ARUL INSTITUTE, CHENNAI

CBSE – CLASS XII – PHYSICS – CHAPTER 3

CURRENT ELECTRICITY – PART 2

ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND POWER

Consider a conductor AB of resistance R connected to a battery as shown in the figure. The

battery maintains a potential difference V between its ends A and B. Since the current is

flowing from A to B, VA > VB .The potential difference across AB is

V = VA – VB > 0

I R I
A B

I I

I I

The amount of charge (∆Q) that flows from A to B in time interval (∆t) is

∆Q = I ∆t

The potential energy of the charge at A, UA = ∆[Link]

The potential energy of the charge at B, UB = ∆[Link]

The change in potential energy is

∆Upot = Final potential energy – Initial potential energy

∆Upot = UB – UA

∆Upot = ∆[Link] – ∆[Link] = ∆Q (VB – VA) = –∆Q V = –VI ∆t < 0

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If charges moved without collisions through the conductor, their kinetic energy would also

change so that the total energy is unchanged.

The change in kinetic energy is

∆K = –∆Upot = VI ∆t > 0

Thus, in case charges were moving freely through the conductor under the action of electric

field, their kinetic energy would increase.

e
ut
However when the charges move through the conductor, they collide repeatedly with the

positive ions. During collisions, the energy gained by the charges is shared with the ions.
tit
These ions vibrate more vigorously and the conductor gets heated up.
ns
The amount of energy dissipated as heat in the conductor during the time (t) is

H = VIt
I

H = (IR) It = I2Rt
ul

V V 2t
H=V t =
R R
Ar

The above equations are known as Joule’s law of heating.

The power dissipated in the conductor is the energy dissipated per unit time.

H VIt
P= =
t t

P = VI

P = (IR) I = I2R

V V2
P=V =
R R
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This is called as the power loss (“ohmic loss”) in a conductor of resistance R carrying a

current I and potential difference V across it.

Electrical Energy

The energy supplied by the source of emf to maintain the flow of electric current in a circuit is

called electrical energy.

e
The SI unit of electric energy is joule.

ut
Electric energy = Electric power x time

Electric energy = VIt = (IR) It = I2Rt

tit
The commercial unit of electric energy is kilowatt hour.
ns
1 kilowatt hour = 1 kilowatt x 1 hour = 1000 watt x 3600 seconds = 3.6 x 106 J
I

Electrical Power
ul

The rate at which the electrical energy is supplied to an electrical circuit is called electrical
Ar

power.

The SI unit of electric power is watt.

Electric energy
Electric power =
time

VIt
Electric power = = VI
t

Electric power = (IR) I = I2R

V V2
Electric power = V =
R R
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COMBINATION OF RESISTORS

(a) Resistors in series

Consider three resistors of resistance R1, R2 and R3 connected in series. Let V be the potential

difference applied across the series combination. When resistors are connected in series, the

current flowing through each resistor is the same.

Let V1, V2 & V3 be the potential difference across the resistors R1, R2 & R3 respectively.

R1 R2 R3
V1 V2 V3
I I

The total potential difference across the series combination is

V = V1 + V2 + V3

IRS = IR1 + IR2 + IR3 (Q V = IR )

where RS is the effective resistance of the series combination

IRS = I(R1 + R2 + R3)

RS = R1 + R2 + R3

Note: The value of equivalent resistance in series connection will be greater than each

individual resistance.
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(b) Resistors in parallel

Consider three resistors of resistance R1, R2 and R3 connected in parallel. Let V be the

potential difference applied across the parallel combination. When resistors are connected in

parallel, the potential difference (V) across each resistor is the same.

I1 R1

I2 R2

I3 R3

I I

The total current in the parallel combination is

I = I1 + I2 + I3

V V V V  V
= + + Q V = IR ; I = 
RP R1 R2 R3  R

where RP is the effective resistance of the parallel combination

V  1 1 1 
= V  + + 
RP  R1 R 2 R 3 

1 1 1 1
= + +
RP R1 R 2 R 3

Note: The value of equivalent resistance in parallel connection will be lesser than each

individual resistance.
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ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL

An electrochemical cell is a device which converts chemical energy into electrical energy and

maintains the steady flow of current in the circuit.

Basically a cell has two electrodes called the positive (P) and the negative (N) electrodes as

shown in the figure. They are immersed in an electrolytic solution. Dipped in the solution, the

electrodes exchange charges with the electrolyte.

The positive electrode has a potential difference (V+) between itself and the electrolyte

solution immediately adjacent to it marked A in the figure. Similarly, the negative electrode

develops a negative potential –(V–) relative to the electrolyte adjacent to it marked as B in the

figure.

When there is no current, the electrolyte has the same potential throughout, so that the

potential difference between P and N is (V+) – (–V–) = (V+) + (V–). This difference is called the

electromotive force (emf) of the cell and is denoted by ε.

Note that the emf (ε) is a potential difference and not a force.
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Internal resistance of a cell (r)

When the terminals of a cell are connected with a resistor (R), an electric current flows through

the resistor from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the cell. But inside the

electrolyte of the cell, the current flows from its negative terminal to positive terminal. During

this process of flow of current inside the cell, a resistance is offered to current flow by the

electrolyte of the cell. This is called as the internal resistance of the cell.

I R I

I I

I I

Positive Negative
Electrode Electrode

(Electrolyte)

EMF of a cell (ε)

Emf of a cell is defined as the potential difference between the two terminals of the cell in an

open circuit i.e. when no current flows through the cell.

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Terminal voltage of a cell (V)

Terminal voltage of a cell is defined as the potential difference between the two terminals of

the cell in a closed circuit i.e. when current is flowing through the cell.

Relation between internal resistance (r), emf (ε ) & terminal voltage (V) of a cell

I V = IR I
R

I I
Internal Resistance
r of a cell
I ε Ir I

V = IR (1)

V = ε – Ir

ε – V = Ir (2)

Eqn ( 2) ε−V Ir

→ =
Eqn (1) V IR

ε−V
r=  R
 V 

Relation between internal resistance (r), current (I) and emf (ε ) of a cell

V = ε – Ir

ε
IR = ε – Ir ; IR + Ir = ε ; I(R+r) = ε ; I=
R+r

The maximum current that can be drawn from the cell is for R = 0 and it is Imax = ε / r