Introduction to Electricity

SI Units
Quantity Quantity symbol Unit Unit symbol
Capacitance C Farad F
Charge Q Coulomb C
Current I Ampere A
Electromotive force E Volt V
Frequency f Hertz Hz
Inductance (self) L Henry H
Period T Second s
Potential difference V Volt V
Power P Watt W
Resistance R Ohm Ω
Temperature T Kelvin K
Time t Second s
 Common Prefixes
Prefix Name Meaning (multiply by)
T tera 1012
G giga 109
M mega 106
k kilo 103
m milli 10-3
 micro 10-6
n nano 10-9
p pico 10-12
 Charge

•Symbol: (q)
•Unit: Coulomb (C)

–The fundamental electric quantity –Charge in an electron:

is charge.
qe = -1.602x10-19 C
–Atoms are composed of charge
carrying particles: electrons and
protons, and neutral particles, –Charge in a proton:
neutrons.
qp = 1.602x10-19 C
–The smallest amount of charge
that exists is carried by an electron
and a proton.
 Current
•Symbol: I
•Unit: Ampere

–Current moves through a – Essentially, flow of electrons in an

circuit element “through electric circuit leads to the
variable.” establishment of current.
–Current is rate of flow of
dq
I(t) =
negatively-charged particles, dt
called electrons, through a
predetermined cross-sectional o q : relatively charged electrons
area in a conductor. (C)
–Like water flow. o Amp = C/sec
o Often measured in milliamps,
mA
Current-Water Analogy
 Voltage
•Symbol: V
•Unit: Volt

– Potential difference across – Let A be the lower potential/voltage

two terminals in a circuit terminal
“across variable.”
– Let B be the higher potential/voltage
– In order to move charge from terminal
point A to point B, work
o Then, voltage across A and B is the
needs to be done.
cost in energy required to move a unit
– Like potential energy at a positive charge from A to B.
water fall.
Voltage-Water Analogy
 Series Connection of Cells

• Each cell provides 1.5 V

• Two cells connected one after another, in series, provide 3 V, while
three cells would provide 4.5 V
• Polarities matter
 Parallel Connection of Cells

• If the cells are connected in parallel, the voltage stays at

1.5 V, but now a larger current can be drawn.
Wire-Water Analogy
 Electrical Circuits
• Electric charge
– an amount of electrical energy
– can be positive or negative
• Electric current
– a flow of electrical charge, often a flow of electrons
– conventional current is in the opposite direction to a flow
of electrons
• Current flow in a circuit
– a sustained current needs a complete circuit
– also requires a stimulus to cause the charge to flow
• Electromotive force and potential difference
– the stimulus that causes a current to flow is an e.m.f.
– this represents the energy introduced into the circuit by
a battery or generator
– this results in an electric potential at each point in the
circuit
– between any two points in the circuit there may exist a
potential difference
– both e.m.f. and potential difference are measured in
volts
 1.2 Terms
• Voltage
– Unit of potential difference or electromotive force. One volt is the
potential difference needed to produce one ampere of current through a
resistance of one ohm.
• Current
– Rate of flow of electrons through a conductor
• Resistance
– Electrical resistance is a measure of the degree to which a body opposes
the passage of an electric current.
• Power
– Measure of energy over time (joules / second)
• AC / DC
– Alternating current versus direct current
• A simple circuit

• A water-based
analogy
 Direct Current and Alternating Current

• Currents in electrical circuits may be constant or may vary

with time
• When currents vary with time they may be unidirectional
or alternating
• When the current flowing in a conductor always flows in
the same direction this is direct current (DC)
• When the direction of the current periodically changes this
is alternating current (AC)
 Resistors, Capacitors and Inductors

• Resistors provide resistance

– they oppose the flow of electricity
– measured in Ohms ()
• Capacitors provide capacitance
– they store energy in an electric field
– measured in Farads (F)
• Inductors provide inductance
– they store energy in a magnetic field
– measured in Henry (H)
• We will look at each component in later lectures
 Ohm’s Law
• The current flowing in a conductor is directly
proportional to the applied voltage V and
inversely proportional to its resistance R
V = IR

I = V/R

R = V/I