Electric

Current

Chapter 19
Lesson 2
 Objectives:
 Describe how electric current
is different from static
electricity.
 Describe the relationship

among voltage difference,

resistance, and current.
 Charge on the Move
Why do electrons move from
our body, after building up
an electric charge, to a
conductor ?

Electric Pressure

Voltage difference =
 Circuits

Circuit =
Electric current =
Is measured in (units) amperes
(A).
Current is the flow of electrons.
 Batteries
A common source of a voltage
difference.
A device used to keep the current
moving continuously through a circuit.
Portable radios,
flashlights, cars.
How do batteries cause
an electric current to flow ?
 Dry-Cell Batteries

Batteries produce a voltage difference

between the + and – terminals.
Wet-Cell Batteries

Total voltage
difference of 12
volts.
 Providing Voltage

Besides batteries,
electrical outlets, such
as a wall socket
provide a voltage
difference of 120 volts.
 Resistance
What makes a light bulb glow ?
Figure 14
Some of the electrical E is
converted to thermal E.
The metal filament becomes
hot enough to glow, producing
radiant energy.
 Oppose the Flow
The filament resists the flow of e-.
Resistance =
Most materials have some
electrical resistance.
Electrical conductors have much
less resistance than insulators.
Resistance is measured in ohms.
Ω
 Copper is an excellent
conductor and has low
resistance, so it is used in
wiring because little elec-
trical E is converted to
thermal E.

In contrast, tungsten glows

white-hot because of its
high resistance, so it is use-
ful in light bulb filaments.
 Control the Flow
The flow of electric
current can be changed in 2
ways:
• voltage difference causes the
charges to flow
• resistance restricts the
movement of charges.
Ohm’s Law states…
 Voltage difference
Current =
Resistance

V (V)
I (A) =
R (Ω)

V=I·R
Practice Problem:
 What is the voltage across the ends of a
wire coil in a circuit if the current in the
wire is 0.1A and the resistance is 30W?
 ACTIVITY
(Lesson 2 Review)

1. Electrons flow more easily in a material

with lower__
2. A closed path in which electric charges can
flow is a(n) ___
3. The flow of electric charges is a(n) ___
4. Ohm’s Law is not related to:
a) Current c)Resistance

b) Voltage d)Mass
5. Describe in your own words the
relationship between electric charge
and electric current
6. The current in a hair dryer is 10A. The
hair dryer is plugged into a 110Voutlet.
How much electric resistance is there in
the hair dryer’s circuit?