C. K. Alexander & M. N. O. Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 7th ed., Ch. 1.
Reference directions, passive sign convention and power interpretation.
EF-01
Course overview
Reference directions and electrical notation
Electrical variables become reliable only when their references are explicit. This course fixes the AoN language for voltage arrows, current arrows, receiver/generator conventions, negative results and the transition from DC to time-varying and harmonic notation.
5 chaptersintroductory → foundational
Prerequisites
- EF-00 — electrical quantities
- Elementary algebra
By the end of the course
- Define unambiguous voltage/current references.
- Interpret negative results physically.
- Choose receiver or generator convention.
- Use AoN notation across DC, time and harmonic regimes.
- Audit a schematic for visual ambiguity and overlap.
Syllabus
Five readings that make signs and symbols reliable before Ohm's law.
Electrical variables become reliable only when their references are explicit. This course fixes the AoN language for voltage arrows, current arrows, receiver/generator conventions, negative results and the transition from DC to time-varying and harmonic notation.
- 01→
Reference directions for voltage and current
An arrow defines the positive direction of a variable; it does not predict the answer.
70-95 min · Introductory - 02→
Receiver and generator conventions
The relative orientation of voltage and current references determines the sign of power.
70-95 min · Introductory - 03→
Signs, negative results and physical meaning
A negative voltage or current is information about direction, not evidence that the calculation failed.
65-90 min · Introductory - 04→
DC, time-domain and harmonic notation
V and I, then v(t) and i(t), then underlined harmonic quantities: one notation system from DC to AC.
80-110 min · Introductory to foundational - 05→
Reading and drawing circuit variables
Before writing an equation, show where every circuit-dependent variable lives.
70-95 min · Foundational
Reference backbone
References used
The course separates universal physics from notation choices. Standard circuit texts and MIT notes support reference-direction and passive-sign reasoning; signal texts support the time/frequency distinction; ADR-0018 then fixes one explicit AoN house notation and states where literature conventions differ.
A. Agarwal & J. H. Lang, Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits, Ch. 1 and Ch. 13; MIT 6.002 lecture notes.
Lumped-circuit variable definitions and the later transition to sinusoidal steady state.
MIT 6.200, Foundations and Vocabulary; Sinusoidal Steady State notes.
Independent treatment of circuit references, passive-sign convention and time/harmonic representations.
A. V. Oppenheim, A. S. Willsky & S. H. Nawab, Signals and Systems, 2nd ed.
Conceptual distinction between time-domain signals and general frequency-domain transforms.
AoN ADR-0018 — Electrical notation and sign conventions.
Normative AoN house rule for voltage/current arrows and DC/time/harmonic notation; explicitly not claimed to be universal notation.