Module – III : CONDUCTORS, DIELECTRICS AND CAPACITANCE

3.1 Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form, Continuity of
current
3.2 Boundary conditions of perfect dielectric materials - Permittivity of
dielectric materials
3.3 Capacitance, Capacitance of a two wire line

3.4 Poisson’s equation, Laplace’s equation, Application of Laplace’s

and Poisson’s equations.
3.5 Solution of Laplace and Poisson’s equation
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Current
• Electric current is defined as the rate of flow of electric charge through any
cross sectional area of the conductor.

• Current is denoted by “I”

 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Current unit
• The SI and base unit of electric current is Ampere’s

• When one coulomb charge flow through any cross sectional area in one second
then electric will be one Ampere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=xPGk6-jgHuQ
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Types of Current
Convection current : defined as the current produced by the beam of electrons
flowing through an insulating medium. This does not obey ohm’s law.

For ex: current through a vacuum is convection current

 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Types of Current
Conduction current : defined as the current produced due to flow of electrons in
a conductor. This obey ohm’s law.
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Types of Current
Displacement current : defined as the current which flows as a result of time
varying electric field in a dielectric material.

For ex : current through a capacitor when a time varying voltage is applied

 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

• Electric current is taken as scalar

• Electric current is a SCALAR quantity! Sure it has magnitude and direction, but
it still is a scalar quantity!

• Confusing? Let us see why it is not a vector as Scalar Quantity .

• First let us define a vector! A physical quantity having both magnitude and a
specific direction is a vector quantity.
• Is that all? No! This definition is incomplete! A vector quantity also follows the
triangle law of vector addition.
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

For example
• What will be the total displacement ?
• 𝐴+𝐵+𝐶=0
• Because last vector head joined with first vector tail.
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

• Now consider a triangular loop in an electric circuit with vertices A,B and C.
• The current flows from A→ B, B→C and C→A.
• Now had current been a vector quantity, following the triangle law of vector
addition, the net current in the loop should have been zero!
• But that is not the case, right? You wont be having a very pleasant experience if
you touch an exposed high current loop
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Current Density
• Electric current density is electric current per unit cross sectional area of the
conductor.

• It is represented by “J”
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Current Density
• Unit of electric current density is ampere per meter square.

• Electric current density is a vector quantity .

• Its direction is same as electric current.
• In vector form

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=obU3v4JO1qc
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Current Density - Types

Types Definition Formula

Convection current It is linearly related to volume

density charge density as well as velocity
Conduction current Exists in the case of conductors
density when an electric field is applied.
Displacement Rate of displacement electric flux
current density density with time.
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Relationship between Current and Current density

• Current density, J, yields current in Amps when it is integrated over a cross
sectional area. The assumption is that the direction of J is normal to the surface,
and so we would write:
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Relationship between Current and Current density

• In reality, the direction of current flow may not be normal to the surface in
question, so we treat current density as a vector, and write the incremental
surface through the small surface in the usual way:
where ΔS = n da

Then, the current through a large surface is found through the integral:
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Problem – 1
Determine the current density when 40 Amperes of current is flowing through the
battery in a given area of 10 m2.
Solution:
Given, I = 40 A,
Area = 10 m2
The current density formula is given by,
J=I/A
= 40 / 10
J = 4 A/m2.
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Ohm’s law in point form

• Point form of ohm’s law states that

Where J = Current density

σ = Conductivity
E = Electric field intensity
• Properties of perfect dielectric and conductors
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Ohm’s law in point form

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=jiYb-qSWgYY
 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Continuity of current – Definition

The differential equation relating the current density J and the volume charge
density ρv at each point in a closed surface is called continuity equation.

The current through the closed surface is,

According to the law of conservation of charge

 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Continuity of current – Definition

Therefore,

According to the Gauss law,

Then,

By applying divergence theorem,

 3.1 - Current and current density, Ohms Law in Point form,
Continuity of current

Continuity of current – Definition

Therefore,

That is,

This is called continuity equation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=tZnU63HQbbE