Simple Circuits
A circuit is the path that an electric current travels on, and a simple circuit contains three components necessary to have a functioning electric circuit, namely, a source of voltage, a conductive path, and a resistor.
Circuits are driven by flows. Flows are ubiquitous in nature and are often the result of spatial differences in potential energy. Water flows downriver due to changes in height, tornadoes swirl due to gentle temperature gradients, and sucrose flows from the leaves of trees to their distal parts due to differences in water potential. Even life itself is due to a clever hack by which living organisms serve as a conduit for the flow of solar energy. Perhaps then it is no surprise that electronic devices (certainly the one you’re reading this on now) are driven by flows.
In a simple circuit, voltage flows through the conductive path to the resistor, which does some work. Resistors–things like light bulbs, speakers, and motors–and electric circuits power these devices to do the work that their makers wanted them to do.
River-Dam Analogy
Flows and circuits can be illustrated via analogies of water, rivers, lakes and dams. If there are two lakes, with a trench dug to connect them, and both lakes have water at the same height h_1=h_2h then the water in the trench will not flow in either direction. There isn’t anything driving the system. A given parcel of water has the same potential energy and feels the same atmospheric pressure whether in one lake or the other, so there can be no net transport of water.
If this changes, and the height of the water in one lake is greater than the other, e.g. h_2 > h_1h then water will flow. Now, the pressure on the trench from the water in the higher lake is greater than the corresponding pressure from the lower lake, and hence water should flow out of the higher lake, through the trench, and into the lower lake. If it were possible to keep the water level in the two lakes constant, for instance by replacing the water that leaves the high lake, and removing the water that enters the low lake, then there would be a steady flow of water through the trench.
Best Electrical Engineering Apps For Every Electrical Engineer
Smartphones simplify our life. There are lots of books and software available for Electrical Engineering. Electrical Engineers require a deep knowledge from mathematics to the circuitry. So, enabling electricians and electrical engineering students and professionals to have access to an easy electrical engineering app is an excellent way to improve skill, productivity, knowledge, and efficiency
All these electrical engineering apps include electrical engineering study app, best electrical calculator app, basic electrical apps and best electrical apps for Android devices. All these apps are free to download from the google play store. All these apps are also important for computer engineers and other engineering professionals.
The best app for learning electrical engineering and are the best app for learning electrical engineering on mobile devices. These electrical engineering apps are the tools every electrical engineer should have. The apps listed down below include a scientific calculator, hex converter, resistor color code decoder, law calculator, resistor color codes, graph 89, voltage divider, resistor calculator, circuit simulator, unit converter, and droid tesla.
Electrical Technology
A very useful app about Electrical & Electronics Engineering & Technology. The plus point of this Electrical Android App is that you can use it offline i.e. without an internet connection. So you are able to use the useful Electrical tools as well as Electrical & Electronics Engineering Calculators and Articles to learn something new anytime, anywhere without worrying about mobile data charges. In addition, it is Free and Always will be
ElectroDroid
ElectroDroid is a simple and powerful collection of electronics tools and references. This is the free version, which contains ads; you can also buy from the Market the PRO version of the app to support the developer, unlock more features and get rid of the ads.
Electric
Do I need to get a converter for my electric stuff or is the current and plugs the same as here in the states?
110 Volts, 60 Cycle. You do not need a transformer or converter. Some older places may not have 3 hole ground receptacles with ground so you might want to bring one of those inexpensive adapters that go from a 3 prong plug to a 2 hole receptacle.
When we bought out house it had all two prong outlets and nothing was grounded. All 110 AC 60 cycle. just like here in the states. When I put in a new breaker box with a ground rod everything got grounded three prong outlets and lots of 220 outlets for the AC units.
If you’re not sure what your hotel has certainly take an adapter plug which will run you less than a dollar at WalMart. A lot of the newer hotels have the three prong outlets but some of the older ones still do not.
The simplest solution is to carry an adaptor that allows plugging modern 3 pin plugs OR polarized plugs into the old 2 pin wall outlets that were used up to just a few years ago, and as pointed out may be where you will stay. There is some confusion re 2 pin plugs which have become common now replacing 3 pin versions on many devices. 2 pin polarized plugs have one pin that is 1/4 inch wide & one 5/16 inch wide one, while the old wall sockets only have 1/4 inch tall slots so that can also prevent them being plugged in. Take a look at this photo for more help. and if you intend to take many things that might need plugging in then a modified power bar (some are made with 2 X 1/4″ pins) can be the answer.
While doing a bit more research on the internet regarding this electrical plug issue, I found out that the adapter for three plugs to 2 prong plugs is banned for sale because of safety reasons.
How Electrical Circuits Work
Basic Circuits
An electric circuit is an unbroken path along which an electric current exists and/or is able to flow. A simple electrical circuit consists of a power source, two conducting wires (one end of each being attached to each terminal of the cell), and a small lamp to which the free ends of the wires leading from the cell are attached.
Once one of the wires is removed from the power source or a “break” is made in the flow, the circuit is now “open” and the lamp will no longer light. In practical application, circuits are “opened” by such devices as switches, fuses, and circuit breakers. Two general circuit classifications are series and parallel.
Series Circuits
In a series circuit , the current through each of the components is the same, and the voltage across the components is the sum of the voltages across each component.
Parallel Circuits
In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the same, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each component.
If two or more components are connected in parallel they have the same potential difference ( voltage) across their ends. The potential differences across the components are the same in magnitude, and they also have identical polarities. The same voltage is applicable to all circuit components connected in parallel.
Electronics Basics: Fundamentals of Electricity
In order to understand even the simplest concepts of electronics, you must first understand what electricity is. After all, the whole purpose of electronics is to get electricity to do useful and interesting things
The concept of electricity is both familiar and mysterious. We all know what electricity is, or at least have a rough idea, based on practical experience. In particular, consider these points:
We are very familiar with the electricity that flows through wires. That electricity comes from power plants that burn coal, catch the wind, or harness nuclear reactions.
It travels from the power plants to our houses in big cables hung high in the air or buried in the ground. Once it gets to our houses, it travels through wires through the walls until it gets to electrical outlets. From there, we plug in power cords to get the electricity into the electrical devices we depend on every day.
We know that electricity isn’t free.
We know that electricity can be stored in batteries. When the batteries die, all their electricity is gone.
We know that some kinds of batteries are rechargeable, which means that when they’ve been drained of all their electricity, more electricity can be put back into them by plugging them into a charger, which transfers electricity from an electrical outlet into the battery.
We know that electricity can be measured in volts. Household electricity is 120 volts (abbreviated 120 V). Flashlight batteries are 1.5 volts. Car batteries are 12 volts.
We also know that electricity can be measured in watts. Incandescent light bulbs are typically 60, 75, or 100 watts. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) have somewhat smaller wattage ratings. Microwave ovens and hair dryers are 1,000 or 1,200 watts.
We also may know that there’s a third way to measure electricity, called amps. A typical household electrical outlet is 15 amps (abbreviated 15 A).
And finally, we know that electricity can be very dangerous.
Electric charge refers to a fundamental property of matter that even physicists don’t totally understand. Suffice it to say that two of the tiny particles that make up atoms — protons and electrons — are the bearers of electric charge. There are two types of charge: positive and negative. Protons have positive charge, electrons have negative charge.
Electric current refers to the flow of the electric charge carried by electrons as they jump from atom to atom. Electric current is a very familiar concept: When you turn on a light switch, electric current flows from the switch through the wire to the light, and the room is instantly illuminated.
Electric current flows more easily in some types of atoms than in others. Atoms that let current flow easily are called conductors, whereas atoms that don’t let current flow easily are called insulators.
An electric circuit is a closed loop made of conductors and other electrical elements through which electric current can flow. For example, a very simple electrical circuit consists of three elements: a battery, a lamp, and an electrical wire that connects the two.