Direct Current

• We want electrons to flow in a wire –

Why?

• To Transfer Energy – from one form

(electrical) to another ……………
 Current
• How will we get them to move?
• If there is a region where there are
more electrons, they will repel to a
region where there are fewer electrons
as long as there is a path(thru a
conductor)
• The flow will stop when the two
regions have the same potential = same
density of electrons.
 Current
• In order to have a
continuous flow
you must keep
pumping
electrons.
• What is a Pump?
• =voltaic cell, dry
cell, wet cell,
solar cell,
photocell,…..
 Circuits
• Closed Circuit
• -a closed loop
through which
electrons can flow
• Pump
• Load
• Connectors(wires)
 Circuits
• A load is a device
which reduces the
potential
• Ex – toaster, TV,
Stereo,
• The electrons do
work, so it “loses”
energy
• W = qV from V = W/q
 Voltage
• Voltage is joules per coulomb or (W/q)
• 1 joules is the energy required to move 1
coulomb of electrons across a potential of 1
volt
• Or 1 electron-volt is the energy required to
move 1 electron across a potential of 1 volt
 Connectors
• Small pieces of • As opposed to
wire with no insulators which do
load, v.v.v.low not contain free
resistance and electrons.
many free
electrons - metals
Homer, retrieves the burnt toast!
Was any work done?
Must it be plugged in to talk?
 Ski Slope Analogy

• Current is
• Power is
• Load is
• Pump is
 Current
• Rate of flow of e-
• Analogy = skiers/hour
• Electrons per sec or
• Coulombs per sec
• I = q/t units are Amperes, amps
• Measure with an ammeter
 Power

• Power is the rate at which you work or the rate

at which energy is consummed
• Work/time units are joules/sec or watts
• P = W/t = Vq/t = VI
• Sir James Watt – invented the steam engine
OHM”S LAW

• Circuit Builder

I=V/R
OHM’s Law
• What is the
relationship
between Voltage
and Current?
• Called Ohm’s Law
• Only true for
devices which do
not heat up.
Fuses