Electricity Notes

Charge(Q):-
Electric charge is the basic physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force
when kept in an electric or magnetic field.

• It can be positive or negative.

• S.I. unit – Coulomb (C)
Quantisation of Charge:-
Every charge is an integral multiple of a basic charge i.e., charge on an electron(e –).

• Q=ne
• Number of electrons(n) = Q/e
• Charge on an electron (1e–) =1.6 x 10-19 C
Electric Circuit:-
A continuous and closed path of an electric current is called an electric circuit.

Electric current(I):-
The rate of flow of electric charge is called electric current.

• I = Q/t
• S.I. unit:- Ampere(A)
• Conventionally, the direction of flow of electric current is opposite to the direction of flow
of electrons
• The amount of electric current in a circuit is measured by an instrument
called ammeter.
• An ammeter is always connected in series in a circuit.
• 1 mA = 10 -3 A & 1 µA = 10-6 A
1 Ampere:- The electric current flowing through a circuit is said to be 1 ampere when 1 coulomb
of charge flows through it per second.
Electric Potential:-
The work done to move a unit charge from infinity to a point is known as electric potential of that
point.

Electric Potential Difference:-

The work done to move a unit charge from one point to another point is called potential
difference between the two points.

• V = W/Q
• S.I. unit:- Volt(V)
• Potential difference is measured by an instrument called voltmeter.
• Voltmeter is always connected in parallel across the points between which the potential
difference is to be measured.
1 Volt:- The potential difference across the two points of a conductor is said to be 1 volt when 1
joule of work is done to move a charge of 1 coulomb from one point to the other.

Ohm’s Law:-
At constant temperature, the potential difference across the ends of a conductor is directly
proportional to the amount of current flowing through it.

Mathematically,
V∝I
V = IR where, R is constant of proportionality & is known as resistance.

Circuit diagram and V-I graph for Ohm’s law:-

.
Resistance:-
The property of a conductor to oppose the flow of charges through it is called resistance.

• R = V/I
• S.I. unit:- Ohm (Ω)
1 Ohm:- The resistance of a conductor is said to be 1 Ω if the potential difference across the
ends of a conductor is 1 V and the current flowing through it is 1 A.

Resistor:- A conductor having some appreciable resistance

Variable Resistance/Rheostat:- A component used to regulate current without changing the

voltage source

Factors on which resistance of a conductor depends

are:-
• its length (l)
• its cross-section area (A)
• nature of its material
Mathematically,
R ∝ l ——–(i)
R ∝ 1/A ——(ii)

On combining (i) & (ii):-

R = ρl / A where, ρ(rho) is constant of proportionality & is known as resistivity

Resistivity/Specific Resistance(ρ):-
The resistance of the conductor of unit length & unit area of cross section is called its resistivity.

• ρ =RA/l
• S.I. unit :- ohm meter (Ω m)
➢ On increasing the temperature, both resistance and resistivity of a conductor increases.

Resistors in Series:-
When two or more resistors are connected end to end to each other, then they are said to be
connected in series.
In series combination,

In series combination,

• current flowing is same through each resistor.

• the potential difference across each resistor is different.

Consider current ‘I’ is flowing through the circuit & the potential difference across resistors R 1,
R2 & R3 be V1, V2, V3 respectively. Let the total potential difference be ‘V’ & equivalent resistance
be ‘Rs‘.

On applying Ohm’s law,

V = IRs ; V1 = IR1; V2 = IR2 ; V3 = IR3

Now, V = V1 + V2 + V3

or, IRs = IR1 + IR2 + IR3

or, Rs = R1 + R2 + R3

Resistors In Parallel:-
When two or more resistors are connected together between two points then they are said to be
connected in parallel.

In parallel combination,

• The potential difference is same across each resistor.

• The current flowing through each resistor is different.
. Consider potential difference across the resistors be V & the current flowing through resistors
R1, R2 & R3 be I1, I2 & I3 respectively. Let the total current flowing through the circuit be I &
equivalent resistance be Rp.

By Ohm’s law,
I = V/Rp ; I1 = V/R1 ; I2 = V/R2 ; I3 = V/R3

Now, I = I1 + I2 + I3
or , V/Rp = V/R1 + V/R2 + V/R3
or , 1/Rp = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

Advantages of parallel combination over series

combination:-
• In series combination, current remains same throughout the circuit while in parallel
combination, current is different through each device and different components require
different currents to operate properly.
• If one device fails in series circuit then none of the devices works while it will not happen
in parallel circuit.
• The total resistance in a parallel circuit is decreased while the total resistance in series
circuit is increased.
Electric Power:-
The amount of electrical energy consumed per unit time in an electric circuit is known as electric
power.

P = W/t
Or, P = VQ/t
Or, P = VI = I2R = V2/R

• S.I. unit of power:- Watt(W)

1 Watt:- Electric power of an appliance is said to be 1 W if 1 A of current flows through it and the
potential difference across its ends is 1 V.

Heating Effect of Electric Current:-

W = VQ =VIt

or H = VIt = I2Rt

Joule’s Law of Heating:-

According to Joule’s law of heating, heat produced in a resistor is directly proportional to

• square of current (H ∝ I2)

• resistance (H ∝ R)
• time for which current flows (H ∝ t)
H = I2Rt

• S.I. unit of energy:- Joule(J)

 • Commercial unit of energy:- kilowatt hour(kW h)
Practical Applications of Heating Effect of Electric Current:-
Appliances based on heating effect of electric current are electric bulb, electric iron, electric
toaster, electric oven, electric kettle, electric heater, fuse etc.

• Tungsten is used as the filament of the electric bulb.

• The bulbs are filled with chemically inactive gases like nitrogen and argon to prolong the
life of the filament.
Conversion of Commercial Unit of Energy to S.I. Unit:-
1 kW h = 1000 W x 3600 s = 3.6 x 106 W= 3.6 x 106 J

1 unit = 1 kW h = 3.6 x 106 J

NUMERICALS
Q.1. What will be the current drawn by an electric bulb of 40 W when it is connected
to a source of 220V?2

Q.2. A bulb is rated as 250V; 0.4A. Find its power and resistance.

Q.3. An electric bulb is connected to a 220V power supply line. If the bulb draw a
current of 0.5A, calculate the power of the bulb.

Q.4. An electric bulb is connected to a 250 V generator. The current is 0.50 A. What
is the power of the bulb?

Q.5. What current will be taken by a 920W appliance if the supply voltage is 230V?

Q.6. When an electric lamp is connected to 12V battery, it draws a current 0.5A. Find
the power of the lamp.

Q.7 A current of 4 A flows through a 12V car headlight bulb for 10 minutes. How
much energy transfer occurs during this time? (36 J)
Q.8 The electrical resistivity of silver is 1.60 × 10 -6 Ω m. What will be the resistance of
a silver wire of length 10 m and cross-sectional area 2 × 10-3 m2? ( 8×10-3)

Q.9How much work is done in moving a charge of magnitude 3 C across two points
having a potential difference of 12 V? (28800J)

Q.10 When a 12 V battery is connected across an unknown resistor, there is a

current of 2.5 mA in the circuit. Find the value of the resistance of the resistor.
(4800C)

Q.11 An electric current of 4.0 A flows through a 12 Ω resistor. What is the rate at
which heat energy is produced in the resistor? (192W)
Q 12Calculate the energy transferred by a 5 A current flowing through a resistor of 2
Ω for 30 minutes. (9× 104 J)

Q 13Calculate the potential difference between the two terminals of a battery if 100
joules of work is required to transfer 20 coulombs of charge from one terminal of the
battery to the other.(5V)

Q14 An electric lamp, whose resistance is 20 Ω, and a conductor of 4 Ω resistance

are connected to aft V battery (Fig.).
Q 15.Calculate (a) the total resistance of the circuit, (b) the current through the
circuit, and (c) the potential difference across the electric conductor.

Q 16. If, in Figure R1 = 10 ohms, R2 = 40 ohms, R3, = 30 ohms, R4 = 20 ohms, Rg = 60

ohms and a 12 volt battery is connected to the arrangement, calculate: (a) the total
resistance and (b) the total current flowing in the circuit.

Q17 Two lamps, one rated 60 W at 220 V and other 40 W a 220 V, are connected in
parallel to an electric supply at 220 V. [CBSE 2016]
(a) Draw the circuit diagram to show the connections.
(b) Calculate the current drawn from the electric supply.
(c) Calculate the total energy consumed by the two lamp together when they operate
for one hour.
Q18 A household uses the following electric appliances:
(i) Refrigerator of rating 400 W for ten hours each day.
(ii) Two electric fans of rating 80 W each for twelve hours each day.
(iii) Six electric tubes of rating 18 W each for 6 hours each day.
Calculate the electricity bill of the household for the month of June if the cost per
unit of electric energy is ₹ 3.00.
Q19(a)Two resistors R1 and R2 may form (i) a series combination or (ii) a parallel
combination, and the combination may be connected to a battery of six volts. In
which combination will the potential difference across R 1 and across R2 be the same
and in which combination will the current through R 1 and through R2 be the same?
(b) For the circuit, shown in this diagram,

Calculate
(i) the resultant resistance
(ii) the total current
(iii) the voltage across 7 Ω resistor

Q 20 A 4 kW heater is connected to a 220 V source of power. Calculate

(i) the electric current passing through the heater.
(ii) the resistance of the heater.
(iii) the electric energy consumed in 2 hour use of the heater.