Classification of Electrical Networks
– Active network contains at least one voltage source or current source
– Passive network does not contain an active source
– Active elements inject power, provide power gain, and control current flow
– Passive networks consist of resistors and capacitors
– Active networks have practical sources like batteries or generators
Linearity of Electrical Networks
– Linear networks follow the principle of superposition
– Non-linear networks do not obey the principle of superposition
– Passive networks are generally linear, but exceptions exist
– Inductors with iron cores can exhibit non-linear behavior
– Non-linear behavior occurs when inductors are driven into saturation
Lumpiness of Electrical Networks
– Discrete passive components are called lumped elements
– Lumped elements assume resistance, capacitance, and inductance at one place
– Lumped-element circuits follow the conventional design approach
– At high frequencies or for long circuits, the lumped assumption fails
– Distributed-element circuits are designed for such cases
Classification of Sources in Electrical Networks
– Independent sources maintain voltage or current regardless of the circuit
– Independent sources can be constant (DC) or sinusoidal (AC)
– Dependent sources rely on a specific circuit element for power delivery
– Dependent sources vary voltage or current based on the type of source
– Independent and dependent sources play different roles in electrical circuits
Application of Electrical Laws in Circuit Analysis
– Kirchhoff’s current law states that currents entering and leaving a node are equal
– Kirchhoff’s voltage law states that the sum of potential differences in a loop is zero
– Ohm’s law relates voltage, resistance, and current in a resistor
– Norton’s theorem equates a network to an ideal current source in parallel with a resistor
– Thevenin’s theorem equates a network to a voltage source in series with a resistor Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_circuit
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An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical components (e.g., batteries, resistors, inductors, capacitors, switches, transistors) or a model of such an interconnection, consisting of electrical elements (e.g., voltage sources, current sources, resistances, inductances, capacitances). An electrical circuit is a network consisting of a closed loop, giving a return path for the current. Thus all circuits are networks, but not all networks are circuits (although networks without a closed loop are often imprecisely referred to as "circuits"). Linear electrical networks, a special type consisting only of sources (voltage or current), linear lumped elements (resistors, capacitors, inductors), and linear distributed elements (transmission lines), have the property that signals are linearly superimposable. They are thus more easily analyzed, using powerful frequency domain methods such as Laplace transforms, to determine DC response, AC response, and transient response.
A resistive network is a network containing only resistors and ideal current and voltage sources. Analysis of resistive networks is less complicated than analysis of networks containing capacitors and inductors. If the sources are constant (DC) sources, the result is a DC network. The effective resistance and current distribution properties of arbitrary resistor networks can be modeled in terms of their graph measures and geometrical properties.
A network that contains active electronic components is known as an electronic circuit. Such networks are generally nonlinear and require more complex design and analysis tools.
