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ELECTRICITY
Electric Current, I
Current is the rate of flow of electric charge. Conventional current flows from positive to
negative but the flow of electric charges is from negative to positive.
where I = current
Q = charge
t = time
The SI units of current are Amperes(A) or Coulomb per second (C/s).
Current is measured with an ammeter. The circuit symbol for an ammeter is . An
ammeter is always connected in series with other circuit components.
Potential Difference (pd) or Voltage,V
This refers to the electrical energy needed to drive a charge between two points in a circuit.
Where V = voltage
E = electrical energy
Q = charge
The SI units of voltage are Volts(V) or Joules per Coulomb (J/C).
NB: One volt is the energy needed to drive a coulomb of charge around a circuit.
Voltage is measured with a voltmeter. The circuit symbol for voltmeter is . A
voltmeter is always connected in parallel with other circuit components.
Electromotive force(emf)
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This is the electrical energy required to drive a charge round a circuit by a power supply. A
voltmeter is connected across the power supply in order to measure the emf.
Resistance, R
Resistance is the opposition to flow of current. SI units of resistance are Ohms (Ω). An
ohmmeter can be used to measure resistance.
Resistivity
The resistance of a conductor is
indirectly proportional to the cross sectional area(A) of the conductor .
directly proportional to the length (l) of the conductor. R l
Combining the two
Where R = Resistanceof the conductor
l = length of the conductor
= resistivity of the conductor
A = cross-sectional area of the conductor.
Resistivity of any material is constant.
For example the resistivity of copper is 1.8 x 10-8 m and nichrome (an alloy) has a resistivity
of 110 x 10-8 m.
Ohm’s Law
The current (I) through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across the
conductor, provided temperature and other conditions remain constant.
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V = IR
Where V = voltage
I = current
R = resistance.
V/I Characteristic Graphs
Ohmic Conductor Filament bulb Thermistor
Electrical Energy
Q = It ……………………………..(i)
…………………………..(ii)
Using eqn (i) in eqn (ii)
Rearranging the eqn
Where E = electrical energy
I = electrical current
V = voltage
t = time
Electrical Power, P
but
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Where P = electrical power
I = electrical current
V = voltage
Series Circuits
In a series circuit there is only one pathway for current.
Current in Series circuits
The current is the same at all points in a series circuit
A1 = A2 = A3 and therefore I1 = I2 = I3
Voltage in a Series Circuit.
In a series circuit there is a potential drop across the circuit components. Thus the sum of the
voltages across the circuit components should give the emf.
VT = V 1 + V 2 + …
Resistance in a series circuit.
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The total resistance, RT for resistors R1, R2, R3,etc which are in series is given by
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + …
Parallel Circuits
This is a circuit in which there is more than one pathway for current.
Current in parallel circuits
Current divides among the several pathways in a parallel circuit.
AT = A1 + A2
IT = I1 + I2 + …
Voltage in parallel circuits
The voltages across parallel circuit components are equal.
VT = V 1 = V 2
Resistance in parallel circuits
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The total resistance, RT for resistors R1, R2, R3, etc which are parallel is given by
