Written for undergraduates, this book covers both the basics of electrical circuits as well as circuit analysis. As per the preface, the first six chapters present the basics while the rest of the chapters look at analysis using a function-transformation approach.
The first two chapters provide readers with a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of electric circuits. The fundamentals include components such as resistors, capacitors, electrical sources, and so on. The concepts of current, voltages, and so on, and their interrelation equations, are explained. The related concepts of sequential connections and parallel connections are also included. Chapter 3 sets up background for analysis. The input source for a circuit can vary with time. The chapter presents various standard time-varying functions. These variations can be introduced in input voltages of the circuits. Chapter 4 introduces the responses of simple circuits (first and second order) to voltage changes. Particularly the role of capacitors in current changes is analyzed. The involved mathematical equations utilizing calculus are also discussed.
Chapter 5 presents circuit analysis, where the source wave is a sine type of function (sinusoidal). It begins by introducing phasor for expressing involved equations. Later, it introduces power factor for expressions. Responses are analyzed for circuits with only resistors, only capacitors, and only inductors, with power factors. Analyses for resistive-inductive and resistive-capacitive circuits have added vector analysis. The later part of the chapter talks about heating applications of circuits. Chapter 6 begins by explaining the self-inductance in a coil and mutual inductance among coils with time-varying currents. The equations for various mutually inducting circuits are discussed. The discussion later shifts to the impact of turns in coils. An ideal transformer consists of two coils coupled together in such a way that magnetic flux is induced with almost no losses.
Chapter 7 presents the simplification of circuit analysis using Laplace transformation. The time function can be converted to a frequency function using Laplace transformation. The frequency functions are simple to analyze. After analysis, an inverse Laplace function can be used to get the responses into time functions. The chapter shows how to transform some standard source functions and analyze them for responses. Chapter 8 defines transfer function using a block diagram. Transform function can be applied to an input function to produce an output function. The transfer function can be defined for both the time version and frequency version. The chapter prepares readers to obtain transfer functions of various types of circuits with frequency equations at the center. Bode plots are discussed in detail.
The remaining chapters are functionality centered. A filter preserves frequency from input to output, but changes some other parameter, thereby changing the signal. Chapter 9 describes passive filters and chapter 11 describes active filters. Filters can be classified into low pass, high pass, and so on. A detailed mathematical analysis is presented in these chapters. Chapter 10 looks at analog circuits. It gives readers the basics of analog computing. Historically, analog computing was used instead of digital computing. Some readers may be surprised by the inclusion of this chapter in modern circuit analysis. However, some concepts are shared between analog circuits and active filters. Chapters 9 through 11 can also serve as background for the filter synthesis chapter (12).
This textbook includes a set of questions for each chapter. The reference list is short, but enough for undergraduates. With respect to computer science, hardware equipment is made of electrical circuits, so a course on electric circuits is relevant. The book can be used as a main textbook for courses on electric circuits and the foundations of electrical engineering. Such courses should be offered to all engineering branches at the undergraduate level.
