Notebook 4

Electrical Current

Direct Current
Alternating
Current

Ampere

Potential
Difference

Electromotive
force

Voltage

Definition
Pathway that
permits electron
to move in a
complete circle
from their source
All electrons move
in same direction
Electrons move
first in one
direction then
reverse
Measurement of
movement of
electrons
Strength of
electron flow

Total maximum
difference of
potential between
+ and ends of
electrons source
Unit of potential
difference

Resistance

Amount of
opposition to the
current in the
circuit

Ohm

Resistance to a
flow of current

Ohms Law

Current along a
conductor is
proportional to
the potential
difference

Watt

Measurement of
power in a current

Formula

Symbol/Unit

Extra
-ex: Copper wire
-excess charge at
one end and
deficient at
another

(DC)
(AC)

6.24x1018/sec
1A=1coulomb/1 sec

(A)

1V = 1joule/1
coulomb

-measured in
volts or joule

(emf)

1V=1Joule/1coulomb (V) or volt

R=pL/A

V=(I)(R)
or
I=V/R (unknown
current)
or
R=V/I (unknown
resistance)
P=(I)(V)

-(p)resistivity
-(L) length in
meters
-(A) area in
square meters
-(omega)

-convert electrical
energy to
mechanical
energy (emf)
-describes the
force with which
electrons travel
-describes the
force with which
electrons travel

-describes the
force with which
electrons travel

-Based on
interaction with
conductor

- (I) current in
amperes
-(R) resistance in
ohms
-(V) potential
difference in volts
-(P) power in
watts
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Capacitor

Diode
Transformer/step
up/step down

Circuit Breaker

Resistor
Switch

Device
accumulating and
storing electrical
charge
Rectifying
semiconductor
-Device used to
change electricity
-step up = more
-step down = less

Electromagnetic
device used to
provide power to
control power
Variable that
adjusts current
Example of circuit
breaker

C= q/V

-(C) capacitance
in farads
-(q) charge on
plate in coulombs

-2 insulator metal
plates with
opposite charges
-p-n junction

Is/Ip=Vp/Vs

-(N) number of
turns of wire in
coil
-(p) primary coil
-(s) secondary coil
-Opens (off) to
stop current flow
-Closes (on) to
start current flow

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Notebook 4
References
1. Carlton, R. R., Adler, A. M., & Frank, E. D. (2006). Principles of radiographic imaging: An art and a
science. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.

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