Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Electricity

COLEGIO DE MUNTINLUPA
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Atomic Structure
• An atom is the smallest particle of an
Nucleus
element that retains the characteristics
of that element.
Bohr Model
LESSON 1: • Electrons – negatively charged particle
• Protons – positively charged particle
of an atom

FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICITY • Neutron – uncharged particle

 Each type of atom has a certain number of electrons and protons

that distinguishes it from the atoms of all other elements.
 Atomic Number – equals the
number of protons
Engr. Onofre E. Algara, Jr.  Atomic Weight – equals the
BS Electrical Engineering (DLSU-D) weight of the nucleus
MS Electrical Engineering, cand. (Mapua University)
Subject Instructor Hydrogen atom Helium atom

Atomic Structure Categories of Materials

• Shell - the orbit in which an electron
revolves
• Valence Electron - an electron
that is present in the outermost
shell of an atom
• Ion - an atom or a group of atoms
with a net charge
 The number of electrons in each
shell follows a predictable pattern
according to the formula, 2N2 ,
where N is the shell number
• Conductors
• materials that readily allow current
• have a large number of free electrons
and are characterized by
one to three valence electrons in
their structure.
• Semiconductors
• classed below the conductors in
their ability to carry current.
• have four valence electrons in their
atomic structures
• Insulators
• poor conductors of electric
Copper Atom • very few free electrons
• characterized by more than four
valence electrons in their atomic structures.

Electrical Charge Electrical Charge

• Electrical charge - an electrical property of matter that exists because of an
excess or deficiency of electrons, is symbolized by Q • Electrical charge (Q) is measured in coulombs, symbolized by C

• Static electricity is the presence of a net positive or negative charge in a • One coulomb is the total charge possessed by 6.25 X 1018 electrons
material.

• A single electron has a charge of 1.6 X 10-19 C

• Electric Field - a force that acts between charges

Electric field between

two oppositely
charged surfaces

Prepared by: Engr. Onofre E. Algara Jr. 1

Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Electricity

Electrical Charge Voltage

• Positive ion – an atom which has more protons than electrons • Voltage or potential difference
• Negative ion – an atom containing less protons (more electrons) than • the difference in potential energy per charge
electrons • driving force in electric circuits
• symbolized by V. is defined as energy or work per unit charge.

• One volt is the potential difference (voltage) between two points when one
joule of energy is used to move one coulomb of charge from one point to
the other.

Electrical Current Electrical Current

• Electrical Current
• the rate of flow of charge
• determined by the number of electrons (amount of charge) that flow past a point
in a unit of time

• One ampere (1A) is the amount of current that exists when a number of
electrons having a total charge of one coulomb (1C) move through a given
cross-sectional
area in one second (1s).

Methods of Producing Electricity Methods of Producing Electricity

• Electrochemistry • Static Electricity
• A process of combining chemicals • If electrons are removed from the
with certain metals to cause a atoms in this body of matter, as
chemical reaction that will transfer happens due to friction when one rubs a glass
electrons to produce electrical energy rod with a silk cloth, it will become electrically
• Chemical reaction produces and positive.
maintains opposite charges on two • If this body of matter (e.g., glass rod)
dissimilar metals that serve as the comes near, but not in contact with,
positive and negative terminals Photovoltaic Cell another body having a normal charge,
• The metals are in contact with an electric force is exerted between them
an electrolyte solution Series because of their unequal charges.
• Connecting together more than one Connected • The existence of this force is referred
battery
of these cells will produce a battery. to as static electricity or electrostatic force.
Static Electricity
Parallel
Connected
battery

Prepared by: Engr. Onofre E. Algara Jr. 2

Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Electricity

Methods of Producing Electricity Methods of Producing Electricity

• Magnetic Induction • Piezoelectric Effect
• Magnetic induction is used to produce • Application of pressure to certain crystals (such as quartz or Rochelle salts) or
a voltage by rotating coils of wire certain ceramics (like barium titanate), which drives some electrons out of its
through a stationary magnetic field orbit in the direction of the force.
or by rotating a magnetic field through • Some materials will react to bending pressure, while others will respond to
twisting pressure
stationary coils of wire
• The power capacity of these materials is extremely small
• A generator is a machine that converts
• Materials of such nature are very useful because of their extreme sensitivity to
mechanical energy into electrical changes of mechanical force.
energy by using the principle of
magnetic induction."
Pressure
applied to
Generator –
Electromagnetic certain
Induction crystals
produces
Electric
Charge

Methods of Producing Electricity Methods of Producing Electricity

• Thermoelectricity • Photoelectric Effect
• Some materials readily give up their electrons • A phenomenon that produces electricity by an apllication of light to certain
and others readily accept electrons photosensitive (light sensitive) materials
• Production of electricity by the heating two • Applications in electronics include photoelectric cells, photovoltaic cells, optical
dissimilar elements joined together at their couplers, and television camera tubes.
ends • Three uses of the photoelectric effect are described below are Photovoltaic,
• A device which utilizes thermoelectricity is Photoemission and Photoconduction
referred to as a "thermocouple“
• Thermocouple power capacities are very
small compared to some other sources, but
are somewhat greater than those of crystals
• Generally speaking, a thermocouple can be Producing
subjected to higher temperatures than Electricity from
ordinary mercury or alcohol thermometers Heat Energy Causes Light Using a
Copper to give up Photovoltaic Cell
electrons to Zinc

Methods of Producing Electricity The Voltage Source

• Ideal Voltage Source
• A source that provides a constant voltage for any current required by a
• Thermionic Emission circuit
• The liberation of electrons from a hot • Does not exist but can be closely approximated in practice
surface is called thermionic emission
• We will assume ideal unless otherwise specified
• A thermionic energy converter is a device
consisting of two electrodes placed near
one another in a vacuum.
• The simplest example of a thermionic
device is a vacuum tube diode in which the
only electrodes are the cathode and plate,
or anode

Vacuum Tube Diode Symbols for Voltage Sources

V-I Characteristic of an
ideal voltage source

Prepared by: Engr. Onofre E. Algara Jr. 3

Lecture 1: Fundamentals of Electricity

Types of DC Voltage Sources Types of DC Voltage Sources

• Batteries • Generator

• Solar Cells • Thermocouples

• Electronic Power Supply • Piezoelectric Sensors

The Current Source The Current Source

• Ideal Current Source • Current Sources
• Provides constant current in any load
• Does not exist but can be approximated in practice
• We will assume ideal unless otherwise specified

Symbol for
Current Sources I-V Characteristic of an
ideal current source

Sample Problems (English) Sample Problems

1.Find the current in amperes if 650 C of charge pass through a wire in
50 s.
2. If 465 C of charge pass through a wire in 2.5 min, find the current in
amperes.
3. What is the voltage between two points if 96 mJ of energy are
required to move 50 x 1018 electrons between the two points?
4. If 21.847 x1018 electrons pass through a wire in 7 s, find the current.
5. How many coulombs of charge pass through a lamp in 2 min if the
current is constant at 750 mA?
6. If the potential difference between two points is 42 V, how much
work is required to bring 6 C from one point to the other?
7. How much charge passes through a battery of 22.5 V if the energy
expended is 90 J?

Prepared by: Engr. Onofre E. Algara Jr. 4