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Circuit theory
 
 
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Circuit theory is the theory of accomplishing work
Mechanical work

In physics, mechanical work is the amount of energy transferred by a force acting through a distance. Like energy, it is a scalar quantity, with SI of joules....
 by means of routing matter through a loop
Graph (mathematics)

In mathematics a graph is an abstract representation of a set of objects where some pairs of the objects are connected by links. The interconnected objects are represented by mathematical abstractions called vertices, and the links that connect some pairs of vertices are called edges....
. The types of matter used are:

Parts of a circuit
Every circuit consists of three basic components:



A gun, a rocket and an internal combustion engine all use compressed gas to do work, but the spent gas is vented to the atmosphere and is not reused in the system, so these are not examples of pneumatic circuits.






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Circuit theory is the theory of accomplishing work
Mechanical work

In physics, mechanical work is the amount of energy transferred by a force acting through a distance. Like energy, it is a scalar quantity, with SI of joules....
 by means of routing matter through a loop
Graph (mathematics)

In mathematics a graph is an abstract representation of a set of objects where some pairs of the objects are connected by links. The interconnected objects are represented by mathematical abstractions called vertices, and the links that connect some pairs of vertices are called edges....
. The types of matter used are:
  • In electronic
    Electronic circuit

    An electronic circuit is a closed path formed by the interconnection of electronic components through which an electric current can flow. The electronic circuits may be physically constructed using any number of methods....
     or electrical circuits: electron
    Electron

    The electron is a subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge. It has elementary particle and is believed to be a point particle....
    s (and charged ion
    Ion

    An ion is an atom or molecule which has lost or gained one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative electrical charge. According to the Bohr_model this will be from or in the outer shield 'n'....
    s, both positive and negative)
  • In pneumatic circuit
    Pneumatic circuit

    A pneumatic circuit is an interconnected set of components that convert compressed gas into mechanical work. In the normal sense of the term, the circuit must include a compressor or compressor-fed tank....
    s: compressed gas (normally ordinary air)
  • In hydraulic circuit
    Hydraulic circuit

    A hydraulic circuit is an interconnected set of components that convert pressurized liquid into mechanical work....
    s: pressurized, relatively incompressible fluid


Parts of a circuit


Every circuit consists of three basic components:

  • "Active components": Source of energy
  • Transmission lines
    • Control devices (optional)
  • "Passive components": Load


A gun, a rocket and an internal combustion engine all use compressed gas to do work, but the spent gas is vented to the atmosphere and is not reused in the system, so these are not examples of pneumatic circuits. Refrigeration systems do, however, recycle the compressed gases they use, but are not typically thought of as circuits.

Gear
Gear

A gear is a component within a Transmission device that transmits rotational force to another gear or device. A gear is different from a pulley in that a gear is a round wheel that has linkages that mesh with other gear teeth, allowing force to be fully transferred without slippage....
s, lever
Lever

In physics, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or wiktionary:pivot point to multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object....
s, linkages
Linkage (mechanical)

A mechanical linkage is a series of rigid links connected with joints to form a closed chain, or a series of closed chains. This is created by two or more levers that are put together....
, pulley
Pulley

A pulley is a mechanism composed of a wheel with a Groove between two flanges around the wheel's circumference. A rope, cable or belt usually runs inside the groove....
s/rope
Rope

A rope is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength ....
s and sprocket
Sprocket

A sprocket is a profiled wheel with teeth that meshes with a roller chain, Caterpillar track or other perforated or indented material. It is distinguished from a gear in that sprockets are never meshed together directly, and from a pulley by not usually having a flange at each side....
s/chains
Roller chain

Roller chain or bush roller chain is the type of chain most commonly used for transmission of Power_transmission#Mechanical_power on bicycles, motorcycles, and in industrial and agricultural machinery....
 transmit work energy from one location to another, but there is no loop, so these are not examples of circuits.

Circuit vs. network


An electrical circuit is a collection of electrical components which accomplish a specific task such as heating, lighting or running a motor. This collection may or may not form a complete topological loop, depending on whether it is presently connected to power, integrated into a larger device or circuit, or damaged. Sometimes, it is convenient to speak of an electrical circuit as a network, de-emphasizing the return path. Return paths are sometimes omitted from circuit diagrams, making the resulting graphic visually resemble a network topology rather than some sort of loop topology. See circuit diagram
Circuit diagram

A circuit diagram is a simplified conventional pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified standard symbols, and the electric power and signal connections between the devices....
 and schematic
Schematic

A schematic is a diagram that represents the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures. A schematic usually omits all details that are not relevant to the information the schematic is intended to convey, and may add unrealistic elements that aid comprehension....
.

Open circuit vs. closed circuit


A fundamental part of circuit analysis is determining whether the matter has a return path to the power source. If the matter is blocked from returning to the power source, either wholly or partially, the entire assemblage will be prevented from accomplishing work. In an electrical circuit, an open circuit is caused intentionally when a user opens a switch or unintentionally when vibration or mechanical damage severs a wire. In a pneumatic or hydraulic circuit, this occurs when a valve is closed or there is a leak in one of the lines or components.

In electrical circuits, closing a switch creates a closed loop for the electrons to flow through. This is sometimes referred to as "completing the circuit." Other synonyms are also used.

Short circuit


In an electrical or electronic circuit, sometimes an unintended connection is made, such as when insulation is broken, frayed, melted or chewed by rodents, or a technician inserts a metal tool into a live device. When this happens, current bypasses some or all of the components in the circuit, taking a "shorter" path back to the power source. This can lead to excessive current drain, which in turn generates excessive heat, damaging or destroying sensitive parts of the system such as transistors and IC
Integrated circuit

In electronics, an integrated circuit is a miniaturized electronic circuit that has been manufactured in the surface of a thin Wafer of semiconductor material....
s.

Loops


In Graph theory
Graph theory

In mathematics and computer science, graph theory is the study of graph : mathematical structures used to model pairwise relations between objects from a certain collection....
, an edge whose two ends meet is called a loop
Loop (graph theory)

In graph theory, a loop is an edge that connects a vertex to itself. A Graph #Simple_Graph contains no loops.Depending on the context, a graph or a multigraph may be defined so as to either allow or disallow the presence of loops :...
, which is an entirely different usage of the word. In any kind of circuit, such a loop has no distinct function. An argument can be made that redundant lines for transmission of power do have a function, even if it is only a backup function.

Types


There are three basic types of circuit currently used in industry:
  • Electronic
    Electronic circuit

    An electronic circuit is a closed path formed by the interconnection of electronic components through which an electric current can flow. The electronic circuits may be physically constructed using any number of methods....
     or electrical
  • Pneumatic
    Pneumatic circuit

    A pneumatic circuit is an interconnected set of components that convert compressed gas into mechanical work. In the normal sense of the term, the circuit must include a compressor or compressor-fed tank....
  • Hydraulic
    Hydraulic circuit

    A hydraulic circuit is an interconnected set of components that convert pressurized liquid into mechanical work....
The following is a rough list of the types of components which make up each type of circuit.

Electronic circuit

  • Sources of energy
    • Batteries
      Battery (electricity)

      In electronics, a battery or voltaic cell is a combination of one or more electrochemical cell Galvanic cells which store chemical energy that can be converted into electric potential energy, creating electricity....
    • Generator
      Electrical generator

      In electricity generation, an electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, generally using electromagnetic induction....
      s
    • Solar cell
      Solar cell

      A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Sometimes the term solar cell is reserved for devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight, while the term photovoltaic cell is used when the source is unspecified....
      s
  • Transmission lines
    • Wire
      Wire

      A wire is a single, usually cylinder , elongated string of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical Structural loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications Wiktionary:signal....
      s
    • Switch
      Switch

      In electronics, a switch is an electrical component which can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the Electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another....
      es
  • Passive components
    • Transducer
      Transducer

      A transducer is a device, usually electricity, electronics, electro-mechanical, electromagnetic, photonic, or photovoltaic that converts one type of energy or physical attribute to another for various purposes including measurement or information transfer ....
      s


Pneumatic circuit

  • Sources of energy
    • Compressor
      Gas compressor

      A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume.Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe ....
  • Transmission lines
    • Air tank
      Pressure vessel

      A pressure vessel is a closed container designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure different from the ambient pressure.The pressure differential is potentially dangerous and many fatal accidents have occurred in the history of their development and operation....
    • Pneumatic hoses
    • Open atmosphere (for returning the spent gas to the compressor)
    • Valve
      Valve

      A valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe Piping and plumbing fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category....
      s
  • Passive components
    • Pneumatic cylinder
      Pneumatic cylinder

      Pneumatic cylinders are mechanical devices which produce force, often in combination with motion, and are powered by compressed gas .To perform their function, pneumatic cylinders impart a force by energy conversion the potential energy of compressed gas into kinetic energy....
      s


Hydraulic circuit

  • Sources of energy
    • Power pack
      Power Pack

      Power Pack is a team of fictional child superheroes in the Marvel Comics Marvel Universe. They were created by writer Louise Simonson and artist June Brigman, and first appeared in their own comic book ongoing series in 1984 in comics....
  • Transmission lines
    • Hydraulic hoses
  • Passive components
    • Hydraulic cylinder
      Hydraulic cylinder

      A Hydraulic cylinder is a mechanical actuator that is used to give a linear force through a linear stroke. It has many applications, notably in engineering vehicles....
      s


See also

  • Network analysis (electronics)
  • Mesh analysis
    Mesh analysis

    Mesh analysis is a method that is used to solve planar circuits for the voltage and Electric current at any place in the Electronic circuit. Planar circuits are circuits that can be drawn on a Plane with no wires overlapping each other....
  • Active component
  • Passive component
  • Fluid power
    Fluid power

    Fluid power is the technology of exploiting the properties of fluids to generate, control, and transmit power as a result of the pressurization of fluids....
  • Memristor
    Memristor

    Memristors are a class of Passive circuit element two-terminal circuit elements that maintain a function al relationship between the time integrals of electric current and voltage....
  • Signal (circuit theory)