Basics

Circuit analysis is the study of electric circuits, which is the interconnection of circuit elements. An element is any component of the circuit(resistor, voltage source, etc..)

Fundamental concepts:

• Voltage(volts): the energy/work to move charge through an element. 1 volt = 1 joule per coulomb
  
• Current(amperes): the rate of charge flow. 1 amp = 1 coulomb per second
  
• Charge(coulombs): the charge on an proton/electron is +/- 1.602*10^-19
  
• Power(watts): the rate of energy being supplied or absorbed. Power = voltage multiplied by current (P=vi).
  
• Energy(joule): the capacity to do work.

In a circuit there can be two types of elements:

• Active: these elements generate energy (such as a battery). There are two sources of active elements:

1. Independent source: voltage/current source delivers a specific amount of voltage/current to the circuit.
2. Dependent source: the amount of voltage/current is controlled by other elements in the circuit.
   

• Passive: these elements do not generate energy (such as a resistor).

Ideal voltage source: provides any amount of current to maintain the stated terminal voltage.
Ideal current source: provides any amount of voltage to maintain the stated current flow.




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