Current Electricity

CHAPTER 3
CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Current electricity
It is branch of physics that deals with charges in motion.
Electric current
Electric current in a conductor across an area held perpendicular to the direction of
flow of charge is defined as the amount of flowing across that area per unit time.
Charge
Current =
Time
Q
I=
t
SI unit: ampere A
It is a scalar quantity.
Ampere
If Q=1C, t=1s then I = 1 A
Ampere is the current when 1C of charges flow across a section of conductor in 1 s.
OR
Ampere is the current if 6.25 x 1018 electrons drift across a section of conductor in 1
s.
Conventional and electronic current

By convention, the direction of motion of positive charges is taken as direction of electric
current.
As electrons are negatively charged so direction of electronic current (that of electrons) is
opposite to that of conventional current.
Conventional direction of current
Higher potential (+) (-) Lower potential
Direction of motion of electrons (electronic current)

Emf of a source
It is work done by a source in transferring 1C of charge once round the circuit in which
it is connected.
SI unit: volt (V)
Ohms law
The current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to potential difference
between its ends provided the temperature and other physical conditions remain
unchanged.
V∝I
V = IR
Where R = resistance of conductor

1
Resistance
The resistance of the conductor is the property by virtue of which it opposes the flow of
current through it.
V
R=
I
Resistance of a conductor is equal to the ratio of the potential difference applied across
the conductor to the current flowing through it.
SI unit: ohms “Ω”
Definition of ohm
If V= 1V, I=1A then R= 1 Ω
Ohm is defined as resistance to the current of 1A flowing through conductor
maintained at a potential difference of 1V.
Ohmic devices: Devices that obey ohms law.

Non-ohmic devices: Devices that do not obey ohms law.
V-I graph for ohmic device
Limitations of ohms law

 It holds good only for metal conductors (Ohmic devices).
 It does not hold good for electron tubes, semiconductors, electrolyte etc (Non ohmic
devices).
 It is not applicable at very high temperature & low temperature.
 It holds good only when physical conditions remain unchanged.
Specific resistance or resistivity

If the temperature of conductor remains constant then resistance of a conductor depends on
 Nature of material of conductor
 Its length
 Its cross sectional area
L
R 
A
L
R=
A
Where ρ = specific resistance of material.
2
If L = 1m, A = 1m2 then R = ρ
Therefore specific resistance of a material is the resistance offered by material of unit
length & unit cross-sectional area.
SI unit: ohmmeter (Ω-m)
Current density
The current density at any point inside a conductor is defined as current flowing
through a unit area held normal to the direction of flow of charge at that point.
I
j=
A
If the area is not perpendicular to the direction of current and normal to this area makes an
angle 𝜃 with direction of current then
I
j=
A cos
It is a vector quantity
SI unit: Am-2
Conductance
It is the ease with which the electric charges flow through conductor and is equal to
the reciprocal of its resistance.
1
G=
R
SI unit: ohm-1 or mho or Siemens(S)
Conductivity
It is equal to the reciprocal of resistivity.
1
𝝈=

SI unit: ohm-1m-1 or mho m-1 or Siemens m-1 (S m-1)
Mechanism of current flow in conductor

Metals have large number of free electrons, 108 electrons per m3 hence they carry current. In
absence of any electric field the number of electrons travelling in any direction will be equal
to the number of electrons travelling in opposite direction and hence net flow of electrons in
any direction and their velocity will be zero.
In presence of external electric field the electrons experiences the force in opposite direction
to that of external electric field. This motion of electrons in a particular direction constitutes
electric current. As electron accelerates it collides with positive metal ion or other electrons
of metal. Due to collision electron gains velocity but is lost in next collision.
Relaxation time (𝝉)

It is average time between two successive collisions of a free electron.
For most conductors it is of order 10-14 seconds.
3
Drift velocity (Vd)
The average velocity acquired by free electrons in opposite direction of an external
applied electric field is called drift velocity.
Mobility
Mobility of charge carriers is the ratio of drift velocity to the electric field.
Vd q 
μ= =
E m
SI unit: m2V-1s-1
For conductors, current I = neAVd = neA𝜇E
For semiconductor, Current = current due to electrons + current due to holes

I = Ie + I h
 Vector form of ohms law

 Relation between electric current and drift velocity.
 Derivation of ohms law
PROBLEMS
Effect of temperature on resistivity in metals

As temperature increases the thermal speed of free electrons increases, the amplitude of
vibration of atoms or ions increases and hence collision of electrons increases reducing the
relaxation time. Therefore the resistivity increases.
In metals resistance increases with increase in temperature.
Equation
Temperature coefficient of resistivity is defined as increase in resistivity per unit

resistivity per unit degree rise in temperature.
SI unit: 0C-1
The above equation is also written as
If R1 and R2 are resistance at temperature at t1 and t2 respectively then

R2  R1
=
R1t2 - R2t1
4
Note
For many metals at low temperatures (less than 00C)

resistivity varies non linearly with temperature.
Therefore the above equations can be applied only for
limited range of temperature.
Resistivity of copper as function of temperature is

shown in graph.
For alloys like nichrome (Ni+Fe+Cr), manganin,

constantan resistivity is very high and is almost
independent of temperature.
Resistivity of nichrome as function of temperature is

shown in graph.
In semiconductors and insulators as temperature

increases relaxation time does not change but electron
density increases exponentially. Thus conductivity
increases exponentially with increase in
temperature.
Resistivity of semiconductor as function of

temperature is shown in graph.
 At absolute zero resistivity of pure metals is almost zero and for alloys there is some value.
This fact is used to distinguish between metal and alloys.
 Constantan and Manganin is used to make standard resistors because
1. Have high value of resistivity
2. Least affected by atmospheric condition like air, moisture etc
3. Have very small value of ∝
PROBLEMS
5
 Relation b/w r, E and V
 Combination of cell in series and parallel
 Electric power and electric energy
 Kirchoff’s Laws
PROBLEMS

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CHAPTER 3

Conventional and electronic current

Conventional direction of current

Higher potential (+) (-) Lower potential

Direction of motion of electrons (electronic current)

Where R = resistance of conductor

Ohmic devices: Devices that obey ohms law.

V-I graph for ohmic device

Limitations of ohms law

Specific resistance or resistivity

Where ρ = specific resistance of material.

SI unit: ohm-1 or mho or Siemens(S)

SI unit: ohm-1m-1 or mho m-1 or Siemens m-1 (S m-1)

Mechanism of current flow in conductor

Relaxation time (𝝉)

For conductors, current I = neAVd = neA𝜇E

For semiconductor, Current = current due to electrons + current due to holes

 Vector form of ohms law

Effect of temperature on resistivity in metals

Temperature coefficient of resistivity is defined as increase in resistivity per unit

If R1 and R2 are resistance at temperature at t1 and t2 respectively then

For many metals at low temperatures (less than 00C)

Resistivity of copper as function of temperature is

For alloys like nichrome (Ni+Fe+Cr), manganin,

Resistivity of nichrome as function of temperature is

In semiconductors and insulators as temperature

Resistivity of semiconductor as function of

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