Chapter 7 Review
Key Terms
Cramer’s rule
An explicit formula for the solution of a system of linear equations with as many equations as unknowns, valid whenever the system has a unique solution.
linear circuit
An electronic circuit in which, for a sinusoidal input voltage of frequency any steady-state output of the circuit (the current through any component, or the voltage between any two points) is also sinusoidal with frequency
load resistor
An electrical component or portion of a circuit that consumes electric power. Normally, the term “load” is used to refer specifically to the active component for which power consumption is mainly intended, as opposed to internal resistance or resistors used in conjunction with capacitors or inductors for timing.
maximum power transfer theorem
Maximum power is transferred to a load when the internal resistance equals the load resistance; for a Thévenin-equivalent circuit, this is true when the load resistance equals the Thévenin resistance.
mesh analysis
A method that is used to solve planar circuits for the currents (and indirectly the voltages) at any place in an electrical circuit.
mesh current
The currents defined in mesh analysis as flowing around each loop of a planar circuit. The actual current through each branch of the circuit is found as a combination of the mesh currents in that branch.
planar circuit (mesh)
An electrical circuit that can be drawn on a plane surface with no wires crossing each other.
superposition theorem
The response (voltage or current) in any branch of a linear circuit having more than one independent source equals the algebraic sum of the responses caused by each independent source acting alone, where all the other independent sources are replaced by short circuits.
Thévenin-equivalent circuit
A simple circuit, equivalent to any more complex linear circuit, involving the Thévenin voltage and Thévenin resistance relative to a particular load. In the Thévenin-equivalent circuit, the Thévenin voltage and resistance are connected in series with the load.
Thévenin resistance
One component of a linear circuit’s Thévenin-equivalent, found by removing the load resistor from the original circuit and calculating the total equivalent resistance between the two load connection points.
Thévenin’s theorem
An electrical circuit theorem through which any complex linear circuit may be replaced by its Thévenin-equivalent with respect to a given load.
Thévenin voltage
One component of a linear circuit’s Thévenin-equivalent, found by removing the load resistor from the original circuit and calculating the potential difference from one load connection point to the other.
Key Equations
| Cramer’s rule | |
| Current through a load resistor | |
| Voltage across a load resistor | |
| Power dissipated in a load resistor |
Summary
7.1 Mesh Analysis
- Steps in mesh analysis method:
- Draw mesh current loops, ensuring:
- each loop is unique; and
- all circuit elements—voltage sources, resistors, capacitor