Current Electricity Notes 2023
Current Electricity Notes 2023
Current Electricity Notes 2023
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.
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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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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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.
Material Class
metals Good conductor
Alloys Conductor
Graphite Poor conductor
Water Poor conductor
Silicon Semiconductor
Plastic Insulator
Quartz Insulator
The size of an electric current indicates the rate at which charge flows.
A
Circuit symbol for ammeter
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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.
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.
When one switches off one lamp (or appliance), the others stay on;
Every lamp/appliance gets the same voltage.
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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.
E=VxQ
Example: A current of 6A flowing through an electric heater for an hour converts 6.1 MJ of
electrical energy into heat energy.
Calculate:
(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.
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
12V = 4V + VB
VB = 12V – 4V = 8V
VB = 8V
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Revision on pages 1 – 9
Charge
Current
Voltage
Energy
Power
Resistance
In Series
In Parallel
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Resistance
Ex: Find the Resistance of a lamp connected to an 8V battery when the current is 4A.
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Examples:
1.
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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.
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5.
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6. The following circuit diagram shows a set of resistors found connected in a broken down robot.
5Ω
X
25Ω
20Ω
10Ω
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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?
___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
vi. What is the voltage across the 25Ω resistor? Comment about the value obtained.
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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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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Initially, the voltage and current are directly proportional but as the
temperature rises, the resistance increases.
Examples:
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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
Examples:
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.
f) 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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Fuses
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 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 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.
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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UP UP
UP DOWN
DOWN UP
DOWN DOWN
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