PHY 1214 PHY 1214 General Physics II General Physics II

Lecture 9 Current and Resistance June 16, 2005

Weldon J. Wilson Professor of Physics & Engineering Howell Hall 221H wwilson@ucok.edu

Lecture Schedule (Weeks 1-3)

We are here.

June 16, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

Electric Current
Whenever electric charges move, an electric current is said to exist The current is the rate at which the charge flows through a certain crosssection For the current definition, we look at the charges flowing perpendicularly to a surface of area A
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Definition of the current:

Charge in motion through an area A. The time rate of the charge flow through A defines the current (=charges per time): I=Q/t Units: A =C/s SI unit of the current: Ampere
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PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

Electric Current, cont

The direction of current flow is the direction positive charge would flow
This is known as conventional (technical) current flow, i.e., from plus (+) to minus (-)
However, in a common conductor, such as copper, the current is due to the motion of the negatively charged electrons

It is common to refer to a moving charge as a mobile charge carrier

A charge carrier can be positive or negative
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The Electron Current

We start with some thought experiments on a simple system. We have a parallel plate capacitor that has been charged, e.g. with glass and plastic rods. Now we connect the plates with a wire. What happens? The plates quickly become neutral, and we say that the capacitor has been discharged. Further study shows that while the discharge is taking place, the wire gets warm, a light bulb can be made to glow, and a compass needle can be deflected. These are indicators of current flow in the wire.
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Conservation of Current
to the light bulb, passing point A, where it delivers some energy and makes the bulb glow. How much electron current iB then passes point B? electrons dont have anywhere else to go. What goes to the bulb must return from the bulb. The bulb cannot use up the electrons.

Question: An electron current iA flows

Answer: All of it! iA=iB. Reason: the

Plumbers Analogy 1: If water flows

into a constant diameter pipe at 2.0 m/s, it must flow out of the pipe at the same speed. It cannot pile up in the pipe. This principle is called Conservation of Current.
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Batteries and Current

June 16, 2005

PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

Electrical Current
dQ I , in the direction of E dt
1 ampere = 1 A 1 coulomb per second = 1 C/s

Q = I t
Q eN e I= = = ei t t
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Current and Electrons

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Meters in a Circuit Ammeter

An ammeter is used to measure current

In line with the bulb, all the charge passing through the bulb also must pass through the meter (in series!)
PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

June 16, 2005

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Meters in a Circuit - Voltmeter

A voltmeter is used to measure voltage (potential difference)

Connects to the two ends of the bulb (parallel)
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QUICK QUESTION
Look at the four circuits shown below and select those that will light the bulb.

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Resistance and Ohms law

In a homogeneous conductor, the current density is uniform over any cross section, and the electric field is constant along the length.
June 16, 2005

b a V=Va-Vb=EL
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PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

Resistance
The ratio of the potential drop to the current is called resistance of the segment:

V R= Unit: V/A= (ohm) I

June 16, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 9 15

Resistance, cont
Units of resistance are ohms ( )
1 =1V/A

Resistance in a circuit arises due to collisions between the electrons carrying the current with the fixed atoms inside the conductor

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Ohms Law

V I V=const.I V=RI
Ohms Law is an empirical relationship that is valid only for certain materials
Materials that obey Ohms Law are said to be ohmic I=V/R R, I0, open circuit; R0, I, short circuit
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Ohms Law, final

Ohmic
Plots of V versus I for (a) ohmic and (b) nonohmic materials. The resistance R=V/I is independent of I for ohmic materials, as is indicated by the constant slope of the line in (a).
June 16, 2005 PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

Nonohmic
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Resistivity
Expected: RL/A
The resistance of an ohmic conductor is proportional to its length, L, and inversely proportional to its crosssectional area, A

L R= A
(rho) in m is the constant of proportionality and is called the resistivity of the material
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June 16, 2005

Example
Determine the required length of nichrome (=10-6 m) with a radius of 0.65 mm in order to obtain R=2.0 . R=L/AL=RA/

(2.0) (0.00065m) L= = 2.65m 6 10 m

2
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 The resistivity depends on the material and the temperature

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Temperature Variation of Resistivity

For most metals, resistivity increases with increasing temperature
With a higher temperature, the metals constituent atoms vibrate with increasing amplitude The electrons find it more difficult to pass the atoms (more scattering!)

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Temperature Variation of Resistivity, cont

For most metals, resistivity increases approximately linearly with temperature over a limited temperature range

= o[1+ (T To )]
is the resistivity at some reference temperature To To is usually taken to be 20 C is the temperature coefficient of resistivity [unit: 1/(C)]
o

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Temperature Variation of Resistance

Since the resistance of a conductor with uniform cross sectional area is proportional to the resistivity, the temperature variation of resistance can be written

R = Ro [1+ (T To )]
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Example

The material of the wire has a resistivity of 0=6.810-5 m at T0=320C, a temperature coefficient of =2.010-3 (1/C) and L=1.1 m. Determine the resistance of the heater wire at an operating temperature of 420C.
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Solution

=0[1+(0)] =[6.810-5 m][1+(2.010-3 (C)-1)

(420C-320C)]=8.210-5 m R=L/A R=(8.210-5 m)(1.1 m)/(3.110-6 m2) R=29
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June 16, 2005

Electrical Activity in the Heart

Heart beat Initiation

Every action involving the bodys muscles is initiated by electrical activity Voltage pulses cause the heart to beat These voltage pulses (1 mV) are large enough to be detected by equipment attached to the skin
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Electrocardiogram (EKG)
A normal EKG P occurs just before the atria begin to contract The QRS pulse occurs in the ventricles just before they contract The T pulse occurs when the cells in the ventricles begin to recover

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Abnormal EKG, 1
The QRS portion is wider than normal This indicates the possibility of an enlarged heart

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Abnormal EKG, 2

There is no constant relationship between P and QRS pulse This suggests a blockage in the electrical conduction path between the SA and the AV nodes This leads to inefficient heart pumping
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Abnormal EKG, 3

No P pulse and an irregular spacing between the QRS pulses Symptomatic of irregular atrial contraction, called fibrillation The atrial and ventricular contraction are irregular
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Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

Devices that can monitor, record and logically process heart signals Then supply different corrective signals to hearts that are not beating correctly
Dual chamber ICD

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PHY 1214 - Lecture 9

Monitor lead

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Kirchhoffs Junction Law

I = I
in

out

I
i

= 0; summed over all the currents to any "junction".

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June 16, 2005

End of Lecture 9
Before the next lecture, read Sections 20.1-20.5.

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