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Circuits

Overachieving and under-appreciated, circuits are the foundation that our technological society is built on. Now's your chance to find out not only how they work, but why. Questions regarding the physics behind voltage, resistance, capacitance, inductance, transistors, LEDs, switches, and power supplies; and how they're used to create analog and digital circuits, should be directed here.

1,646 Questions

Why does a wire get hot when an electric current passes through it?

Because the wire has resistance.

The power (number of watts) dissipated by any resistance when current passes through it is

(the number of amperes of current)2 multiplied by (the number of ohms of resistance).

To reduce the power lost from the wire, the choices are:

-- reduce the current passing through the wire

-- use thicker wire

-- keep the wire as cold as possible.

(If the wire is made of the right material, and you make it cold enough,

then all of its resistance disappears, and it's called a "superconductor".)

What part of the curcuit pushes the electrons?

The voltage source (such as a battery) is what provides the energy needed to push the electrons through the circuit. Electrons flow from the negative terminal (cathode) to the positive terminal (anode) of the voltage source in a closed circuit.

Which is higher run or start winding?

The run winding is typically rated to handle higher current than the start winding in an electric motor. The run winding is designed to sustain continuous operation once the motor is running, while the start winding provides the initial torque required to start the motor.

How does energy get from a battery to a bulb in a circuit?

It gets there through a conducting path. The path is most typically comprised

of things like copper wires, but any conductor will do.

The less energy dissipated in the conducting path, the more there is available

for the bulb to dissipate.

That's why you want the path to conduct as well as possible. Silver is best.

Copper is almost as good as silver and a lot cheaper. Wet wood is a poor

choice, and dry wood is even worse. Glass is a terribe conductor.

Is it possible to apply voltmeter across a variable resistor?

Of course. A good voltmeter can be applied across anything, since its impedance

is high and its presence has no effect on the operation of the circuit. When it's

connected across a variable resistor, the voltmeter most likely reveals a changing

voltage as the resistor is varied.

What shows how conductors insulators superconductors and semiconductors rank in order of least resistance to most resistance?

Superconductors have no resistance, making them the best conductors. Semiconductors have moderate resistance. Conductors have low resistance, making them better conductors than insulators, which have high resistance, making them the poorest conductors.

How does resistance of metal vary with temperature?

The resistance of metals generally increases with temperature due to increased atomic vibrations that impede the flow of electrons. This relationship is described by the temperature coefficient of resistance, which varies for different metals.

Where kirchhoff's law fails?

Kirchhoff's laws may fail in cases where the circuit involves non-linear elements such as diodes or transistors, or in circuits operating at very high frequencies where the effects of parasitic components become significant. Additionally, in circuits with rapidly changing magnetic fields or electromagnetic interference, Kirchhoff's laws may not hold true.

What does a reed relay do in a circuit?

A reed relay is a type of relay that uses a reed switch enclosed in a glass tube for switching. It works by using a magnetic field to control the switching operation, allowing for high-speed and low-current switching in electrical circuits. Reed relays are commonly used in applications requiring compact size and low power consumption.

How do you convert a galvanometer to an ammeter?

A galvanometer is an instrument used to measure and detect electric currents. While that seems a lot similar to an ammeter, it only deals with measuring relatively small or mediocre currents.

Although an ammeter is now much preferred due to its more accurate, faster, and advanced readings, there is a way to "convert" a galvanometer to function like an ammeter. A current separator or divider, known as a shunt, allows a simple meter to be calibrated (adjusted) to measure larger currents. The shunt, parallel to the coil of your galvanometer, allows more electric currents to circulate around the circuit, thus obtaining more current.

Why we study ohm's law?

the entire branch of electricity uses this ohms law in building their circuits..........the voltage and current relations are being brought using this ohms law

also many other laws are based upon this law only.

How does a torch work-circuit?

A torch is simply a circuit containing a battery, a bulb and a switch. The three components are connected in series (one after the other) to form a loop. The switch simply completes the circuit so that power flows from the battery to the bulb.

What are the disadvantages of hartley oscillator?

Some disadvantages of Hartley oscillator include lower frequency stability compared to other oscillator configurations, sensitivity to variations in component values and external factors, and the potential for higher harmonic content in the output signal. Additionally, the design and tuning of a Hartley oscillator can be more complex compared to simpler oscillator configurations.

What would be the explanation for one light not working in a strand of Christmas lights?

There could be several reasons for this issue: a blown bulb, a loose connection, a damaged wire, or a faulty fuse. To troubleshoot, start by checking the individual bulbs for damage or looseness. If that doesn't solve the problem, inspect the wires and connections for breaks or frays. If needed, replace any faulty components.

Why is the resistance of an inductor low?

The resistance of an inductor is low because the wire in the coil offers a relatively low resistance to the flow of electrical current. Inductors are designed to primarily store and release energy in the form of a magnetic field, with minimal dissipation of energy as heat due to resistance.

What has to be in plce for a circuit to work?

For a circuit to work, it needs a power source (such as a battery), conductive pathways (wires or circuit traces), a load (such as a light bulb or motor), and components like resistors, capacitors, and transistors to control the flow of electricity. Additionally, the circuit must be closed or complete, meaning that there is a continuous pathway for the electricity to flow.

What necessary condition must a voltage measuring device satisfy?

The most essential element in a voltage measuring device is a very high impedance. This prevents the device interfering with the measurement.

Does an insulator conduct electricity?

We use the term insulator, specifically electrical insulator, to refer to an object or material that does not conduct electricity to any significant degree.

The term insulator, with no other explanation, is assumed to refer to electrical insulators. There are of course other materials which are used as insulation for heat. They provide thermal insulation and may or may not conduct electricity.

How does a change over switch works?

When the supply from GEB is cut away, at that time the consumer is required to change over from the main supply to the private generator, so that he cut the supply from mains and switches to Generator with a change over switch.

What device creates a potential difference in an electric circuit?

A battery is the device that creates a potential difference in an electric circuit. It establishes an electric field within the circuit that allows charges to move from the positive terminal to the negative terminal, creating an electrical current.

What principle is used in the operation of an analog meter?

This result can be achieved through various methods. Two most common are:

The electromagnetic principle: the probed quality is converted into current quality and passed through a coil wound around a magnet. That coil is then calibrated to move proportionally to the measured quality, and it thus displaces a gauge overlayed on a scale. For obvious reasons these meters are not well suited for measuring in environments with high (electro)magnetic fields.

The thermal principle: a spiral is constructed using materials that cause the spiral to displace (unwind) due to heat when a current is applied, in proportion to that current, and in turn displaces a needle overlayed on top of a scale. The measured quality is, as above, converted into proportional current. For as well obvious reasons as above, these meters aren't very useful in extreme-temperature conditions (high or low).

Method selection is based on the environment in which the meter will be used, and the measurement accuracy required.

For completeness, pressure-reading gauges oftentimes include a membrane that displaces under pressure in order to move a gauge, but these are not commonly used in electrical circuits (membranes displacing semiconducting material are used instead, to convert pressure change to either voltage change, current change or resistance change, adequately to the requirement).

What is the current that flows through an unloaded voltage divider?

The current that flows through an unloaded voltage divider is very small, close to zero. This is because there is no load connected to the output of the divider, so there is nowhere for the current to flow. The purpose of a voltage divider is to divide the input voltage between the two resistors, not to pass current.

How can a silicon diode measure temperature?

Thanks to the property that a conductor's resistance is influenced by temperature (mainly, it increases accordingly). This property is specifically extended in materials used to construct such diodes.

It is important to remember that silicon does not a semiconductor device make. It takes layers of semiconducting material (with the occasional isolator) and impurities specifically included into the mix to alter the device's behavior.

What is physical meaning of slope for voltages vs current graphs?

The slope of a voltage vs. current graph represents the resistance in the circuit. It indicates how the voltage changes with respect to the current flowing through the circuit. A steeper slope indicates higher resistance, while a shallower slope indicates lower resistance.

What type of circuit measurement is made by placing a meters test leads in a parrallel with a deenergized component?

To measure resistance, continuity, or diode voltage drop in a de-energized component, the meter's test leads are placed in parallel with the component. This allows the meter to measure the electrical properties of the component without applying power to it.