BBC Home

Explore the BBC

h2g2
15th July 2009
Accessibility help
Text only

Guide ID: A455285 (Edited)

Edited Guide Entry


SEARCH h2g2
Edited Entries only
Search h2g2Advanced Search


New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in
BBC Homepage
The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything.

3. Everything / Maths, Science & Technology / Engineering

Created: 9th November 2000
Three Basics of Electronics
Contact Us


Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 

Electronics is a difficult field. You can get your machine to work perfectly once or for 20 years. Alternatively, you can make a prototype that works perfectly, twiddle with it and it will never function at full capacity again. Below are three basics of electronics that will help you start to understand the broader topic.

Three Basics

It must be stated first that current flows and voltage is a measure of electrical pressure.

The behaviour of electronics can be described with some basic rules which are sometimes called first principles. The three most used are:

  • Kirchhoff's1 current law (KCL) - This law states that the sum of all the currents coming out of a node, like at a junction, is equal to the sum of the currents going into the node.

  • Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL) - This law states that the sum of the voltages across all the components in any closed loop in a circuit equals zero. Components can be resistors, batteries and so on.

  • Ohm's law - This law states that the voltage across a resistor is equal to the resistance multiplied by the current through the resistor.


1 Also spelled Kirchoff.


Clip/Bookmark this page
This article has not been bookmarked.
ENTRY DATA
Written and Researched by:

Man of Legend

Edited by:

Jimi X



CONVERSATION TOPICS FOR THIS ENTRY:

Start a new conversation

People have been talking about this Guide Entry. Here are the most recent Conversations:

TITLE
LATEST POST
VoltageApr 14, 2002
ResistanceJul 2, 2001
Spelling mistakeNov 20, 2000
AC/DCNov 17, 2000
Please explain.Nov 13, 2000




Disclaimer

Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please start a Conversation above.




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy