Current, Voltage, and Power

Voltage is related to potential-energy difference. The voltage drop across any circuit element is directly proportional to the change in energy of a charge as it traverses the circuit element. Specifically, 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb. The potential energy (with respect to some reference point) is equal to the voltage multiplied by the charge. Current refers to the motion of charges. The current...

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Capacitors (Part 2)

Capacitors are the second most commonly used component in electronics. They can be thought of as tiny rechargeable batteries—capacitors can be charged and discharged. The amount of charge that a capacitor can hold is measured in Far- ads or the letter F. However, 1F is too large for capacitors, so microfarads (μF) and picofarads (pF) are used: micro = 1/1,000,000 and pico = 1/1,000,000,000,000 So,...

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Device Electrical Characteristics

The resistor is a linear device and is characterized by a “straight-line equation”. It dissipates power as heat, its value in ohms can vary as to the tolerance rating (ohms ± % of rated value). The resistor cannot store energy. An inductor or capacitor is an energy storage device; a capacitor’s current or an inductor’s voltage does not change instantaneously. Initial conditions can apply to both...

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