Electricity

Water Flow Analogy

1.1 Current Intensity, Potential
Difference and Resistance.
Coulomb

In terms of SI base units, the coulomb is the equivalent of one ampere-

second.
The elementary charge (charge of one proton or (-) electron) is
roughly 1.6021019 C.
Potential Difference

The difference in electric potential between two points.

A potential difference, also called voltage, across an electrical component is
needed to make a current flow through it.
Cells or batteries often provide the potential difference needed.
The energy difference that tends to make an electric charge or current m
ove. Potential Difference in measured in device called Voltmeter and
it is measured in volts.

Potential difference = .

or, V= .

where W = work done.

and Q = quantity of charge moved.

S.I. unit of potential difference is volt.

1
thus 1 volt = .
1
Voltmeter

A voltmeter is an instrument used

for measuring electrical
potential difference between two
points in an electric circuit.
Voltmeter has a high resistance so
that it takes negligible current.
They are always connected in
parallel to the circuit.
 The red wire carries the potential
to be measured.
The restoring spring is shown in
green.
N and S are the north and south
poles of the magnet.
voltmeters move a pointer across
a scale in proportion to the voltage
of the circuit.
Electric Current
The movement of electric charge is known as
an electric current, the intensity of which is
usually measured in amperes.
Current can consist of any moving charged
particles; most commonly these are electrons,
but any charge in motion constitutes a current.
The SI unit for measuring an electric current is
the ampere, which is the flow of electric
charge across a surface at the rate of one
coulomb per second. Electric current is
measured using a device called an ammeter.
 1
1 ampere = .
1
Ammeter
An ammeter is a measuring
instrument used to measure
the electric current in a circuit.
Electric currents are measured
in amperes (A), hence the name.
An ammeter should have a very low
resistance so that it may not change
the value of current flowing in the
circuit.
They are always connected in series
to the circuit.
Galvanometer
Galvanometer is a very important device that is used to develop
other measuring devices.
At the core of any analog ammeter or voltmeter is a galvanometer.
By itself, a galvanometer is a very sensitive ammeter: typically, it
takes only 100 A to make the galvanometer arrow move all the
way across the scale. The picture below gives the schematics of the
DArsonval / Weston type of a galvanometer:
 The electric current flows through a wire coil placed in a magnetic field of a
permanent magnet. The magnetic forces on the current-carrying wires create
a net torque on the coil. But when the coil turns, the torsion spring attached
to the coil cancels the torque. The arrow attached to the coil indicates the
angle through which they turn. In a properly made galvanometer, this angle is
proportional to the current through the coil, so the scale behind the arrow
may be labeled in units of the current.
Difference between Ammeter and
Galvanometer
An ammeter is a device that is used to measure the current going through

the device.

Galvanometer is a very sensitive ammeter, therefore it cant measure

heavy currents.

A galvanometer is always a mechanical device, whereas an ammeter can

either be a mechanical device or an electronic device.

A galvanometer always requires a magnetic field, but an ammeter may or

may not have a magnetic field.
 Current
V/S Potential Difference

Definition: Current is the rate at Potential Difference

which electric charge flows past a
Voltage, also called electromotive
point in a circuit. In other words,
force, is the potential difference in
current is the rate of flow of
c.
electric charge.
harge between two points in an
Relationship: Current is the effect
electrical field. In other words,
(voltage being the cause). Current
voltage is the "energy per unit
cannot flow without Voltage.
charge
SI Unit: 1 ampere =1
Voltage is the cause and current is
coulomb/second.
its effect. Voltage can exist
without current.
1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb. (V=W/C)
State that charge is
measured in coulombs

Charge is
measured in
coulombs
State that charge is
measured in coulombs

Charge is
measured in
coulombs
The unit of charge is
the coulomb (C).
Charge is often more
conveniently
measured in
microcoulombs (C)
1 microcoulomb = 10-
6C
Electric fields and forces

Why does
hair stand
on end?

http://www.physics.upenn.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-
physics-labs/experiments/electric-charge-and-static-electricity
Electric fields and forces

Why does
hair stand
on end?

http://www.physics.upenn.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-
physics-labs/experiments/electric-charge-and-static-electricity

An electric
charge has
been
passed from
the Van de
Graaff
generator
to the hair.
Electric fields and forces

Why does
hair stand
on end?

http://www.physics.upenn.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-
physics-labs/experiments/electric-charge-and-static-electricity

An electric The force of

charge has repulsion
been passed between the
charged hairs
from the Van
is strong
de Graaff enough to
generator to make hair
the hair. stand on end.
Electric fields and forces

Why does
hair stand
on end?

http://www.physics.upenn.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-
physics-labs/experiments/electric-charge-and-static-electricity

An electric The force of There is

charge has repulsion now an
been between the electric
passed from charged hairs
is strong field
the Van de
Graaff enough to around the
generator make hair dome and
stand on end. the girl.
to the hair.
Electric fields and forces
All electrically
charged objects have
an electric field
around them
Electric fields and forces
In an electric
All electrically field a charged
charged objects have particle or
an electric field object (+ or -)
around them experiences a
force.
 Electric fields and forces
In an electric
All electrically field a charged
charged objects have particle or
an electric field object (+ or -)
around them experiences a
force.

If two objects with

the same charge
are brought towards
each other the
force produced will
be repulsive, it will
push them apart.
 Electric fields and forces
In an electric
All electrically field a charged
charged objects have particle or
an electric field object (+ or -)
around them experiences a
force.

If two objects with If two objects with

the same charge opposite charge are
are brought towards brought towards
each other the each other the
force produced will force produced will
be repulsive, it will be attractive, it will
push them apart. pull them together.
 Electric fields and forces
Lines of force will show how charged particles will
move in an electric field.
 Electric fields and forces
Lines of force will show how charged particles will
move in an electric field.

Arrows will show the direction in which the force on a positive (+) charge
would act. Field lines always point away from positive charge towards
negative charge.
 Electric fields and forces
Lines of force will show how charged particles will
move in an electric field.

Arrows will show the direction in which the force on a positive (+) charge
would act. Field lines always point away from positive charge towards
negative charge.

- Electric field close to a

- - negatively charged sphere.
The field around a Van de
- - Graaff generator dome would
- - - be similar to this.

The direction of the arrow

shows the direction a positively
charged particle will move.
 Electric fields and forces
Lines of force will show how charged particles will
move in an electric field.

Arrows will show the direction in which the force on a positive (+) charge
would act. Field lines always point away from positive charge towards
negative charge.

Electric field between a

positive and a negative
point charge.
 Electric fields and forces
Lines of force will show how charged particles will
move in an electric field.

Arrows will show the direction in which the force on a positive (+) charge
would act. Field lines always point away from positive charge towards
negative charge.

Electric field between a Electric field between

positive and a negative two parallel plates with
point charge. opposite charges on
them
 Electric fields and forces
Lines of force will show how charged particles will
move in an electric field.

Arrows will show the direction in which the force on a positive (+) charge
would act. Field lines always point away from positive charge towards
negative charge.
Negatively
charged
particles, for
example
electrons, will
move in the
opposite
direction to the
arrow.

Electric field between a Electric field between

positive and a negative two parallel plates with
point charge. opposite charges on
them
 -
+ +- Detecting and
- + inducing charge
+
- -
+
 -
+ +- Detecting and
- + inducing charge
+
- -
+Detection using a gold leaf
Inducing charge.
electroscope.
+ + + + Charged rod
Insulator The sphere ends up with an opposite
- -- - charge to that on the rod, which
Metal
cap As the charged never actually touches the sphere.
rod is placed
+ + + + + + + +
near the metal More Sphere
cap, charges are
electrons than
- -- - earthed by -- -
normal finger -
+ induced in the
+ Induced

+ + electroscope. charge
+
+ +
+ +
+ + +
Electrons
Metal Those in the gold Fewer
replace missing
electrons
plate leaf and metal electrons than
normal
plate repel, so Metal
the leaf rises. sphere
Gold leaf