3.
4 OHM’S LAW
A basic law regarding flow of currents was discovered by G.S. Ohm in 1828.
Imagine a conductor through which a current I is flowing and let V be the potential difference
between the ends of the conductor.
Then Ohm’s law states that
V∝I
V = R I ……………………… (1)
where the constant of proportionality R is called the resistance of the conductor. The SI units of
resistance is ohm, and is denoted by the symbol Ω.
➢ The resistance R not only depends on the material of the conductor but also on the
dimensions of the conductor.
Resistance is directly proportional to length, R∝l ……………………… (2)
1
Resistance is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area, R ∝ 𝐴 ……………………… (3)
Combining Eqs. (2) and (3), we have
1
R∝𝐴
𝑙
R=ρ𝐴
➢ where the constant of proportionality ρ depends on the material of the conductor but not
on its dimensions. ρ is called resistivity.
Putting the value of R in equation 1 we get
𝒍
V= Iρ ……………………… (4)
𝑨
Current per unit area I/A, is called current density and is denoted by j.
➢ the direction of the current density is along that of the conventional current
The SI units of the current density are Am-2.
if E is the magnitude of uniform electric field in the conductor whose length is l, then the potential
𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
difference V across its ends is El. (Electric Field = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 )
now in equation 4 putting the value of potential difference as El we get
El = j ρ l
E=jρ [ in vector form E = j ρ ]
1
j=σE where σ = ρ is called the conductivity.
3.5 DRIFT OF ELECTRONS AND THE ORIGIN OF RESISTIVITY
Definition: It is defined as the average velocity with which the free electrons in a conductor get
drifted towards the positive end of the conductor under the influence of an electric field applied
across the conductor. It is denoted by vd. The drift velocity of electron is of the order of 10-4 ms-1.
Derivation:
• when an electric field is absent E = 0.
an electron will suffer collisions with the heavy fixed ions, but after collision, it will emerge with the
same speed but in random directions. If we consider all the electrons, their average velocity will be
zero since their directions are random.
1
Thus, if there are n electrons ( u1 + u2 + u3 + ……+ un )x = 0 ……………………… (5)
𝑛
• Consider now the situation when an electric field is present. Electrons will be accelerated
due to this field by
We know that F = qE where F = force, q = charge and E = electric field
F = -eE as q = -e for electron
𝑭
we have a = 𝑚 from F =ma
−e𝐄
a= 𝑚
m is the mass of an electron.
Under the effect of applied electric field, the free electrons accelerate and acquire a velocity
component in a direction opposite to the direction of electric field in addition to their thermal
velocities.
At any instant of time, the velocity acquired by electron having thermal velocity u1 is given by
v1 = u1 + at1 Similarly v2 = u2 + at2 v3 = u3 + at3 vn = un + atn
1
Average- velocity, vd = { v1 + v2 + v3 + ……+ vn }x𝑛
1
vd = { ( u1 + at1 ) + ( u2 + at2 ) + ( u3 + at3 ) + ……+ ( un + atn ) }x𝑛
1 1
vd = ( u1 + u2 + u3 + ……+ un )x𝑛 + a( t1 + t2 + t3 + ……+ tn )x𝑛
from equation 5 we get
1
( u1 + u2 + u3 + ……+ un )x𝑛 = 0 and
1
( t1 + t2 + t3 + ……+ tn )x𝑛 is called average time elapsed or average relaxation time and is denoted
by 𝜏. Its value is of the order of 10-14 s.
vd = 0 + a𝜏
vd = a𝜏
−e𝐄
vd = 𝑚
𝜏
Negative sign shows that vd is opposite to the direction of E.
e𝐄
| vd | = 𝑚
𝜏
❖ Relation between Drift Velocity and Electric Current
Consider a conductor of length Δx and
A be the uniform area of cross-section.
Volume of conductor = Δx A
If the conductor contains free electrons n per unit volume
Then, number of free electrons in the conductor = n Δx A
If e is the charge of an electron, then total charge on all free electrons in the conductor is given by
q = n Δx Ae
q = n |vd|Δt Ae e2
𝑞
Current is given by I =
Δt
n |vd|Δt Ae
I= Δt
e𝐄
I = n Ae |vd| putting the value of |vd| = 𝜏
𝑚
eE
I = n Ae 𝑚
𝜏
n A𝐄τ e2
I= m
❖ Deduction of 'Ohm's Law
e𝐄 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
As |vd| = 𝑚
𝜏 (Electric Field = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 )
e𝐕
|vd| = 𝑚𝑙
𝜏 ……………………… (6)
I = n Ae |vd| putting value of vd from equation 6 we get
e𝐕
I = n Ae 𝜏
𝑚𝑙
n Aτ e2
I =( m𝑙
) V
𝑉 𝑚𝑙
I
= 𝑛𝐴τ𝑒 2 = R = constant
𝑉
I
=𝑅 V = IR this is Ohm’s law
