Basic Electrical Engineering

Answer: Simply, circuit is the interconnection of electrical components. 

 

Here in the figure 3 electrical components are connected together with wires. Hence it makes an electrical circuit.

Electrical Components: There are 3 basic electrical components. These are: Resistor, Capacitor and Inductor.

Resistors: These are very simple element except they have a colour coding on their body to mention how much resistance they have. The work of a resistor is very simple, “TO RESIST”. And of course it resists current (electricity).  

This is the symbol of resistors. To know details about resistors click here.

Capacitors:  A capacitor was formerly known as condenser. It is a device for storing electric charge. Practical capacitors are made using various methods. But in all of them there are at least two conductors separated by an insulation.

This is the symbol of capacitors. The symbol plus and minus shows the polarity of the two plates. To know more about capacitors click here. 

The pic above is a conventional capacitor. Present days capacitors look like below:

Inductros: An inductor is also known as reactor or coil. It is a passive electrical component. It can store energy in a magnetic field created by the electric current passing through it. The ability of an inductor to store magnetic energy is called its inductance. The unit of inductance is Henrie. Usually any conductor has inductance. We reinforce the magnetic field of an conductor by giving wound in loops. When we make something where wound of loops of conductors are there and a current flow is available through the two side of the conductor then it becomes and acts like an inductor.

The pic above shows some typical inductors.