PHYS 0200

Lecture 5:
Moving charges
Electrical Quantities
Lecturer: Dr. Stephanie Mohammed
Prepared by: Ms. Nalini Dookie
vs
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Understand that an electric current is the flow of charge
• Define charge and the coulomb
• Use Q=It
• Define potential difference and the volt
!
• Use 𝑉 = "
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Explain the term drift velocity
#!
• Recall and use P = IV, P = I2R, 𝑃 =
$
• Recall the symbols for commonly used circuit
components
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Define resistance and the ohm
• Recall and use V = IR
• Sketch I – V characteristics
• State Ohm’s Law
• Define resistivity
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Electric Current and Charge
• Charged particles have either a negative or positive
charge.
• When charged particles move in a particular direction, an
electric current is produced
• The faster the charged particles move, the greater the
electric current.

• The SI unit for charge is the Coulomb (C).

Electric Current and Charge
An electric current (I) is the rate of
flow ( /t) of charged particles (Q)
So I=Q/t
Thus Q = It

Where
Q = charge (C) The SI unit of electric
I = current (A) current is the Ampere (A).
t = time (t)
Electric Current and Charge

1 Coulomb is the quantity of

charge that passes through any
section of a conductor in 1
second when a Current of 1
Ampere is flowing.
Coulomb= Amperes x Seconds
1 C = 1 As
Electric Current and Charge
For an electric current to flow you must have
mobile charged particles
1. Metals have “free electrons” which can move
easily
2. When a salt such as sodium chloride is
dissolved in water, sodium and chloride ‘ions’
are produced. The ions present in the solution
are have charges . Therefore, a solution of
sodium chloride will allow an electric current to
flow through it.
Quantization
• What is the charge on an electron?
• A electron has a charge of −1.6×10!"# 𝐶.
• All other charges in the universe consist of an
integer multiple of this charge, even the ions
present in the solution of the sodium chloride.
• This is known as charge quantization.
Quantization

𝑄 = 𝑛𝑞$
Where
𝑄 = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒
𝑛 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑠
𝑞$ = 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛
𝑞$ = −1.6 ×10!"# 𝐶
Quantization
• Question: How many electrons are there in -2 𝜇𝐶?
Quantization
• Question: How many electrons are there in -2 𝜇𝐶?
• Answer:
"
• 𝑄 = 𝑛𝑞% → 𝑛 =
&"
' (×*+#$
• No. of electrons = = 1.25×10*. electrons.
'*.- ×*+#%&
Current
• What is the magnitude of the current when -2 𝜇𝐶 pass
through a conductor in 0.5 s?
Current
• What is the magnitude of the current when -2 𝜇𝐶 pass
through a conductor in 0.5 s?
" '(×*+#$
•𝐼= = = −4×10'- 𝐴
/ +.0

• 𝐼 = 4×10'- 𝐴
Current
• What is the magnitude of the current produced when
3.75×10*. electrons pass through a conductor in 3.0
seconds?
Current
• What is the magnitude of the current produced when
3.75×10*. electrons pass through a conductor in 3.0
seconds?
• Answer:
"
•𝐼= and 𝑄 = 𝑛𝑞%
/
1&" ..20×*+%' ×'*.-×*+#%&
•𝐼= /
= ..+
= −2.0×10'- 𝐴
•
• 𝐼 = 2.0×10'- 𝐴
Electric Current and Charge

Cell Copyright © 2017 ODESIE

Technology Transfer Services
All rights reserved

Figure 1: Diagram showing the direction of electron flow in a conductor

Electric Current and Charge
For electrons in a conductor to flow, energy
must be supplied.

An electric cell can be used to provide the

energy needed to move the electrons in a
conductor.

Chemical reactions in the cell produces this

energy.
Electric Current and Charge

Cell Copyright © 2017 ODESIE

Technology Transfer Services
All rights reserved

Figure 1: Diagram showing the direction of electron flow in a conductor

Electric Current and Charge
In Figure 1, the electrons are flowing through the
conductor from right to left.

The conventional electric current is

defined as flowing in the opposite
direction.

If a stream of positive ions is flowing in one

direction, the electric current will be flowing in
that same direction.
Electric Current and Charge
Electrical currents are measured using an
ammeter.
ammeter

cell component

Figure 2: Measuring an electric current

Electric Current and Charge
To measure the electric current flowing
through a component in a circuit, the
ammeter is connected in series with the
component.

An ideal ammeter has zero resistance.

Potential Difference
Remember, energy is required to move
charge around an electrical circuit.
The energy given to each Coulomb of charge that
flows around a circuit is determined by the
electromotive force of the cell (emf). This is
measured in volts.
Electric current flows from one point to
another because of a difference in
electric potential between two points.
Potential Difference
The SI unit for potential is the volt (V).

The potential difference between two

points in a circuit is the work done in
moving unit positive charge from one point
to the other.
Potential Difference
𝑊
𝑉=
𝑄
Where
V = potential difference (V)
W = work done (J)
Q = charge (C)
Potential Difference

Figure 4: Variation of electric potential around a circuit

 Potential Difference
Electrical potential cannot be measured directly.
The difference in potential can be measured.

resistor

voltmeter
Figure 3: Measuring potential difference
 Potential Difference
A voltmeter is connected in parallel with the
component whose potential difference is to be
measured.

An ideal voltmeter has an infinite resistance.

The unit for potential difference is the volt (V).

Potential Difference
1 volt is defined as the potential difference
between two points in a circuit when 1 joule
of energy is converted when 1 coulomb of
charge flows between the two points.

1 V = 1 J C-1
 Resistance
Georg Simon Ohm found a relationship between
current and potential difference. He discovered
that at a steady temperature,

Potential difference across a conductor

=
current flow through a conductor x (constant)
V=IxR
 Resistance
The constant R is the resistance of the conductor
and the equation is known as Ohm’s law.

Resistance is the electrical property of a material

that makes the moving charges dissipate energy.

But what causes this resistance?

Resistance
When a cell is connected across the ends of a
conductor, the electrons gain energy and begin
moving.

As they move, they continuously collide with each

other and the other ions in the conductor.

These collisions restrict the flow of electrons.

This property is known as electrical resistance.

Resistance
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).

1 ohm is the resistance of a conductor through

which a current of 1A flows when there is a
potential difference of 1V across it.

1Ω = 1VA-1
Resistance
Resistance (R) is defined mathematically as the
ratio of the potential difference (V) across the
conductor to the current I flowing through it.

𝑉
𝑅=
𝐼
Where
R = resistance (Ω)
V = potential difference (V)
I = current (A)
Resistance
The circuit below is used to measure the resistance
of a component.

component

Figure 7: Measuring electrical resistance

Resistance
The voltmeter reading gives the potential
difference across the resistor.

The ammeter reading gives the current flowing

through the resistor.

𝑽
Apply 𝑹 =
𝑰
Questions
• A 10 ohms resistor is powered by a 5-V battery. The
current flowing through the source is:
a) 10 A
b) 50 A
c) 2 A
d) 0.5 A
Questions
• A 10 ohms resistor is powered by a 5-V battery. The
current flowing through the source is:
a) 10 A
b) 50 A
c) 2 A
d) 0.5 A
• Correct answer: d) 0.5 A
• Solution: From I = V/R = 5-V/10 ohm = 0.5 A
Questions
• An electric kettle with 50-Ω heat element is
powered by a 230-V wall outlet. The current
flowing through kettle is:
• 0.217 A
• 4.6 A
• 10.86 A
• 11500 A
Questions
• An electric kettle with 50-Ω heat element is
powered by a 230-V wall outlet. The current
flowing through kettle is:
a) 0.217 A
b) 4.6 A
c) 10.86 A
d) 11500 A
• Correct answer: b) 4.6 A
Questions
An unknown resistor has 5 mA current flowing
through it when 10 volts are applied to it. For the
same resistor, the application of 20 volts will result in
the current flow of:

a) 2 mA
b) 5 mA
c)10 mA
d) 50 mA
Questions
An unknown resistor has 5 mA current flowing through it
when 10 volts are applied to it. For the same resistor, the
application of 20 volts will result in the current flow of:

a) 2 mA
b) 5 mA
c)10 mA
d) 50 mA
• Correct answer: c. 10 mA
• Solution: Here R = 10 volts / 5 mA = 2 kΩ, Now for 20
volts, I = 20 volts/ 2 kΩ = 10 mA
Current-voltage graphs
By adding a variable resistor to Figure 7, the
current flowing through the component can be
adjusted.

Figure 8: Circuit used to obtain

data to plot I-V curve
Current-voltage graphs

The variable resistor is adjusted and several values

of V and the corresponding I values are recorded.

A graph of I against V is plotted to obtain the I-V

characteristic of the component.
Current-voltage graphs
I-V graph for a metallic conductor
at constant temperature

Figure 9: I-V characteristic for an ohmic conductor

Current-voltage graphs
The graph in Figure 9 is a straight line graph
through the origin.

The current I is directly proportional to the

potential difference V.

This relationship is known as Ohm’s Law.

Current-voltage graphs
Ohm’s Law states that the current flowing
through a conductor is directly proportional to
the potential difference across it provided that
there is no change in the physical conditions of
the conductor.

A conductor that obeys Ohm’s Law is called an

ohmic conductor.
Current-voltage graphs

Figure 10: I-V characteristic for an filament lamp

Current-voltage graphs
The graph for a filament lamp does not obey
Ohm’s Law.

The resistance of the filament lamp is not constant.

The resistance varies with current.

Current-voltage graphs
As more current flows through the lamp, the
temperature of the filament increases.

The kinetic energy of the atoms inside it also

increases.

The atoms vibrate rapidly about their mean

positions.
Current-voltage graphs
The moving electrons collide with the vibrating
atoms.

Movement of the electrons becomes constricted.

Resistance of the filament lamp increases.

Current-voltage graphs

Figure 11: I-V characteristic for semi conductor diode

 Current-voltage graphs
The graph for a semiconductor diode does not obey
Ohm’s Law.

If the semi-conductor is connected so that it is

reverse-biased, no current will flow and it will have
infinite resistance. This is why the current is zero for
negative voltages.

If it is connected so that it is forward-biased, current

begins to flow when it is approximately 0.6 V.
Current-voltage graphs

Figure 12: Variation of resistance for a thermistor with

a negative temperature coefficient
 Current-voltage graphs
A thermistor is a device that varies resistance with
temperature.

There are two types:

1) Negative temperature coefficient thermistor
2) Positive temperature coefficient thermistor
 Current-voltage graphs
Negative temperature coefficient thermistor:
Resistance decreases exponentially with increasing
temperature.

Positive temperature coefficient thermistor:

Resistance increases suddenly with a particular
temperature.

Thermistors are used as temperature sensors in

electrical devices.
 Drift Velocity
When a potential difference is applied across a
conductor, an electric field is set up.

The free electrons begin moving under the influence

of the electric field and collide continuously with
metal ions.

The drift velocity is the mean value of the velocity of

the electrons in a conductor when an electric field is
applied.
Drift Velocity
Consider a section of metallic conductor of
length L and cross-sectional area A
Current I

electrons
L

Figure 5: Deriving the expression for drift velocity

Drift Velocity

Let:
I = current flowing in the conductor (A)
n = number of free electrons per unit volume 𝑚'
e = charge on each electron (C)
v = the mean drift velocity of the electrons (𝑚𝑠 !" )
 Drift Velocity
Now
The volume of the section = AL

The number of electrons in each section = nAL

The total amount of charge flowing = nALe

Time taken for electrons to travel from one end of the

!
section to the next = "
 Drift Velocity
Recall
Electric current
#
I=
$
But the total amount of charge flowing = nALe
And time taken for electrons to travel from one end of
!
the section to the next =
"
So
%&'(
I= !
"
Drift Velocity
()*+
I= !
"
𝐿
𝐼 = 𝑛𝐴𝐿𝑒 ÷
𝑣
𝑣
𝐼 = 𝑛𝐴𝐿𝑒 ×
𝐿

I = nevA
 Energy and Power
Consider a steady current I, flowing through a
resistor R for a duration of time t.

As the current flows through the resistor it

dissipates energy.

The energy dissipated is equal to the potential

energy lost by the charge as it moves through the
potential difference between the terminals of the
resistor.
 Energy and Power
Recall
𝑊
𝑉=
𝑄
∴ 𝑊 = 𝑉𝑄
Where
W is the energy dissipated in a time t
Q is the charge that flowed during a time t
V is the potential difference across the resistor
 Energy and Power
The charge that flows during time t is Q = It .

∴ 𝑊 = 𝐼𝑡𝑉

Power is defined as the rate at which energy is

converted.

𝑊 𝐼𝑡𝑉
𝑃= = = 𝐼𝑉
𝑡 𝑡

The SI unit of power is the watt (W).

Energy and Power
From the definition of resistance: V=IR

But P = IV = I (IR) = I2R

! ,#
Also, P = 𝑉=
" -
Questions
If P = 50 watt and R = 2 ohms, then I = ___?
a) 50 A
b) 5 A
c) 10 A
d) 2 A
Questions
If P = 50 watt and R = 2 ohms, then I = ___?
a) 50 A
b) 5 A
c) 10 A
d) 2 A
• Correct answer: c. 5 A
• P=I2R
• Solution: From I = √(P/R) = √(50 V/ 2A) = √25 A = 5 A
Circuit Symbols

Figure 6: Circuit Symbols

Resistivity
Resistance of a material depends on:

1) Resistivity of the material

2) Cross-sectional area of the material
3) Temperature of the material
Resistivity
𝑹𝑨
𝝆=
𝑳
𝜌𝐿
𝑅=
𝐴
Where
R = resistance (Ω)
𝜌 = resistivity (Ωm)
L = length (m)
A = cross-sectional area (m2)
Question
• A copper connecting wire is 0.75 m long and has a
cross-sectional area of 1.3 × 10–7 m2
Calculate the resistance of the wire.
Resistivity of copper = 1.7 × 10–7 Ωm
Question
• A copper connecting wire is 0.75 m long and has a
cross-sectional area of 1.3 × 10–7 m2
Calculate the resistance of the wire.
Resistivity of copper = 1.7 × 10–7 Ωm
34 *.2×*+#( ×+.20
•𝑅= 5
= *..×*+#(
= 0.98 Ω
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Understand that an electric current is the flow of charge
• Define charge and the coulomb
• Use Q=It
• Define potential difference and the volt
!
• Use 𝑉 = "
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Explain the term drift velocity
#!
• Recall and use P = IV, P = I2R, 𝑃 =
$
• Recall the symbols for commonly used circuit
components
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Define resistance and the ohm
• Recall and use V = IR
• Sketch I – V characteristics
• State Ohm’s Law
• Define resistivity
References

• Cape Physics Unit 2, A Caribbean Examinations

Council Study Guide. Terry David, Joyce
Crichlow, Dwight de Freitas, Carlos Hunte.
• Physics. Ken Dobson, David Grace, David
Lovett.