GRADE-10

C-12 ELECTRICITY (NOTES)

Electric Current: The flow of electric charge is known as Electric Current,

Electric current is carried by moving electrons through a conductor.

By convention, electric current flows in the opposite direction to the movement of
electrons.

Electric Circuit: Electric circuit is a continuous and closed path of electric current.

Expression of Electric Current: Electric current is denoted by the letter ‘I’.

Electric current is expressed by the rate of flow of electric charges. Rate of flow means,
the amount of charge flowing through a particular area in unit time.

If a net electric charge (Q) flows through a cross-section of a conductor in time t, then,

Where I is electric current, Q is a net charge and t is a time in second.

S.I. Unit of Electric Charge and Current:

S.I. unit of electric charge is coulomb (C).
One coulomb is nearly equal to 6 × 1018 electrons.
S.I. unit of electric current is ampere (A).
1 Ampere is the flow of electric charge through a surface at the rate of one coulomb per second.
This means, if 1 coulomb of electric charge flows through a cross section for 1 second, it
would be equal to 1 ampere.
Therefore, 1 A = 1 C/1 s

Small Quantity of Electric Current:

Small quantity of electric current is expressed in milliampere and microampere.

Milliampere is written as mA and microampere as µA.

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1 mA (milliampere) = 10-3 A
1 µA (microampere) = 10-6 A

Ammeter: An apparatus to measure electric current in a circuit.,

Charge: Like mass, the charge is the fundamental property of matter. There are two types of
charge
(i) Positive charge.
(ii) Negative charge.
S.I. unit of charge is coulomb (C).
1 coulomb = 1 ampere × 1 second.
1C = 1A × 1s
Thus, the quantity of charge which flows through a circuit when one ampere of current
flows through it in one second is known as a 1-coulomb charge.

Electric Potential: The electric potential (or potential) at a point in an electric field is defined
as the work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to that point,

Potential Difference: The electric potential difference is the work done per unit
charge to move a unit charge from one point to another in an electric field.
Electric potential difference is known as voltage, which is equal to the amount of work done to
move the unit charge between two points against static electric field.

Therefore, Voltage = Workdone /Charge

Voltage or electric potential difference is denoted by V’.
Therefore, V = W /Q
Where, W = Work done and Q = Charge

S.I. unit of electric potential difference is volt and denoted by ‘V’ This is named in
honour of Italian Physicist Alessandro Volta.

Since joule is the unit of work and Coulomb is the unit of charge,

1 volt of electric potential difference is equal to the 1 joule of work to be done to move
a charge of 1 coulomb from one point to another in an electric circuit. Therefore
1V = 1Joule/1Coulomb = 1J/1C
1V = 1JC-1

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voltmeter: An apparatus to measure the potential difference or electric potential
difference between two points in an electric circuit.

Galvanometer: It is a device to detect current in an electric circuit.

Ohm’s Law:
Ohm’s Law states that the potential difference between two points is directly
proportional to the electric current, at a constant temperature.

This means potential difference V varies as electric current.

V∝I
V = RI
I = VR
R = VI
Where, R is constant for the given conductor at a given temperature and is called
resistance.

Resistance: Resistance is the property of conductor which resists the flow of electric
current through it.
S.I. unit of resistance is ohm. Ohm is denoted by Greek letter ‘Ω

1 Ohm: 1 ohm (Ω) of resistance (R) is equal to the flow 1A of current through a
conductor between two points having a potential difference equal to 1V.
This means; 1Ω = 1V x1A

From the expression of Ohm’s Law, it is obvious that electric current through a resistor
is inversely proportional to [Link] means electric current will decrease with an
increase in resistance and vice versa. The graph of V (potential difference) versus I
(electric current) is always a straight line.

Resistance: Resistance is a property of conductor due to which it resists the flow of

electric current through it. A component that is used to resist the flow of electric current

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in a circuit is called a resistor.
In practical application, resistors are used to increase or decrease the electric current.

Variable Resistance: The component of an electric circuit which is used to regulate the
current, without changing the voltage from the source, is called variable resistance.

Rheostat: This is a device which is used in a circuit to provide variable resistance.

Cause of Resistance in a Conductor: Flow of electrons in a conductor is electric current.

The positive particles of conductor create hindrance to flow of electrons, because of
attraction between them, this hindrance is the cause of resistance in the flow of
electricity.

Factors on Which Resistance of a Conductor Depends:

Resistance in a conductor depends on nature, length and area of cross section of the
conductor.
(i) Nature of Material: Some materials create least hindrance and hence, are called
good conductors. Silver is the best conductor of electricity. While some other materials
create more hindrance in the flow of electric current, i.e., flow of electrons through
them. Such materials are called bad conductors. Bad conductors are also known as
insulators. Hard plastic is the one of the best insulators of electricity.

(ii) Length of Conductor: Resistance (R) is directly proportional to the length of the
conductor. This means, resistance increases with increase in length of the conductor.
This is the cause that long electric wires create more resistance to the electric current.
Thus, Resistance (R) ∝ length of conductor (l)
or, R ∝ l …(i)

(iii) Area of Cross Section: Resistance R is inversely proportional to the area of cross
section (A) of the conductor. This means R will decrease with an increase in the area of
conductor and vice versa. More area of conductor facilitates the flow of electric current
through more area and thus, decreases the resistance. This is the cause that thick
copper wire creates less resistance to the electric current.

Thus, resistance (R) ∝ 1/Area of cross section of conductor (A)

or, R ∝ lA ….(ii)
From equations (i) and (ii)
R ∝ lA
R = ρ lA
Where, ρ (rho) is the proportionality constant. It is called the electrical resistivity of the
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material of conductor.
From equation (iii) RA = ρl ⇒ ρ = RA/l ..(iv)

The S.I. unit of Resistivity:

Since, the S.I. unit of R is Ω, S.I. unit of area is m2 and S.I. unit of length is m.
Hence, unit of resistivity (ρ) = Ω×m2/m = Ωm
Thus, S.I. unit of resistivity (ρ) is Ωm.

Resistivity:
It is defined as the resistance offered by a cube of a material of side 1m when current
flows perpendicular to its opposite faces.

It’s S.I. unit is ohm-meter (Ωm).

Resistivity, ρ = RA/l

Resistivity is also known as specific resistance.

Resistivity depends on the nature of the material of the conductor.

Materials having a resistivity in the range of 10-8 Ωm to 10-6 Ωm are considered as very
good conductors. Silver has resistivity equal to 1.60 × 10-8 Ωm and copper has
resistivity equal to 1.62 × 10-8 Ωm.
Rubber and glass are very good insulators. They have a resistivity in the order of 10-
12 Ωm to 10-8 Ωm.

The resistivity of materials varies with temperature.

Combination of Resistors
(i) Series combination
(ii) Parallel combination.

1. Resistors in Series:
When resistors are joined from end to end, it is called in series. In this case, the
total resistance of the system is equal to the sum of the resistance of all the
resistors in the system.

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 Let, three resistors R1, R2, and R3 get connected in series.
Potential difference across A and B = V
Potential difference across R1, R2 and R3 = V1, V2 and V3
Current flowing through the combination = I
We, know that
V= V1 + V2 + V3 …. (i)
According to Ohm’s Law :
V1 = IR1, V2 = IR2 and V3 = IR3 ….. (ii)
Let, total resistance = Rs
Then, V = IRs …(iii)
From equations (i) and (ii) and (iii)
IRs = IR1 + IR2 + IR3
Rs = R1 + R2 + R3
When the resistors are connected in series, the current flowing through each
resistor is the same and is equal to the total current.

Characteristics of Series circuit

• The total resistance of a series circuit is equal to the sum of all the individual
resistances in the circuit.

R = R1 + R2 + R3…

• The total current in a series circuit is the same as the current through any resistance of
the circuit.

I = I1 = I2 = I3…

• The total voltage in a series circuit is equal to the sum of all the individual
voltage drops in the circuit.

V= V1 + V 2 + V3

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 • The equivalent resistance is greater than the greatest individual resistance in
the circuit.

2. Resistors in Parallel: When resistors are joined in parallel, the reciprocal of the
total resistance of the system is equal to the sum of reciprocal of the resistance
of resistors.

Let three resistors R1, R2 and R3 connected in parallel.

Potential difference across point A and B = V
Total current flowing between point A and B = I
Currents flowing through resistors R1, R2 and R3 = I1, I2 and I3 respectively.
We, know that,
I = I1 + I2 + I3 …….(i)
Since, the potential difference across R1, R2, and R3 is the same = V
According to Ohm’s Law,

In parallel combination, the potential difference across each resistor is the same and is
equal to the total potential difference.
The total current through the circuit can be calculated by adding the electric current
through individual resistors.

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 Characteristics of Parallel circuit

4,The equivalent resistance is less than the least resistance used in the
circuit.
ADVANTAGES OF PARALLEL COMBINATION OVER SERIES COMBINATION

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Heating Effect of Electric Current:
When electric current is supplied to a purely resistive conductor, the energy of electric
current is dissipated entirely in the form of heat and as a result, resistor gets heated.
The heating of resistor because of dissipation of electrical energy is commonly known
as Heating Effect of Electric Current.

Some examples are as follows : When electric energy is supplied to an electric bulb, the
filament gets heated because of which, it gives light. The heating of electric bulb
happens because of heating effect of electric current.

Cause of Heating Effect of Electric Current: Electric current generates heat to

overcome the resistance offered by the conductor through which it passes. Higher the
resistance, the electric current will generate higher amount of heat. Thus, generation of
heat by electric current while passing through a conductor is an inevitable
consequence. This heating effect is used in many appliances, such as electric iron,
electric heater, electric geyser, etc.

Joule’s Law Of Heating:

Let, an electric current, I is flowing through a resistor having resistance = R.

The potential difference through the resistor is = V.
The charge, Q flows through the circuit for the time, t
Thus, work done in moving of charge (Q) of potential difference (V),

W=V×Q
Since this charge, Q flows through the circuit for time t

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Therefore, power input (P) to the circuit can be given by the following equation :
P = Wt
P = V × Qt …..(i)
We know, electric current, I = Qt
Substituting Qt = I in equation (i), we get,
P = VI …(ii)
i.e., P = VI
Since, the electric energy is supplied for time ?, thus, after multiplying both sides of equation (ii)
by time t, we get,
P × t = VI × t = VIt ……(iii)

i.e., P = VIt
Thus, for steady current I, the heat produced (H) in time t is equal to VIt
H = VIt i.e., H = VIt
We know, according to Ohm’s Law,
V = IR
By substituting this value of V in equation (iii), we get,
H = IR × It
H = I2Rt ……(iv)
The expression (iv) is known as Joule’s Law of Heating, which states that

heat produced in a resistor is directly proportional to the square of current given to the
resistor, directly proportional to the resistance for a given current and directly proportional to
the time for which the current is flowing through the resistor.

Electric Bulb: In an electric bulb, the filament of bulb gives light because of the heating
effect of electricity. The filament of bulb is generally, made of tungsten metal, having
melting point equal to 3380°C.

Electric Iron: The element of electric iron is made of alloys having high melting point
Electric heater and geyser work on the same mechanism.

Electric Fuse: A fuse is a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and
breaks an Electric circuit if the current exceeds the safe value.

Electric fuse is made of metal or alloy of metals, such as aluminum, copper, iron, lead,
etc. In the case of flow of higher voltage than specified, fuse wire melts and protect the
electric appliances.

Characteristics of a fuse are:-

1. It should have low melting point.

2. It should have high conductivity. ( or low resistivity)
3. It should be economical

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 RATING OF A FUSE

The maximum current which can flow through a fuse without melting is called its
rating.

The fuses used for domestic purposes are rated as 1A,2A,3A.5A, 10A etc

Electric Energy is amount of work done to maintain the continuous flow of electric
current in the circuit.
Its S.I. unit is joule (J).

Electric power (P):

The electric work done per unit time is called electric power.
Electric Power = Electric workdone/Timetaken
or P = W /t
Electric power is also defined as the electric energy consumed per unit time.
P = E /t

The SI unit of electric power is watt (W).

P = VI

1W = 1 volt × 1 ampere = 1V × 1A

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It is the power consumed by a device that carries 1 A of current when operated at a
potential difference of 1 V.

Commercial unit of energy

Q. Name and define the commercial unit of energy, Express it in joules.

NB: watt and kilowatt are units of power

but watt hour and kilowatt hour are units of energy.

SAM

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