Basic Electronics Review

B. Furman
31JAN2013
Learning Objectives
Explain in simple terms what is meant by:
Voltage
Current
Ground
Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor
Impedance
Power
Determine equivalent series and parallel
impedances
Explain the significance of a voltage divider
Derive an expression for the impedance of a
capacitor

Mechatronics Concept Map
System to
Control
Sensor
Signal
Conditioning
Controller
(Hardware & Software)
Power
Interface
Actuator
User
Interface
Power
Source
BJ Furman 22JAN11
ME 106
ME 154
ME 157
ME 195
ME 120
ME 297A
ME 106
ME 120
ME 106
ME 190
ME 187
ME 110
ME 136
ME 154
ME 157

ME 182
ME 189
ME 195
ME 106
ME 120
ME 106
INTEGRATION
Key Concepts
Voltage
Ground
Current
Resistor
Capacitor
Inductor
Impedance
Power
Take out a sheet of paper
Explain the concepts in
terms that a 6
th
grader
could understand
First, work on your own,
then, introduce yourself to
someone you have NOT
met yet, and share your
answers.
Basic Electronics Review - 1
Voltage put it in terms that a 6
th
grader could understand
Pressure
Pressure on electric charge (e
-
). Units are in Volts
Urges charge to flow
Measured relative to a reference pressure level
An across quantity we measure it across two points (Dont say the
voltage through)
R1
R2
R3
V
i

+
A
B
C
D
High pressure
Low pressure
Voltage source acts like a
pump
Ground is often taken as the
low pressure point, but any
point could be taken as
ground
ex. V
AD
= V
i
= -V
DA

Basic Electronics Review - 2
Current put it in terms that a 6
th
grader could understand
Flow
Flow of electric charge (e
-
). Units are in Amps
The response of charge to applied voltage
Need a complete circuit for current to flow
A through quantity we measure it through an element
R1
R2
R3
V
i

+
A
B
C
D
High pressure
Low pressure
We will assume
conventional current flow
positive charges flow out of
the + terminal and return to
the - terminal
I
Basic Electronics Review - 3
Resistor put it in terms that a 6
th
grader could
understand
Flow restriction (causes a pressure (voltage) drop across it), an
impedance
Drinking a milkshake through a straw
Small diameter straw high resistance
Causes large pressure drop
Large diameter straw low resistance
Causes small pressure drop
Units are in Ohms
Dissipates power in heat!

R1
R2
R3
V
i

+
A
B
C
D
High pressure
Low pressure
Basic Electronics Review - 4
Ohms Law (know it cold!)
V=I*R
A relationship between current and voltage for a resistor
The slope of the V-I line
The voltage drop across a resistor is proportional to the current
through it
V,volts
I, Amps
R R increasing
V
I R
Basic Electronics Review - 5

R1
V
i

+
A
D
R3
R2
V
i

+
R
eq

A
D
Original Circuit Equivalent Circuit
Basic Electronics Review - 6
Power (units are in Watts)
P = I
2
R = (V/R)
2
R = V
2
/R
P = I
2
R = I
2
(V/I) = IV
Note: can calculate the
power required for any
circuit by measuring I and
V and taking their product
R1
R2
R3
V
i

+
A
B
C
D
Any circuit
I
Capacitor
Capacitor put it in terms that a 6
th
grader could
understand
Accumulator, water tank
Pressure storage. Stores energy in an electric field
Voltage across the leads takes time to build up. Units of
capacitance are Farads
+ -
2
2
1
1
CV E
idt
C
V
dt
dV
C i
dt
dQ
CV Q
=
=
= =
=
}
V
) 2 cos( 2
) 2 sin( (
) 2 sin( ) sin(
ft fCA
dt
ft A d
C
dt
dV
C i
ft A t A V
t t
t
t e
=
(

= =
= =
Inductor
Inductor put it in terms that a 6
th
grader could
understand
Flywheel, merry-go-round
An inertia. Stores energy in a magnetic field
Tries to oppose changes in current flow. Units of inductance are
Henrys
+ -
i
2
2
1
1
Li E
Vdt
L
i
dt
di
L V
=
=
=
}
V
) 2 cos( 2
) 2 sin( (
) 2 sin( ) sin(
f t fLA
dt
f t A d
L
dt
di
L V
f t A t A i
t t
t
t e
=
(

= =
= =
The Voltage Divider
Consider two resistances in series
What is V
A
in terms of
V
i
, R1 and R2
V
i

+
A
D
R2
R1
V
A

So what? Why is this important?
Voltage divider effect occurs whenever one circuit is
connected to another
Voltage dividers can be used to set a voltage level
somewhere between a given supply voltage and ground
If significant current is desired, it is better to use a power supply
or voltage regulator