Current electricity

╸ 4.2.2 Electrical current

╸ 1 Define electric current as the charge passing a point per unit time;
recall and use the equation electric current = charge time I = Q/ t
╸ 2 Describe electrical conduction in metals in terms of the movement
of free electrons 3 Know that current is measured in amps (amperes)
and that the amp is given by coulomb per second (C/s)
╸ 4 Know the difference between direct current (d.c.) and alternating
current (a.c.)
╸ 5 State that conventional current is from positive to negative and
that the flow of free electrons is from negative to positive
╸ 6 Describe the use of ammeters (analogue and digital) with different
ranges
╸ 4.2.3 Electromotive force and potential difference
╸ 1 Define e.m.f. (electromotive force) as the electrical work done by a
source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit; recall and
use the equation e.m.f. = work done (by a source) charge E = W/ Q
╸ 2 Define p.d. (potential difference) as the work done by a unit charge passing
through a component; recall and use the equation p.d. = work done (on a
component) charge V = W/ Q
╸ 3 Know that e.m.f. and p.d. are measured in volts and that the volt is given by
joule per coulomb (J/C)
╸ 4 Describe the use of voltmeters (analogue and digital) with different ranges
╸ 5 Calculate the total e.m.f. where several sources are arranged in series
╸ 6 State that the e.m.f of identical sources connected in parallel is equal to the
e.m.f. of one of the sources
╸ 4.2.4 Resistance
╸ 1 Recall and use the equation resistance = p.d. current R = V I
╸ 2 Describe an experiment to determine resistance using a voltmeter and an
ammeter and do the appropriate calculations
╸ 3 Recall and use, for a wire, the direct proportionality between resistance and
length, and the inverse proportionality between resistance and cross-sectional
area
╸ 4 State Ohm’s law, including reference to constant temperature
╸ 5 Sketch and explain the current–voltage graphs for a resistor of constant
resistance, a filament lamp and a diode
╸ 6 Describe the effect of temperature increase on the resistance of a resistor, such
as the filament in a filament lam
current
╸ It is rate of flow of charges.
╸ Unit is ampere
╸ Instrument to measure current is ammeter.
╸ I = Q/t
Potential difference/ voltage
╸ It is the energy consumed by unit charge
to move across any two points in the
circuit.
╸ Its unit is volts
╸ Instrument to measure voltage is
voltmeter
╸ V = energy/charge
╸ Energy conversion is from electric to non-
electric.
E.m.f (electromotive force)
╸ It is the energy consumed by unit charge
to move across the whole circuit.
╸ Its unit is volts
╸ E.m.f = energy/charge
╸ Energy conversion is from non-electric to
electric.
Resistance

╸ Hindrance in the flow of charges.

╸ It is ratio of voltage to current.
╸ Its unit is ohms (Ω)
╸ It is directly proportional to length.
╸ It is inversely proportional to area.
╸ It also changes with material.
Ohms law

Current flowing through any area of wire is directly proportional

to potential difference across its ends
Provided
Temperature remains constant.
V =IR
As temperature changes resistance changes.
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Ohmic and non ohmic conductor

conductors

Ohmic conductors Non –ohmic conductor

Resistance remains Metal filament : thermistor
constant Resistance increases : Resistance decreases
Voltage current
graphs
Ohmic and non ohmic Graphs
 Filament Lamp
• The I–V graph for a filament lamp shows the current
increasing at a proportionally slower rate than the
potential difference
• This is because:
• As the current increases, the temperature of the
filament in the lamp increases
• Since the filament is a metal, the higher temperature
causes an increase in resistance
• Resistance opposes the current, causing
the current to increase at a slower rate
• Where the graph is a straight line, the resistance is
constant
• The resistance increases as the graph curves
• The filament lamp obeys Ohm's Law for small voltages
 Thermister
• A thermistor is a non-ohmic sensory
resistor whose resistance varies with
temperature
• Most thermistors are negative
temperature coefficient (ntc)
components
• This means that if the
temperature increases, the
resistance of the
thermistor decreases (and
vice versa)
 The Light-Dependent Resistor
(LDR))

• A light-dependent resistor (LDR) is a non-

ohmic conductor and sensory resistor
• Its resistance automatically changes
depending on the light energy falling onto it
(illumination)
• As the light intensity increases,
the resistance of an LDR decreases
 Semiconductor Diode
• The I–V graph for a semiconductor diode is
slightly different. A diode is used in a
circuit to allow current to flow only in a
specific direction
• When the current is in the direction of the
arrowhead symbol, this is forward bias
• This is shown by the sharp increase in
potential difference and current on the
right side of the graph