Current Electricity

Conventional current is the movement of the positive charges in an electric current.

Electron flow is the flow of electrons from the negative terminal to the positive terminal due to the
repelling of the electrons at the negative terminal and attraction at the positive terminal.

 Electric current is the rate of flow of electric charge.

Charge (C) Q
 Current ( A)=
Time Taken(s )
OR l=
t

 The SI unit of electric current is Ampere (A).

An ammeter is used to measure the strength of an electric current.

The current flows into the ammeter through the positive (red) terminal and leaves through the negative
(black) terminal.

(Open Circuit)
Circuit Symbols

Short circuit

The bulb remains unlit since there is an

alternative path for the current to flow
through and no current passes through
the bulb.

 Electromotive force is the amount of work done by an electrical energy source in driving a unit
charge around the circuit. (Water Pump)
 SI unit= J C-1 or Volt (V)
Work W
 Electromotive force( EMF )=
Charge
OR ε=
Q

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 Current Electricity

Series

Cells in series, resultant EMF is sum of all cells.

When cells of same EMF are arranged in parallel form, the resultant EMF is equal to that of one cell.

 Potential Difference (p.d) across a component is the work done to drive a unit charge through
the component.
Work W
 Potential difference=
Charge OR V=
Q
 Its SI unit is Volt (V).

 Resistance of a component is the ratio of the potential difference across it and the current
flowing through it.
Potential Difference V
 Resistance=
Current
OR R=
I

 Its SI unit is ohm (Ω).

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Current Electricity

 Ohm’s Law states that the Current flowing through a metal conductor is directly proportional to
the potential difference across it. (Physical conditions to remain same)
V
 Current (I) = Potential Difference (V) OR Constant=R=
I

Ohmic Conductors

Non-Ohmic Conductors
I/A

As current (I) increases, the temperature increases.

The resistance increases with temperature.

The resistance of a conductor depends upon

 Temperature

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Current Electricity

 Length
 Thickness
 Material

Temperature and Resistance Directly Proportional

Length and Resistance Directly Proportional
Area and Resistance Inversely Proportional

Length
 Resistance=Resistivity
Thickness
 Its SI unit is ohm meter.
 Lower resistivities are better conductors of electricity.

Advantages of high resistivities

Nichrome is used to make heating coils in electric kettles.

Tungsten is used to make light bulbs.

Formulas Summary

Charge (C) Q
 Current ( A)=
Time Taken(s )
OR l=
t

Work W
 Electromotive force( EMF )=
Charge
OR ε=
Q
Work W
 Potential difference=
Charge OR V=
Q

Potential Difference V
 Resistance=
Current
OR R=
I
V
 Current (I) = Potential Difference (V) OR Constant=R=
I
Length
 Resistance=Resistivity
Thickness

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Current Electricity

 Power=Potential Difference ×Current