bipole

A bipole is a two-terminal electrical component. This means it has two points of connection for an electrical circuit. Many fundamental electrical components are bipoles, including resistors, capacitors, inductors, and voltage sources. The behavior of a bipole is described by the relationship between the voltage across it and the current flowing through it. This relationship is often expressed mathematically as a function or equation. For example, Ohm's Law describes the relationship for a resistor, where voltage is directly proportional to current. The concept of a bipole is essential for circuit analysis, as complex circuits can be broken down into interconnected bipoles to simplify their understanding and calculation. The direction of current and voltage is typically defined by a convention, such as passive sign convention, which helps in consistently applying circuit laws. A passive bipole is one that does not generate power, only dissipating or storing it, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. An active bipole, on the other hand, can generate power, like a battery or a power supply.