ELECTRICITY
Class 10
Class Notes
FIITJEE
Electric charge
Electric charge is a fundamental Property of matter like mass, length associated with elementary particles,
ex: electron, proton and neutron. The unit at charge is “coulomb”.
Charges are of two types: (i) negative charge (ii) positive charge
Electrons are negatively charged particles.
Protons are positively charged particles.
Charge of electron is 1.6 10−19 coulombs which is same as charge of proton.
Illustration 1: How many electrons gives 1 coulomb of charge
1e → 1.6 10−19 coulomb
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1 coulomb = = 6.25 1018 electrons
1.6 10−19
Electric current (i):
The charge flowing through a particular area of a conductor in unit time is called electric current.
(or)
The rate of flow of charge is called electric current.
If a net charge ‘ Q ’ flows across any cross-section of conductor in time ‘ t ’, then the current ‘ I ’ through it is
Q
I=
t
SI unit is C/s (or) A (or) ampere.
1C
1A =
1S
Ampere:-
If 1 coulomb of charge flows through any cross-section of a conductor in 1 s, the current flowing through the
conductor is 1 A
Ammeters is used to measure current, It is always connected in series in a circuit.
Note: conventional current direction is opposite to the flow of electrons in a circuit.
Illustration 2: What will be the current flowing through a conductor if 50 1018 electron pass through any
cross-section of the conduction in one second.
Sol. No. of electrons n = 50 1018
Charge of ‘ n ’ electrons Q = ne = 50 1018 1.6 10−19
= 80 10−1 = 8 coulomb
Q
Current I=
t
8
i= =8A
1
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Conductors and insulators:
Substances through which electric current can flow easily are called conductors. Ex: all metals like copper,
aluminium etc.
Substance through which electric current cannot flow are called insulators ex: glass, rubber, mica etc.
Conductors have free electrons which are loosely held by nucleus of their atoms whereas insulators do not
have free electrons.
Electric potential difference (v)
Electric potential difference between two points in an electric circuit carrying same current is defined as the
work done to move a unit charge from one point to the other.
(or)
It is the work done per unit charge in moving the charge from one point to the other.
work done ( W )
Potential difference ( V ) =
charge ( Q )
W
V=
Q
SI unit is J/C (or) V (or) volt.
Volt:-
If 1 J of work is done in moving 1 C of charge between two points then the potential difference between those
two points is said to be 1 V.
Voltmeter is used to measure the potential difference.
It is always connected in parallel across the points between which the Potential difference is to be measured.
Ohm’s Law:
The electric current (i) flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference (V),
across its end provided its temperature remains constant.
IV
1
I = V
R
V = IR
Where R is a constant for a given conductor at a given temperature and is called its “resistance”. It is the property
of a conductor to resist the follow of charges.
The unit of Resistance is ‘Ohm’ symbol “ ”.
V
R=
I
1 Volt
1 Ohm =
1 Ampere
Ohm:
If one ampere current flows through a conductor when one volt P.d. is applied across its ends then the
resistance of the conductor is said to be one ohm.
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Illustration 3: A resistance of 100 is connected a cross a battery of 20 V. What will be the current flowing
through the resistance?
Sol. V = iR
V
i=
R
V = 20 V
R = 100
20 1
i= = = 0.2 A
100 5
Ohmic devices:
The devices (conductors) which obey ohms Law are called ohmic devices I
ex: all conductors
The graph between V & I is a St. line.
V
Non ohmic devices:
The devices which do not obey ohms Law are called non ohmic
devices.
Ex: Thermionic valves, Thermistros etc.
The graph between V & I is not a St. line.
Resistivity (or) Specific Resistance:
The resistance of a conductor depends on
(1) Length of the conductor
(2) Area of cross-section
(3) The nature of the material
The resistance of a conductor is directly proportional to its length (l) and inversely proportional to the area of
cross-section (A)
i.e. R l
1
R
A
l
R
A
l
R=
A
Where ‘ ’ is a constant of proportionality and is called the resistivity (or) specific resistance at the material
Resistivity is the characteristic property of the material of the conductor.
SI unit of resistivity is ohm-meter (or) m .
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−8
For good conductors the resistivity will be of the order at 10 m to 10 −6 m
For insulators it is at the order of 1012 to 10 m
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* The resistance & resistivity of a material vary with temperature.
Factors affecting the resistance of a conductor
1. Length of the conductor : R l
Where length of the wire increases resistance increases and vice versa.
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2. Area of cross-section: R
A
When area of cross-section increases resistance decreases and vice versa.
3. Nature of material of wire: It depends on the nature of material of which it is made.
4. Effect of temperature: The resistance of pure metallic conductors increases with increase of temperature and
decreases with decrease in temperature. But for alloys like magnetite, nichrome, it remains constant.
Illustration 4: A metal wire of length 10 cm and area of cross-section 0.5 mm has a resistance of 10 . Find the
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resistivity of the material of the wire.
Sol. l = 10 cm = 10 10−2 m
r = 0.5 mm = 0.5 10−3 m
22
A = r2 = 0.5 0.5 10−6 = 3.14 0.25 = 0.785 m 2
7
R = 103
=?
1 RA
R= =
A l
103 0.785
= −2
= 7.85 103 m
10 10
Electric circuit:
A continuous and closed path of electric current is called an electric circuit.
Ex:
i A
( )
Circuit Diagram:
A diagram which indicates how different components in a circuit have to be connected by using symbol for
different electric components is called a circuit diagram.
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The symbols for different electric components.
1 Electric cell + –
2 Battery + – + – + –
3 Plus key ( ) ( )
open closed
4 Wire with joint
5 Wire without joint
6 Electric bulb
7 Resistance
8 Variable resistance (or) Rheostat
(or)
9 Ammeter + –
A
10 Voltmeter + –
V
Resistance of a system of resistors:-
In electric circuits resistances can be combined in two ways
(1) in series
(2) in parallel
(1) Resistors in series:-
When two or more resistors are connected end to end then they are said to be connected in series
combination
R1 R2 R3
X Y
V1 V2 V3
– V i
A + –
+
( )
For series combination of resistors the current is same in every part of the circuit (or) same current flows
through all the resistors.
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Consider in the above circuit voltmeters are connected across each resistances R1 , R 2 and R 3 and the
potential differences shown by them are V1 , V2 and V3 respectively.
The sum of all these V1 , V2 and V3 is equal to V
V = V1 + V2 + V3 …(1)
The total P.d. across a combination of resistor in series is equal to the sum of the P.d. across individual
resistors. In the circuit let ‘I’ is the current flowing and which is flowing through individual resistances.
If we replace three resistors joined in series by an equivalent single resistor of resistance R, such that the
potential difference V across it, and the current (i) through the circuit remains same
Now applying ohm’s law to entire circuit
V = iR …(2)
On applying ohm’s law to the individual resistance separately
V1 = iR 1 …(3)
V2 = iR 2
V3 = iR 3
From eq. (1)
iR = iR 1 + iR 2 + iR 3
or R = R1 + R 2 + R 3
in series combination of resistors the equivalent resistance is equal to the sum of their individual resistances.
In series combination equivalent resistance is greater than the greatest of all the resistances.
(2) Resistors in parallel:-
When two or more resistances are connected between the same two points they are said to be connected in
parallel combination.
R1
R2
R3
i
+
i V A
+ –
–
+ –
( )
When a number of resistances are connected in parallel, then the P.d. across each resistance is equal to the
P.d. applied.
The sum of all current, flowing through individual resistance is equal to total current flowing in the circuit.
If i1 , i 2 , i3 are the currents flowing through the resistance R 1 , R 2 , R 3 respectively then
i = i1 + i2 + i3 …(1)
P.d is across each resistor is same
V = i1R1 = i2 R 2 = i3R 3
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V V V
or I1 = , I2 = , I3 =
R1 R2 R3
From eq. (1)
V V V 1 1 1
i= + + = V + + …(2)
R1 R 2 R 3 R1 R 2 R 3
If R is the equivalent resistance of the combination
V
Then V = iR i =
R
From eq. (2)
V 1 1 1
= V + +
R R1 R 2 R 3
1 1 1 1
= + +
R R1 R 2 R 3
For resistors connected in parallel combination the reciprocal of equivalent resistance is equal to the sum of
reciprocal of individual resistances.
In parallel combination of resistances the equivalent resistance is less than the least of the resistances.
Illustration 5 : In the given figure find the effective resistance between A and B
6 6
A B
6
Sol. The resistances AC and CB are in series then
RACB = RAC + RCB
= 6+6
= 12
Now the equivalent diagram is in this diagram RACB and RAB are parallel. The effective resistance is
RACB 12
A 6 B
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1 1 R
= +
R RACB AB
1 1 1
= +
R 12 6
1 1+ 3
=
R 12
12
R= =4
3
Illustration 6 : In the following figure find the potential difference across 20 resistance.
10 20
3V
Total resistance R = 10 + 20 = 30
V =3V
V 3
i= = = 0.1 A
R 30
The potential difference across 20 resistance is
V = iR
V = 0.1 20 = 2 V
Heating effect of current:-
When electric current passes through a high resistance wire, the wire produces heat. This is called heating
effect of current.
This phenomenon occurs because electrical energy gets transformed in to heat energy.
Expression for heat produced:
Consider a current i flows through a resistor of resistance R. When a pd. V is applied across the ends of the
resistor.
Let ‘t’ be the time during which charge ‘Q’ flows, now when charge Q flows against the potential diff. ‘V’ then
the amount of work is given by
W = Q V
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X R Y
+
V A
+ – –
( )
The source of current must supply energy equal to VQ in time ‘t’.
The energy supplied by the source in this time ‘t’ to the current i to flow is
Q
H = ( it )( iR ) = i 2 RT i = t Q = it
V = iR
H = i 2 RT = V i t
This is known as “Joule’s law of heating”
According to Joule’s law of heating, heat produced in a resistor is
(a) directly proportional to square of the current passing through the resistor.
(b) directly proportional the resistance of the resistor.
(c) directly proportional the time for which the current flows.
Applications of heating effect of current
(1) electrical heating appliances ex: electric iron, cater heater.
(2) electric bulbs, electric lamps.
(3) Electric fuse is an important application.
Illustration 7 : A battery of 12 V is connected across a resistance of 600 . What will be the heat produced in 1
minute.
Sol. V = 12 V
R = 600
V 12 1
i= = = = 0.02 A
R 600 50
t = 60 s
H = i 2 Rt = ( 0.02 ) 600 60
2
= 4 10−4 600 60
= 14.4 J
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Electric power:
The rate of doing work (or) rate of consumption of energy is known as “power”
work done W
Power = =
time taken t
SI unit of power is “watt” (or) W
The rate at which electric work is done (or) the rate at which electrical energy is consumed is called electric
power.
w.k.t. work done W by current i when it flows for time under a potential difference V is given by
W = Vi t
W Vi t
P= = = Vi
t t
In terms as i and R:
V = iR
P = i2R
In terms of V and R:
V
i=
R
V2
P=
R
Illustration 8 : An electric bulb is rated 220 V and 100 W. What will be the power consumed when it is operated at
110 V.
V1 = 220 V V2 = 110 V
P1 = 100 W P2 = ?
V2
P=
R
V12 V12 220 220
P1 = = = 22 22 = 484.2
R P 100
V22 110 110
P2 = = = 25 W
R 484
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