06/23/2017

Electric current

Current and resistance

What happens when charges are What happens when charges are
exposed to a field? exposed to a field?

+e -e +e -e

Force Force Force Force

An electric field causes charges to A potential difference causes

MOVE charges to MOVE

Current: Flow of charges Does a high current mean

electrons are moving fast?
A high current is not
SI unit of current: caused by fast
AMPERE (A) electrons, but by
many electrons
= moving slowly!

Charges can be: Current is a SCALAR, not a

Free electrons in a metal
+ and ions in an ionic solution and vector.
in an ionized gas
Holes in semiconductors

https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundless-physics-textbook/electric-
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-2/Electric-Current
current-and-resistance-19/overview-144/overview-of-electric-current-516-11259/

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Does a high current mean Conventional current: flow of

electrons are moving fast? positive charges
A high current is not The conventional
caused by fast current points from
electrons, but by HIGH to LOW
many electrons potential
moving slowly! The actual
movement of
electrons is opposite
the conventional
current

http://www.dummies.com/programming/electronics/conventional-current-flow/
http://weelookang.blogspot.com/2015/05/ejss-drift-velocity-model.html

Resistance and Ohms Law

The resistance is When is constant,

defined as then . This is
Resistance and Ohms Law
called Ohms Law:

Units: Ohms ( ) And the constant of
In general, the proportionality is :
resistance may vary. =

Resistance for a wire Conceptual exercise

For a wire of length , The resistivity is Consider two copper wires. Compare the
cross-sectional area dependent on the resistance of the two wires if:
and resistivity , the material and on
resistance is given by: temperature. 1. = , <
Related quantity: the 2. < , >
conductivity, = 1/
=

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Conceptual exercise

Consider two copper wires. The two wires

have the same voltage end-to-end.
Compare the current across the two wires Electromotive force
if:
1. = , <
2. < , >

A steady current requires a Electromotive force

complete circuit and a pump
If the circuit were not To close the loop, you An electromotive A device that
a closed loop have to move force (emf) pumps provides this emf is
(open circuit), the charges from a lower the charges called a source of
current will go to zero. potential to a higher The emf is NOT A electromotive force
potential. FORCE! (emf):
This requires a pump, The units of emf is Volts Ex. Batteries, power
similar to a fountain. supply, fuel cells, etc.
Higher Lower
potential potential