Electric Current and Electric Circuit

Electric current is rate of flow of electric charge or the amount of charge flowing
through a particular area in unit time.
 Until the discovery of electrons, the electric current was considered to be a flow
of positive charge and the direction was considered from positive terminal of
the battery to the negative terminal.
 In reality, electric current is flow of negatively charges particles called electrons.
These flow from negative terminal of the battery to the positive terminal.
 As a convention, the direction of current is taken opposite to the direction of
flow of electrons.

Measurement of Electric Current

Ammeter is an instrument used to measure electric current. It is always connected
in series in a circuit.
 SI Unit of electric charge is Coulomb (C). Charge is usually denoted by letter Q.
 SI Unit of electric current is Ampere (A). Current is usually denoted by letter I.
I = Q/t, which means current is net charge flowing through a cross-section in time t.
Hence, 1 A = 1 C/ 1s.
18
 1 Coulomb is equivalent to 6 X 10 So an electron possess negative charge of 1.6
X 10-19 C.
Electric Potential and Potential Difference
Electric potential is the work done per unit charge in bringing the charge from infinity
to that point against electrostatic force.
In a conductor, electrons flow only when there is a difference in electric pressure at its
ends. This is also called potential difference. In a circuit, this potential difference is
created by a battery.

 A battery or a cell has a potential difference due to reaction of chemicals inside

it even when it is not connected to any circuit. Once connected, the potential
difference makes the electrons flow and the current is generated in the
circuit/conductor. A battery generates this potential difference till the chemicals
inside it are not completely spent.
  Potential difference is also defined as work done to move a unit charge from
one point to another.
V = W/Q Or
Potential difference =Work done/Charge
Measurement of Potential difference
Potential difference is nothing but voltage and is measured by a device
called Voltmeter. It is always connected in parallel across the points whose potential
difference is to be measured.
 SI unit of electric potential difference is Volt (V).
 SI unit of Work done is Joule (J).
1 V = 1 J/ 1 C, potential difference is 1 when 1 joule work is done to move 1 coulomb of
charge from one point to another
Electric Circuit Symbols
Below are the symbols commonly used in an electric circuit:
OHM’s Law
OHM’s law states that under no same temperature, electric current flowing through
an ideal conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its ends.
V∝I
V = IR, R – Resistance
 Resistance is a property of conductor to resist flow of charge through it. Its SI
unit is Ohm (Ω).
R = V/I, 1 Ohm = 1 Volt/ 1 Ampere
 I = V/R denotes that Current is inversely proportional to Resistance. Hence,
greater the resistance lesser will be the flow of current and vice-versa.
  A rheostat or a variable resistor is a device or a component which allows
changing of resistance in a circuit keeping the voltage same.
 In a conductor, electrons are attracted by the atoms. This is a resistive force
which is lower for a good conductor but very high for an insulator. A conductor
having some resistance is called a Resistor.
Ohm’s Law experiment

Factors on which Resistance depends

Resistance of a conductor depends:
1. On its length
2. On its area of cross-section
3. On the nature of its material
4. Temperature
 Resistance of uniform metallic conductor is directly proportional to its length
and inversely proportional to area of cross-section.
R∝l
R∝ 1/A
Therefore, R = ρ (l / A), ρ(rho) is constant of proportionality.
 ρ is called electrical resistivity of the material of the conductor. SI unit is Ωm.
 Resistivity of conductors is very low whereas the insulators have a very high
resistivity.
  Resistivity varies with Temperature.
 Alloys having higher resistivity than metals are used in electrical heating devices,
like iron and toasters, tungsten is used in filament of electric bulbs and copper
and aluminium are used for electrical transmission lines.
Resistivity of Conductors < Resistivity of Alloys < Resistivity of Insulators

Resistors in series
When two or more resistors are connected in series:
 The current through the circuit remains the same.
 The potential difference becomes sum of the individual potential difference
across each resistor.
 Equivalent resistance of the circuit is the sum of individual resistances.

Disadvantages of series arrangement of resistors

 Two different electrical appliances, having different current requirements,
cannot be connected in series as the current is constant in a series circuit.
  If one of the components fails in a series circuit, the circuit gets broken and none
of the other components get the current.
Resistors in parallel
When two or more resistors are connected in parallel:
 The current through the circuit is the sum of currents through each branch of
the circuit.
 The potential difference across the two points of the circuit remains the same.
 The reciprocal of equivalent resistance of the circuit is the sum of reciprocal of
the individual resistances.

Advantages of parallel arrangement of resistors

 Parallel arrangement divides current in different branches and hence each
component receives the required amount of current.
 If one of the components fails in the parallel circuit, the rest work as usual.
Heating effect of Current
When a voltage source like a battery generates current for a circuit, most of the energy
is used up in maintaining the current inside the circuit. However, a portion of the
energy is dissipated in the form of heat. In a circuit containing only battery and
resistance, the entire energy is dissipated in the form of heat. This is heating effect of
current.

Power = Work Done / Time Taken or P = W / t

Since, Potential Difference = Work Done / Charge or V = W / Q
P = VQ / t or
P = VI, where I (current) = Charge / Time Taken
Energy supplied by power source to a circuit in time t is, H = P x t = V/t
Or from Ohm’s law, H = I2Rt
This is known as Joule’s law of heating. It states that heat produces in a circuit is
directly proportional to the square of current flowing, resistance for current and time
for which current flows.
Disadvantages of heating effect
 Loss of energy in the unwanted heat.
 Wear and tear of components.
Applications of Heating effect of Current
 Appliances based on Joule’s heating are electric iron, electric toaster, electric
heater, oven etc.
 Heating effect produces light in a bulb. Tungsten wire inside the bulb becomes
hot and emits light when current passes through it. Since it has a high melting
point of 3380°C, it does not break. Also, due to the presence of gases like
chemically inactive nitrogen and argon inside the bulb, the filament remains
thermally isolated and its life increases.
 Joule’s heating is also used in fuses where a thin wire protects the household
appliances from power surge. Fuse wires are made of thin aluminium, copper
etc. with an appropriate melting point. These wires melt and break the circuit
due to heating during excessive current.
Electric Power
Rate at which electric energy is dissipated or consumed in a circuit is called Electric
Power.
P = VI = I2R = V2/R
 SI unit of Power is Watt (W).
 1 Watt power is consumed when 1 Ampere of current flows through a device at
a potential difference of 1 Volt.
 Electrical energy is the amount of work done or energy consumed in a given
amount of time. So, it is measured in Joules or Wh (watt hour) or most
commonly as kWh (Kilowatt hour).
6
 1 kWh = 3.6 x 10 Joule (J)

Kirchhoff’s First Law or Kirchhoff’s Current Law

According to Kirchhoff’s Current Law,
The total current entering a junction or a node is equal to the charge leaving the node as no
charge is lost.
Put differently, the algebraic sum of every current entering and leaving the node has to be
null. This property of Kirchhoff law is commonly called conservation of charge, wherein
I(exit) + I(enter) = 0.

In the above figure, the currents I1, I2 and I3 entering the node is considered positive,
likewise, the currents I4 and I5 exiting the nodes is considered negative in values. This can
be expressed in the form of an equation:
I1 + I 2 + I 3 – I4 – I5 = 0
A node refers to a junction connecting two or more current-carrying routes like cables and
other components. Kirchhoff’s current law can also be applied to analyse parallel circuits.

Kirchhoff’s Second Law or Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law

According to Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law,
The voltage around a loop equals the sum of every voltage drop in the same loop for any
closed network and equals zero.
Put differently, the algebraic sum of every voltage in the loop has to be equal to zero and
this property of Kirchhoff’s law is called conservation of energy.

 When you begin at any point of the loop and continue in the same direction, note the
voltage drops in all the negative or positive directions and returns to the same point.
It is essential to maintain the direction either counter clockwise or clockwise;
otherwise, the final voltage value will not be zero.
  The voltage law can also be applied in analysing circuits in series.
 When either AC circuits or DC circuits are analysed based on Kirchhoff’s circuit
laws, you need to be clear with all the terminologies and definitions that describe
the circuit components like paths, nodes, meshes, and loops.

Kirchhoff’s Law Solved Example

If R1 = 2Ω, R2 = 4Ω, R3 = 6Ω, determine the electric current that flows in the circuit
below.

Solution:
Following are the things that you should keep in mind while approaching the problem:

 You need to choose the direction of the current. In this problem, let us choose the
clockwise direction.
 When the current flows across the resistor, there is a potential decrease. Hence, V =
IR is signed negative.
 If the current moves from low to high, then the emf (E) source is signed positive
because of the energy charging at the emf source. Likewise, if the current moves
from high to low voltage (+ to -), then the source of emf (E) is signed negative
because of the emptying of energy at the emf source.

 In this solution, the direction of the current is the same as the direction of clockwise
rotation.
– IR1 + E1 – IR2 – IR3 – E2 = 0
Substituting the values in the equation, we get
–2I + 10 – 4I – 6I – 5 = 0
-12I + 5 = 0
I = -5/-12
I = 0.416 A
The electric current that flows in the circuit is 0.416 A.
 The electric current is signed positive which means that the direction of the electric
current is the same as the direction of clockwise rotation. If the electric current is
negative then the direction of the current would be in anti-clockwise direction.
Domestic Electric circuits

 We receive power in our house through a main supply, commonly called mains.
 It is supplied through overhead cables or underground cables.
 There are 3 types of wires in domestic circuits : Earth Wire, Live Wire, Neutral
Wire.
 Earth wire: It is generally green in color. It is usually connected to a metal plate
placed in the earth near the house as a safety measure to ground gadgets that have a
metallic body. (refrigerator, toaster). In case of charges leaking on to the metallic
body, the charges gets grounded and thus prevent shocks.
 Live wire: Positive wire generally red in color
 Neutral wire: Negative wire generally black in color
 The potential difference (or voltage) supplied in our country is 220V
 When they come into our houses, they pass through a circuit called a Fuse.
Whenever there is a high voltage, voltage fluctuation, overloading, short circuit the
fuse melts and prevents the high voltage reaching the electric appliance. This saves
the electrical gadget.
 Then through the metre board in the house, these wires pass on to different electric
gadgets
 Generally 2 types of electric circuits are used at homes
 15A : Appliances which have higher power ratings. (geysers, refrigerators, ACs)
 5A: Appliances which have lower power ratings. (TV, bulbs, fans)