Electricity notes.

ELECTRICITY.

An electric circuit is a complete continuous pathway in which electrical energy is

transformed into other forms. The current flows from one terminal (-) of the power source
(cell) to the other terminal (+). This is because, as the electrons leave the negative terminal,
they are attracted to the positive terminal. These are its attributes: a regular electric circuit
contains,

1. A supply of energy- a chemical cell, solar cell, or power station.

2. Wires these are
3. Switches called
4. A load where electrical energy is transformed into other forms.-globe components

This circuit diagram below represents the

components in the circuit at left.

Electronic components:
Above are only some of the electronic components found in circuits. Circuit diagrams use
several commonly used symbols to show the position and connections of electronic
components. Important information such as the numerical values associated to the
components (voltage), can be written next to the component symbols in a circuit diagram.

(Common component symbols: refer to science alive pg.218)

Electric currents:
Electric current is the flow of delocalised electrons in a particular direction in a metal.
When the electrons in a metal are connected to a power source (eg. Chemical cell), the energy
supply gives the electrons extra energy.

Electrical energy refers to this additional energy that is supplied to electrons in a metal by a
power source.

Batteries:
Batteries are often confused with cells. A battery is a set of cells connected together to boost
the amount of electrical energy that can be delivered. As the electrons leave the negative
Electricity notes.

terminal of a cell, they pass their energy on to the delocalised electrons in the metal, by
bumping into them. As they too are electrons, they start moving towards the positive
terminal, to which they are also attracted.

There are two main types of circuits: series circuits and parallel circuits, both of which
possess advantages and disadvantages that make them suitable for use in various situations.

Series and parallel circuits:

Definitions & diagrams:
Series circuits are circuits that have only one possible path between the two terminals of the
cell.

Parallel circuits are circuits that have 2 or more possible paths.

  

Comparison:

When connected in a series, a single pathway is formed through which current flows. A parallel
circuit, form branches, each of which is a separate path for the flow of electrons. In a series
circuit, when one of the bulbs or one of the wires is left open or is broken, the entire circuit
ceases. The break opens the circuit. Less expensive Christmas lights are usually of this type, and
you have to search for the defective bulb. A parallel circuit is designed so that if one branch is
defective, the flow of electricity will not be broken to the other branches. Note: that in a series
circuit, the brightness of the light decreases. If you only have a 1.5 volt battery, you can only light
a 1.5 volt light bulb. If you have a light bulb that requires 120 volts, your battery will not allow it.
If you have a 6 volt battery and a 1.5 volt light bulb, you will "blow" the bulb.
 Electricity notes.

Current, potential difference and electrical resistance:

Concept Symbol Instrument used SI Unit Definition

to measure.
Current I Ammeter: Amps, symbol A: A measure of how much electrical
to measure current, charge passes a particular point
ammeter must be every second. This is the rate at
placed directly in which the electric charges flow
circuit so current through the circuit, i.e. How
may flow through quickly the electric charges are
it.
moving through the circuit.
Potential difference V Voltmeter: Volts, also This tells you how much energy is
symbol V available to push electric charges
through a circuit. The potential
difference is a measure of the
difference in electric potential
between the 2 points on the
circuit. Note: the greater the
potential difference between the 2
points is, the greater the available
energy in the circuit.

A resistor is a component of an electrical circuit that resists the flow of electrical current. A
resistor has two terminals across which electricity must pass, and is designed to drop the

voltage of the current as it flows from one terminal to the next. Symbol:

Electrical resistance is a measure of the degree to which the object (material) opposes an
electric current passing through it. Usually, conductors have low resistance, and insulators
have a very high resistance. Electrical resistance is usually denoted by symbol R. The SI unit
for electrical resistance is ohm. Whilst voltage (potential difference) can be determined by a
voltmeter, and the current by an ammeter connected to a current, the resistance can be
calculated using Ohm’s law- making use of both the voltage and current.

Resistance of many resistors may be determined by measuring the potential difference (i.e.
voltage) across an electric component (such as a resistor) to the current passing through it:

R= V/I
Ohm’s Law:
Ohm’s law states that the current (I) flowing through a resistor is directly proportional to the
voltage (V) applied to the resistor

i.e. V proportional to I.
Electricity notes.

Ohm's Law can be expressed as a simple mathematical relationship, i.e.

V=RI

This allows you determine the resistance, R, of an electrical component by measuring the
current that flows through the device and the potential difference (voltage) dropping over the
device, i.e. R = V/I

Note: The resistance of a material changes if the temperature of the resistor changes. When the
temperature is increased - the resistance also increases, when the temperature is reduced - the
resistance also reduces.

Eg question:

Graphing Ohm’s Law:

Ohm’s law is in the form y=mx – an example of direct variation. From this we can deduce
that:

 Voltage (V) is equivalent to the y variable on the y axis, and current (I) equivalent to
the x variable on the horizontal axis.
 The resistance (R) is the gradient of the line- the value of R is constant as the same
resistor is used all the time.
 The graph of V against I is a straight line through the origin.
Electricity notes.

Above we see that:

 The line is termed ‘line of best fit’as has been drawn through as many points
possible.
 The gradient has been calculated to be 1.5 using the basic method of rise over
run.


Short circuits:
A short circuit is an extra path that provides the electric current a path of much lower
resistance to follow.

Cause: adding a good conductor- such as a wire or piece of metal- to a circuit.

Effect: all the current will flow along this path that has less resistance, which means very
little will flow through the other paths. Resultantly, everything else will go off.

Danger: The added conductor (metal, wire or switch) will get very hot. Unless voltage is
low, short circuits can cause sparks and fires. People can be electrocuted.

Kinetic and potential energy:

Kinetic energy: energy of movement. A force may result in an object gaining kinetic energy.
The faster an object travels the greater its kinetic energy.

Potential energy: stored energy. Energy can be stored in numerous ways. In elastic materials
or springs, within chemical bonds, in batteries or at a height above the ground.

Functions of electronic components in an electronic circuit:

Common electronic circuit:

1. Input transducer: changes the incoming non electrical energy into electrical energy.
Eg. Microphone- transforms sound energy from the environment- in this case, your
voice- into an electrical signal.
2. Processor: used to gather, translate and/or generate information. Generally, they don’t
think, but scientists are trying to make ones that act like human intelligence: artificial
intelligence, (AL). Processors are made of two main parts:
 DIODES: A semiconductor device (made from silicon) found in processor.
It undergoes a process called doping whereby atoms of elements with 3 and 5
valence electrons are introduced into different places in the silicon crystal.
May not make sense, but in any case it is this process called doping that allows
an electric current to flow through in only one direction. Some electrical
energy is transformed into thermal energy.
Electricity notes.

Note: In light-emitting diode (LED), when electric current flows through

diode, resistor or transistor, some electrical energy is transformed into light.
Colour:-determined by element mixed with silicon to make the diode.
Eg of LED’s: traffic lights, instrument panels, bicycle and car lamps.
 TRANSISTORS: Also a semiconductor device. Can be used to increase size
of an electrical signal. Can also be used as a switch. Can come as large
components or as part of integrated circuits-these will be explained shortly.
3. Output transducer: Changes electrical energy into non-electrical energy.
Eg. Loudspeakers-transforms electrical signals into sound energy. It interacts with the
environment in the sense that it changes electrical signals into sound that you as part
of the environment can use as you please.

Above was a 3 point dissection of the components that make up a regular, common, basic
electronic circuit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------