CHAPTER

3 Current Electricity

Electric current Dependence of Resistance on Temperature

The resistance of most conductors and all pure metals increases
Q coulomb
I= = ampere with temperature. If R0 & R be the resistance of a conductor at 0°C
t second
and q°C, then it is found that R = R0(1 + aq).
dq
Ampere is the unit of current. If i is not constant then i = ,
Resistivity also depends on temperature as, r = r0 (1 + aq).
dt
where dq is net charge transported at a section in time dt. Where a is called the temperature co-efficient of resistance.
The unit of a is K–1 or °C–1. Reciprocal of resistivity is called
Electric Current in A Conductor conductivity and reciprocal of resistance is called conductance
i = nvdeA, where vd = drift velocity. (G). S.I. unit of G is mho.
The materials for which resistance decreases with temperature,
Current Density the temperature coefficient of resistance is negative.
 i  
J=  n or i = J . S where n̂ is the unit vector in the direction OHM’S Law
S
It says that the current through the cross section of the conductor
of the flow of current.
is proportional to the applied potential difference under the given
Relation between J, E and Vd physical condition. V = RI. Ohm’s law is applicable to only
In conductors drift velocity of electrons is proportional to the metallic conductors.
electric field inside the conductor as; vd = mE
Krichhoff’s Law’s
where m is the mobility of electrons
I - Law (Junction law or Nodal Analysis): This law is based on
law of conservation of charge.
I
Current density is given as J = =ne ν d =ne ( µE ) =σE ∑ Iin =
∑ Iout
A
where s = nem is called conductivity of material and we can It Is also known as KCL (Kirchhoff’s current law).
1 II - Law (Loop analysis): The algebraic sum of all the voltages
also write ρ= → resistivity of material. in closed circuit is zero. ∑ IR + ∑ EMF = 0 in a closed loop. The
σ
  closed loop can be traversed in any direction. While traversing
Thus E = ρ J . It is called as differential form of Ohm’s Law. a loop if higher potential point is entered, put a positive
sign in expression or if lower potential point is entered put a
Electrical Resistance negative sign.
Law of Resistance + V2 –
The resistance R offered by a conductor depends on the
following factors: + +
1 V3
R ∝ l (length of the conductor); R ∝ (cross section area – –
of the conductor). A + V4 –
At a given temperature, R = ρ 
A –V1 +V2 +V3 –V4 = 0. Boxes may contain resistor or battery
where r is the resistivity of the material of the conductor at the or any other element (linear or non-linear).
given temperature. It is also known as specific resistance of It is also known as KVL (Kirchhoff’s voltage law).
the material & it depends upon nature of conductor.
 Combination of Resistances E 
r = R  − 1
(i) Resistance in Series V 
When the resistances are connected end to end then they Grouping of Cells
are said to be in series. The current through each resistor is (i) Cells In Series: Let there be n cells each of
same. The effective resistance appearing across the battery; emf E, arranged in series. Let r be the internal
R1 R2 R3 Rn resistance of each cell. The total emf = nE.
+ – + – + – + – nE nE
V1 V2 V3 Vn Current in the circuit I = . If nr << R then I .
R + nr R
E, r E, r E, r E, r
I + – I upto n
R = R1 + R2 + R3 +..................+ Rn and I
V = V1 + V2 + V3 ................... + Vn.
The voltage across a resistor is proportional to the resistance
R1 R2 R
=
V1 = V; V2 V; etc. E
R1 + R 2 + ......... + R n R1 + R 2 + ......... + R n If nr >> R then I = .
r
(ii) Resistance in Parallel
(ii) Cells In Parallel: If m cells each of emf E & internal
A parallel circuit of resistors is the one in which the same
resistance r be connected in parallel and if this combination
voltage is applied across all the components.
be connected to an external resistance (R) then the
R1
net emf of the circuit = E.
I1 R 2
r
I I2 B Net internal resistance of the circuit = .
I3 R3 m
upto
In r
E
Rn E r
V E r
Conclusions E mE
I =I =
(a) Potential difference across each resistor is same. r mR +r
R+
(b) I = I1 + I2 + I3 + ........... In. R m
(c) Effective resistance (R) then
1 1 1 1 1 mE
= + + + ............ + . If mR << r then I = .
R R1 R 2 R 3 Rn r
(d) Current in different resistors is inversely proportional to the If mR >> r then = .
resistances.
1 1 1 1 (iii) Cells in Matrix Array:
I1 : I2 : .........In = : : : ............ :
R1 R 2 R 3 Rn n = number of rows
m = number of cells in each row
Emf of a Cell & its internal Resistance
mn = total number of identical cells.
If a cell of emf E and internal resistance r be connected with a
The combination of cells is equivalent to single cell of:
resistance R the total resistance of the circuit is (R + r).
(a) emf = mE &
A E r B mr
(b) internal resistance =
I n
1 2 3 m
R
1
A 2 B
E ER
I
= ; VAB= V= 3
R+r R+r
n
I
where VAB = Terminal voltage of the battery.
R
If r → 0, cell is ideal & V → E
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 mE Circuits of potentiometer
Current I = . E r Rh
mr
R+
n primary circuit
For maximum power
L
mr
nR = mr or R = A B
n secondary circuit Potentiometer wire
E' < E
nE mE
so I m=
ax = E',r' G
2r 2R
For a cell to deliver maximum power across the load
Potential Gradient
net internal resistance = load resistance
current at nullpoint ×
Wheat-stone Network VAB resistance of potentiometer wire R
=
λ = = I 
C L length of potentiometer wire L

P Q Here the internal resistance of the cell E' is given by

A B E r Rh
G
primary circuit
R S
D L
A
E R B
secondary circuit

When current through the galvanometer is zero (null point or E', r' G E' < E
P R
balance point) = .
Q S
K
When,
PS > QR ⇒ VC < VD PS < QR ⇒ VC > VD R
PS = QR ⇒ VC = VD  − 
=r'  1 2 ⋅R
Metre Bridge  2 

At balance condition : Where 1 and 2 are balancing lengths without shunt and with
the shunt respectively. R is the shunt resistance in parallel with
P R  R (100 −  ) the given cell.
= ⇒ = ⇒S= R
Q S (100 −  ) S 
Ammeter
It is used to measure current. A shunt (small resistance) is
D S connected in parallel with galvanometer to convert into ammeter.

G I Ig
Rg
P J Q
A  (100–) C
B Is S

Ig R g
Potentiometer S=
I − Ig
A potentiometer is a linear conductor of uniform cross-section
with a steady current set up in it. It maintains a uniform potential where
gradient along the length of the wire. Any potential difference Rg = galvanometer resistance
which is less than the potential difference maintained across the Ig = Maximum current that can flow through the galvanometer.
potentiometer wire can be measured using this. The potentiometer I = Maximum current that can be measured using the given
E  ammeter.
equation is 1 = 1 .
E2  2 An Ideal ammeter has zero resistance.

8 NEET (XII) Moduel-1 PW

Voltmeter Joule’s Law of Electrical Heating
A high resistance is put in series with galvanometer. It is used to The heat generated (in joules) when a current of I ampere flows
measure potential difference. through a resistance of R ohm for T second is given by:
I 2 RT
Ig H = I2 RT joule = calories
Rg
R 4.2
If variable current passes through the resistance, then for heat
T
+ V0 – produced in resistance from time 0 to T is; H = ∫ I 2 Rdt .
0
Vo

=Ig ; R → ∞ , Ideal voltmeter
Rg + R Unit of Electrical Energy Consumption
1 unit of electrical energy = kilowatt hour = 1 kWh = 3.6 x 106
R = (Vo/Ig) – Rg joules.
Heating Effect of Electric Current ™ Series combination of Bulbs
When a current is passed through a resistor, energy is wasted in 1 1 1 1
= + + + ....
over coming the resistance of the wire. This energy is converted Ptotal P1 P2 P3
into heat
™ Parallel combination of Bulbs
V2 2
W VIt
= = I=Rt t Ptotal = P1 + P2 + P3 +...
R

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