Current, Resistance and

Electromotive Force
Young and Freedman
Chapter 25
 Electric Current: Analogy, water flowing in a pipe

H20
gallons/minute
Individual molecules are
bouncing around with
speeds of km/s!
“Flow Rate” is the NET amount
Net water velocity is m/s
of water passing through a
surface per unit time

I
Coulombs/s
Individual electrons are
bouncing around with
- very high speed
“Electric Current” is the - - -
- -
NET amount of charge - - - - Electron “drift velocity
passing through a surface - may be mm/s
- - -
per unit time -
 Electric Current
In a Conductor, Charges are free to move.

The charges may be positive;

This is usually relevant only for
“special cases” like ions in a
solution. (Holes in semiconductors
act like positive charges)

The charges may be negative;

This is the normal case for
metallic conductors.

dQ
I=
dt
 Inside a conductor there are LOTS of charges
There could be 1024 electrons /cm2+
Area A
vd is “drift velocity”

r
Current I vd

n = # of charges q per m3

Total Current through area A is given by

I = nqvd A
Current per unit area is given by
I
J = = nqvd
A
J can vary in magnitude and direction in Space
r r
J = nqvd Vector Current Density
 Conductors, in general, follow Ohm’s law

For many materials, the local current density is

proportional to the local electric field
v
E or
r E
!= J=
J !
ρ is known as the Resistivity of a material
A material with a linear relationship between J and E is said to follow
“Ohm’s Law”

Important note: Not all material follow Ohm’s Law. Most metals do follow Ohm’s Law
so when we speak of a metallic conductor we are implicitly assume that the material
follows Ohm’s Law. This is not to be confused with a “perfect” conductor which has
zero resistivity. There are real materials called “superconductors”
There are many important examples of “Non-Ohmic” materials. Many extremely
important semi-conductor devices are non-ohmic.
 Current

V v r
E= E = !J
L
Ohm’s Law
Uniform E Field

What is the total Current through this object?

I = JA
E
I= A Collect all the terms that
!

I=
V
L!
A
describe the object and
call them “R” the: V = IR
L! RESISTANCE
V= I Usual Statement
A of Ohm’s Law
 Resistivity and Resistance

IMPORTANT:
Do not confuse “Resistivity” with
Resisitance
Resistivity is a property of a type of
Material (copper, steel, water,…)
Resistance is a property of a particular,
specific object (a car key, a piece of wire…)
 Circuits
Direct Current – “DC”

• In a DC Circuit ALL quantities (Voltage, Current, …) are constant

• Consider that the circuit has been running for a long time and will
continue to run longer.
In a steady state system – Charge can only flow in a “Loop”

E - +
I - E=0 I=0 +
+
-

Current can flow in continuous loop

BUT
If Resistance is NOT ZERO,
We require something to keep current flowing,

“ELECTRO MOTIVE FORCE” ε

Continuing with “flowing water” analogy: EMF

In a closed water “circuit” because of

viscosity (“fluid friction”), there must be
some “motive force” to maintain a steady
state flow of water.

In a closed electrical “circuit” because of

resistivity (“electrical friction”), there must
be some “electro-motive force” to maintain
a steady state current.

An Ideal “Electromotive Force” ε

ε provides a constant voltage between two
“terminals” –

No Matter How Much Current Flows!

Inside the “Ideal EMF”
r
A Non Electrostatic Force Fn acts on the the
charges inside the EMF. This cause the chargesrto
be displaces and leads to a electrostatic force Fe
which “balances” the non-electrostatic force.

A “resistive” path

Potential difference between ends of

resistive path:

V =!
V = IR }
! = IR
 Symbols for circuit elements
Ideal conductor - generally assume that that R=0

Ideal EMF NOTE – device is asymmetric

Ideal Resistor

EMF with internal resistance

Ideal Voltmeter - generally assume that that R=∞

- No current flows through an ideal voltmeter -

Ideal Ammeter - generally assume that that R=0

A
Electrically, an ideal ammeter is a perfect conductor
 Open Circuit EMF Ex 25.2

Question: What do the meters read?

First simplify circuit by replacing the meters by equivalent resistors:

No complete circuit means No current

Vab = Vac + Vcb

c
Vab = IR + Vcb
Vab = 0 + Vcb
Vab = ! = 12V

Voltmeter reads V=12 volt

Ammeter reads A= 0 amperes
 Open Circuit EMF Ex 25.2

=
Electrically
c

First Determine the Current:

V = IRtotal Important Suggestion
V = I (r + R) for doing problems:
I 12V
I= = = 2A First completely solve
( r + R ) 6! the problem
algebraically…
Next Determine the Voltage:
Vab = Vcb " Vac
Then substitute
Vab = # " Ir
numerical quantities to
Vab = 12v " ( 2 A)( 2!) determine the
Vab = 8V numerical answer
Electric potential through a complete circuit

FIGURE 25.20

If I go around the circuit and come back to the same point,

THE VOLTAGE MUST BE THE SAME!

 Power in electric circuits
Power is defined as Energy (Work) per Unit Time

dW = VabdQ
dW dQ
= Vab
dt dt
dW
= Vab I The sign of the power is important
dt
dW > 0 Power added to system
For Pure Resistance Changes chemical energy to
electrical energy and adds it to
dW the energy in the circuit
P= = IV but V = IR
dt dW < 0 Power removed from system

2 V2 Changes electrical energy

P=I R= to heat and removes it
R from the circuit
Chapter 25 Summary
Chapter 25 Summary cont.
 End of Chapter 25
You are responsible for the material covered in T&F Sections 25.1-25.5
You are expected to:

• Understand the following terms:

Current, Resistivity, Resistance, EMF, Internal Resistance, Open
Circuit, Complete Circuit, Ammeter, Voltmeter, Short Circuit, Power

• Determine Current and Voltage in a simple circuit.

• Understand how voltmeters and ammeter’s are used and how they
respond.

• Determine power dissipation in a simple circuit

Recommended Y&F Exercises chapter 25:

1, 10, 11, 31, 32, 35, 36, 44, 49