9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRIC CHARGE
➢ A charge is a fundamental and intrinsic property of a matter/substance which by defined
by excess or deficiency of matter.
➢ There are two types of electric charges: positive charge and negative charge.
➢ When a glass rod is rubbed with a silk cloth, then the glass rod acquires a positive charge
while the silk cloth acquires a negative for sometime.
➢ When ebonite rod is rubbed against wool, then it acquires a negative charge while the
charge on wool is positive. Here glass rod or ebonite rod do not conduct electricity but
the charges remain bound to them.
➢ Electricity is of two types:
1) Static electricity [found in insulators - charges don't move.]
2) Current electricity [found in conductors]
➢ The SI unit of electric charge is coulomb (C), which is equivalent to the charged
contained in nearly 6.25 x1018 electrons.
Properties of Charges
1. Addition
➢ Charges are added algebraically. E.g if there are 4 charges q1, q2, q3, q4 then total
charges will be given by Q= q1+q2+q3+q4
2. Conservatism
➢ Charges can neither be created not be destroyed but it can be transferred from one body
to another
3. Quantisation
➢ The total charge acquired by a body is an integral multiple of magnitude of charge on a
single electron. This principle is called quantisation of charge
• Magnitude of charge on one electron, e = 1.6×10-19 C.
• Charge on n electrons, q = ne = n × 1.6×10-19 C
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
ELECTRIC CURRENT
➢ It is defined as the rate of flow of electric charge through any cross-section of a
conductor in unit time.
➢
➢ The SI unit of electric current is ampere (A), named in honour of French scientist Andre-
Marie Ampere (1775-1836).
➢ It is a scalar quantity.
➢ When 1 coulomb of charge flows through any cross-section of a conductor in 1 second,
then the electric current flowing through it is said to be 1 ampere.
➢
➢ Smaller units of current are milliampere (1 mA =10-3 A) and microampere (1 uA = 10-6A)
➢ One Ampere of current means the flow of 1 C charge per second or 6.251018 electrons
per second through any cross-section of the conductor.
Direction of Electric Current
The direction of electric current is taken as
opposite to the direction of the flow of electrons
(negative charges). In an electric circuit the current
flows from positive terminal of the cell to the
negative terminal.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
CONDUCTORS, INSULATORS AND SEMICONDUCTORS(RESISTORS)
✔ Those substances through which electricity can flow are called conductors. They offer
very low electrical resistance.
For example:
1) Metals like Copper & Silver.
2) Carbon, in the form of graphite is also a conductor.
3) The human body is a fairly good conductor.
✔ Those substances through which electricity cannot flow are called insulators. They offer
infinitely high electrical resistance.
For example: Non-metals like Rubber, glass, ebonite, mica, etc.
✔ Those substances which provide high resistance are called resistors.
For example: Alloys like Silicon and Germanium.
Ammeter Electric current is measured by a device called ammeter. It is a low resistance
device which is always connected in series with the device through which the current is to
be measured.
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
➢ It is defined as the amount of work done when a unit positive charge is moved from
infinity to a point.
➢ If work done in moving a positive charge from infinity to a point is W, then electric
potential V of that point is
➢
➢ A chemical reaction within a cell develops a difference in potential between both its
terminals.
➢ When a cell is connected to a circuit, the potential difference causes the charge to flow
and hence, the current is flowing through the circuit.
➢ The SI unit of electric potential is volt (V) and is named after Italian physicist Alessandro
Volta (1745-1827).
➢ It is a scalar quantity.
➢ If we substitute the SI units of work done [i.e., Joule (J)] and charge [i.e., coulomb (C)] in
the following relation, we get
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
The electric potential difference between two points is defined as the work done in
moving a unit positive charge from one point to other point.
Voltage is the other name for potential difference.
NOTE:
1) The potential difference is measured with the help of an instrument called voltmeter.
2) A voltmeter is always connected in parallel across the points whose potential difference is
to be measured as it has a high resistance so that negligible amount of current will flow
through.
SOLVED EXAMPLES
Example 1: How can one get a continuous flow of electric current?
Solution:
The simplest way to maintain a potential difference between the two ends of a conductor so
as to get a continuous flow of current is to connect the conductor between the terminals of
a cell or a battery. Due to the chemical reactions going on inside the cell or a battery, a
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
potential difference is maintained between its terminals and this potential difference drives
a continuous current in the circuit to which the cell or battery is connected.
Example 2:How does the current flow in a wire?
Solution
When the metal wire is not connected to a source of electricity like a cell or a battery, then
the electrons present in it move randomly in all directions. When a source of electricity is
connected between the ends of the metal wire, then an electric force acts on the electrons
present in the wire. Since the electrons are negatively charged, they start moving from
negative end to the positive end of the wire. This flow of electrons constitutes electric
current in the wire.
NOTE: The conventional direction of an electric current is from +ve terminal of a cell or a
battery to the -ve terminal, through the outer circuit, while the flow of electrons is from -ve
terminal to +ve terminal, which is opposite to the direction of conventional current.
Example 3: How is electrical energy produced in a battery or a cell?
Solution:
The chemical reaction within the cell generates the potential difference between the
terminals of a cell which in turn sets the electrons in motion to flow the current through a
resistor or a system of resistors connected to the battery.
Example 4: We can get an electric shock if we touch a naked live wire. Explain.
Solution:
Electric current tends to flow due to the potential difference that exists
between the Earth and a wire (as the wire acquires a positive value).
Therefore, when we touch a naked live wire, our body provides the current a
bridge or link to flow from high potential (wire) to zero potential (Earth) via
our body. This flow results in an electric shock, which can prove to be fatal.
Example 5: Birds sitting on live wires do not get electrocuted. Explain.
Solution:
Potential difference is a must for current to flow. Birds do not get electrocuted while sitting
on live transmission wires because their bodies do not provide a bridge or link for the
electrons to flow. The potential of a bird’s body is zero before coming in touch with a wire.
When a bird sits on a wire, its body potential
rises and becomes equal to the potential of the
wire. If a person standing on the ground touches
the bird, then both will get an electric shock.
This is because the person’s body would provide
a link for the electrons to pass on to the Earth.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
➢ A closed and continuous path through
which electric current flows is known as
electric circuit.
➢ It has various components including a
source of current (say a cell or battery),
a load (say a bulb or any other
appliance), a switch/key (to open or
close a circuit), a fuse, all connected
through connecting wires.
➢ These wires are generally made of
copper.
➢ When the key is closed, then the circuit is called closed circuit.
➢ This means that current would flow through the circuit to operate the device.
➢ When the key is open, then the circuit is called open circuit. This means that current
would not flow through the circuit.
TYPES OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
COMPONENTS OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT
OHM’s LAW
➢ This law was given by a German Physicist Georg Simon Ohm(1787-1854) in the year
1827.
➢ It gives a relationship between current I, flowing in a metallic wire and potential
difference V, across its terminals.
➢ According to this law, the electric current flowing through a conductor is directly
proportional to the potential difference applied across its ends, providing the physical
conditions (such as temperature) remain unchanged.
➢ If V is the potential difference applied across the ends of a conductor through which
current I flows, then according to Ohm's law
➢
➢ where, R is the constant of proportionality called resistance of the conductor at a given
temperature.
➢ From the above formula, it is clear that current is inversely proportional to resistance.
➢ If resistance is doubled, then current gets halved and if resistance is halved, then current
gets doubled.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
➢ Ohm’s law is not a universal law. The substances, which obey ohm’s law are known as
ohmic substances.
➢ Graph between V and I for a metallic conductor is a straight line as shown. At different
temperatures V-I curves are different.
➢
➢ The device or substances which don’t obey ohm’s law e.g. gases, crystal rectifiers,
thermionic valve, transistors etc. are known as non-ohmic or non-linear conductors. For
these V-I curve is not linear.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
What do we observe in Ohm's law activity and what is its conclusion?
Observation: It is observed that the current increases constantly with increase in voltage. i.e.
ratio V/I has a coristant value for all observations. Thus, the V-I graph is a straight line that
passes through the origin of the graph.
Hence Ohm's law gets verified since it is proved that the
current is directly proportional to the potential
difference applied at the two ends of conductor.
NOTE: To compare the resistance of two or more
components from their graphs, consider this: More
inclination towards voltage - axis indicates more
resistance.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
RESISTANCE
(i) Definition: The property of substance by virtue of which it opposes the flow of current
through it, is known as the resistance.
(ii) Cause of resistance of a conductor: It is due to the collisions of free electrons with the
ions or atoms of the conductor while drifting towards the positive end of the conductor.
(iii) Unit: It’s S.I. unit is volt/ampere or ohm ().
Some Important Terms Related to Resistance
• Resistor A component in an electric circuit which offers resistance to the flow of electrons
constituting electric cutens is known as resistor. These are used to make those electrical
devices, where high resistance is required. It reduces current in a circuit, e.g. alloys like
nichrome, manganin and constantan.
• Rheostat/variable resistance It is a variable resistor which used to control the flow of
electric current by manually is increasing or decreasing the resistance.
• Good conductor A material which offers low resistance to the flow of electrons or electric
current in an electric circuit is known as a good conductor, e.g. silver, copper, aluminium.
Amongst these, silver is the best conductor of electricity.
• Poor conductor A material which offers higher resistance than conductors to the flow of
electrons or electric current in an electric circuit is known as poor conductor, e.g, mercury,
lead, stainless steel, alloys of iron and chromium.
• Insulator A material which offers very high resistance to the flow of electrons or electric
current in an electric circuit is known as insulator, e.g. rubber, dry wood and plastic. Electric
current does not flow through them.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
Resistance of a conductor depends on the following factors:
RESISTIVITY OR SPECIFIC RESISTANCE
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI
9712676390 P&D’s EDUCATION 9016349991
UNCLE KI BAATE
➢ It is defined as the resistance of a conductor of unit length and unit area of cross-section.
➢ Its SI unit is ohm-metre. (Ω-m)
➢ The resistivity of a material does not depend on its length or thickness but depends on
the nature of the substance and temperature.
➢ It is a characteristic property of the material of the conductor and varies only, if its
temperature changes.
➢ Insulators such as glass, rubber, ebonite, etc., have a very high resistivity (10 12 to1017Ω-
m), while conductors have a very low resistivity (10-8 to 10-6 Ω-m).
➢ Alloys have higher resistivity than that of their constituent metals.
➢ They do not oxidise easily at high temperatures, this is why they are used to make
heating elements of devices such as electric iron, heaters, etc.
➢ Tungsten is almost used exclusively for filaments of electric bulbs, whereas copper and
aluminium are generally used for electrical transmission lines.
NAME OF EDUCATORS: DHIRAJ GATTANI, PALLAVI GATTANI