DIDACTIC UNIT

ELECTRICITY
Introduction: Electricity

a) Whats electricity?

Electricity is a form of energy produced by the movement of electrons. Electricity is

electrical power or an electric current. This form of energy can be sent through wires in a flow of
tiny particles. It is used to produce light and heat and to run motors.

b) Types of electricity (DC, AC, and Static electricity)

Although DC stands for "Direct Current",

DC sometimes refers to "constant polarity.

An alternating current (AC) is an

electrical current whose magnitude and
direction vary cyclically.

What is Static Electricity? Everything we

see is made up of tiny little parts
called atoms. Usually, atoms have
the same number of electrons and
protons. Then the atom has no
charge, it is "neutral." But if you rub
things together, electrons can move
from one atom to another. Some
atoms get extra electrons. They
have a negative charge. Other atoms lose electrons. They have a
positive charge. When charges are separated like this, it is
called static electricity.

1.- ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

An electric circuit is a route and electrons circulate around this route. The components of an
electric circuit are:

GENERATORS (cells and batteries) : provide the necessary energy for electrons to circulate

battery
CONDUCTORS : the wires

RECEIVERS : transform electric energy into useable energy

bulb motor bell resistor

PROTECTION ELEMENTS: protect circuits and people against potential problems (Fuses,
circuit breakers)

fuse
CONTROL ELEMENTS: direct and interrupt electric current (Switches)

switch push button

So that the current can circulate, the circuit has to be closed. That is, the electric current that
leaves the generator, after going through the circuits components, has to return to where it
came from

2.- ELECTRIC MAGNITUDES:

2.1 Voltage or potential difference:

Voltage or tension is the energy that a battery or generator can provide for each electron. It is
measured in Volts ( V )
The tension is shared between the different parts of the circuit
We use a voltmeter to measure voltage

2.2 Electric current:

Electric current is the charge or number of electrons that flows through a conductor per second

Electric current is measured in Amperes or Amps ( A )

We4 use an ammeter to measure current

2.3 Electrical resistance:

The electrical resistance of a material is a measure of the degree to which material opposes
and electrical current flowing through it
Metals have hardly any electrical resistance, whereas insulators have very high levels of
resistance. Its value depends on the material used and its form : resistance invcreases with the
length of a cable and decreases with thickness

3.- OHM`S LAW

Ohm's law states that, in an electrical circuit, the current passing through a conductor, from one
terminal point on the conductor to another terminal point on the conductor, is directly
proportional to the potential difference (i.e. voltage drop or voltage) across the two terminal
points and inversely proportional to the resistance of the conductor between the two terminal
points.

In mathematical terms, this is written as:

Where I is the current, V is the potential difference, and R is a constant called the resistance.
The potential difference is also known as the voltage drop, and is sometimes denoted by E or U
instead of V. [1]

The SI unit of current is the ampere; that of potential difference is the volt; and that of resistance
is the ohm, equal to one volt per ampere.

V=RI I=V/R R=V/I

and electrician potential: P = V I

4.- TYPES OF CIRCUITS (SERIAL, PARALL, AND COMPOUNDS)

Electric circuits with only a single path for electricity to flow along are called series circuits.
Electric circuits with multiple pathways for electricity to flow along are called parallel circuits. A
circuits total resistance to the flow of electricity is calculated differently for series circuits than it
is for parallel circuits.

Series circuits: If three objects with resistances R1, R2, and R3 are connected in series, their
total resistance is:

R= R1 + R2 + R3.

The current that flows through all of them is identical and the total voltage is the sum of the
voltage of each element

Parallel circuits: The total resistance of a parallel circuit can be calculated from the equation.

Look at the image:

The potential difference of each element is the same but the current that flows through each
branch is different

Mixed circuits:

Some elements are connected is series and some in parallel

To determine the equivalent resistance of the circuit we calculate the partial resistance of each
branch and combine them

5.- ELECTRIC ENERGY

The energy that a generator produces in order to maintain a curren is consumed by the
receivers
If the current flowing through an electrical appliance is I, and its operating voltage is V, then the
energy consumed by the appliance in a given time can be represented as follows:

E = V*I*t = I2* R * t

The energy in the SI is measured in Joules ( J )

The electricity consumed can be transformed into different types of energy depending on the
type of receiver

Motors: transform electric energy into rotary movement

Light bulbs: transform electric energy into light
Radiators: transform electric energy into heat
Electric Power:

Electric power is the capacity of an electric receiver to transform energy in a fixed period of time

We measyre electric power in watts ( W ) although we also use the kilowatt ( Kw ) which is
equivalent to 1000 W

If the current flowing through an appliance is I and its voltage is V, the the power consumed by
the appliance can be calculated as follows

P = V*I

We can express the energy consumed in terms of its power in Kilowatt- hour:

1Kwh = 3 600 000 J = 3600 KJ

We can calculate the electric energy that a receiver consumes from its power:

E = P*t

6.- ELECTROMAGNETIC MECHANISMS

These two principles are the basis of electromagnetism:

o All electric current create magnetic fields

o A changing magnetic field can produce an electric current

An electromagnetic mechanism is any appliance that can use electromagnetic effects to produce
electricity or convert it into mechanical energy

Electromagnetic generators;

Transform mechanical energy into electricity

Dynamos: consist of a magnet inside which there is a coil ending into two separate
semicircular conductors known as the commutator. The brushes are in contact with the
conmutator

The coil starts to spin using an external energy source and an electric current is generated
inside it.

Alternator: are practically identical to dynamos. The only difference is that the collector
consists of two rings and each ruing is in contact with a brush, Alternator generate alternating
currents

Relays: When an electric current passes through the coil it acts like an electromagnet
and attracts a movable piece of metal that closes two contacts

If an electric current doesn t flow through the coil the central ciontact stays joined to the contact
on the left