CHAPTER-3

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Electric Current: The time rate of flow of charge through any cross-section is called current.
Let ∆q be the net charge flowing across a cross section of a conductor during the time
interval ∆t .Then, the average electric current through that area is given by
∆𝒒
𝑰𝒂𝒗 = ∆𝒕
∆𝑞 𝑑𝑞
And instantaneous current 𝑖 = lim =
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Drift velocity:
−𝑒𝐸⃗
𝑣𝑑 = 𝜏
𝑚

The electrons move with an average velocity which is independent of time, although electrons
are accelerated. This is the phenomenon of drift and the velocity 𝑣𝑑 is called the drift velocity.
Because of the drift, there will be net transport of charges across any area perpendicular to 𝐸⃗ .
Relation between electric current and drift velocity
𝐼 = 𝑛𝑒𝐴𝑣𝑑
Current Density: In case of a steady current, flowing through a conductor, same current flows
through all the cross-sections of the conductor, even though the cross-sections may differ in
area.
𝑑𝐼
𝐽 = 𝑑𝐴

In case of non-uniform flow, current I through any cross-section is

S.I. Unit of current density is Am-2.

Relation between current density and electric field

𝐽 = 𝜎𝐸 or 𝐽 = 𝜎𝐸⃗ σ is known as conductivity.

Ohm’s Law using Drift Velocity

𝑉 𝑚𝑙
Resistance: 𝑅= = 𝑛𝜏𝐴𝑒 2
𝐼

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 𝜌𝑙
𝑅=
𝐴
The resistance of a conductor depends upon its material, temperature, length and area
of cross section.
Conductance is defined as the reciprocal of resistance.
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𝐺=𝑅 SI unit of conductance is Siemen or ohm-1 or mho

Resistivity: The resistivity of a material is the resistance of a wire of that material of unit
length and unit cross-sectional area. It is the property of the material that opposes the
flow of charge or the flow of electric current. The unit of resistivity is ohm- meter.
𝑚
𝜌 = 𝑛𝜏𝑒 2

Conductivity is the reciprocal of resistivity, and determines the ability of a material to

conduct electric current.
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𝜎=𝜌 SI units of Conductivity is "siemens per metre" (S/m) or Ω-1m-1.

Mobility: Mobility (µ) is defined as the magnitude of the drift velocity per unit electric
field.
|𝑣
⃗ 𝑑|
𝜇= .The SI unit of mobility is m2/Vs.
𝐸
𝑒𝐸𝜏 𝑒𝜏
𝜇= =
𝑚𝐸 𝑚

OHM’S LAW: Ohm’s law gives a relationship between current (𝐼) and potential difference
(𝑉). According to ohm’s law: At constant temperature, the current flowing through a
conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its ends. If 𝐼 is the
current flowing through a conductor and V is the p.d. across its ends, then according to
the ohm’s law
𝐼 ∝ 𝑉 𝑂𝑟 𝑉 ∝ 𝐼
𝑜𝑟, 𝑉 = 𝑅 𝐼

Limitations of Ohm’s law:

(a) V ceases to be proportional to I.

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(b) The relation between V and I depends on the sign of V.

(c) The relation between V and I is not unique, i.e., there is more than one value of V for
the same current I. A material exhibiting such behaviour is GaAs.

Dependance of Resistivity of materials on temeperature:The resistivity of a material is

found to be dependent on the temperature. Over a limited range of temperatures, that is
not too large, the resistivity of a metallic conductor is approximately given by

Fig(i)(conductors) Fig(ii)(alloys) Fig(iii)(semiconductor)

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Electromagnetic Force and Potential Difference:Emf of a cell is defined as the work done
by the cell in moving a unit positive charge in the whole circuit including the cell once.
𝑊
𝑒𝑚𝑓(𝜀) = S.I unit of emf is Volt.
𝑞

Potential difference – Potential difference is the voltage across the terminals of the battery
when the current is being drawn from it to an externalload .
Internal Resistance of a Cell:
The resistance offered by the electrolyte of the cell when the electric current passes
through it is known as the internal resistance of the cell. It is denoted by r.

𝑉 = 𝜀 − 𝐼𝑟 (discharging of cell) 𝑉 < 𝜀

Note: During the charging of cell, the positive electrode of the cell is connected to positive
terminal of battery charger and negative to negative [Link] the cell is charging current
inside the cell is from anode(+) to cathode(-).

𝑉 = 𝜀 + 𝐼𝑟 i.e. 𝑉>𝜀

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Series combination of cells

εeq = ε1 + ε2 and req = r1 + r2

Parallel combination of cells:

𝜀1 𝑟2 +𝜀2 𝑟1 𝑟 𝑟
𝜀𝑒𝑞 = and 𝑟𝑒𝑞 = 𝑟 2+𝑟2
𝑟1 +𝑟2 1 2

Electrical Energy, Power: In an actual conductor, an amount of energy dissipated as heat

in the conductor during the time interval ∆t is,
∆W = I V∆t
The energy dissipated per unit time is the power is the power dissipated.
∆𝑊 𝐼𝑉∆𝑡
𝑃= = = 𝑉𝐼
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡

𝑉2
𝑃 = 𝐼2𝑅 = 𝑅

Kirchhoff's Rules:
1. Junction rule: At any junction, the sum of the currents entering the junction is equal
to thesum of currents leaving the junction. This law is based on charge conservation.

[Link] rule: The algebraic sum of changes in potential around any closed loop involving
resistors and cells in the loop is zero. This law is based on conservation of energy.
Wheatstone bridge:The Wheatstone bridge is an arrangement of four resistances. In this
bridge, four resistances are connected on four arms of a quadrilateral. Across one
diagonal, a battery and key are connected. Across second diagonal, a galvanometer is
connected as shown in figure. Consider P, Q, R and S are four resistances connected on
the sides AB, BC, AD and DC of the quadrilateral respectively. Galvanometer G is

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connected between points B and D and a battery B is connected between A and C. Now in
the balance condition, the deflection in the galvanometer is zero

𝑃 𝑅
=
𝑄 𝑆

WORK SHEET-3
1. A metal rod of length 10 cm and a rectangular cross-section of 1 cm x 1/2 cm is
connected to a battery across opposite faces. The resistance will be
(a) maximum when the battery is connected across 1 cm x 1/2 cm faces
(b) maximum when the battery is connected across 10 cm x 1 cm faces
(c) maximum when the battery is connected across 10 cm x 1/2 cm faces
(d) same irrespective of the three faces
2. Which of the following characteristics of electrons determines the current in a
conductor?
(a) Drift velocity alone (b) Thermal velocity alone
(c) Both drift velocity and thermal velocity (d) Neither drift nor thermal velocity
3. Kirchhoff’s junction rule is a reflection of
(a) conservation of current density vector.
(b) conservation of mass.
(c) the fact that the momentum with which a charged particle approaches a junction is
unchanged (as a vector) as the charged particle leaves the junction.
(d) the fact that there is no accumulation of charges at a junction.
4. Temperature dependence of resistivity ρ(T) of semiconductors, insulators and metals
is significantly based on the following factor:

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 (a) number of charge carriers is constant with temperature T.
(b) time interval between two successive collisions can depend on T.
(c) length of material can be a function of T.
(d) mass of carriers is a function of T.
5. The electromotive force of a battery is defined as
(a) the potential difference across its terminals.
(b) Its ability to move electrons around the circuit.
(c) The work done to move a unit positive charge around the closed circuit.
(d) all the above
Two statements are given –one labelled Assertion (A) and other labelled Reason
(R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the options as given below.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is correct explanation of
Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation
of Assertion.
(c) If Assertion is true but Reason is false.
(d) If both Assertion and Reason are false.
6. Assertion (A): A current flows in a conductor only when there is an electric field
within the conductor.
Reason(R): The drift velocity of electron in presence of electric field decreases.
7. Assertion (A): Though the same current flows through the line wires and the
filament of the bulb but heat produced in the filament is much higher than that in
line wires.
Reason(R): The filament of bulbs is made of a material of high resistance and high
melting point.
8. Assertion (A): Potential measured by a voltmeter across a wire is always less than
actual potential difference across it.
Reason(R): Finite resistance of voltmeter changes current flowing through the
resistance across which potential difference is to be measured.
9. Assertion (A): In a balanced Wheatstone bridge, if galvanometer and battery are
interchanged, the balancing condition is not disturbed.
Reason(R): The balancing condition of a Wheatstone bridge does not depend on
resistances.

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10. Assertion (A): Kirchhoff's junction rule can be applied to a junction of several
lines or a point in a line.
Reason(R): When steady current is flowing, there is no accumulation of charges at
any junction or at any point in a line.
11. Assertion (A): Terminal voltage of a cell is greater than emf of the cell, during
charging of the cell.
Reason(R): The emf of a cell is always greater than its terminal voltage.
12. For wiring in the home, one uses Cu wires or Al wires. What considerations are
involved in this?
13. Two conducting wires X and Y of same diameter but different materials are joined in series
across a battery. If the number density of electrons in X is twice that in Y, find the ratio of
drift velocity of electrons in two wires.
14. A steady current flow in a metallic conductor of non-uniform cross-section. Which of the
following quantities is constant along the conductor: electric current, current density, drift
speed?
15. Plot graphs to show variations of (i)E with R (ii) Terminal P.D. of the cell (V) with R.
16. A battery of emf E internal resistance r is connected across a variable resistor R. Find the
value of R such that (i) the current in the circuit is maximum (ii) the potential difference
across the terminals is maximum & (iii) the power delivered to the load is maximum.
17. Define relaxation time of electrons in a conductor. Explain how it vary with increase in
temperature of a conductor. State the relation between mobility and relaxation time.
18. A storage battery of emf 8.0 V and internal resistance 1.5Ω is being charged by a 120 V
D.C. supply using a series resistance of 14.5Ω.

(i) Find charging current in the circuit.

(ii) What is the terminal voltage of the battery during charging?
(iii) What is the energy dissipation in the resistor?
19. At room temperature 27.0°𝐶, the resistance of heating element is 100Ω.At what
temperature does the resistance of the element changes to 117Ω? Given that
temperature coefficient of the material of the resistance is 1.70 × 10−4 per degree
Celsius.
20. Draw a graph showing the variation of current density (𝑗) versus the electric field (𝐸) for
two conductors 𝐴 and 𝐵 of different materials. What information from this plot regarding
the properties of the conducting material, can be obtained which can be used to select
suitable materials for use in making (𝑖) standard resistance and (𝑖𝑖) connecting wires in
electric circuits?
21. A potential difference 𝑉 is applied across a conductor of length 𝐿 and diameter 𝐷. How
are the electric field (𝐸) and resistance (𝑅) affected when (𝑖) 𝐿 is doubled and (𝑖𝑖) 𝐷 is
haved? Justify your answer in each case.
22. Using Kirchhoff’s rules determine the value of unknown resistance R in the circuit so that
no current flows through 4Ω resistance. Also find the potential difference between A and
D.

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23. Four cells of identical emf E, internal resistance r are connected in series to a variable
resistor. The following graph shows the variation of terminal voltage of the combination
with the current output.
(i) What is the emf of each cell used?
(ii) For what current from the cells, does maximum power dissipation occur in the circuit?
(iii) Calculate the internal resistance of each cell.

.
24. The current in a circuit containing a battery connected to 2Ω resistance is 0.9 A. When a
resistance of 7Ω connected to the same battery, the current observed in the circuit is 0.3A.
Find the internal resistance of the battery.
25. Two conductors are made of the same material and have the same length. Conductor A
is a solid wire of diameter 1 mm. Conductor B is a hollow tube of outer diameter 2 mm
and inner diameter 1 mm. Find the ratio of resistance 𝑅𝐴 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝐵 .

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