14

Current of Electricity
Electric Current I-V Characteristic Graphs

Ohm’s Law: the current flowing through a
metallic conductor is directly proportional to the
p.d. V between its ends, provided that all other
physical conditions are kept constant.
The resistance R of an ohmic conductor such as a
The charge that passes through a given point is metallic conductor at constant temperature is
V
the product of the steady current flowing past constant since is constant.
I
the point and the time during which the current Non-ohmic conductors: filament lamp,
flows, i.e. Q = It [unit: Coulomb (C)] semiconductor diode, thermistor
If current is not constant, the amount of charge
can be found by finding the area under the Sources of Electromotive Force
current-time graph, i.e. Q = ∫I.dt.
The electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a source is
Important formula: I = nAVdq (given but need to the energy converted into electrical energy from
other forms per unit charge in driving charges
know how to derive) where n is the number
W
density of charges per unit volume, A is the round a complete circuit, i.e. E = .
Q
cross-sectional area, Vd is the drift velocity and q In practice though, the source has internal
is the charge on the carrier. resistance r and thus not all electrical energy
generated is available to the external load R.
Potential Difference
Terminal Potential Difference
The potential difference (p.d.) between two
The terminal p.d.
points is the amount of electrical energy is equal to the
converted to other forms of energy per unit
sum of the e.m.f.
W
charge flow between the points, i.e. V = Given and potential
Q
P drop across
that W = Power x time and Q = It, V =
I internal resistance

r, and to p.d.
Resistance and Resistivity
across external
across external resistance R, i.e. V = E – Ir = IR

The resistance R of a conductor is defined as the
ratio of the p.d. V across it to the current I
V
through it, i.e. R = [unit: ohm (Ω)]
I
Combining the equations P = IV and V = IR, we
2 V2
can obtain P = I R and P = .
R

Determining Resistance
Maximum power theorem: A given source of
At a given temperature, the resistance R of a e.m.f. delivers the maximum amount of power
L
conductor is determined by R = ρ . to a load when R = r.

A

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