Activity 1.2.4 Circuit CalculationsIntroduction

Regardless of circuit complexity, circuit designers as well as users need to be able to apply basic electrical theories to circuits in order to verify safe operation and troubleshoot unexpected circuit failure. In this activity you will gain experience applying Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws to circuits in order to gain understanding of circuit requirements and relationships between voltage, current, and resistance..

Equipment Engineering notebook Pencil Calculator

Procedure1. For each of the resistors shown below, use Ohm’s law to calculate the unknown

quantity. Be sure to put your answer in proper engineering notation and use the correct units.

3.5/470=7.4 miliamps 3.5/15.5=.226 ohms 22x1.4=30.8 v

2. For each of the circuits shown below, calculate the value for RT. Be sure to put your answer in proper engineering notation and use the correct units.

© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.POE Activity 1.2.4 Circuit Calculations – Page 1

820+150+1200= 2170 ohms 5.6+680+8200=8885.6 ohms

3. Using the laws of circuit theory, solve for RT, IT, V1, V2, and V3. Be sure to put your answer in proper engineering notation and use the correct units.

RT=270+470+1200 V/R=IRT=1940 ohms 9/1940=4.63 miliamps

V1= 4.63mAx 470 V2=4.63mAx1200 V3=4.63x270V1=2.17v V2=5.56v V3=1.25vUsing the data from problem (3), verify your results using Kirchhoff’s voltage law.All of the added voltage drops equal the total voltage.

4. Using the laws of circuit theory, solve for RT, IT, I1, I2, and I3. Be sure to put your answer in proper engineering notation and use the correct units.

RT=8200+6800+4700 IT=V/RRT=19.7 kiliohms I=12/19700

I=.609 kAI1Using the calculated results from problem (5), verify your results using Kirchhoff’s current law.

© 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.POE Activity 1.2.4 Circuit Calculations – Page 2