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Current Electricity Notes 2023

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CURRENT ELECRICITY

Current electricity is generated and used as a source of energy in homes and industry.
Current electricity is a flow of charged particles, usually through a circuit. In all dry conductors,
the flow is of electrons and therefore of negative charge.

The electrons flow from negative to positive. They are attracted to the positive terminal and
repelled from the negative terminal.

It was once thought that current flowed from positive to


negative. This was put forward by Benjamin Franklin
(1706 - 90) and it became so widely accepted that it is still accepted today and called
conventional current, even though it was found to be wrong in 1898 when Sir Joseph J
Thomson discovered the electron.

Though the electrons flow from negative to positive, conventional current flows from
positive to negative.

To study electric current one must always build a circuit. Special symbols are used to record
how a circuit is constructed.

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Draw a circuit diagram of the above circuit.

The lamp lights only when there are no breaks anywhere in the circuit. The circuit must be
closed for the lamp to light.

A closed circuit is one in which there is an unbroken conducting path round which charge can
flow continuously.

An open circuit is one in which there is a break at one or more points in the conducting path
so that there is no current anywhere in the circuit. When a switch is switched off the circuit
becomes open and the break in the circuit stops the current. Current is 0A.

A short circuit acts as a bypass for the electric current by providing an easier or shorter path
for it to flow round. Electricity travels the easiest path not always the shortest path. Current
is extremely high.

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Conductors allow electric charge to flow through


them while insulators don’t. To test if an object
is a conductor or an insulator connect a circuit
leaving a small gap where you can connect the
material to test.

The results show that when a conductor is placed in the gap, the lamp is bright because
current is passing through the conductor. When the lamp is dimmer, the material is a poorer
conductor of electricity and is passing a smaller current. When the lamp is off, very little or
no current is flowing and this means that the material is probably an insulator. Conductors
have free electrons and Insulators have no free electrons.

A spectrum of conductors and insulators:

Material Class
metals Good conductor
Alloys Conductor
Graphite Poor conductor
Water Poor conductor
Silicon Semiconductor
Plastic Insulator
Quartz Insulator

A semiconductor is a material whose resistance depends upon external factors


such as light and heat.

We measure the size of the current flowing in a circuit using an


ammeter. The ammeter is connected in series with the part
of the circuit being investigated and has a low resistance. The ammeter has a low resistance.

The size of an electric current indicates the rate at which charge flows.

A
Circuit symbol for ammeter

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Current and Charge

We measure electric charge (Q) in units called Coulombs (C). One Coulomb of charge is the
equivalent of the charge carried by approximately 6x10 18 electrons.

We measure electric current (I) in amperes of amps (A). If 1C of charge flows along a wire
every second the current passing through the wire is 1A.

Current is the rate of flow of charge

We can calculate the current passing along the wire using this equation:

current =
ch arg e
I=
Q Q
time T
I x T

Calculate the current flowing through a wire if 15C of charge pass along the wire in 5s.

Q 15C
I= I= I = 3A
T 5s

Example 2: Find the charge that flows in a refrigerator in 1 hour if the current is 4A.

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In a series circuit the current is the same in all parts. Current is not used up as it passes
around a circuit.

In a parallel circuit the current flowing in the different branches may not be the same, but at
each of the junctions the total current flowing into the junction must be equal to the current
flowing out of the junction.

Kirchoff’s Law
The total current entering a junction in a circuit must equal the total current leaving it.

In homes everything is connected in parallel because:

 When one switches off one lamp (or appliance), the others stay on;
 Every lamp/appliance gets the same voltage.

(Advantages of a parallel circuit over a series circuit).

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Calculate the current I1, I2, I3, I4 in the circuits.

The currents I1 and I2 are flowing around in series circuit. The


current is the same everywhere, i.e. 0.1A.

At Junction X: I3 = 0.6A + 0.5A = 1.1A

At Junction Y: 0.5A = I4 + 0.3A; I4 = 0.2A

Example 2: in the circuit below, the 3 bulbs are identical. If the battery gives 3A of current,
how much current flows through each one?

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Voltage
We often use cells or batteries to move charges around circuits. Imagine them as being
“electron pump”. They transfer energy to the charges.

If a 1.5V cell is connected in a circuit and current flows, 1.5J of energy is given to each
coulomb of charge that passes through the cell.

Energy to given to charge = battery voltage x charge

E=VxQ

Voltage is the amount of energy


that each coulomb of charge has.

Example: A current of 6A flowing through an electric heater for an hour converts 6.1 MJ of
electrical energy into heat energy.

Calculate:

a) The total charge circulated through the heater.

b) the potential difference across the heater.

(p.d. is the voltage of a component that changes electrical energy into another form)
(e.m.f. is the voltage of the component which change chemical energy into electrical energy)

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As charges flow around a circuit the energy they carry is converted into other forms of energy
by the components they pass through. The Voltage or Potential Difference across each
component tells us how much energy it is converting.

The voltage is measured in Volts (V). (1 V = 1 J/C)

If the voltage across a component is 1V, this means that the component is changing 1J of
electrical energy into a different form of energy each time 1C of charge passes through.

We measure voltages using a Voltmeter. This is connected across (in parallel) the
component we are investigating.

A voltmeter has a very high resistance, so very little current flows through it.

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If all the energy given to the charges is converted into other forms by components in the
external part of the circuit, then the voltage across the cell should be equal to the sum of the
external voltages.

Series Circuit V = V 1 + V2

where V1 and V2 are the voltages across resistance


R1 and resistance R2.

In a parallel circuit the voltage is the same across


each resistance.

Determine the potential differences across the


three resistors marks A, B and C.

Potential difference across resistor A = Potential


difference of the battery = 12V

Potential difference across B = Potential


difference across C

12V = 4V + VB
VB = 12V – 4V = 8V
VB = 8V

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Revision on pages 1 – 9

Unit Symbol Definition Formula Tool

Charge

Current

Voltage

Energy

Power

Resistance

Current Voltage Resistance

In Series

In Parallel

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Resistance

All components in a circuit offer some resistance to the flow of


charge. Connecting wires have very low resistance. The flow of
current through some components is not so easy and a significant
amount of energy is used to move the charges through them. This
energy is converted into other forms, usually heat. These
components have high resistance.

Ohm’s Law states that the current is directly proportional to


the voltage, provided the temperature is constant.

Ex: Find the Resistance of a lamp connected to an 8V battery when the current is 4A.

Not all components obey Ohm’s Law.

The resistor is an Ohmic conductor.

The bulb is non- ohmic.

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The resistance of a wire

The resistance of a wire depends upon:

Length: The greater the length, the greater the resistance.

Thickness: The greater the thickness, the smaller is the resistance.

Material: Different materials have different resistivity.

Temperature: The higher the temperature the smaller is the resistance.

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Resistance in series and Resistance in Parallel

Examples:

1.

a) Calculate the voltage through the 40 ohm resistor.

b) Calculate the voltage of the power supply.

c) Calculate the current I passing through resistor R.

d) Calculate the resistance R.

e) Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

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Success Criteria in Solving a circuit:-

Step 1: Identify how the circuit is connected: (series, parallel or part


series/part parallel).
Step 2: List all the information as a table, that is,

I= V= R=
IA = VA = RA =
IB = VB = RB =
IC = VC= RC =

Step 3: Fill in the table with any information gathered from the rubric of the
question and diagram.
Step 4: Find any two resistors which either have the same current (are
connected in series); or, any two resistors which are in parallel (are connected in
parallel)
Step 5: Work out any possible voltage, current or resistance using V= IR

Example 2:

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3.

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4.

Solve the circuit including the resistance ot


the whole circuit.

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5.

The circuit shows a 30V battery connected to three


lamps.

At this temperature the two lamps in parallel have a


resistance of 10 ohms and 15 ohms whilst the lamp
in series has a resistance of 20 ohms.

Calculate the current and voltage of each lamp.

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6. The following circuit diagram shows a set of resistors found connected in a broken down robot.


X

25Ω
20Ω

10Ω

i. State which resistors are in series and which are in parallel.

________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

ii. Find the total resistance in the circuit.

________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

iii. An ammeter placed near the 5Ω resistor reads 3A. A supply connected at XY provides 9A to
the whole circuit. What is the current that flows through the 20Ω resistor?

___________________________________________________________________________

iv. What is the voltage supplied by the supply?

________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

v. What is the voltage across the 20Ω resistor?

__________________________________________________________________________

vi. What is the voltage across the 25Ω resistor? Comment about the value obtained.

________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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Special Resistors - Components

Different components have different resistances. Some components are ohmic


and others are not.

Component Ohmic/ Fixed not Voltage/ Current/ Resistance


And Non- a fixed Current Voltage Increases,
symbol ohmic resistance graph graph Decreases
or stays
the same

Resistor

Bulb

Metallic
Conductor

To find whether each component is ohmic, one must connect the component to
a voltmeter, an ammeter, a power supply and a variable resistor:

Success Criteria for finding the resistance of an ohmic conductor from a graph

Step 1: For each value of current, find the corresponding voltage using the voltmeter.
Step 2: Plot a graph of Voltage against Current graph and draw the best straight line.
Step 3: Find the gradient R and write down the units which are ohms.
(if a Current against Voltage graph is drawn – or has to be drawn – find the gradient but this
time the gradient = 1/R; so find the inverse of the graph)
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The filament bulb

Initially, the voltage and current are directly proportional but as the
temperature rises, the resistance increases.

A Voltage-Current Graph A Current-Voltage Graph

Examples:

1) a) Which of the graphs represent the


component has the highest resistance? Explain.

b) Are these components ohmic? Explain.

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Alternating Current

The current from a battery always flows in one direction. This is called Direct
Current.

The current from a mains socket isn’t a one way flow like the current from a
battery. Instead, it is pushed forwards and backwards round the circuit 50imes
in every second. The current is known as alternating current.

Electrical Power

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Ex 5:

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Domestic Electricity

Success Criteria in working out electricity bills:

Step 1: Change the time the appliance is on in HOURS.


Step 2: Change the power of the appliance into KILOWATTS.
Step 3: Find how much energy it has consumed in kilowatthour by
working out E=Pt.
Step 4: Multiply this result by the cost of 1 unit of electricity say
16c).
Step 5: Remember the answer is in cents.
Step 6: If you have more than 1 appliance, repeat the above
procedure for each appliance.

Examples:

a) Work out the cost of using a boiler of 5200W for 2hours.


The cost of each unit is 17c.

b) Work out the cost of using a kettle of 5kW for 10 minutes for 9 times.
The cost of each unit is 16c.

c) Work out the cost of using a hairdryer of 5kW for 20 minutes for 3 times.
The cost of each unit is 16c.

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d) Work out the cost of using a television of 500W for 2 hours every day for a
year.
The cost of each unit is 16c.

e) Work out the cost of using a driller of 200W for 15 minutes.


The cost of each unit is 18c.

f) Work out the cost of using a hairdryer of 5kW for 20 minutes for 3 times.
The cost of each unit is 16c.

g) Work out the cost of using an oven of 5.3kW for 2 hours.


The cost of each unit is 16c.

h) Work out the cost of using a hairdryer of 330 W for 12 minutes.


The cost of each unit is 22c.

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Fuses

Most plugs contain a fuse. The fuse is usually in


the form of the cylinder of cartridge which contain
a thin piece of wire is made from a metal that has
a low melting point. If too large a current flows in
the circuit the fuse wire becomes very hot and
melts. The fuse blows shutting the circuit off. This
prevents you from getting a shock and reduces the
possibility of an electrical fire.

Fuses are found at different ratings. The most


common standard values available are 2A, 5A and 13A. this number is the fuse
rating.

The fuse rating is the maximum current that the fuse can carry without
melting. The rating of the fuse in a plug should be just above the normal
current required by the appliance. If it is too low, the fuse would melt with the
normal current. If it is too high it would allow a large and damaging current to
flow before melting.

Ex 1: Calculate the appropriate fuse rating for an electric iron of 960W, if the
mains supply is 240 V.

Ex 2: Calculate the appropriate fuse rating for an electric kettle of 1220W, if


the mains supply is 240 V.

Ex 3: Calculate the appropriate fuse rating for an electric dryer of 460W, if the
mains supply is 240 V.

Ex 4: Calculate the appropriate fuse rating for a dish washer of 3960W, if the
mains supply is 240 V.

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The 13A three pin plug

Every appliance at home is connected to the mains supply through a plug.

The live wire (the brown wire) provides the path along which he electrical
energy from the power station travels. It is therefore the dangerous one
capable of giving an electric shock. This wire is alternately positive and
negative causing alternating current to flow along it.

The Neutral (blue) Wire completes the circuit and connects the appliance back
to the supply.

The Earth wire (yellow/green) has no current flowing through it. It is there to
protect you if an appliance develops a fault; ( if for example, the live wire
touches the metal case of an appliance). If an appliance is double insulated
with plastic, it does not need an earth wire.

If a fault develops in an appliance and a live wire touches the metal case, a
large current flows from the live wire to the earth and the fuse breaks. This
makes the appliance safe until the fault is mended and the fuse is replaced.

The earth wire must be low-resistance. It is usually connected to long copper


rod driven well into the ground known as the earth electrode.

Note that the fuse is placed in the live wire so that when it melts it stops the
current from flowing from the mains supply.

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The two-way switch

Sometimes it is necessary to switch on or off a device from two switches


placed away from each other; such as in long corridors, in staircases, bed
lights, etc. in such cases the two-way switch is used.

Complete the following table:

Switch 1 Switch 2 On/off

UP UP

UP DOWN

DOWN UP

DOWN DOWN

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