2.3.current Electricty
2.3.current Electricty
CURRENT ELECTRICTY
Current Electricity:
It is the branch of physics which deals with the study of electric charges in motion.
Electric current or strength of current:
It is the rate of flow of charges through a conductor of any cross-section.
Steady current:
q
If the flow of charges is uniform, then the current is steady. It is given by, I =
t
where q is the charge which flows through a conductor of any cross-section in rime t.
Instantaneous current:
It is the current at a given instant of time.
dq
If the flow of charges is non-uniform, then instantaneous current is given by, I=
dt
where dq is the small amount of charge which flows through a conductor of any cross-section in small
interval of time dt .
Ampere is the SI unit of current.
q
Consider, I = , If q =1 coulomb, t =1 second, then I = 1 ampere,
t
Ampere:
Electric Current is said to be 1 ampere, when l coulomb of charge flows in one second through a
conductor of any cross section,
Current carriers:
The charged particles whose flow in a given direction constitutes electric current are called current
carriers or charge carriers.
In metals, free electrons are the charge carriers. In electrolytic conductors, both positive and negative
ions are the charge carriers. In gases, positive ions and electrons are the charge carriers. In semiconductors,
both electrons and holes are the charge carriers.
Convention for the direction of current:
By convention, the direction of flow of positive charge gives the direction of current. This current is
called conventional current. The direction of electron current is opposite to the conventional current.
Electric current is a scalar quantity:
Even though, electric current has both magnitude and direction, it is a scalar quantity. This is because
the value of electric current does not depend on its direction. That is, the current in a wire remain unchanged
if it is bent, tied with a knot.
Note:
1. If n is the number of free electrons that flows in a conductor of any cross section in time interval t, then
ne
the current is given by, I =
t
2. If q1 is the total positive charge moving in the forward direction and q2 is the total negative charge
moving in the forward direction in a time during the same time interval t, then the current is
q1 q 2 q1 - q 2
I= - =
t t t
3. If q1 is the total positive charge moving in the forward direction and q2 is the total negative charge
moving in the backward direction in a time during the same time interval t, then the current is
q1 q 2 q1 + q 2
I= + =
t t t
4. The current in domestic appliances is of the order of an ampere while in electronic circuits it is in the
range of microampere to milli ampere.
5. The currents through our nerves are in microampere.
Current I
Current density = Þ J=
Area of cross - section A
Potential difference V
Resistance = ÞR=
Electric current I
It is the amount of opposition offered by the conductor to the flow of electric current through it.
The SI unit of resistance is W
V
In R = if V= 1 volt, I = l ampere, then R= 1 ohm.
I
The resistance of a conductor is said to be 1 ohm, if 1A of current flows through it when a potential
difference of 1V is applied across its ends.
Circuit symbol of resistance is
Origin of resistivity (or) resistance:
When a potential difference is applied across a conductor, an
electric field is set up in it. This electric field accelerates the free
electrons. As the electrons move through the conductor, they collide
with the fixed positive ions/atoms free electrons. This opposition to
the motion of free electrons is the origin of resistivity/resistance.
When the temperature of the conductor increases collisions and hence
resistance increases.
A wire is carrying a current. Is it charged (or) not:
No, the current in a wire is due to flow of free electrons in a definite direction. But the number of
protons in the wire at any instant is equal to number of electrons and charge on the electron is equal and
opposite to that of proton. Hence net charge on the wire is zero.
Factors depend on the resistance of a conductor:
1. Length of the conductor 3. Nature of the conductor.
2. Area of cross section of the conductor. 4. Temperature of the conductor.
colour Number
Multiplier Tolerance
3rd ring 4th ring
Black 0 10 0
Brown 1 101
Red 2 10 2
Orange 3 10 3
Yellow 4 10 4
Green 5 10 5
Blue 6 10 6
Violet 7 10 7
Gray 8 10 8
White 9 10 9
Gold - 10 -1 5%
Silver - 10 -2
10%
No colour - - 20%
Note: B.B. ROY of Great Britain had a Very Good Wife wearing Gold Silver necklace.
(R + r )
where E is the emf of the cell, I is the current in the circuit and r is the internal resistance of the cell.
Power loss:
The power generated at power station must be transmitted to consumer through transmission cables.
Then there is power loss in the transmission cables due to resistance. This loss is called transmission loss.
We have PC = I 2 RC ------------ (1)
Let P be the power to be delivered to a device of resistance R through the cables. Let V be the potential
difference across R and I be the current passing through it.
P
Then P = V I Þ I = ------------ (2)
V
P 2 RC
Eq (2) in (1) Þ PC =
V2
Thus, to transmit a power P to a device, the power wasted PC is inversely proportional to V 2 . To reduce
power loss, the transmission cables must carry current at high voltages. Using step-up transformers, the power
from generation station is transmitted at very high voltages. But using electricity at such high voltages is not
safe. Therefore, step-down transformers are used at the receiving end to decrease the voltage to a suitable
value.
Note:
Current is allowed to flow in a metallic wire at constant potential difference when the wire becomes
hot, cold water is poured on half of its portion. By doing so, its other portion becomes still hotter. Because,
when cold water is poured on half portion of heated metal wire, the temperature of that portion of wire falls
and hence its resistance becomes less. Due to which the current in the circuit rises, causing more heating effect
as heat µ (current )
2
Electrical network:
It is the complicated arrangement of circuit elements such as resistors and cells.
Junction (or) Node in an electrical network:
It is a point in an electrical network at which more than two currents meet.
Electrical loop (or) mesh:
It is the closed path for circulation of current in an electrical network.
Kirchhoff’s rules of electrical network:
Ohm’s law can be used to analyse simple circuits. Complex circuits cannot be analysed using Ohm’s
law easily. Such circuits can be analysed using Kirchhoff’s laws which can be applied to both AC and DC
circuits.
Principle:
The principle of potentiometer is V µ l
where V is the potential difference across the potentiometer wire, l is the length of the potentiometer wire.
Uses/Applications of potentiometer:
1. It is used to find the internal resistance of a cell,
2. It is used to compare the emfs of two cells.
Þ
(R + r ) =
l1 l l æ l -l ö
Þ (R + r ) = R 1 Þ r = R 1 - R Þ r = Rçç 1 2 ÷÷
R l2 l2 l2 è l2 ø
Comparing the emfs of two primary cells using potentiometer:
To compare the emfs E1 and E 2 of two primary cells, make the circuit connections as shown in the figure.
1. The key K is closed and the current in the potentiometer wire PQ is
adjusted to a suitable value of current using rheostat. The setting of the
rheostat is not to be disturbed throughout the experiment.
2. Close the key K 1 So that the cell of emf E1 is in the circuit. Move the
jockey J along the wire PQ till the galvanometer shows zero deflection.
Then the length PJ 1 = l1 is measured.
From the principle of potentiometer, emf of the cell, E1 = f l1 ----- (1)
where f is the potential gradient across the potentiometer wire.
3. Now open the key K 1 and close the key K 2 so that the cell of emf E 2 is
in the circuit. Move the jockey J along the wire PQ till the galvanometer
shows zero deflection.
Then the length PJ 2 = l 2 is measured
From the principle of potentiometer' emf of the cell, E 2 = f l 2 ----- (2)
Where f is the potential gradient across the potentiometer wire.
(1) Þ E1 = l1 ------ (3)
(2) E 2 l 2
Note: We prefer a potentiometer to measure emf of a cell rather than voltmeter because, a
potentiometer does not draw any current from the cell whose emf is to be determined, whereas voltmeter
always draws some current. Therefore emf measured by voltmeter is slightly less than actual value of emf of
the cell.