The elements or components in electrical circuits can be classified in to either active or passive elements or components. Active elements are the energy sources
which deliver power to the network whereas passive elements are the elements in
the network which consume energy.
Active Elements
Power supply elements such as voltage
sources and current sources either independent or dependent which deliver power
are called active elements. For an active element the ratio of the voltage
across it to the current flowing is negative i.e. \[\frac{V}{I}<0\]. For
Non-linear elements \[\frac{dV}{dI}<0\].
The graphical representations of active
elements can be as follows.
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| characteristics of active elements |
Passive Elements
The elements which consume energy are
called passive elements. These elements either convert energy into another form
or store energy in electric or magnetic field. The elements such as a resistor, inductor
and capacitor are called passive elements. For linear passive elements the ratio of voltage to current is positive i.e \[\frac{V}{I}>0\] and for Non-Linear elements \[\frac{dV}{dI}>0\]
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| Characteristics of passive element |
