All engineers need a “Back to the Basics!” course and that is exactly what this course provides. The purpose of this course is to utilize the laws associated with basic direct current (DC) theory to find resistances, currents, and voltages at any given point within a circuit. This course is suitable for all engineers of any discipline. It explains the fundamentals of DC circuit theory. Whether you are a civil or mechanical engineer and are interested in learning a little about circuit theory, or if you are an electrical or computer engineer and would like to brush up on the basics, then this course is appropriate for you.
Electric circuits range from very simple circuits containing one or more resistive components and a voltage source (such as a battery and a light bulb contained in a flashlight) to very elaborate, complicated circuits (such as the microprocessor circuit card inside your mobile phone). This course provides a basic introduction to DC resistive circuits and their purpose.
The course explains the fundamental relationship between voltage, current, and resistance, known as Ohm’s Law, in an electric circuit. It explains power dissipation in a resistive element, voltage and current dividers, series and parallel circuits, and different circuit analysis techniques.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course the student will learn:
• The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electric circuit
• Different expressions for Ohm’s Law
• How to compute the voltage drop across a resistor
• How to compute the power dissipation of a resistor
• How to determine the power rating of a resistor
• How to compute an equivalent resistance for resistors in series
• How to compute an equivalent resistance for resistors in parallel
• How to use a voltage divider
• How to use a current divider
• How to compute the current in a series circuit
• How to compute the voltage drop across a resistor
• How to compute the currents in a parallel circuit
• How to apply Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in a circuit
• How to apply Kirchhoff’s Current Law in a circuit
• How to use mesh analysis to produce loop equations to analyze a circuit
• How to use nodal analysis to produce node equations to analyze a circuit