Questions tagged [circuit-analysis]

Circuit (Network) analysis is the process of finding the voltages across, and the currents through, every component in the network. Consider using in conjunction with tags for the particular analysis technique(s) in question: "nodal-analysis", "mesh-analysis", "superposition", "transients" ,"steady-state-analysis" etc.

A network, in the context of electronics, is a collection of interconnected components. Network analysis is the process of finding the voltages across, and the currents through, every component in the network. There are many different techniques for calculating these values. These techniques generally assume that the components of the network are all linear.

See Wikipedia's article on network analysis for more information.

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STM32 Understanding GPIO Settings

In STM32 Standard Peripheral library, we need to configure the GPIO. But there are 3 functions which I not sure how to configure them; GPIO_InitStructure.GPIO_Speed GPIO_InitStructure.GPIO_OType GPIO_InitStructure.GPIO_PuPd In the GPIO_Speed , there…
Tim
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How do Circuit Simulators actually work?

I recently had the opportunity to play around with LiveWire , which is a circuit simulator and began wondering how exactly they computed the voltages across each component and the current going through each track of wire. I have only been taught…
Thomas Russell
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Why use complex numbers to represent amplitude and phase of AC

Why is it that in AC circuits, sine waves are represented as a complex number in polar form? I don't logically understand from a physical perspective why there is an imaginary part at all. Is it purely from a mathematical point of view to make the…
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Why can current only flow in loops?

In the following image: Why can't current flow across the following wire? It's a simple question, but I've kind off always wondered. Thanks!
Physco111
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Why is the time constant 63.2% and not 50% or 70%?

I am studying about RC and RL circuits. Why is the time constant equal to 63.2% of the output voltage? Why is it defined as 63% and not any other value? Does a circuit start working at 63% of output voltage? Why not at 50%?
Bala Subramanian
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Two black boxes display the same impedance at all frequencies. Which has the single resistor?

Two black boxes display the same impedance at all frequencies. The first contains a single 1 Ohm resistor. Each end is connected to a wire, so that two wires protrude from the box. The second box looks identical from the outside, but inside there…
Paskualino
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Why is root mean square used when calculating average power, and not simply the average of voltage/current?

$$P = I_{\text{eff}}^2 \times R$$ where \$I_{\text{eff}}\$ is the effective current. For power to be average \$I\$ must be average current, so I am surmising that the effective current is the average current. In that case, why is \$I_{\text{eff}}\$…
JobHunter69
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Do electrons actually flow when a voltage is applied?

It's said in books that a circuit is a closed path and thus that electrons come back to the source. If that's the case, what would happen when there were an earth fault in a circuit? How would the electrons return to their source? Do the electrons…
Ranjit
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What is a flip flop?

There seem to be a number of different definitions of flip-flops and latches out there, some of which are contradictory. The Computer Science text book for the course I teach is probably the most confusing (in fact I have little faith in the book…
Drummy
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Why does this vintage DRAM chip enable circuit require such a beefy resistor?

This is a small part of a mid-1970s chip enable circuit for a set of DRAMs. The DRAMs are TI's TMS4060 part (aka the Intel 2107 aka several others), and are 4096x1. So a typical bank requires 8 of them for 4k. The Chip Enable input is a 12V signal.…
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How can we test the lifespan of electrical components?

We work with some electronic devices in our projects. We are at the stage where we need to create some test strategy to validate the lifespan (e.g. 1 to 5 years) of our devices for which we provide warranty. We need to standardize this test strategy…
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Why do I need a ground when simulating a circuit? I thought voltage was relative between two nodes!

Electronics is very new to me. I took the most basic circuit I could think of: A voltage source of 1V and resistor of 1 Ohm As far a I understand I should get a current of (I = V/R) 1 Ampere. But the simulation does not give a solution and said I…
user135172
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Half-wave diode rectifier - is textbook wrong?

I've noticed that in all resources on diodes and rectifiers, they show the output voltage as the positive half-wave of the input signal. However, that seems wrong. I understand that there's a voltage drop across the diode, and if the total voltage…
MightyPork
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Why would a circuit designer use parallel resistors?

I've been reviewing this reverse engineered schematic of a bmax6 style lipo charger. To my understanding this circuit is used to dissipate excess charge in a cell when balance charging. The circuit uses a parallel resistor network as the current…
Mazaryk
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I think I found an error in an electronics book. Are my equations correct here?

I'm reading Practical Electronics for Inventors , 4th edition, to freshen up my long forgotten knowledge of electronics. I love the book so far, but I just came across an equation there which seems incorrect. I don't want to immediately assume that…
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