Current Electricity

Electric current

A steady current is positive when it moves in the forward direction, that is, left to right and
it is negative when it moves in the backward direction, that is, right to left.

Instantaneous current at any time t is expressed as: I (t) = lim → /

The SI unit of current is ampere (A).

Materials, whose electrons are totally bound to their nuclei and cannot be separated even
on applying an electric field, are called insulators.

Materials which have some free electrons, which are practically free to move within the
bulk material, are called conductors.

Electrolytic solutions are also categorized as conductors as both positive and negative
charges move when an electric field is applied.

Ohm’s Law

Current per unit area is called current density (j), expressed as j =

The SI unit of current density (j) is A/m2

Introduction to electrolytic cell

The potential difference between the positive electrode P and the negative electrode N of
an electrolytic cell, which is not connected in an electric circuit, is called the electromotive
force, E.

Electrical energy and power

The potential difference (V) between points A and B in a conductor is expressed as :

V=V(A) – V(B)

The amount of charge ∆Q flowing from points A and B in a time interval ∆t is expressed
as: ∆Q = I ∆t

A charge in potential energy between points A and B is expressed as: ∆Upot =Final PE –
Initial PE

An increase in kinetic energy K of the charges in the conductor is expressed as: ∆K = -

∆Upot

The amount of energy dissipated is expressed as: ∆W= I ∆t V

The energy dissipated per unit time is termed as the power dissipated represented by: P=
IV

Power dissipated or lost (P) is also called Ohmic loss in a conductor of resistance R
carrying a current I.

To minimize the power loss in transmission cables, very high voltage is produced at the
generation point and transmitted almost up to the point where the power is utilized.
Very high voltage is converted to low voltage using a step down transformer placed very
near to the point of utilization of power.

Combination of resistance

Req =R1 +R2

1/Req =1/R1 + 1/R2

Lsn 6: cells in series and in parallel

For two cells connected in series: Eeq = E1 +E2

Req = r1+r2

For two cells connected in parallel: Eeq/req = E1/r1 + E2/r2

1/req = 1/r1 + 1/r2

Kirchhoff’s Rules

At any node or junction in a circuit the sum of currents flowing into that node is equal to
the sum of currents flowing out of that node.

The algebraic sum of currents in a network of conductors meeting at a point or node is

zero.
Current entering the junction is taken as positive and the current leaving the junction is
taken as negative.

The algebraic sum of changes in potential around ant closed loop involving resistors and
cells in the loop is zero.

Wheatstone bridge

Wheatstone bridge is a bridge circuit consisting of four resistances, and a galvanometer

connected as a bridge in between the resistors.

When the current in the galvanometer of the Wheatstone bridge is zero, the circuit is said
to be a balanced circuit.

Meter Bridge is a practical application of Wheatstone bridge that helps in finding the value
of resistance of an unknown resistor.

Origin of Resistivity

The average velocity gained by the free electrons in a conductor when it is subjected to an
electric field is called drift velocity.

The average time elapsed between two successive collisions of a conduction electron is
called the relaxation time.

The mean distance travelled by the electron during the relaxation time is called the mean
free path.
Mobility is defined as the magnitude of drift velocity per unit electric field.

Potentiometer

Potentiometer is a device that helps measure the emf of a cell.

Potentiometer measures the potential difference across a resistor in a circuit without

drawing the current from the circuit.

Potentiometer is used to compare the emf of two cells.

Potentiometer is used to find the internal resistance of a given cell.