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Current
Electricity
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this section, you should be able to:
define the term current and state its SI unit;
differentiate between conventional current and
electron flow;
apply the formula charge = current time to solve
problems;
draw electric circuit diagrams.
Q
I
t
where I = current;
Q = charge;
t = time taken.
Wires
Dry cell
Switch
Bulb
bulb
cell
connecting wires
switch
Open circuit
A circuit in which current is unable to flow due to
breaks in the circuit.
Short circuit
An alternative path of lower resistance is present and
hence, current flows through wire X instead of the bulb.
Q
where = e.m.f. of electrical energy source;
W = work done (amount of non-electrical energy
The SI unit of e.m.f is the joule per coulomb (J C1) or volt (V).
W
V
Q
where V = p.d. across a component;
W = work done (amount of electrical energy
converted to other forms);
Q = amount of charge.
Potential difference
Associated with an
electrical energy source
(e.g. a dry cell)
V
V
15.3 Resistance
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this section, you should be able to:
define the term resistance;
apply the formula resistance =
to solve problems;
p.d.
current
15.3 Resistance
Recall
Earlier, we used the
water pump analogy to
help us understand
e.m.f.
obstacle
Question
Predict what will happen if a porous plate (an obstacle)
is placed in the path of the water flow.
15.3 Resistance
What is Resistance?
resistor
Resistor
Resistor
added
added
Rate of flow of
electric charges
reduced
Current is
reduced
Ammeter
reading will
be reduced
15.3 Resistance
What is Resistance?
The resistance of a component is the ratio of the
potential difference across the component to the
current flowing through the component.
V
R
I
where R = resistance of a component;
V = p.d. across a component;
I = current flowing through component.
17.3 Resistance
Ohms Law
Ohms Law states that the current passing through a
metallic conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across it, provided that physical
conditions remain constant.
I V
where I = current;
V = potential difference.
15.3 Resistance
Circuit for Measuring Resistance
Note that:
The ammeter is
connected in series
with the bulb.
The voltmeter is
connected in parallel
with the bulb.
15.3 Resistance
In the circuit shown,
Light bulb
Wires
Ammeter
R=0
Voltmeter
R=
15.3 Resistance
What are Resistors?
A resistor is a conductor in a circuit that is used to
control the size of the current flowing in a circuit.
There are two types of resistors fixed resistors
and variable resistors (or rheostats).
15.3 Resistance
Rheostat
Minimum
Resistance
Slider
Metal Rod
A
curren
t
Connected
to other
parts of the
circuit
rre
u
c nt
curren
t
curre
nt
Connected to other
parts of the circuit
15.3 Resistance
Rheostat
Slider
Metal Rod
rre
u
c nt
current
curre
nt
curren
t
current
15.3 Resistance
Maximum
Resistance
Metal Rod
curre
nt
curren
t
Slider
B
curre
nt
Rheostat
rre
u
c nt
15.3 Resistance
Rheostat
Slider
Metal Rod
n
re
r
cu t
curren
t
curren
t
curre
nt
current
Therefore, by moving the slider along the metal rod, the length of the
wire (in the coil) through which the current flows can be varied. In
turn, the resistance can be varied. (i.e. increase in length of the wire
through which the current flows increases the resistance)
15.3 Resistance
Resistance in a Wire
Resistivity of
Material,
Cross sectional
Area, A
Length of wire, L
Resistance in a Wire
Increase in the number of
atoms/ions/particles increase
chances of collisions by electrons
increase resistance to the flow
of electrons
Shorter L, Smaller R
Longer L, Larger R
RL
Increase in cross sectional area
increase space for electrons to
move reduce resistance to the
flow of electrons
Smaller A, Larger R
Larger A, Smaller R
17.4 Resistivity
Resistivity,
Different materials have
different resistivity.
Resistivity is a property of
the material and it is
independent of the
dimensions of the
material.
The lower the resistivity of
a material, the better it is
at conducting electricity.
15.3 Resistance
Worked Example
A 3 V source is connected to a light
bulb, as shown in the diagram.
The ammeter registers a reading of
0.2 A.
(a) State the reading on the
voltmeter.
(b) Determine the resistance of the
light bulb.
(c) The circuit is switched on for five
minutes. Determine the amount
of
(i) charge;
(ii) energy dissipated in the bulb.
15.3 Resistance
Solution
Circuit Arrangement
Series arrangement
E.M.F:
resultant e.m.f. = sum of all the e.m.f.s of the cells (= 1.5 + 1.5 + 1.5 = 4.5 V)
P.d.:
Sum of P.d.s = P.d.1 + P.d.2 = e.m.f. = 4.5V
Current, I:
Current is the same throughout the circuit
P.d. 1
P.d. 2
Circuit Arrangement
Parallel arrangement
E.M.F:
resultant e.m.f. = e.m.f. of a single cell (= 1.5 V)
1.5 V
I
P.d.:
P.d is the same
P.d.1 = P.d.2 = e.m.f. (= 1.5 V)
Current, I:
Current I = I1 + I2 = Ammeter reading
P.d. 1
I1
I
Note:
- Current does not flow through voltmeter as it has very
high resistance
- Current flowing through ammeter is not affected because it
has very low resistance
I2
P.d. 2
Circuit Arrangement
Light Bulbs Brightness
Series arrangement
I
I
Bulb 1
Parallel arrangement
Bulb 2
I
P.d. 1
P.d. 2
4.5 V
Brightness
<
V
I1
A
Bulb 1
I2
Bulb 2
KC
In series, current
flowing through
circuit is the same.
In parallel, p.d.
across components
are the same.
Re
Ohms Law
V=IR
Power used by
bulb
P=VI
Me
For series, current is
halved as p.d. is halved.
P.d. across each
component is halved as
resistance of each
component is the same.
Less energy to send
charge through
component hence charge
flows at a slower rate.
For parallel, p.d. across
each component is the
same as emf hence same
amount of energy to send
charge through
component thus current
through component is
doubled (compared to
series)
Series arrangement
I
I
Bulb 1
Parallel arrangement
Brightness
Bulb 2
I
P.d. 1
P.d. 2
4.5 V
Proof:
Assume resistance of light bulb is 1
V=IR
2.25 =I(1)
I = 2.25A
P=VI=(4.5/2)(2.25)=5.0625W
Current through bulb halved as p.d.
halved. P.d. halved as 2 bulbs
(resistance doubled)
<
V
I1
A
Bulb 1
I2
Bulb 2
Proof:
Assume resistance of light bulb is 1
V=I1R
4.5=I1(1)
I1=4.5A
P=VI1=(4.5)(4.5)=20.25W
P.d. across bulbs are the same as emf
hence current is doubled compared to
series
Circuit Arrangement
Question
What is the relationship between P.d 1, P.d 2 and e.m.f.?
1.5 V
1.5 V
P.d. 1
I1
P.d. 1
I1
I2
P.d. 2
I2
P.d. 2
Formulae
1. I =
OR Q = It
2. R =
3. V =
4. P = VI
OR V = IR
OR E = QV
Q
t
where
t = time
defined as
rate of flow
of
wher
e
wher
e
W
Q
wher
e
Charge Q
(SI unit:
C)
Electromotive
force
(SI unit: V)
where =
Resistance
R
(SI unit: )
related
to
W = work done by
source
to drive a unit
charge
around the circuit
related
to
R
=
Potential
difference V
(SI unit: V)
V
where =
wher
e
W
Q
W = work done to
drive a unit
charge through a
component
V
I
Key Concepts