---
title: "UNDERSTANDING CIRCUITS: Understanding Circuits"
id: "10903"
type: "page"
slug: "01-understanding-circuits"
published_at: "2026-07-19T01:02:27+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-07-19T01:02:28+00:00"
url: "https://preppers-paradise.com/library/understandingcircuitslearningproblemsolvingusingcircuitanalysis/01-understanding-circuits/"
markdown_url: "https://preppers-paradise.com/library/understandingcircuitslearningproblemsolvingusingcircuitanalysis/01-understanding-circuits.md"
excerpt: "This resource introduces fundamental principles of electrical and electronic circuit analysis, teaching readers a structured problem-solving approach to deconstruct complex systems. It covers essentia"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Books"
  - "Electronics & Embedded"
  - "Free Teaser"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "capacitors"
  - "circuit analysis"
  - "circuit theory"
  - "diodes"
  - "electrical engineering"
  - "electronic circuits"
  - "op-amps"
  - "problem solving"
  - "resistors"
  - "transistors"
---

# UNDERSTANDING CIRCUITS: Understanding Circuits

[← UNDERSTANDING CIRCUITS](/library/understandingcircuitslearningproblemsolvingusingcircuitanalysis/)

Chapter 1 of 19 · Free teaser

# UNDERSTANDING CIRCUITS

*Learning Problem Solving Using Circuit Analysis*

### Khalid Sayood

Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA

## Abstract

This book/lecture is intended for a college freshman level class in problem solving, where the particular problems deal with electrical and electronic circuits. It can also be used in a junior/senior level class in high school to teach circuit analysis. The basic problem-solving paradigm used in this book is that of resolution of a problem into its component parts. The reader learns how to take circuits of varying levels of complexity using this paradigm. The problem-solving exercises also familiarize the reader with a number of different circuit components including resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers and their use in practical circuits. The reader should come away with both an understanding of how to approach complex problems and a "feel" for electrical and electronic circuits.

### KEYWORDS

Circuit Analysis, Problem solving, Transistor Circuits, OpAmp Circuits, Diode Circuits

## Contents

*   1. Introduction
    *   1.1 Overview
    *   1.2 Problem Solving
*   2. Current, Voltage, and Circuit Laws
    *   2.1 Overview
    *   2.2 Electricity, Current, and Voltage
    *   2.3 Kirchhoff's Laws
        *   2.3.1 Kirchhoff's Current Law
        *   2.3.2 Kirchhoff's Voltage Law
    *   2.4 Summary
    *   2.5 Projects and Problems
*   3. Resistive Circuits
    *   3.1 Overview
    *   3.2 Introduction
    *   3.3 The Resistor
    *   3.4 Resistive Circuits
    *   3.5 Summary
    *   3.6 Projects and Problems
*   4. Capacitors
    *   4.1 Overview
    *   4.2 Introduction
    *   4.3 Functions of Time and the Concept of Frequency
    *   4.4 Circuits with Resistors and Capacitors
    *   4.5 Summary
    *   4.6 Projects and Problems
*   5. Diode Circuits
    *   5.1 Overview
    *   5.2 Introduction
    *   5.3 Some Common Diode Applications
        *   5.3.1 Rectifier Circuits
        *   5.3.2 Diode Clamp
        *   5.3.3 Voltage Limiter
    *   5.4 Solving Circuits Containing Diodes
    *   5.5 Solving Circuits Using Load Lines
    *   5.6 Summary
    *   5.7 Projects and Problems
*   6. Transistors
    *   6.1 Overview
    *   6.2 Introduction
    *   6.3 The Component Rule
    *   6.4 Transistor Circuits
    *   6.5 Transistor Amplifiers
    *   6.6 Transistor Logic Gates
        *   6.6.1 Inverter
        *   6.6.2 NOR Gate
    *   6.7 Transistor Switches
    *   6.8 Summary
    *   6.9 Problems
*   7. Operational Amplifiers
    *   7.1 Overview
    *   7.2 Introduction
    *   7.3 Component Rule
    *   7.4 Voltage Follower
    *   7.5 Amplifier
        *   7.5.1 Inverting Op-Amp
        *   7.5.2 Non-Inverting Op-Amp
    *   7.6 The Analog Computer
        *   7.6.1 Adding Circuit
        *   7.6.2 Subtraction Circuit
        *   7.6.3 Implementing Algebraic Equations
        *   7.6.4 Integration
        *   7.6.5 Differentiation
    *   7.7 Summary
    *   7.8 Problems

## Chapter 1