Electrons in Motion

electrons can move through conductors. The direction of electron ow is from the excess Negative object toward the relatively positive object. Electron current ows from Negative to Positive Units for Electron Flow the motion of electrons is measured by how many coulombs of charge pass a given point in a second. current= coulombs/second 1 (amp)= delta q (Coulombs)/ delta t (seconds) 1 ampere= 1 coulomb of charge passing a given point in 1 second The ammeter is the device used to measure electric current. Find the Ammeter symbol on the reference chart. Conductors: Generally metal solids (as well as liquid mercury) are good conductors of electricity because they have "a sea of mobile electrons" surrounding the nucleus and metal atoms have empty valence orbitals. That means that electrons are free to move and have someplace to go! Extra electrons just go with they already existing ow of charge. Non-Conductors: Generally, non-metal solis are poor conductors of electricity because their electrons are not mobile and they have few empty valence orbitals substances with very poor conductivity of electrons are called insulators some materials do not qualify as either good conductors or good insulators and these are called Semiconductors Conditions Necessary for Electron Flow There must be a Potential Difference between two points in a conductor in order to create a charge ow. Potential Difference is the Voltage and is measured by a Voltmeter The conductor must be part of a Complete Circuit to maintain the ow of charge Work must be done on electrons to move them from a positive object to a negative object. The electric eld does the work to move electrons from the negative to the positive object. (compare to Gravitational Potential Energy, etc.)

 Circuit Diagram Needed: Potential Difference= Power supply or Battery (V) Connecting wires of little/ no resistance Resistors through which the current must ow (R) (This can be a lamp, a toaster, etc) Voltmeter measures the voltage drop across any given resistor Resistance Resistance is the opposition to the ow of current through a device or resistor symbol: R Unit: the ohm- when a potential difference of 1 volt allows one ampere of current then the resistance is 1 ohm Equation for resistance in a wire: R== pL/A Resistivity: p= resistivity in ohm-meter and is unique to each substance, 1= length of the wire in meters A= cross sectional area in m Refer to diagram: