Unit-02 CURRENT ELECTRICITY

Chapter-03 CURRENT ELECTRIC

What is Electric Current?

The electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge through any
cross-section of a conductor.
 It is denoted by .
 It is Scalar quantity.
 Units of electric current is Ampere (Amp).

What is Current Density?

The ratio of current and cross-section area of is called the current
Density.
 It is denoted by
 It’s unit
𝐴
𝐼
𝙹 𝐴𝑚𝑝 𝑚
𝐴 𝐼
𝜃
Or

𝐼
𝙹 𝐴𝑚𝑝 𝑚
𝐴 cos 𝜃
 What is Drift Velocity?
When the ends of a conductor are connected to a battery, the
average velocity attained by the electrons in the direction of the
accelerating potential is called drift velocity.

Or

When the ends of a conductor are connected to a battery, the

velocity of electrons generated in the opposite direction of the
current is called drift velocity.
𝐴
𝐸
+ 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒
>
𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒
𝑙
<

< <
+
𝑉
Let be the potential difference applied across the ends of a
conductor of length , then the magnitude of electric field is

Electron is and each free electron in the conductor experience a

force

Newton’s second law,

(𝑚 is mass of electron)
If is a drift velocity then, first law of motion

+
+

Where, 𝜏 is a relaxation time

Relaxation Time :-
When the conductor is connected to a battery, the time interval
between two successive collisions of electrons is called Relaxation
time. It is represented by and its value is approximately
𝟏𝟎 seconds.

Relation between Drift Velocity and Electric Current

Let length , cross-section area and applied voltage on conductor

𝐴
𝐸
+ 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒
>
𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝑒 𝐼
𝑙
<

𝐼
𝐼 𝐼
< <
+
𝑉
If the conductor contains free electron per unit Volume

Charge on conductor

Time taken by the electron to cover a distance with velocity

Current flow in conductor

Mobility
The drift velocity of a charge in a unit electric field is called mobility.
 Or
The ratio of drift velocity and electric field is called mobility.
 It is denoted by .

 unit of Mobility is ⁄
 Dimensional Formula of Mobility is [ ]

OHM’S LAW
In 1826, German scientist Dr. George Simon Ohm arrived at a
conclusion based on various observations about the current
generated in a conductor by applying potential difference between
the ends of different metal conductors, which is called Ohm's Law.
According to this law, "If the physical condition of a
conductor (such as temperature, pressure etc.) remains constant,
then the current generated in the conductor is (i) proportional to the
potential difference applied between its ends."
𝐼

𝑂 𝑉
Where is Constant and called Resistance of the conductor

Deduction of Ohm's Law :-

We know that,

and

𝑉
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑅
𝐼
𝑉 𝐼𝑅
𝑚𝑙
Where 𝑅
𝑒 𝜏𝑛𝐴

Electrical Resistance
The obstruction offered by a conductor to the flow of current is
called electrical resistance.(Resistance is a measure of the
opposition to the flow of current in an electrical circuit.)

 Dimensions of electric resistance is [ ]

Effect of Temperature on Resistance :-

The value of resistance increases due to increase in temperature in
a conductor because the fatigue time of free electrons decreases
with increase in temperature.
If the electrical resistance of a conductor wire at and
is and respectively, then
 +
Where, is the temperature coefficient of resistance of the
conductor.

If ohm and , then

Thus, if the resistance of a conductor wire is ohm at , then
the increase in its resistance on increasing its temperature by is
called the temperature coefficient of resistance of that material.
Its unit is .
Electric Conductivity
The inverse of electrical resistance is called electrical conductivity.
 It is represented by G.
Electrical conductivity,

 unit of electric Conductivity is or o

 Dimensions of electric conductivity is [ ]

Electric Resistivity or Specific Resistance

The ratio of electric field intensity and current density is called the
resistivity of a conductor.
It is expressed as 𝜌.

𝐸 𝑅𝐴 𝐼 𝑉 𝑉
𝜌 𝙹 ; 𝐸 ;𝑅
𝙹 𝑙 𝐴 𝑙 𝐼
 Specific Conductivity
The reciprocal of specific resistance is called specific conductivity.
It is expressed as .

1
𝜎
𝜌

We know,
𝐸
𝜌
𝙹
Then,
𝙹
𝜎 ⇒ 𝙹 𝜎𝐸
𝐸
Electric Energy
When current flows through a conductor, heat is generated in it.
This phenomenon is called Joule thermal effect and the heat
produced is called Joule heat.

𝑉
𝑊 𝑉𝐼𝑡 𝐼 𝑅𝑇 𝑡 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒
𝑅

𝑊 𝑉𝐼𝑡 𝐼 𝑅𝑇 𝑉 𝑡
𝑄 calorie
42 42 42 4 2𝑅

Electric Power
The heat dissipated per second in an electrical circuit is called
electric power. It is represented by .
 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑊
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑃
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡

𝑊 𝑉
𝑃 𝑉𝐼 𝐼 𝑅 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡
𝑡 𝑅

Electric Cell
An electric cell is a device that converts chemical 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠
energy into electrical energy. An electric cell
contains a fluid containing rods of two different +
metals. This fluid is called the electrolyte and
the rods are called electrodes.
Symbol, 𝐴 𝐵
+
𝐸
‘+’ positive terminal and Negative Terminal E𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑡𝑒

Types of Electric Cells :-

1) Primary Cell :-
In these types of cells, the electrolyte cannot be charged
again after being used once. The chemical reaction in these is
irreversible; for example, Leclanche cell, Daniel cell, Voltaic
cell, etc.
2) Secondary Cell :-
The activities that take place in primary cells are
 irreversible. Hence the substances in the cell gradually get
depleted. Apart from these, there is another type of cells in
which reversible activities take place. These cells are called
secondary or accumulating cells.

Electromotive Force or of a Cell

The energy given out by the cell in flowing a unit charge through the
entire circuit is called the electromotive force of the cell. If the work
done by the cell in flowing charge through the entire circuit is ,
then the electromotive force of the cell is

𝑊
𝐸 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒⁄𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡
𝑞

Terminal Potential of Cell

The energy required to flow a unit charge from one terminal to
another in the external circuit is called the terminal potential
difference of the cell.

𝑊
𝑉𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡
𝑞

Internal Resistance of a Cell

The obstruction created in the path of electric current by the
electrolyte present in a cell is called the internal resistance of the
cell.
The internal resistance of any cell depends on the following two
facts:
(i) The internal resistance of the cell increases when the distance
between the two plates of the cell is increased.
(ii) The internal resistance of the cell increases when the
concentration
of the electrolyte is increased.
𝐸 𝑟
< <
𝐸
𝐼
𝑅+𝑟

𝐼 𝑅 𝐼
𝑉 𝐸 𝐼𝑟 > >
𝑉

Combination of Cells
1) Series Combination:-
𝐸 𝑟 𝐸
+ +𝐸 𝑟 𝑛 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠+ 𝐸 𝑟 + 𝑟

𝑅
> >
Total of cells in connect in series
𝐸𝑒𝑞 𝐸 + 𝐸 + 𝐸 + 𝑢𝑝𝑡𝑜 𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚
𝐸𝑒𝑞 𝑛𝐸
Total internal resistance of cell in series
+ + +

+ +
Current in the resistance is

𝐸𝑚𝑓
𝐼
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
 𝑛𝐸
𝐼
𝑅 + 𝑛𝑟

𝑛𝐸 𝐸
𝐼 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙
𝑛𝑟 𝑟

2
𝑛𝐸 𝐸
𝐼 𝑛 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑛 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙
𝑅 𝑅
2) Parallel Combination:-
Total, +𝐸 𝑟
Total internal resistance,
+𝐸 𝑟
+ + + 𝑚 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 ⋮
𝑟𝑒𝑞 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟 𝑚 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠
⋮
𝑚 +𝐸 𝑟
𝑟𝑒𝑞 𝑟
𝑟 𝐼 +𝐸 𝑟 𝐼
𝑟𝑒𝑞
𝑚
𝑅

Current flow in resistance

+
 +

𝐸 𝑛𝐸
𝐼 𝑟 𝑟
𝑚

2
𝐸
𝐼
𝑅

3) Mixed Combination:-
𝑛 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠
+ 𝑟 + 𝑟 + 𝑟
+ 𝑟 + 𝑟 + 𝑟

𝑚 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠
+ 𝑟 + 𝑟 + 𝑟
+ 𝑟 + 𝑟 + 𝑟

𝐼 𝑅
> >

Total internal Resistance in each row

+ + +

Total internal resistance in combination

 + + +

𝑚𝑛𝐸
𝐼
𝑛𝑅 + 𝑛𝑟

KIRCHHOFF’S LAWS
1) First Law or Junction Law or Current
Law:-
In any electrical circuit the algebraic sum of the currents
meeting at the junction is zero.

∑𝐼
Or
The sum of the currents meeting at a junction is equal to the sum of
the currents flowing out from that junction
 ∑ ∑
𝐼
Or 𝐼
+ 𝐼
Or 𝐼 𝐼
+ + +

2) Second Law or Voltage Law or Loop

Law:-
In a closed loop the algebraic sum of the and algebraic
sum of the products of current and resistance in the various
arms of the loop is zero.
Or
The algebraic sum of the potential differences present in a
closed loop is zero.
𝐴 +𝐸 𝑅 𝐵
∑𝑉 𝐼
Or
∑𝐸 ∑𝐼𝑅 𝐼 +𝐸 𝑅
𝐷 𝐶
𝐼
Applying at node 2 𝑅 𝐼 𝐹
𝐼 +𝐼 𝐼 𝐸

𝐼 𝐼 +𝐼

In Loop in
𝐸 𝐸 𝑅 𝐼 +𝑅 𝐼
𝐸 𝐸 𝑅 𝐼 𝑅 𝐼
 In Loop in
𝐸 𝑅 𝐼 +𝑅 𝐼 ⇒ 𝐸 𝑅 𝐼 +𝑅 𝐼 +𝐼

Wheatstone Bridge
The Wheatstone bridge is a special electrical circuit, with the help of
which an unknown resistance can be found. It was invented by
Professor C.F. Wheatstone of England, hence this circuit was named
after him as the Wheatstone bridge.
𝐵
Construction:- 𝑄
𝑃 𝐾
In this bridge, four resistances and 𝐼
𝐼
𝐴 𝐶
are connected on four arms and 𝐼 𝐺
respectively in such a way that they together
form a quadrilateral as shown in the figure. 𝑅 𝑆
A cell of electromotive force and a key are 𝐼
𝐷
connected between point and , and a
galvanometer and key are connected +
𝐸 𝐾
between point and . We know the value of
these four resistances , and , therefore these
are called known resistances and the resistance is unknown, so we
find the value of this resistance with the help of this bridge.
Principle:-
The principle of this bridge is the state of equilibrium. For the state
of equilibrium, the resistances and are kept constant and the
value of is adjusted in such a way that there is no deflection in the
galvanometer. In this case the potentials of points and are
equal. The ratio of the resistances of any two adjacent arms of a
quadrilateral is equal to the ratio of the resistances of the other two
adjacent arms.

Proof:-
Applying in loop
𝐼𝑃 𝐼 𝑅
𝐼𝑃 𝐼 𝑅 (i)
Applying in loop

𝐼𝑄 𝐼 𝑆
𝐼𝑄 𝐼 𝑆 (ii)
Dividing equation (i) by equation (ii) gives

𝐼𝑃 𝐼𝑅
𝐼𝑄 𝐼 𝑆

𝑃 𝑅
𝑄 𝑆

𝑄
𝑆 𝑅
𝑃