ELECTRIC CURRENT
Current: is the rate of flow of charge.
Q
I= Where: I is current (A)
t
Q is charge(C)
t is time(s)
Direction of current conventionally is the direction of flow of positive charge in the direction of the field.
An instrument used to measure current is the ammeter.
An ammeter is connected in series as shown below, with a component.
.For a small current it will be wise to use an ammeter with a scale in milliampere (mA).
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE (EMF)
Batteries are usually the energy sources in d.c. circuits. EMF is the work done or energy transferred per
unit charge moved through the battery itself as well as the external circuit
e .m . f =energy trasferred ¿ external cicuit +energy transferred within the cell ¿
charge moved
w
i.e. V= Where: V is e.m.f. in volts (V)
Q
W is energy in Joules (J)
Q is charge in coulombs(C)
POTTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
p . d across terminals=energy transferred ¿ external circuit ¿
charge moved
w
V=
Q
P.d. is also measured in volts and the instrument used is the voltmeter.
Note the voltmeter is connected in parallel and the ammeter in series.
The voltmeter measure p.d. across the resistor.
Note that the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the positive terminals of instruments.
+, red and -,black
P.d. is also known as voltage.
RESISTANCE
Current flows through some components more easily than it does through other e.g. for the same p.d.
current will pass more easily through copper wire than through nichrome wire. The nichrome wire is said
to have more resistance than copper.
The current in the nichrome circuit (0.1 A) is less because nichrome has more resistance.
V
R= Where: R is resistance (Ω)
I
V is P.d. across conductor (V)
I is current through conductor (I)
The SI unit of resistance is the ohm (Ω)
FACTORS AFFECTING RESISTANCE
LENGTH- Doubling length of wire will double the resistance
CROSS SECTIONAL AREA- Thin wire has more resistance than thick wire.
MATERIAL
TEMPERATURE
In metals: resistance increase with temperature
In semiconductors: resistance decreases when temperature increases
RESISTIVITY
(i) Resistance is directly proportional to length
R ∝l
(ii) Resistance is inversely proportional to cross-sectional area of a conductor
1
R∝
A
Combining the two relations we get
l
R∝
A
When we write the relationship as an equation we get
ρl
R= Where: ρ is a constant of proportionality called resistivity (Ωm)
A
R is the resistance of a conductor in ohms (Ω)
l is the length of the conductor in meters (m)
A is the cross-sectional area of a conductor in m2
OHM’S LAW
The statement that current is directly proportional to potential difference is known as Ohm’s law. In an
experiment to investigate Ohm’s law, vary Voltage across a metal resistor and record current and the
voltage.
Plot a graph of I/A against V/v
The graph has constant gradient passing through the origin.
I 1
gradient= =
V R
The component is an Ohmic conductor.
A metal wire is normally Ohmic. i.e. has constant resistance, constant current- voltage ratio and straight
line current-voltage graph.
NON-OHMIC CONDUCTORS
(a) Bulb Filament
As p.d. across bulb increases, it becomes hotter, increasing its resistance. Hence the curve has decreasing
gradient.
(b) Thermistor (semiconductor)
As p.d. across a thermistor increases, more electrons are released, so its resistance decreases hence the
curve has an increasing gradient.
(c) Diode (Semiconductor junction)
CIRCUIT COMPONENTS AND SYMBOLS
PARALLEL AND SERIES CIRCUITS
(a) (i) Current in Series
The current is the same at all points in a series circuit. i.e. I 1 = I2.
(ii) Current in Parallel
The sum of the currents in the branches of a parallel circuit equals the current entering or leaving the
parallel section. i.e
I = I1 + I2 + I3 +I4
(a) (i) Voltage in Series
The P.d. at the terminals of a battery equals the sum of the p.d.s across the devices in the external circuit
from one battery terminal to the other. i.e.
V = V 1 + V2
(ii) Voltage (P.d.) in Parallel
The p.d.s across devices in parallel in a circuit are equal. i.e.
V = V 1 + V2
(b) (i) Resistance in series
R = R1 + R 2
(ii) Resistance in Parallel
1 1 1 1
= + +
R R 1 R 2 R3
For two resistors in parallel
1 1 1
= +
R R1 R2
R1 R 2
i.e. R=
R1 + R2
USES OF ELECTRICITY
Heating - In iron, electric kettle, heater, water boiler e.t.c.
Lighting- In electric lights
Machines- Electrical energy is converted to kinetic energy, where it causes machines to move
Security- Electrical fence, alarms e.t.c.
Communication- Telephone cables carry messages as electrical signals
POWER AND ENERGY
Energy transferred
Power=
Time taken
W
i.e. P= -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(1)
t
Where P is Power in watts (w)
E is energy in Joules (J)
t is time in seconds(s)
Energy is equivalent to work done W
i.e. E= W = QV ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2)
Since Q = It , Therefore E = ItV -------------------------------------------------------------------- (3)
Substituting equation 3 into 1 we get
I tV
P= t =VI ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4)
V
But R= OR V= IR --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5)
I
Substituting (5) into (4) we get
P= IRI = I2R --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (6)
V
Also I = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (7)
R
Substituting (7) into (4) we get
2
VV V
P= = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (8)
R R
COST OF ELECTRICITY
Cost
Total cost=Kwh ×
Kwh
Cost
1Kwh is 1 unit, therefore: Total cost=Units ×
unit
