Circuit Components and Their Behaviour
Real circuits contain three main types of components, each with unique properties. Resistors combine differently depending on how they're connected - in series, you simply add them up R=R1+R2, but in parallel, you use the formula R = 1/1/R1+1/R2.
Capacitors store electrical charge and are measured in farads (F). They behave opposite to resistors when combining - parallel capacitors add up C=C1+C2, whilst series capacitors use the reciprocal formula. The key equation for capacitors is i = Cdv/dt, showing how current relates to changing voltage.
Inductors resist changes in current and are measured in henries (H). Their differential equation is v = Ldi/dt, meaning voltage appears when current changes. Like resistors, inductors in series add up L=L1+L2, but parallel inductors use the reciprocal formula.
Conductance (G) is the opposite of resistance, measured in siemens (S). It tells you how easily current flows rather than how much it's opposed, making some calculations simpler.
Memory Trick: Capacitors and inductors behave like "opposite twins" - whatever rule applies to one in series applies to the other in parallel!