Understanding Electrical Circuits and Key Electrical Magnitudes

Components of an Electrical Circuit

An electrical circuit comprises:

• Generators: They transform other types of energy into electrical energy.
  • Mechanical generators: Transform mechanical energy into electrical energy, such as those that produce continuous current (dynamos) and alternating current (alternators).
  • Solar cells: Transform solar energy into electrical energy and are formed by semiconductor materials.
  • Chemical generators: Devices that transform chemical energy into electrical energy, such as batteries and cells.
• Receptors: Transform electrical energy into other forms of energy.
• Conductors: Energy paths that carry energy from the generators to the receptors.
• Control and switching elements: Monitor or allow the functionality of the circuits.
• Protection elements: Protect the circuit against failures, as faults can have consequences like overcurrents or electric shocks to people.

Types of Circuit Connections

Series Circuits

When receptors are connected in series, they are connected one after another in the same path without any bifurcation between them. The current passes through each receptor sequentially.

Parallel Circuits

When receptors are connected to the same two points of the circuit, every one provides its own independent path.

Electrical Magnitudes

Electrical magnitudes are measurable properties related to the electric current that quantify it.

Current Intensity

The quantity of electric charge that passes through a point in a circuit in a unit of time is called current intensity.

Ampermeter

The ampermeter is used to measure current intensity. To measure correctly, it must be connected in series within the same element through which the current whose intensity you want to measure passes.

Tension or Voltage

It is the potential difference between one point and another inside an electrical circuit. A force acts on the charges like height on objects; this potential difference created by the generator makes the circuit loads move.

Electromotive Force

It is the quantity of energy supplied by the generator to each unit charge that crosses it, expressed as: $e = E / q$ (where $E$ is energy and $q$ is charge value). This electromotive force makes the charges go from pole to pole of the generator, so positive charges concentrate at the positive pole and negative charges at the negative pole.