Electric current is the movement of charged particles in a specific direction.
Resistance of an object depends on these factors:
The charged particle may be an electron, a positive ion or a negative ion, and 1. Length
they are referred to as current carriers. 2. Cross-sectional area
3. Resistivity of the material
I - symbol used for current (intensity of the electricity in a wire). 4. Temperature
Current is the measure of how much charge is passed through a given point The amount of resistance of an object is directly proportional to its length and
in a conductor per given amount of time. inversely proportional to its cross- sectional area. There is no simple
relationship between resistance and temperature. For most objects, the
The coulombs per seconds is named ampere (A) after the French physicist resistance increases with an increase in temperature. But for some, such as
Andre Marie Ampere (1775-1836). carbon, the resistance decreases with an increase in temperature.
Parallel wires attract each other when currents flow through them in the same Circuits
direction and repel each other when currents are made to flow in opposite
directions. Electric circuit - a conducting loop in which current can transfer electrical
energy from a suitable source to a useful load/s.
I= 𝑄/𝑡
A= C/s Parts of Simple Circuit:
a. A conducting loop in which current can transfer electrical energy
Direct current (DC) - current continues to flow in the same direction through from a suitable source to a useful load/s.
the conducting wire all the time (Flashlight and batteries). b. A conductor is where the current travels. An example of a
conductor is a copper wire.
Alternating current (AC) - current periodically reverses the direction in c. A load converts electrical energy into some other useful forms like
which it is moving (Home and school). light bulbs or electric motors.
Voltage - also known as electromotive force (emf) or potential difference (pd), A control device or switch which opens or closes the circuit and a protection
is the electric pressure that causes current to flow. It is the work done by a device like a fuse, which interrupts the circuit in case of a malfunction may
source in driving a unit charge around a complete circuit. also be added in a circuit.
Potential difference is potential energy divided by charge. Simple Circuits - used in single devices, most circuits that we have consists
of two or more loads.
Potential energy here is the work needed to move a charged body against the
electric force, toward or away from another charged body. Series Circuits - has two or more loads but current flows through a single
conducting path.
Electromotive force is not a force.
Parallel Circuits - has more than one path for current to flow. It allows
Unit of voltage is the joule per coulomb called the volt (V). operation of other loads even if one load fails.
V=E/Q Network Circuit - some loads/resistors are arranged in a combination of
V=J/C parallel and series circuits and of different voltage.
Voltage can be created by techniques involving the production of excess Circuit Diagrams
electrons at one terminal and a deficiency of electrons at another terminal. It
can also be produced by a current through a resistor. Devices such as an
electric generator, electric cell, thermocouples, crystals and solar cells produce
voltage.
Resistance is the opposition a material offers to current.
R - symbol for resistance.
All materials offer some resistance to current but the amount of resistance
differs from each other. There are high-resistance and low-resistance
materials. More energy is required to move electrons through high-resistance
materials. Rules for Resistance in Series Circuits
1. The current that flows through each resistance is the same as the
Unit used to specify the amount of resistance is the ohm, represented by the total current throughout the circuit.
symbol Ω.
2. The sum of the individual voltage drops is the same as the applied
Ohm is defined as the amount of resistance that allows 1 A of current to flow voltage.
when the voltage is 1 V.
Ohm’s Law - The relationship between voltage, current, and resistance that 3. The total resistance is equal to the sum of the individual
was discovered by George Simon Ohm. resistances.
● V = IR (Voltage = Current x Resistance)
● I = V/R (Current = Voltage/Resistance)
● R = V/I (Resistance = Voltage/Current) Rules for Resistance in Parallel Circuits
1. The total current that flows through the circuit is the sum of the
currents in the separate resistances.
2. The voltage drop in each resistor is the same as the magnitude of
the voltage applied.
3. The reciprocal of the total resistance is equal to the sum of the
reciprocal of the separate resistances.
Safety in Dealing with Electrical Components
1. Earthing
2. Double Insulation
3. Use of Safety Devices
Physiological Effects of Electricity
1. Electrolysis
2. Burns
3. Muscle Cramps
4. Respiratory Cramps
5. Cardiac Arrest
6. Ventricular Fibrillation
