AP Physics Electric Current Wrap-up

What equations will I have to play with that deal with electricity? Asks the concerned AP Physics student Why! you will have these "esponds the kindly Physics #eacher

C=

Q V
#his is the de$inition o$ capacitance as a $unction o$ char%e and potential di$$erence

C=

& A d
#his is capacitance as a $unction o$ plate area and plate separation

( ( U C = QV = CV ' ' '

#he potential ener%y stored in a capacitor

I Avg =

Q t
#he equation $or current showin% that it is the rate at which char%e is $lowin%

R=

l A
#he equation to deter)ine the resistance o$ a lon% conductor *hort len%ths o$ conductors are considered to have +ero resistance! ,ut lon% power lines and thin%s like that have a si%ni$icant a)ount o$ resistance #his equation will $i%ure it all out

V = IR
#his is -h).s law A very i)portant equation in the world o$ electricity

P = IV
Electric power ((/

CP = Ci
i

Capacitors add al%e,raically when they are in parallel you 0ust add the) up

( ( = CS Ci
i

Capacitors in series add up like resistors in parallel

RS = Ri
i

"esistors in series add up al%e,raically *u) the) up

( ( = RP Ri
i

#his is the equation $or $indin% the equivalent resistance $or a set o$ parallel resistors 1e2t the Physics 3ahuna will run the standards stu$$ that a student has to ,e a,le to do #here.s a ,unch o$ thin%s here Capacitors and Dielectrics: ( 4ou should know the de$inition o$ capacitance so you can relate stored char%e and volta%e $or a capacitor Use the capacitor equation. Pie. ' 4ou should understand ener%y stora%e in capacitors so you can5 a "elate volta%e! char%e! and stored ener%y $or a capacitor

You use the capacitor equation and the potential energy of a capacitor equation. Pretty simple stuff. Definitely pie. , "eco%ni+e situations in which ener%y stored in a capacitor is converted to other $or)s

The energy in the capacitor is released when it is hooked up so that there is a path for the electrons on the negative plate to flow to the positive plate. This generates a current. ((6

4ou should understand the physics o$ the parallel-plate capacitor so you can5 a 8escri,e the electric $ield inside the capacitor! and relate the stren%th o$ this $ield to the potential di$$erence ,etween the plates and the plate separation

The electric field inside the capacitor looks like this:

The lines of force etween the charged plates are parallel to each other and equally spaced! indicating a uniform electric field. The field strength depends on the voltage and the separation etween the charges:

E Avg =

V d

"o as the voltage increases! the field increases. #s the distance etween the plates increases! the field decreases. , 8eter)ine how chan%es in di)ension will a$$ect the value o$ the capacitance

To do this! you use the equation:

C=

& A d

This equation tells us that as the area of

the plates increases! the capacitance also increases. Capacitance and plate area are directly proportional. #lso it tells us that as the distance etween the plates increases the capacitance decreases. $f the separation decreases the capacitance increases. Capacitance and plate separation are inversely proportional. Current! %esistance! Power: ( 4ou should understand the de$inition o$ electric current so you can relate the )a%nitude and direction o$ the current in a wire or ioni+ed )ediu) to the rate o$ $low o$ positive and ne%ative char%e &ust use the equation for current! you know! charge divided y time. ' 4ou should understand the conductivity! resistivity! and resistance so you can5 a "elate current and volta%e $or a resistor ((9

This is 'ust your asic old (hm)s law. , 8escri,e how the resistance o$ a resistor depends upon its len%th and cross-sectional area

Use the resistivity equation. c Apply the relationships $or the rate o$ heat production in a resistor

This sounds weird * did we study any stuff a out this+ ,ell! we did. %emem er that the resistor asically turns electricity into heat. "o figure the amount of work done y the resistor and that is equal to the heat produced y the resistor. Power is equal to work divided y time P =

W so the heat developed is simply: E = Pt t

"teady-"tate Direct Current Circuits with .atteries and %esistors (nly: ( 4ou should understand the ,ehavior series and parallel co),inations o$ resistors so you can5 a Identi$y on a circuit dia%ra) resistors that are in series or in parallel

Please don)t try to tell the Physics /ahuna that you can)t do this0 , 8eter)ine the ratio o$ the volta%es across resistors connected in series or the ratio o$ the currents throu%h resistors connected in parallel

This is using (hm)s law for different sorts of circuits. %ecall how much phun we had doing this sort of pro lem. c Calculate the equivalent resistance o$ two or )ore resistors connected in series or parallel! or o$ a network o$ resistors that can ,e ,roken down into series and parallel co)ponents

This is pretty simple! 'ust use the equations for equivalent resistance. d Calculate the volta%e! current! and power dissipation $or any resistor in such a network o$ resistors connected to a sin%le ,attery

You use the power equation! (hm)s law! the rules for parallel and series circuits! etc. ,e did us several of these. e 8esi%n a si)ple series-parallel circuit that produces a %iven current and ter)inal volta%e $or one speci$ied co)ponent! and draw a dia%ra) $or the circuit usin% conventional sy),ols

Use (hm)s law! the rules for parallel and series circuits! 1tc. to figure out the needed circuit. ' 4ou should understand the properties o$ ideal and real ,atteries so you can5 ((:

Calculate the ter)inal volta%e o$ a ,attery o$ speci$ied e)$ and internal resistance $or) which a known current is $lowin%

The Physics /ahuna was proud to show you how to do this. Treat the attery like a small circuit. The emf is the voltage and the internal resistance is the resistor. You can find the voltage drop of the resistor. "u tract this voltage drop from the emf and you get the voltage the attery actually produces. "imple. 7 4ou should ,e a,le to apply -h).s law and 3ircho$$.s rules to direct-current circuits in order to5 a 8eter)ine a sin%le unknown current! volta%e or resistance (kay! what the heck is /irchoff)s rules+ ,ell! we didn)t study them. 2ainly ecause the rules are a very confusing way to solve circuit pro lems. The Physics /ahuna showed you a etter way. ,hat you do is analy3e the circuit using the rules for parallel and series circuits and apply (hm)s law to the thing to find the unknown value. ; 4ou should understand the properties o$ volt)eters and a))eters so you can5 a *tate whether the resistance o$ each is hi%h or low

#mmeter * low resistance. 4oltmeter * high resistance. , Identi$y or show correct )ethods o$ connectin% )eters into circuits in order to )easure volta%e or current

#mmeters are placed in series with the circuit to measure current. 4oltmeters are placed in parallel to measure the voltage of a circuit or component of a circuit. The voltmeter has very high resistance. ,hen placed in parallel with a component! the voltage drop is the same across oth the meter and the component! ut ecause the resistance is very large in the meter! the current through it is e5tremely small. The ammeter has a very low resistance. $t is placed in series with the component. $t measures the current! ut ecause its resistance is so small! it doesn)t add anything significant to the total resistance so that the current it measures is essentially the current in the circuit without the meter. Capacitors in Circuits: ( 4ou should understand the ,ehavior o$ capacitors connected in series or in parallel so you can5 a Calculate the equivalent capacitance o$ a series or parallel co),ination

Use the equations. ,e did several of these. , 8escri,e how stored char%e is divided ,etween two capacitors connected in parallel ('&

6et)s look at a parallel capacitor circuit:

The top plate of each capacitor has the same potential difference as the other. The equivalent capacitance of the circuit is simply the sum of the capacitance of the two capacitors. This is also true for the charge. The total charge stored in such a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the two charges: Q = Q( + Q' ' 4ou should ,e a,le to calculate the volta%e or stored char%e! under steady-state conditions! $or a capacitor connected to a circuit consistin% o$ a ,attery and resistors a 4ou should develop skill in analy+in% the ,ehavior o$ circuits containin% several capacitors and resistors so you can5 <(= 8eter)ine volta%es and currents i))ediately a$ter a switch has ,een closed and also a$ter steady-state conditions have ,een esta,lished $mmediately after the switch is thrown! current flows as if the capacitors did not e5ist. #s the capacitors gain charge! the current decreases until! when the capacitors are fully charged! no current flows at all. "o when the switch is initially thrown! solve for voltage! current! or resistance as if the capacitors did not e5ist. (nce steady state conditions are esta lished! no current flows in the circuit and the capacitor7s8 is9are fully charged.

"ample #P Physics Test Pro lems $nvolving DC :lectricity:

#he year '&&&5

#hree identical resistors! each with resistance R, and a capacitor o$ ( & 2 (&-: > are connected to a 7& ? ,attery with ne%li%i,le internal resistance! as shown in the circuit dia%ra) a,ove *witches *( and *' are initially closed! and switch *7 is initially open A volt)eter is connected as shown <a= 8eter)ine the readin% on the volt)eter

( ( = RP Ri
i

( ( ( = + RP R R

( ' = RP R

RP =

R '

REq = R +

R '

7 R '
('(

V = IR

I=

V R

7& V 7 R ' =

'& V R '& V

? throu%h R15

'& V V = IR = R C= Q V

<,= *witches *( and *' are now opened! and then switch *7 is closed 8eter)ine the char%e @ on the capacitor a$ter *7 has ,een closed $or a very lon% ti)e

Q = CV

= ( & x (&: F ( 7& V )

7 & x (&9 C

A$ter the capacitor is $ully char%ed! switches *( and *' re)ain open! switch *7 re)ains closed! the plates are held $i2ed! and a conductin% copper ,lock is inserted )idway ,etween the plates! as shown ,elow #he plates o$ the capacitor are separated ,y a distance o$ ( & ))! and the copper ,lock has a thickness o$ & A ))

<c= What is the potential di$$erence ,etween the plates?

;< 4

<d= What is the electric $ield inside the copper ,lock? =ero. The copper plate is a conductor! there is not potential difference across it as every point within the copper plate is at the same potential.

<e= -n the dia%ra) a,ove! draw arrows to clearly indicate the direction o$ the electric $ield ,etween the plates The copper plate has no effect. The lines of force point towards the negative plate! the direction of a force that would e e5erted on a positive charge. <$= 8eter)ine the )a%nitude o$ the electric $ield in each o$ the spaces ,etween the plates and the copper ,lock

(''

E=

V d

7& V (&7 mm 7V = /& x (& & A mm ( m m

/ x (&;

V m

#he ne2t question is $ro) the (::9 test5 #his question doesn.t have any pro,le)s to solve! 0ust asks questions a,out the circuit In the circuit shown ,elow! #! .! C! and D are identical li%ht ,ul,s Assu)e that the ,attery )aintains a constant potential di$$erence ,etween its ter)inals <i e ! the internal resistance o$ the ,attery is assu)ed to ,e ne%li%i,le= and the resistance o$ each li%ht ,ul, re)ains constant

A 8raw a dia%ra) o$ the circuit in the ,o2 ,elow! usin% the $ollowin% sy),ols to represent the co)ponents in your dia%ra) Ba,el the resistors #! .! C! and D to re$er to the correspondin% li%ht ,ul,s

B
C Bist the ,ul,s in order o$ their ,ri%htness! $ro) ,ri%htest to least ,ri%ht I$ any two or )ore ,ul,s have the sa)e ,ri%htness! state which ones Dusti$y your answer #! D! and then . 1 C equally.

#ll the current from the attery goes thru #! so it has the most current! greatest power! and is rightest. The current splits etween D and . 1 C which are parallel * they receive less current and aren)t as right. D is y itself and receives the ne5t most current. . 1 C in series have higher resistance than D! so they get the least. They receive the same amount since they are in series. Cul, D is then re)oved $ro) its socket C 8escri,e the chan%e in the ,ri%htness! i$ any! o$ ,ul, # when ,ul, D is re)oved $or) its socket Dusti$y your answer .ul # ecomes dimmer. The circuit ecomes a series circuit. The resistance is greater so the current decreases. 6ight # receives less current and is less right. #ll ul s have the same rightness * the current is same through all ul s! so the power and therefore the rightness is the same. ('7

8 8escri,e the chan%e in the ,ri%htness! i$ any! o$ ,ul, . when ,ul, D is re)oved $ro) its socket Dusti$y you answer .ul . ecomes righter. $t was receiving the least amount of current since D was an alternate pathway for the current. ,ith D gone all the current must go through .! which is in series now. 2ore current means . will e righter. >ro) (::/5 A student is provided with a (' &-V ,attery o$ ne%li%i,le internal resistance and $our resistors with the $ollowin% resistances5 (&& ! 7& ! '& ! and (& #he student also has plenty o$ wire o$ ne%li%i,le resistance availa,le to )ake connections as desired a Esin% all o$ these co)ponents! draw a circuit dia%ra) in which each resistor has non+ero current $lowin% throu%h it! ,ut in which the current $ro) the ,attery is as s)all as possi,le

Draw a circuit where all the resistors are in series. This ma5imi3es the resistance! which will make sure that the current is the smallest amount possi le. , Esin% all o$ these co)ponents! draw a circuit dia%ra) in which each resistor has non+ero current $lowin% throu%h it! ,ut in which the current $ro) the ,attery is as lar%e as possi,le <without short circuitin% the ,attery=

Draw a circuit where all the resistors are in parallel. This will minimi3e the resistance which will ma5 out the current. #he ,attery and resistors are now connected in the circuit shown
> ? ;

12 V

12 V

8eter)ine the $ollowin% $or this circuit i #he current in the (& resistor

R'7 = R' + R7 R('7 = 77 7 V = IR I= V R

= '& + 7& = A& R = R('7 + R; = (' V ;7 7 =

( ( ( = + R('7 R( R'7

( ( + (&& A&

= 77 7 + (& = ;7 7

& '9 A

This is the current in the >< resistor since it is in series with everything else. (';

ii

#he total power consu)ption o$ the circuit

P = IV
d

= & '9 A ( (' V )

7 ;W

Assu)in% that the current re)ains constant! how lon% will it take to provide a total o$ (& kJ o$ electrical ener%y to the circuit?

Pavg =

W t

t=

W P

(& kJ (&&& J = ':;( s = J ( kJ 7; s

7 & x (&7 s

>ro) (::A5 A certain li%ht ,ul, is desi%ned to dissipate / & watts when it is connected to a (' volt source a Calculate the resistance o$ the li%ht ,ul,

P = IV
' (' V ) ( R=

V = IR =

V I= R ';

V P = V R

V' = R

V' R= P

/ &W

I$ the li%ht ,ul, $unctions as desi%ned and is lit continuously $or 7& days! how )uch ener%y is used? Ce sure to indicate the units in your answer

Pavg =

W t

W = Pt

'; 7/&& s = / & W ( 7& da!s ) = ( / &&& &&& J ( da! ( = ( / x (&6 J

W = ( / &&& &&& J

#he / & watt! (' volt ,ul, is connected in a circuit with a (!A&& watt! ('& volt toasterF an ad0usta,le resistorF and a ('& volt power supply #he circuit is desi%ned such that the ,ul, and the toaster operate at the %iven values and! i$ the li%ht ,ul, $ails! the toaster will still $unction at these values c -n the dia%ra) ,elow! draw in wires connectin% the co)ponents shown to )ake a co)plete circuit that will $unction as descri,ed a,ove

('A

(kay let)s draw in some wires. The asic idea is that the ul must have >? 4 to produce the A.< watts. The toaster requires >?< volts to operate properly. "o the ul must e in series with the ad'usta le resistor * the resistor needs to have a voltage drop of >?< 4 * >? 4. Then the ul will have a voltage drop of >? 4. The toaster needs to e in parallel with the ul 9resistor deal. 6et)s draw the circuit 7add the lines8.

8eter)ine the value o$ the ad0usta,le resistor that )ust ,e used in order $or the circuit to work as desi%ned

The ul has a resistance of ?@ 7which we figured out in the first part of this question8. ,e can calculate the current that flows through the ul . This will e same current as the resistor gets.

P = IV

I=

P V

/ &W (' V

= & A& A

Bow we know the current and the voltage through the parallel leg of the ul 9resistor leg. The total voltage is the sum of the two voltages dropped y each component! the ul and the resistor. The resistor drops >? 4! the total voltage is >?< 4! so we can find the voltage drop for the resistor.

V = V"#l" + V$%s

V$%s = V V"#l"

= ('& V (' V

= (&9 V

Bow we can use (hm)s law to find the resistance for the ad'usta le resistor.

V = IR
e i

R=

V I

(&9 V & A& A

= '(/ =

''&

I$ the resistance o$ the ad0usta,le resistor is increased! what will happen to the $ollowin%? #he ,ri%htness o$ the ,ul, Crie$ly e2plain your reasonin% $f resistance goes up then current drops in the resistor. Current stays the same in series! so it also drops in the light. $f the light receives less current! then it will e less right. %ecall that P = IV since the current flowing into the ul is less! the power is less! and the ul is not as right. ii #he power dissipated ,y the toaster Crie$ly e2plain your reasonin%

4oltage is the same in parallel. The toaster still receives >?< 4. $t will draw the current it needs from the power supply. The resistance change in the other leg of the circuit has not effect on the toaster.

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