Circuit Analysis For Dummies

Chapter 19

Ten Practical Applications for Circuits

In This Chapter

Examining variable resistors and homemade capacitors

Considering interface techniques and variations on the Wheatstone bridge

Part of the purpose of circuit analysis is to analyze what a circuit is doing. But you can also use circuit analysis to design a circuit to perform a particular function. Knowing how to analyze circuits allows you to add the appropriate elements to a circuit during the design phase so that the circuit performs the way you want it to. In this chapter, I highlight ten of my favorite practical applications for circuits.

Potentiometers

Dimmer switches are actually adjustable voltage dividers referred to as potentiometers in the electrical engineering world. From a circuit analysis perspective, you can model a potentiometer as two resistors connected in series. The connection or junction point between the two resistors is where the wiper arm is located to vary the resistance. By varying the amount of resistance, you vary the amount of voltage. In the case of dimmer switches, this variance allows you to adjust the lighting in a room.

Homemade Capacitors: Leyden Jars

Hailing from Holland more than 250 years ago is a simple capacitor known as a Leyden jar. It was a major breakthrough, replacing ...