Concept Summary

Batesville High School Physics

 Potential Difference
 Charges can “lose” potential energy by
moving from a location at high potential
(voltage) to a location at low potential.
 Charges will continue to move as long
as the potential difference (voltage) is
maintained.
 Current
A sustained flow of electric charge past
a point is called an electric current.
 Specifically, electric current is the rate
that electric charge passes a point, so

Current = Charge or I = q/t

time
 Measuring Current
 If1 Coulomb of charge (6.25 x 1018
electrons) passes a point each second,
the current is 1 Ampere.
 So, 1 Ampere = 1 Coulomb/sec
 Voltage Source
A battery or electrical outlet is a source
of electric potential or voltage - not
charge.
 The electrons that move in a conductor
are supplied by the conductor - not
the voltage source.
 The net charge on a current-carrying
conductor is zero.
 Electromotive Force
 Anold-fashioned term for electric
potential or voltage is “electromotive
force” or “emf”.
 Electrical Resistance
 Most materials offer some resistance to
the flow of electric charges through
them. This is called electrical
resistance.
 Resistance
 Resistance of a conductor depends on:
 Material - Gold is best
 Length - longer conductors have more
resistance.
 Cross section - thick wires have less
resistance than thin wires
 Temperature - higher temperature means
more resistance for most conductors
 Ohm’s Law
 For many conductors, current depends
on:
 Voltage - more voltage, more current
 Current is proportional to voltage
 Resistance - more resistance, less
current
 Current is inversely proportional to
resistance
 Ohms’ Law
 In symbols:

V = IR
V
I R
 Direct Current
 Ifthe voltage is maintained between
two points in a circuit, charge will flow
in one direction - from high to low
potential. This is called direct current
(DC)
 Battery-powered circuits are dc circuits.
 Alternating Current
 Ifthe high & low voltage terminals
switch locations periodically, the
current will flow “back and forth” in
the circuit. This is called alternating
current (AC).
 Circuits powered by electrical outlets
are AC circuits.
 AC in the US
 In the US, current changes direction
120 times per second, for a frequency
of 60 cycles per second or 60 Hertz.
 Normal outlet voltage in the US is 110-
120 volts, although some large
household appliances run on 220-240
volts.
 Converting AC to DC
 AC is converted to DC using devices
called diodes, which allow charges to
move in only 1 direction.
 Speed of Electrons
 Electrons in a circuit do not move
quickly - they actually “drift” at about 1
mm/s.
 It is the electric field that moves
quickly - at about the speed of light -
through the circuit and carries the
energy.
 Electric Power
 Power = energy/time = current x voltage
P = IV = I2R
 1 Watt = (1 Amp)(1 Volt)

 1 kilowatt = 1000 Watts

 A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy

 The End
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