Current, Resistance and
Electromotive Force
Lecture 9
What is current?
Current is any motion of charge from one region to another.
I = dQ/dt S.I. is Ampere (1C/1s)
1 mA = 10-3 Amp / 1 µA = 10-6 Amp /1 nA = 10-9 Amp / 1 pA = 10-
12
Amp
- Consider (n) as a number of moving charged particles per unit volume
in a cylinder, each particle move with the same drift velocity vd. In
time interval dt each particle moves a distance of vd t.
- Volume of the cylinder is given by A vd dt and number of particles is
then n A vd dt.
- If each particle has a charge q, the total charge dQ that flows out of
cylinder end during time dt is:
dQ = q([Link] dt) = [Link] .A. dt
Thus the current is:
I = dQ/dt = [Link] .A
Current density:
J = I/A = n q vd (S.I is Amp/m2)
I = dQ/dt = n q vd A
(General expression of current)
J = I/A= n q vd
(General expression for current density)
J = n q vd (vector current density)
Example:
An 18-gauge copper wire has a nominal diameter of 1.02 mm.
This wire carries a constant current of 1.67 A to a 200-watt lamp. The
density of the free electrons is 8.5 x 1028 electrons per cubic meter.
Find :
(a) The magnitude of the current density
(b) The drift velocity
(a) A = πd2 = 8.17 x 10-7 m2
J = I/A = 1.67 A / 8.17 x 10-7 m2 = 2.04 x 106 A/m2
(b) vd = J/n q = 2.04 x 106 A/m2
(8.5 x 1028 m-3) (-1.6 x 10-19 C)
= 1.5 x 10-4 m/s = 0.15 mm/s
Resistivity
Resistivity is defined as ration of electric field
magnitude and current density
ρ = E/J S.I (V/m)/A/m2) = V.m/A
‘Resistivity of metallic conductor increase with
increasing temperature’.
ρ(T) = ρ0 [1+α(T-T0)] Temperature dependence of
resistivity
ρ0: Resistivity at reference temperature T0 (0°-20°C)
α: Temperature coefficient of resistivity
Resistance
E = ρJ
Suppose our conductor is a wire with uniform
cross-sectional area A and length L.
I = JA
Potential difference between wire ends is:
V = EL
Thus equation E = ρJ becomes:
V/L = ρI/A or V = ρLI/A
We introduce ration between V/I as
Resistance (R)
R = ρL/A
V = IR (Ohm’s law)
Example:
The 18-gauge wire in previous example has a diameter of 1.02
mm and a cross-sectional area of 8.20x10-7 m2. It carries current of
1.67 A. Find: Take ρ = 1.72 x 10-8 Ω.m
(a) The electric field magnitude in the wire
(b) The potential difference between two points in the wire 50.0 m
apart
(c) The resistance of a 50.0 m length of this wire
(a) E = ρJ = ρI/A = (1.72 x 10-8 Ω.m)(1.67 A)
8.20 x 10-7 m2
= 0.0350 V/m
(b) V = EL = (0.0350 V/m)(50.0 m) = 1.75 V
(c) R = V/I = 1.75 V / 1.67 A = 1.05 Ω
Temperature dependence of resistance:
R = R0 [1+ α (T-T0)]
R: Resistance at temperature T
R0: Resistance at temperature T0 often to be taken between (0°-20°C)
α: Temperature coefficient of resistance
- Suppose the resistance of the wire in previous example is 1.05 Ω at
temperature of 20° C. Find the resistance at 0° C and at 100° C.
R = R0[1+ α(T-T0)]
At T= 0° C
= (1.05 Ω)[1+ 0.00393 (C°)-1 [0° C - 20° C)] = 0.97 Ω
At T= 100° C
= (1.05 Ω) [1+ (0.00393 (C°)-1 [100° C - 20° C] = 1.38
Ω
Electromotive Force and Circuits
The influence that makes current to flow from lower to higher
potential is called electromotive force (emf).
S.I is same as for the potential, (1V = 1J /1C)
Ɛ (emf) = Vab = IR
If there is internal resistance in the circuit, it should be
included;
Ɛ- I.r = Vab
Ɛ: (emf)
I: Current
r: Internal resistance
Thus;
I = Ɛ / (R + r)
Example:
Figure shows a source (battery) with an emf Ɛ of 12 V
and an internal resistance r of 2 Ω. The wires to the left of a
and to the right of the ammeter (A) are not connected.
Determine the readings of the idealized voltmeter V and the
idealized ammeter A.
There is no current because there is no complete circuit. Thus, I
is zero in equation Ɛ- I.r = Vab
Ɛ = Vab = 12 V
Example:
Assume one resistance of 4-Ω is added to form the complete
circuit as shown in the Figure. What are the voltmeter and ammeter
readings now?
- Current through the circuit aa΄ b΄b is equal to ammeter reading.
- Potential difference Vab is equal to voltmeter reading.
I = Ɛ / (R+r) = 12 V / (4Ω + 2Ω) = 2 A
Va΄b΄ = IR = (2A) (4 Ω) = 8 V
Vab = Ɛ - I.r = 12 V – (2A) (2 Ω) = 8 V
No Potential difference between a and a΄ and b and b΄.
Example:
Voltmeter and ammeter in previous example are moved to
different positions as shown in the Figure. What are the voltmeter and
ammeter readings.
(a) The voltmeter now measures the potential between points a΄
and b΄.
Va΄b΄ = Vab = 8 V
(b) No current through the voltmeter because it has infinitely large
resistance, thus Vab = 12 V
Example:
If we replace the 4-Ω with a zero-resistance conductor as
shown in Figure. What are the meter readings now?
Our targets are I and Vab, the only difference now is that the external
resistance R = 0, thus the potential difference in the lower part is zero
Vab = Ɛ – I.r = 0 ;
I = Ɛ/r = 12 V/ 2 Ω = 6 A
Ammeter reads I = 6 A and voltmeter reads Vab = 0.
Energy and power in electric circuits
Power is defined as the time rate at which energy is
transferred denoted as P
P = Vab I
S.I (1 J/1 C) (1 C /1 s) = (1 J/1 s) = 1 W
P = Vab I = I2 R = Vab2 / R (power delivered to resistor)
Vab = Ɛ – I.r
P = Vab I = ƐI – I2 r (net electrical power output)
ƐI: rate at which work is done on circulating charge
I2 r: dissipated energy in internal resistance
For two sources of emf:
Vab = Ɛ + I.r ; thus; P = ƐI + I2 R
Example:
Within the Figure as shown, find the rate of energy conversion
(ƐI) and rate of dissipation (I2 r) in the battery and the net power
output of the battery.
ƐI = (12 V) (2 A) = 24 W
I2 r = (2 A)2 (2 Ω) = 8 W
P = ƐI – I2 r = 16 W
- If the 4- Ω resistor is replaced by 8- Ω resistor. How does this affect
the electrical power in the resistor?
I = Ɛ /(R + r) = 12 V / (8 Ω + 2 Ω) = 1.2 A
Vab = IR = (1.2 A) (8 Ω) = 9.6 V
P = I2 R = (1.2 A)2 (8 Ω) = 12 W
Theory of metallic conduction
- For electron with acceleration a = F/m = q. E/m
v = v0 + at
At t = 0; v0 = 0, thus at t =T; v = a T = q.T.E/m
vd = q.T.E/m , thus J = n q vd = n q2TE/m
ρ = m/ne2 T
T = m/ne2 ρ
(mean free time between collisions at room temperature)
- Calculate the m.f.t of collisions for copper at RT?
T = m/ne2 ρ
9.11 x 10-31 kg
(8.5 x 1028 m-3) (1.60 x 10-19 C)2 (1.71 x10-8 Ω.m)
= 2.4 x 10-14 s