PHYSICS OF ELECTRICITY

ATOM
• minute indivisible particle that comprise all matter
• consists of the following:
⮚ nucleus – central part; composed of proton and neutron
❖ proton – gives the atom its positive charge; determines the
atomic number
❖ neutron – neutrally charge (neither positive nor negative); equals
the number of protons and affects the atomic mass
(weight)
⮚ electrons – negatively charge particles revolving in orbits around the
nucleus; arranged in definite energy shells or orbits
around the nucleus which are called quantum
shell; component of atom that can be gained or lost
ATOM
Neutral atom – the number of protons equals the number of electrons
Cation – positive ions; loss of electrons in the atom so an excess of
protons resulting of positive charge
Anion – negative ions; gain of electrons in the atom so an excess of
electrons resulting of negative charge

ELECTRODES
Anode – electrode wherein anion is attracted to; positive electrode;
universal color is red
Cathode – electrode wherein cation is attracted to; negative electrode;
universal color is black
ELECTRICITY
- form of energy; there is flow of electrical charge
- a charged body is continually seeking to attain its neutrality, if negative
by losing electrons and positive by gaining electrons and this
phenomenon creates an electric field which made up of lines of force
- properties of lines of force:
❖ lines of force are straight
❖ lines of force pass more easily through conductors than through
insulators
❖ lines of force concentrate nearest to another object over which they
can exert an influence
❖ lines of force travel from negative to positive
CONDUCTORS
- materials which readily transmit electrical charges/current

- atoms that have few electrons in their outer orbit; electrons are
loosely-held in its outer orbit so that it will drift away from the atom
in which it
will facilitate the passage of electric current
- e.g. iron, copper, human tissues

NON-CONDUCTORS / INSULATORS
- materials that will not transmit electrical charges/current
- atoms in which the electrons at the outer shell are firmly held and will
not leave the atom
ELECTRICAL CHARGE
- an electric charge occurs when the atoms of matter contain unequal
numbers of electrons and protons. Protons are positively charged and electrons
are negatively charged. If there are fewer electrons, the matter is positively
charged. If there are more electrons, the matter is negatively charged. Matter
with the same charge repel, but matter with different charges attract
ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL
- a force which cause movement of charge to some distance
is called potential
- unit for potential is volt (V)
- the magnitude of potential depends on the following:
❖quantity of electricity with which the object is charged
❖ capacitance of the object
❖ Quantity of electricity is measured in coulomb
1 coulomb (C) = 6.26 x 1018 electrons charges
- potential varies directly with the quantity of electricity
- if two identical objects are charged with different quantities of electricity,

the one with greater quantity of electricity has a greater power so it has
greater potential of the two
❖ Capacitance – is the ability of the object to hold an electrical charge
- depends on the following:
material – conductors have greater power of storing a charge
and tends to have large capacity
surface area – the greater the surface area, greater is the capacity
 - capacitance is inversely proportional to electrical potential
- unit is farad (F)

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE (P.D.)

- a difference of potential exists if objects have charges with different
quantities of electricity
- if different potential exists, electrons will flow from more negative to less
negative (negative to positive)
- force producing the movement is called electromotive force (EMF) which
measured in volts (V)
- the greater is the potential difference, the greater would be the EMF
- electrons flow continues until the potential of both objects are the same
ELECTRICAL CURRENT
- occurs when there is a flow of charged particles (generally electrons) in a
conductor
- electrical current is produced if there is difference of potential (PD) and a
conducting pathway between the points of potential difference
- a battery or electromagnetic induction can produce potential difference
- intensity or magnitude of current is the rate of flow of electrons through
the conductor per second and is measured using the unit ampere (A)
wherein 1 A = 1 coulomb per second

Ohm’s law – states that the magnitude or intensity of electric current varies
directly with electromotive force (EMF) and inversely with the resistance
I=E/R
RESISTANCE
- factor the opposes the flow of electrons through the conductor

- device that provides resistance to the flow is known as resistor

- unit for resistance is ohm
- electrical resistance would depend on the following:
a. material of the conductor – good conductor have less resistance
b. length of the pathway – longer the pathway, greater is the
resistance
c. cross-sectional area of the conductor – greater the cross-sectional area
the more room there is for electrons to pass, therefore resistance is lower
d. temperature – the higher the temperature, kinetic movement of the
molecules increases, thus impedes the passage of electrons and increases the
resistance
RESISTANCE CIRCUIT
❑ Resistance in series – total resistance equals to the sum of the individual
resistances
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 ……..
❑ Resistance in parallel – the total resistance is less than any one of the individual
resistances
1 = 1 + 1 + 1 ………..
RT R1 R2 R3
When a current pass through a conductor, some of its energy is converted to
thermal energy and according to Joule’s law: the amount of heat produced in a
conductor is proportional to the square of the intensity of current, the
resistance and the time at which the current flows
Q = I2RT unit is Joules

ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- is the ability of an electrical circuit to produce work by creating an action
- supplies the power required to produce work or an action within an
electrical circuit
Work – depends upon the electromotive force and quantity of electrons
(coulomb) moved; unit is of work is Joules (J)
W = EMF x C
Power – rate of doing work; product of EMF and intensity of current
P = EMF x I
- unit is watt (W) wherein 1 watt would indicate that and EMF of 1 volt
moves 1 coulomb of electrons in 1 second
CURRENT FLOW
• Conventional current flow
- flows from positive to negative

• Electron flow
- flows from negative to positive
Magnetic effect of an electric current
is known as electromagnetic effect. It is observed that when a compass is brought
near a conductor with current, the needle of compass gets deflected because of
flow of electricity or when an electric current is applied to the coil of wire wound
onto a soft iron bar, the iron bar will be magnetized until the current is switch off

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
- electricity is produced from magnetism; it is the result of interaction between a
conductor and magnetic lines of force; EMF is produced by the magnetic lines of
force
- factors essential to electromagnetic induction are: conductor, magnetic lines of
force and relative movement of conductor and magnetic lines of force
When a magnet is moved into the coil, the magnetic lines of force cut across
the conducting wire of the coil and cause movement of electrons in the coil,
these electrons repel adjacent electrons and so on so that current is set up in
the circuit
• The current produced by electromagnetic induction is greater when the
magnet or coil moves faster, the coil has more turns, or the magnet is
stronger. If the magnet or coil is moved back and forth repeatedly,
alternating current is produced.
• Electric generators and electric transformers use electromagnetic induction
to generate electricity or change the voltage of electric current.
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT :
▪ Facilitation of muscle contraction
▪ Enhance functional mobility
▪ Pain relief
▪ Resolve edema
▪ Transport of medications
▪ Wound healing
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT
• Burns
• Chemical reactions
• Electrical Shock
• Earth Shock
• Death
THANK YOU