01 / Reading Guide
Reading Guide
Circuit reasoning: loading changes both voltage and power
Compare three circuit texts and solve original divider-loading and maximum-power cases, checking Kirchhoff balances and the limits of a Thevenin equivalent.
Study route and exercise: University Reading List editorial project.
Who this book is for
For students starting electrical or electronics study who want a practical explanation of DC analysis before moving to AC circuits. The text builds gradually from quantities and simple connections to systematic methods. It combines conceptual questions with calculation and simulation tasks, giving a reader several ways to check understanding rather than only copying a worked answer.
Prerequisites
School algebra, simultaneous equations and scientific notation. Basic physics is useful, but no previous circuit-analysis course is assumed; review unit conversions before working with electrical quantities.
What it covers
Voltage, current, power and resistance support series and parallel analysis, network theorems and nodal or mesh methods. Capacitors, inductors and magnetic ideas extend the starting framework. The companion AC text is a separate continuation, so readers can establish this foundation without treating phasor techniques as assumed knowledge.
How to use it
Label reference directions and polarities before applying a law. Predict whether a result should be positive, then keep a consistent convention through the calculation. Solve a small network by two methods and compare power balance. Use simulation as an independent check after forming your own answer, and investigate a discrepancy by inspecting the circuit model instead of changing signs until numbers match.
Edition and sources
The author-hosted PDF identifies version 1.0.14, December 11, 2025, ISBN 9781654515478, published by James M. Fiore via dissidents. It is a complete textbook under a noncommercial attribution-sharealike licence, with separately credited manufacturer material.
