Basic Concepts, Quantities and Units

Unit #1:

Work is defined as:

a force moving through a distance.

Energy is defined as:

the capacity to do work. i.e. it takes Energy to do Work

Example: it requires energy to pull a boat out of the water, onto the beach and work is done pulling the boat out of the water.
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Energy is required from the human body to pull the boat from the water. A force is then required to overcome friction between the boat and sand as well as the effect of gravity. The work consists of the force required to move the boat some distance as it is pulled on to the shore.

Base units are terms used to specify an amount (eg. kilogram or meter). The symbol for work or energy is W. The base unit that is used to indicate both energy and work is the joule (J) or Nm.

The amount of work done equals the amount of energy used or expended.
Formula to calculate Work: Mech. Example 1-2, pg. 2

ex. Fifty joules of energy are required to do fifty joules of work.

Work = Force x Distance

Mech. Example 1-2, pg. 2 It requires 500 J of energy and 100 Newtons of force to move an object from point A to point B. What is the distance between point A and B?

Under ordinary circumstances, Energy cannot be created or destroyed. To use electric energy is to convert that electric energy into some other useable form. Ex. An electric Lamp; conversion of electric energy into heat and light energy. Electric Motor; converts electric energy into mechanical energy. Generator; converts mechanical energy into electric energy.
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To understand Electricity, we have to break down the atom into smaller particles. Neils Bohr 1913 Theorized that all atoms contain: Nucleus (positively charged particles) Electrons (negatively charged particles)

Each Electron has its own shell containing orbits. Inner shell: Max 2 electrons Second shell: Max 8 electrons Third shell: Max 18 electrons etc. Valence electrons are in the outermost shell which are involved in chemical reactions and

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electric currents.

Held to the nucleus with less attraction than the electrons in the inner shell. All electrons possess energy since they have weight and are moving. Therefore, they are capable of doing Work.
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Can become free electrons when energy is added to the atom. Additional energy (heat or electric field) allows the valence electron to escape. Fewer valence electrons require less energy to free electrons.

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Free Electron

Example: When a glass rod is rubbed (mechanical energy) against silk cloth, valence electrons from the rod become free electrons and are transferred to the cloth. The cloth then becomes negatively charged (more electrons) and the rod is positively charged. The charges on both tend to remain stationary and result in Static Electricity.

The level (or amount) of electric charge is represented by the base unit, coulomb. Named after a French physicist, Charles Augustin Coulomb. The symbol for charge is Q. The abbreviation for coulomb is C. Example: Q=5C; i.e. the charge is equal to 5 coulombs.

Electric Current is the movement (flow) of charged particles in a specified direction. Current carrier (charged particle) in a solid is the electron. The symbol for current is I (intensity of electricity). Current travels almost at the speed of light (instantaneous). Electrons move slowly by comparison (but a continuous flow is realized). Think of

Abbreviated dc. Continuous Current flow in one direction. Source Ex. Cells and Batteries, DC Power Supply. Unit The Ampere (abbreviated A or Amp).
Example 12 A.

Derived from coulombs per second. Amount of time required to move the charge past a given point.

Q I=t

Voltage is the electric pressure that causes current to flow. Also referred to as emf (electromotive force) or potential energy difference. The symbol for voltage is V or E. Voltage is the energy available when a given charge is transported from a negative to a positive point.

Water Example

Voltage is the energy available when a given charge is transported from a negative to a positive point. Base unit Derived from joule per coulomb or volt.
Voltage (V) = energy (W)/charge (Q)

W V =Q

Ex. 12V Source means that each coulomb of charge can supply 12 J of energy.

Review Question 2-5, pg. 39 A 12.6V battery forces 3 coulombs through a load (ex. Lightbulb).

How much energy does the load convert?

Resistance is defined as:

The opposition a material offers to current. Symbol for Resistance is R All materials offer resistance to current but vary drastically in amount. This is determined by the amount of energy required to free valence electrons.
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 Are materials that offer very little resistance to current flow. Examples: Copper, Aluminum, Silver Typically these elements have less than 3 Valence Electrons in their outer shell. 19

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 Are materials that offer very high resistance to current flow. Known as a material that allows no current to flow through it. Examples: paper, wood, plastics, rubber Insulators are not pure elements. They are substances which have been formed from two or more materials.

 The opposition a material offers to current. Written Symbol for Resistance is R Circuit Schematic Symbol: The Unit used to represent Resistance is Ohm () or the Greek letter Omega Named for Georg Ohm defined the Relationship between Current, Voltage and Resistance
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 Materials resistance depends upon: Type of material Length of the object Cross-sectional Area Temperature of the Object

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Types of Circuits:
Series Circuits: Contain only one path for current to flow. Total resistance in a circuit is the sum of the individual resistances in the circuit. Lab 2 Example Fig. 2-10, pg. 6

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Types of Circuits:
Parallel Circuits: Contain multiple paths (alternates) for current flow. Total resistance in a circuit is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances in the circuit. Lab 2 Example Fig. 2-5, pg.4

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Series-Parallel Circuits:
Contain both series and parallel circuit features for current flow. To solve, reduce the circuit to equivalent parallel and series values until the entire circuit is reduced to one equivalent resistance. Lab 2 Example Fig. 2-14, pg.7

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