ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

An electric circuit is a system in which electrical charge flows in a closed path.

Current(I)
The rate of flow of charges in an electric circuit.
Current=
I=
The unit of current is ampere(A).It is the same as coulomb per second.
1ampere=
One coulomb is defined as the charge transferred in a conductor in one second if the
current is one ampere.
The instrument used to measure electric current is ammeter. An ammeter is
connected in series and has a very low resistance.
The direction of current in a circuit is drawn from the positive end of the
battery to the negative end.
 Potential difference And emf(electro motive force)

• Potential difference across the ends of a conductor is

defined as the energy transferred per unit electric charge
flowing through it.
P.d = Work/Charge

V=W/Q
Its unit is volt or JC-1 .
A voltmeter is connected in parallel and has a very high
resistance.
 Potential difference And emf(electro motive force)

Emf is defined as the work done per unit charge by the source
(battery). It is equal to the potential difference measured across
the terminals of a battery when no charges are flowing in the
circuit.
Terminal potential difference is defined as the voltage measured
across the terminals of a battery when charges are flowing in the
circuit.
Resistance
Resistance is defined as the ratio of the potential difference across a resistor
to the current in the resistor. Resistance is the opposition to the
flow of electric charges .
RESISTANCE=VOLTAGE/CURRENT
R=V/I

The unit of resistance is ohm(Ω). 1 Ω=1VA-1

One ohm (Ω) is equal to one volt per ampere. The factors that
affect the resistance of a material are:
• Length of the conductor
• Area of the conductor
• Nature of the material
•
Resistors in series
R1 R2

The total resistance is R=R1+R2

In series circuit, current is same through each resistor. Series
circuits are called voltage dividers because the total p.d is equal to
the sum of the p.d across all the individual components.
I=I1=I2
V=V1+V2
Resistors in parallel
R1

R2

The total resistance is = +

In parallel circuit, voltage is constant across resistors.
Parallel circuits are called current dividers because the
total current in the circuit is equal to the sum of the
currents through all the individual components.
I=I1+I2
V=V1=V2