Inte Term 2 Week 6

8/2/21

Electricity and lighting

ELECTRIC CURRENT

All things on Earth are made up of tiny particles called atoms. There are many kinds of atoms, but they
all consist of a dense central structure called the nucleus around which negatively charged particles
called electrons rotate. The flow of these negatively charged electrons within a material is called an
electric current.

CONDUCTORS

Substances such as metals and graphite (a form of carbon) have some electrons that can move freely
between atoms. This means they can flow as an electric current through the materials. These substances
are called electrical conductors. Metals such as copper and aluminum are excellent conductors of
electricity and so are commonly used to make electrical wires.

INSULATORS

Some materials, such as paper, plastic, rubber and glass, do not allow an electric current to pass through
them because their electrons are unable to move around freely. These materials are called electrical
insulators or non-conductors.

ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

In order for an electric current to flow, there must be a complete path round which the electrons can
travel. This complete path is called an electric circuit.

An electric circuit needs:

a) a source of electricity, such as a cell, battery or mains electricity

b) an appliance, such as a lamp or refrigerator, that uses the energy of electrons to do work, or no
appliance (this gives a short-circuit)
c) connecting wire to link the different components in the circuit and provide a complete path for
the electrons.

An electric circuit is much like a water system with pipes and a pump. When the pump is on, water flows
through the pipes due to the pushing force exerted by the water pump.
Similarly, in the electric circuit, when the battery or mains supply is connected, it provides the force that
drives the electrons around the circuit. The energy available to drive (force) the electrons around the
circuit is called the voltage.

Most circuits contain a switch to control the flow of electric current . When the switch is closed (on) the
bulb will glow because the circuit has been completed to provide a complete path for the flow of
electrons. However, when the switch is open (off) the circuit is broken which prevents the flow of
current through the circuit.

This is rather like adding a tap in our piped water system that can be turned on and off even when the
pump is working.
TYPES OF CIRCUITS

When there are several components in an electric circuit, they can be connected:

‐ In series
‐ In parallel

SERIES CIRCUIT

In a series circuit, all the components in the circuit are connected together in one loop and there is only
one route through which the current can travel. The same current will flow through each part of the
circuit. If one of the components should become defective or disconnected, no electric current will flow
through the circuit.

PARALLEL CIRCUIT

In a parallel circuit there is more than one route through which current can travel around and back to
the battery. Therefore, the current ‘splits up’ to supply each branch of the circuit with electric current.

The current need not be the same in each of the branches. Also, a defective or disconnected component
in one part of a parallel circuit will not stop the flow of current to the remaining branches in the circuit.
Much of the electric wiring in the home is done in parallel, so that when one appliance is off the others
will still work.
CURRENT

Current is the flow of electrons through an electric circuit, but how do these electrons move within the
circuit? In electric circuits all the components and connecting wires are made from materials that
contain electrons that are free to flow.

In simple circuits the cell or battery provides the energy to drive the electrons around the circuit. Each
cell or battery has two ends or terminals, a positive terminal (shown by a + sign) and a negative terminal
(sometimes marked with a – sign).

When the cell or battery is connected in the circuit, the electrons are pushed through the circuit. The
electrons flow from the negative terminal of the battery, through the external circuit and back towards
the positive terminal of the battery.

The size of the current (rate of electron flow) through a circuit can be measured using an ammeter. The
symbol for electric current is I. The unit of current is the ampere or amp, abbreviated to A.

An ammeter has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. When you connect an ammeter in circuit,
the positive side of the ammeter must be connected to wires coming from the positive terminal of the
battery (or cell), and the negative side connected to wires that go to the negative terminal of thebattery.
It must always be connected in series with the part of the circuit in which you are measuring the current.
VOLTAGE

Voltage is the energy that drives electrons through the electric circuit. The greater the voltage, the
greater will be the number of electrons that pass through the circuit in one second.

That is, a larger voltage will increase the rate of flow of charge (current) through the circuit. The change
in voltage between any two points in a circuit is called the potential difference between those points.

The potential difference between two points in a circuit can be measured using a voltmeter. The
voltmeter must always be connected in parallel to the appliance or component in the circuit across
which it will measure the potential difference.

Also, the negative terminal of the voltmeter should connect to the wires coming from the negative
terminal of the battery and the positive terminal to the positive terminal of a battery.

Voltage (or potential difference) is given the symbol V. The unit of voltage is the volt (V). Cells and
batteries available on the market usually have a voltage of between 1.5 and 12 volts (1.5–12 V). Mains
electricity in most Caribbean countries has a voltage of 240 V, but in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad it is
110 V.

RESISTANCE

Resistance is the hindrance to the flow of charge through an electric circuit. Therefore, the resistance in
the circuit will determine the amount of current passing through it.

Resistors are devices that are placed in circuits to deliberately reduce the current through the circuit.
The symbol for resistance is R and the unit is the ohm (Ω).

Materials with high resistance, such as the alloy manganin or a mixture of carbon dust and finely divided
clay, are commonly used to make resistors. There are two types of resistors, those with a fixed
resistance and those with variable resistance, which are also known as variable resistors or rheostats.