CHAPTER -12

ELECTRICITY
Class X - PHYSICS

G D GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL | Sector 48,

Gurugram
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Electric current :- is the flow of electrons through a conductor.

The device which causes the flow of electrons through a conductor is
called a cell.
Electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
Electric current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.
This is called conventional current.
Electric current is expressed as :- The rate of flow of charges through a
conductor or the quantity of charges flowing through a conductor in
unit time. Q
I = I – current
t Q – quantity of charge
t – time
The SI unit of electric charge is coulomb (C). It is the charge contained
in 6x10 18 electrons.
The SI unit of current is called ampere (A).
One ampere is the current flowing through a conductor if I coulomb of
charge flows through it in 1 second.
1coulomb
1ampere =
1 second
Electric Current is measured by an ammeter. It is always connected in series in a
circuit.
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.
 HOMEWORK

Intext Questions- Page No.- 200;

Solved Example- 12.1
• Electric cell :- has a positive terminal and a negative
terminal. The symbol of an electric cell has a longer line
and a shorter line. The longer line is the positive
terminal and the shorter line is the negative terminal.
• Battery :- A battery is a combination of two or more cells.
In a battery the positive terminal of one cell is connected
to the negative terminal of another cell. Devices like
torches, transistors, toys, TV remote controls use
batteries.
• Connecting cells together Cell holder
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Potential difference :-
Electric current will flow through a conductor only if there is a difference in
the electric potential between the two ends of the conductor. This difference in
electric potential between the two ends of a conductor is called potential
difference.
The potential difference in a circuit is provided by a cell or battery. The
chemical reaction in the cell produces a potential difference between the two
terminals and sets the electrons in motion and produces electric current.
Potential difference :- between two points A and B of a conductor is the
amount of work done to move a unit charge from A to B.
Work done W
Potential difference = or V =
Charge Q
The SI unit of potential difference is volt (V).
One volt is the potential difference when 1 joule of work is done to move a
charge of 1 coulomb from one point to the other.
1 joule 1J
1 volt = or 1 V =
1 coulomb 1C
Potential difference is measured by a voltmeter. It is always connected in
parallel across the two point between which the potential difference is to be
measured.
 HOMEWORK

Intext Questions- Page No.- 202

;Solved Example 12.2
2) A simple electric circuit :-
A simple electric circuit can be made by using a cell,
electric bulb, switch and wires.
The bulb glows only when the switch is in the ON position
and the circuit is closed.
Closed electric
circuit
An electric
circuit

Open electric
circuit
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Electric circuit :- is a continuous and closed path of an

electric current.
A schematic diagram of an electric circuit comprising
of a cell, electric bulb, ammeter and plug key.

bulb
cell
- +
+
A ammeter
-
plug key
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.
Symbols of components used in electric circuits :-
An electric cell + - A battery or combination + -
of cells
Plug key or switch Plug key or switch
(open) (closed)

Electric bulb A resistor of

resistance R

Variable resistance or
or rheostat

Ammeter + - Voltmeter + -
A v
A wire joint A wire crossing over
without joining
 HOMEWORK

Draw an electric circuit comprising of

a cell,a bulb,an ammeter and a closed
plug key .
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.
Ohm’s law :-
Ohms law is a relationship between the potential difference across a
conductor and the current flowing through it.
Ohm’s law states that :-
‘The current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference between its ends provided its temperature remains
constant.’ V V
I α V or V α I or = constant or =R
I I
Where R is a constant called resistance for a given metallic wire at a
given temperature.
Verification of Ohm’s law :-
+ -
K
()
R
A B + A -

+
V -
 Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.
Set up the circuit as shown in the circuit diagram. First use one cell and
note the current (I) in the ammeter and the potential difference (V) in the
voltmeter across the nichrome wire AB. Repeat by using two cells,
three cells and four cells and note the readings in the ammeter and
voltmeter. Then plot a graph between the current (I) and potential
difference (V). The graph will be a straight line.
This shows that the current flowing through a conductor is directly
proportional to the potential difference across its ends.
V
I α V or V α I or = R
I
where R is a constant called resistance of the conductor.

Potential difference ( V )

Current ( I )
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Resistance :-
Resistance is the property of a conductor to resist the flow of
current through it.
V
According to Ohm’s law R =
I
The SI unit of resistance is ohm (Ω).
If the potential difference across the two ends of a wire is
1 V and the current flowing through it is 1 A then the
resistance R of the conductor is 1 ohm (1 Ω ).
V
Since I =
R
The current flowing through a resistor is inversely
proportional to the resistance.
So if the resistance is doubled, then the current gets halved.
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.
Factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends
The resistance of a conductor depends upon its:-
i) Length
ii) Area of cross section
iii) Material of the conductor.
Resistance is directly proportional to the length of the conductor
and inversely proportional to the area of cross section of the
conductor.
Rαl
R α I /A
or R α l
A
or R = ρ l
A
Where ρ (rho) is a constant of proportionality called Resistivity of the
material of the conductor.
The SI unit of resistivity is ohm meter ( Ωm).
Conductors like metals and alloys have low resistivity 10-8 Ωm
to 10-6 Ωm.
Insulators like rubber, glass etc. have high resistivity 1012 Ωm
to 1017 Ωm.
 HOMEWORK

Solved Example :12.3- 12.6

Intext questions :P-209
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Resistors in series :-
R R R
A B
1 2 3
V V V
1 2 3
V
+ -

+ -
( ) - A +

When three resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in series across AB

The current in all the resistors is the same.
The total voltage (PD) across the resistors is equal to the sum of the
voltage across each resistor.

V = V 1 + V2 + V3
 Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.
According to Ohm’s law :

V = IR

The current (I) flowing through the resistance in series will remain same,
where as the potential difference (V) across each resistor will be different.
V1 = IR1 , V2 = IR2 , V3 = IR3

Total potential difference V = V1 + V2 + V3

Also if R is effective resistance and I is the current flowing through the combination
then
V = IR

Putting the value of V, V1, V2 & V3

IR = IR1 + IR2 + IR3 =I(R1 + R2 + R3 )

The equivalent resistance is the sum of the resistances
of each resistor.
R = R1 + R 2 + R 3
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

● Thus, we conclude that effective

Resistance of the several resistors
joined in series is equal to the algebraic
sum of their individual resistances.
● Equivalent resistance is larger than the
largest individual resistance.
● Current remains same through all
resistors connected in series.
● Potential difference is algebraic sum of
potential difference across individual
resistors.
Homework

NCERT, PAGE- 213

Q.1Draw a schematic diagram of a circuit consisting of a
battery of three cells of 2 V each, a 5 Ω resistor, an 8 Ω
resistor, and a 12 Ω resistor, and a plug key, an ammeter to
measure the current through the resistors , a voltmeter to
measure the potential difference across the 12 Ω resistor.
What would be the readings in the ammeter and the
voltmeter?
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Resistors in parallel :- R
I1
1
R
A I B
2
R 2
I
3
3
V
+ -

+ - () - A +
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

When three resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in parallel across

AB,
The voltage in all the resistors is the same.
The total current in all the resistors is the sum of the current in each
resistor.

I = I1 + I2 + I3 …………………………….. (1)

Currents through various resistances are inversely proportional to

the individual resistances.
I1 = V/R1 I2 = V/R2 I3 = V/R3
If R is effective resistance of parallel combination and V is potential
difference, then total current I= V/ R
Substituting I, I1, I 2, I3 in equation 1, we get
V/R = V/R1 + V/R2 + V/R3 = V(1/R1 +1/R2 +1/R3)
OR 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

● Reciprocal of equivalent resistance = Sum

of reciprocals of individual resistances.
1/Rp = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
● Equivalent resistance is less than the
smallest individual resistance.
● Potential difference remains same across
all resistors connected in parallel
combination.
●Total current is algebraic sum of currents
through individual resistors.
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

• In series, equivalent resistance is greater than the greatest

resistance.
• In parallel, equivalent resistance is smaller than the smallest
resistance.
Advantages of Parallel circuits in Domestic wiring :
• If one electrical appliance stops working due to some defect,
then all other appliances keep working normally.
• Each electrical appliance gets the same voltage as that of the
power supply line.
• The overall resistance of the household circuit is reduced due
to which the current from the power supply is high.
• Each appliance has its own switch due to which it can be
turned on or off independently ,without affecting other
appliances.
 HOMEWORK
● Solved Example ;12.7 -12.9
● Intext questions ;P-213 and P -216
● Exercise ;Q5-11
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Heating effect of electric current

When an electric current is passed

through a high resistance wire, like
nichrome wire, it becomes very hot and
produces heat. This is called heating effect
of electric current.
This effect is utilised in devices such as
electric heater, electric iron etc
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

R
A B

I + V - I

+ - () - A +
If a current I flows through a resistor of resistance R and t be the
time for which a charge Q flows through it, then the work done to
move the charge through potential difference V is
W=QXV (I = Q / t Q = I X t)
W = I X t x V ( V = IR)
W = I2Rt
Now work done is converted into heat energy
therefore
Heat produced H = I2Rt
This is known as Joule’s Law of Heating
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Thus heat produced in a resistor is

i) Directly proportional to the square of
the current
ii) Directly proportional to the resistanceof
the conductor
iii)Directly proportional to the time for
which current flows through the resistor.
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

R
A B

I + V - I

+ - () - A +

cell Potential Difference Work done Energy Heat Energy

V = W/Q , W = VQ (V = IR) , W = IRQ (I = Q/t ) , W = IR(It) ,W = I2Rt

I
Now work done is converted into heat energy
therefore
Heat produced H = I2Rt
This is known as Joule’s Law of Heating
 HOMEWORK
● Solved Example 12.10 & 12.11
● Intext questions -P-218
● Exercise Q12-14
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Electric power :-
Electric power is the rate of doing work i.e the rate at which electric
energy is dissipated or consumed in an electric circuit .

Power = Work done P=W = VQ = VIt

Time t t t

or Power = V x I
or Power = I2R
Power = V2
R
The SI unit of power is watt (W).
One watt is the power consumed by a device that carries 1A of current
when operated at a potential difference of 1V.

Thus 1 watt = 1volt x 1ampere = 1VA

1kW = 1000 W
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

Electrical energy
Electrical energyis the work done to maintain the flow of
current in a conductor.
W=QXV
As Work done = Electrical Energy consumed
Therefore E = QX V (I = Q / t Q = I X t)
E = I X t x V ( V = IR)
E = I2Rt
Also E = P X t
SI unit of electrical energy is joule (J).
• The commercial unit of electrical energy is watt hour
(Wh) or kilo watt hour (kWh)
• One Wh is the amount of electrical energy consumed
when an electrical appliance of 1W power is used
for 1 hour.
Note down the content given below in your Physics Register.

kWh in joule :

1kWh = 1000 watt x 3600 second

= 3.6 x 106 watt second
= 3.6 x 106 joule
= 3.6 x 106 J
Uses of heating effects of electric current :-
The heating effect of electric current is used in electrical
appliances like electric heater, electric iron, electric room
heater, immersion heater, electric kettle, hair dryer etc.
All these appliances have a coil of wire called an element.
When electric current flows through the element it becomes
hot and gives out heat.
The amount of heat produced in a wire depends upon its
material, length and thickness.

Electric Electric room Electric Electric

heater heater iron kettle
 HOMEWORK
● Solved Example 12.12 & 12.13
● Intext questions ;P-220
● Exercise Q15-18