Physics Fundamentals 9th. Lec.: Electric & Magnetic Field Dr.

Noor Kadhum

What Is Electric Potential Energy?

The electric potential energy of any given charge or system of changes is defined as the total work
done by an external agent in bringing the charge or the system of charges from infinity to the present
configuration without undergoing any acceleration.
There are two key elements on which the electric
potential energy of an object depends:

 Its own electric charge.

 Its relative position with other electrically charged objects.

 Electric circuit
It is a path for transmitting electric current. An electric circuit includes a device that gives energy to the
charged particles constituting the current, such as a battery or a generator; devices that use current, such
as lamps, electric motors, or computers; and the connecting wires or transmission lines. Two of the basic
laws that mathematically describe the performance of electric circuits are Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s
rules.
Types of Electric Circuits
Many types of electrical circuits are used in our daily lives some of the most common electric circuits are,

 Open Circuit
 Closed Circuit
 Short Circuit
 Series Circuit
 Parallel Circuit

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 Physics Fundamentals 9th. Lec.: Electric & Magnetic Field Dr. Noor Kadhum

 Ohm's law: states that the electric current through a conductor between two points is directly
proportional to the voltage across the two points. Introducing the constant of proportionality, the
resistance, one arrives at the three mathematical equations used to describe this relationship:

 Kirchhoff’s rules.
 Kirchhoff's first rule—the junction rule: The sum of all currents entering a junction must equal the
sum of all currents leaving the junction.
 Kirchhoff's second rule—the loop rule: The algebraic sum of changes in potential around any closed
circuit path (loop) must be zero.

Fig: Some of the important symbols that are used in physics for drawing electricity.

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 Physics Fundamentals 9th. Lec.: Electric & Magnetic Field Dr. Noor Kadhum

 What is AC and DC current?

Electric current flows in two ways as an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).
o Direct current (DC) occurs when the current flows in one constant direction. It usually comes from
batteries, solar cells, or from AC/DC converters. DC is the preferred type of power for electronic
devices.
o Alternating current (AC) occurs when the electric current periodically inverts its direction.
The main difference between AC and DC lies in the direction in which the electrons flow

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 Physics Fundamentals 9th. Lec.: Electric & Magnetic Field Dr. Noor Kadhum

 Magnetic Field
The magnetic field is the area around a magnet in which the effect of magnetism is felt. We use the
magnetic field as a tool to describe how the magnetic force is distributed in the space around and within
something magnetic in nature.

Fig: a magnetic field lines plot for a bar magnet.

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 Physics Fundamentals 9th. Lec.: Electric & Magnetic Field Dr. Noor Kadhum

Properties of Magnetic Field Lines

1. Magnetic field lines never cross each other
2. The density of the field lines indicates the strength of the field
3. Magnetic field lines always make closed loops
4. Magnetic field lines always emerge or start from the north pole and terminate at the south pole.

Magnetic Field Intensity

Magnetic field strength is also magnetic field intensity or magnetic intensity. It is represented as vector
H and is defined as the ratio of the MMF (magneto motive force) needed to create a certain Flux Density
(B) within a particular material per unit length of that material. Magnetic field intensity is measured in
units of amperes/meter. It is given by the formula:
Where,
B is the magnetic flux density
M is the magnetization
μ is the magnetic permeability
The SI unit of magnetic field intensity is Tesla. One tesla (1 T) is defined as the field intensity
generating one newton of force per ampere of current per meter of conductor.

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 Physics Fundamentals 9th. Lec.: Electric & Magnetic Field Dr. Noor Kadhum

 Lenz's law states that the direction of the electric current induced in a conductor by a changing
magnetic field is such that the magnetic field created by the induced current opposes changes in the
initial magnetic field.