

There is no electric charge at point . But there is an electric field there. The only real charge is .

Superposition principle

  • the total force on a charge is the vector sum of the forces exerted by the other charges

todo

  • electric field lines
  • electric dipole
  • static electric field
  • equipotential surfaces, equipotential lines

Electric potential energy

  • Electric potential energy is the energy stored in a system of charges due to their positions relative to each other
  • is an uniform electric field,
  • is a tiny positive charge first placed at point near the positive plate and then released from rest and accelerates toward the negative plate.
    • is the work done by the electric field to move a charge a distance
    • is the change in electric potential energy when a charge moves from point to point
  • is the work done by an external force to move a charge from infinity to a distance from a charge
    • is the work done by an external force (in )
    • is the charge creating the electric field (in )
    • is the charge being moved (in )
    • is the distance between the charges (in )

Electric energy

  • Electric energy is the capacity to do work
    • is electrical energy (in joules) absorbed or supplied by an element from time to time
    • is power (in watts)
    • is voltage (in volts)
    • is current (in amperes)
  • Units of electrical energy
    • (joule)
    • (kilowatt-hour) which is the energy consumed by a 1-kilowatt appliance in 1 hour
    • (electronvolt) which is the energy acquired by a particle carrying a charge whose magnitude equals that on the electron as a result of moving through a potential difference of

Electric Potential

  • Electric potential (or simply potential) is the electric potential energy per unit charge.

    • is the electric potential (in , volts)
    • is the electric potential energy at point (in , joules)
    • is the charge (in , coulombs)
  • (Coulomb potential)todo

    • is the electric potential due to a point charge (in )
    • is the point charge creating the electric potential (in )
    • is the distance between the charge and the point in space (in )
    • is Coulomb’s constant

Voltage

  • Voltage (or (electrical) potential difference) is the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit.

    • is the voltage between points and .
      • is the work done in moving unit charge from to (in )
      • and are the electric potentials at points and (in )
    • The SI unit of voltage is the volt (V), defined as .
    • We often use ground (0 V) or infinity as a reference point.
    • Given a point with a higher potential and a point with a lower potential :
      • A negative charge placed at has higher potential energy than at , so it will move from to (when released) and decrease its potential energy.
      • A positive charge placed at has higher potential energy than at , so it will move from to (when released) and decrease its potential energy.
      • In both cases, .
  • is the electric field (uniform )

    • is the potential difference between points and (in )
    • is the distance between the points (in )
    • is the electric field (in )

Electric power

  • Electric power is the rate of transfer of electrical energy within a circuit
    • is electrical energy (in joules)
    • is time (in seconds)
    • is power (in watts)
    • is voltage (in volts)
    • is current (in amperes)
    • is charge (in coulombs)
    • is the power dissipated by the resistor (in )
    • is the resistance of the resistor (in )
    • is the current through the resistor (in )

Electric current

  • Electric current is the flow of electric charge

    • is the electric current of the circuit (in )
    • is the electric charge has passed through some surface in the circuit up to time (in )
    • is interval during which the charge flows (in )
  • The SI unit of current is the ampere (abbreviated or ), defined as

  • A current is positive if it flows from the positive terminal of a voltage source to the negative terminal

  • todo

    • electric current (aka: conventional current) is a flow of electric charge
      • The direction of conventional current is that of positive charge flow.
      • electric current from to is equivalent to a negative electron flow from to
      • conventional current combines the effects of electron, ion, proton, and hole flows all into one number.
      • Positive conventional current always flows from a high potential to a low potential.
      • conventional current is not the opposite of electron current
      • Electron current is a subset of conventional current.
    • A 19th-century convention, still in use, treats any electric current as a flow of positive charge from a region of positive potential to one of negative potential.
      • The real motion, however, in the case of electrons flowing through a metal conductor, is in the opposite direction, from negative to positive.

Alternating Current

  • is the voltage of an alternating current (see sine wave)
    • is the peak voltage (in ) (the amplitude)
    • is the angular frequency (in ) where is the frequency (in )
    • is time (in )
  • is the current of an alternating current
    • is the current (in )
    • is the resistance (in )
    • is the peak current (in )
  • is the power transformed in a resistance at time
    • Because the current is squared, the power is always positive
    • The average power is
  • The rms values of sinusoidally alternating currents and voltages are:

Resistance & Conductance

\usepackage{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
\draw (0,0) to [V, l={$V$}, invert](0,2) to[short, >, i=$I$](2,2) to [R, l={$R$}](2,0) to (0,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
  • the electric current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points
    • Ohm’s Law holds for ohmic materials (like most metals) but not for non-ohmic materials (like diodes, transistors, and other semiconductors)
    • The unit of resistance is the () defined as
    • The reciprocal of resistance is called the electrical conductance (in , siemens, which is )
      • is the voltage (in )
      • is the current (in )
      • is the resistance (in )
  • Electrical resistivity (or specific resistance) denoted by , is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electric current
      • is the resistance of the conductor (in )
      • is the resistivity of the material (in )
      • is the length of the conductor (in )
      • is the cross-sectional area of the conductor (in )
    • The reciprocal of the resistivity, called the electrical conductivity (or specific conductance) is (in , siemens per meter, or )

Resistor

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
\draw (0,0) to [R, l={$R$}](2,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
  • The resistors could be simple resistors, or they could be lightbulbs, heating elements, or other resistive devices

Series Resistors

\usepackage{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
    \draw (0,0) to [battery1, l_={$V$}] (6,0) to (6,1)
    to [R, l_={$R_3$}] (4,1) 
    to [R, l_={$R_2$}] (2,1) 
    to [R, l_={$R_1$}] (0,1) 
    -- (0,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
  • When resistors are connected end to end along a single path they are said to be connected in series
    • Any charge that passes through will pass through and so on, hence the same current flows through each resistor in series
    • When we add resistors in series:
      • the current through the circuit decreases (more resistors to pass through)
      • the net resistance increases (the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances)
    • If are the voltages across (resp.) then is the total voltage across the series

Parallel Resistors

\usepackage{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
	\draw (-1,0) -- (2,0) to (-1,0) to [battery1, l_={$V$}] (-1,-2) -- (2,-2);
	\draw (0,0) to [R, l={$R_1$}, i={$I_1$}](0,-2);
	\draw (1,0) to [R, l={$R_2$}, i={$I_2$}](1,-2);
	\draw (2,0) to [R, l={$R_3$}, i={$I_3$}](2,-2);
	\draw (-1,0) to [short, i={$I$}] (0,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
  • We say that resistors are connected in parallel when the current from the source splits into paths
    • are the currents through each resistor
    • is the total current in the circuit
    • When we add resistors in parallel:
      • the current in the circuit increases (more paths for the current to flow)
      • the net (or equivalent) resistance decreases
      • (example: a parallel circuit with two resistors of has a total resistance of , so )

the eq is short for equivalent, which means that the total resistance of the circuit is the same as the resistance of a single resistor that would replace the parallel resistors or series resistors

Kirchhoff’s Circuit Laws

  • Kirchhoff’s (circuit) laws (or Kirchhoff’s rules) are two equalities that deal with the current and potential difference.

Kirchhoff’s Current Law

  • aka: first law, junction rule

  • For any node in an electrical circuit, the algebraic sum of the currents flowing into and out of the node is zero. Mathematically

    • is the current flowing through the -th branch
    • is the total number of branches with currents flowing towards or away from the node
    • Currents flowing into the node are considered positive, and currents flowing out of the node are considered negative (or vice versa, depending on the convention chosen)
  • This law is based on the conservation of electric charge

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

  • aka: second law, loop rule

  • The voltage drop is the decrease in electric potential along the path of a current flowing in a circuit

  • In one traversal of any closed loop, the sum of the voltage rises equals the sum of the voltage drops.

  • given a circuit with a voltage source and resistors :

    • is the current through the circuit
    • is the voltage drop across the -th resistor
    • is equal to minus the voltage drop across
  • This law is based on the conservation of energy

Electromotive force

  • A source (or electromotive force or emf) is a device that transforms some other form of energy into electrical energy
  • The potential difference (voltage) between the terminals of a source when no current is flowing is called the emf of the source
    • The emf of a source is determined by the chemical reactions that occur within the source
  • The terminal voltage (difference) is the potential difference between the terminals of a source
  • The internal resistance of a source is the resistance that the source itself has to the flow of current
    • Unless stated otherwise, we assume the battery’s internal resistance is negligible, and the battery voltage given is its terminal voltage
  • is the terminal voltage of a source
    • is the emf of the source (in )
    • is the current that flows through the source (in )
    • is the internal resistance of the source (in )
    • When (no current is flowing), (the terminal voltage equals the emf)

Electrical Circuits

  • elements of an electric circuit:

    • A branch represents a single two-terminal element (such as a voltage source or a resistor)
    • A node (or junction) is the point of connection between two or more branches
      • Nodes that are connected by perfectly conducting wires are considered to be the same node
  • classification of elements:

    • terminals number:
      • One-port elements (two terminals) - dioes, resistors, capacitors, inductors
      • Two-port elements (four terminals)
      • Multiport elements
    • energy source:
      • passive elements do not have a source of energy - dioes, resistors, capacitors, inductors
      • active elements (or sources) have a source of energy - voltage sources, current sources - dependent sources
    • linearity:
      • linear elements have a linear relationship between voltage and current
        • resistors, capacitors, inductors
      • nonlinear elements are elements in which the relation between voltage and current is a nonlinear function
        • dioes
  • sources

    • An ideal independent source is an active element that provides a specified voltage or current that is completely independent of other circuit elements
  • A short circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching zero, so

  • An open circuit is a circuit element with resistance approaching infinity, so

  • todo

    • Components of an electrical circuit
      • Voltage source
        • Terminals:
          • Positive voltage terminal (higher voltage)
          • Negative voltage terminal (lower voltage)
    • Passive sign convention (PSC)
      • electric power is positive if it flows out of the circuit into an electrical component
      • electric power negative if it flows into the circuit out of a component
      • Passive components (loads) will have positive power dissipation () and positive resistance ()
      • Active components (sources) will have negative power dissipation () and negative resistance ()
      • The conventional current variable :
        • If is defined such that positive current enters the device through the positive voltage terminal:
          • and
        • If is defined such that positive current enters the device through the negative voltage terminal:
          • and
\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
\draw (0,0) to [V, l={$v$}](2,0) to[short, =>, i=$i$](3,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Light-emitting diode

  • A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it
\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
\draw (0,0) to [leDo, l={$$}](2,0);	
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Capacitance

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
\draw (0,0) to [C, l={$C$}](2,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
  • A capacitor is a device that can store electric charge, and normally consists of two condaucting objects (usually plates or sheets) placed near each other but not touching
    • The capacitor was originally known as the condenser
    • is the relationship between charge, capacitance, and voltage
      • is the charge stored on the capacitor (in )
      • is the capacitance of the capacitor (in , farads)
      • is the voltage across the capacitor (in )
    • is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor
      • is the capacitance (in )
      • is the permittivity of free space (or vacuum permittivity) that is
      • is the area of the plates (in )
      • is the separation between the plates (in )

Voltage Source

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, thick]
\draw (0,0) to [V, l={$V$}](2,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Notation

Symbols for independent voltage sources

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, voltage dir=RP]
% First circuit (A)
\draw (0.5,-1) node[above] {\textsf{constant/time-varying voltage}};
\draw (0,2.5) to [short, -o] (1,2.5);
\draw (0,0) to [V, -, v={$v$}](0,2.5);
\draw (0,0) to [short, -o] (1,0);
% Second circuit (B), shifted to the right by 5 units
\begin{scope}[shift={(5,0)}]
\draw (0.5,-1) node[above] {\textsf{constant voltage (DC)}};
\draw (0,2.5) to [short, -o] (1,2.5);
\draw (0,0) to [battery1, -, v={$V$}](0,2.5);
\draw (0,0) to [short, -o] (1,0);
\end{scope}
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, voltage dir=RP]
\draw (0,0) to [V, l={$9\ \mathsf{V}$}](0,2) to[short](2,2) to [R, l={$10\ \mathsf{k\Omega}$}](2,0) to (0,0);
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

or shoter version

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
\draw (0,0) to [short, o-, l={$9\ \mathsf{V}$}](0,-1) to[R, l={$10\ \mathsf{k\Omega}$}](0,-2) to[short](0,-2.5) node[ground] {};
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Ground

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
\draw (0,0) node[ground] {};
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Electric Battery

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
 
% battery symbol `battery1`
%\draw (2,0) to [battery1, l={$\mathsf{}$}] (3,0);
 
% `battery1`, polarity marks below, without text
\draw (0,0) to [battery1, l={$\mathsf{}$}, v_=$\;$] (1,0);
 
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}
  • A Galvanic cell (or voltaic cell) is an electrochemical cell that converts chemical energy into electrical energy, consisting of:
    • two electrodes: conductors through which electric current enters or leaves the cell
      • anode (): the electrode where oxidation occurs (loses electrons)
      • cathode (): the electrode where reduction occurs (gains electrons)
      • the part of each electrode outside the solution is called the terminal which is used to connect the cell to a circuit
    • An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity by allowing ions to move and can exist either as a liquid (wet cell) or a paste (dry cell)
  • A battery is a collection of electric cells connected together
  • The total voltage of a series (connected end-to-end positive to negative) connection is the sum of the voltages of the individual cells
  • The total voltage of an opposite series connection

Example: Bunsen cell (zinc-carbon & dilute sulfuric acid)

  • Electrodes:
    • Zinc anode: Zinc metal dissolves into the electrolyte as zinc ions (), leaving behind electrons on the zinc electrode, which becomes negatively charged.
    • Carbon cathode: The sulfuric acid electrolyte pulls electrons from the carbon electrode, making it positively charged.
  • Electrolyte: The dilute sulfuric acid () serves as the electrolyte, allowing ions (e.g., ) to move between the electrodes while completing the internal charge balance.
  • Chemical Reaction:
    • At the zinc anode: Zinc undergoes oxidation (), releasing electrons into the electrode and producing zinc ions.
    • At the carbon cathode: Electrons flow from the zinc anode to the carbon cathode through an external circuit, where reduction reactions can take place.
  • Voltage: The zinc electrode becomes negatively charged, and the carbon electrode becomes positively charged, creating a potential difference (voltage) between the two terminals.
  • Current:
    • (closed circuit) Electrons flow through the external circuit from the zinc anode to the carbon cathode, creating an electric current.
    • (open circuit) When the terminals are not connected, only a small amount of the zinc is dissolved,
  • todo
    • terms
      • dry cell
      • half-cell
      • salt bridge
      • standard electrode potential
      • volatge regulator
      • State of charge (SoC)
      • State of health (SoH)
      • battery management system (BMS)
    • why does electric cars typically have only one gear?

Digital electronics

  • transistor
    • A transistor is a semiconductor device that can amplify or switch current
      • BJT (bipolar junction transistor)
        • The base is the control terminal
        • The collector is the high-voltage terminal
        • The emitter is the low-voltage terminal
        • Type of BJT:
          • NPN (negative-positive-negative)
          • PNP (positive-negative-positive)
      • FET (field-effect transistor)
  • a Logic Gates is a device that implements a logic function
Figure: An NPN transistor as a switch

todo

\usepackage{color,graphicx,circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american, scale=0.7, every node/.style={transform shape}]
\draw (0,0) node[npn](npn){};
\draw (npn.B) to[R, -o] ++(-2,0) node[left] {$V_{\mathrm{in}}$};
\draw (npn.C) to[short, -o] ++(0,0) node[above] {$V_{\mathrm{cc}}$};
\draw (npn.E) to[R, -] ++(0,-2) node[ground] {};
\draw (npn.E) to[short, -o] ++(0.5,0) node[right] {$V_{\mathrm{out}}$};
\end{circuitikz}	
\end{document}

Digital signal processing

  • The difference between the original continuous analog signal and its digital approximation is called the quantization error
  • The resolution (or bit depth) is the number of bits or values for the voltage of each sample (=measurement)
  • The sampling rate is the number times per second the original analog voltage is measured (“sampled”)
  • ADC (analog-to-digital converter) is a device that converts a continuous analog signal to a discrete digital signal
  • DAC (digital-to-analog converter) is a device that converts a digital signal to an analog signal
  • bandwidth, Spectral band, frequency bandtodo

Semiconductor