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ELECTRIC CURRENT

Current: is the rate of flow of charge.

Q
I=
t

Where I is current (A)

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
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w
i.e. V=
Q

Where V is e.m.f. in volts(V)

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
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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=
I

Where R is resistance (Ω)

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

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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=
A

Where ρ is a constant of proportionality called resistivity (Ωm)

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.
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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
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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

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Diode

PARALLEL AND SERIES CIRCUITS

a) i) Current in Series

The current is the same at all points in a series circuit. i.e. I1 = 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
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I = I1 + I2 + I3 +I4

b) 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 = V1 = V2
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c) i) Resistance in series

R = R1 + R2

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 etc.

 Lighting- In electric lights
 Machines- Electrical energy is converted to kinetic energy, where it causes machines to move
 Security- Electrical fence, alarms etc.
 Communication- Telephone cables carry messages as electrical signals

POWER AND ENERGY

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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= =VI -------- (4)
t

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
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Cost
Total cost=Kwh ×
Kwh

Cost
1Kwh is 1 unit, therefore Total cost=Units ×
unit

SUMMARY

Series circuit Parallel circuit