The Current

A Current ( I ) of electricity exists in a region when a net electric charge is transported from one point to
another in that region. Suppose the charge is moving through a wire. If a charge q is transported in a
given cross section of the wire in a time t, then the current through the wire is

q
I=
t

Here, q is in coulombs, t is in seconds, and I is in amperes (1 A = 1 C/s). by custom the direction of the
current is taken to be in the direction of flow of positive charge. thus, a flow of electrons to the right
corresponds to a current to the left.

A battery is a source of electrical energy. If no internal energy losses occur in the battery, then the
potential difference between its terminals is called the electromotive force (emf) of the battery. Unless
otherwise stated, it will be assumed that the terminal potential difference of a battery is equal to its
emf. The unit for emf is the same for the potential difference, the volt.

The Resistance and Ohm’s Law

The electrical resistance of a circuit component or device is defined as the ratio of the voltage applied to
the electric current which flows through it.

V
R=
I

If the resistance is constant over a considerable range of voltage, Ohm’s Law, I =V / R , can be used to
predict the behavior of a material. Although the definition above involves DC current and voltage, the
same definition holds for AC application of resistors.

Whether or not a material obeys Ohm’s Law, its resistance can be described in terms of its bulk
resistivity. The resistivity, and thus the resistance, is temperature dependent. Over sizable ranges of
temperature, this temperature dependence can be predicted from a temperature coefficient of
resistance.

The Resistivity
The electrical resistance of the wire would be expected to be greater for a longer wire, less for a wire of
larger cross sectional area, and would be expected to depend upon the material out of which the wire is
made. Experimentally, the dependence upon these properties is straightforward one for a wide range of
conditions, and the resistance of the wire can be expressed as

ρl
R=
A

The factor in the resistance which takes into account the nature of the material is the resistivity.
Although it is temperature dependent, it can be used at a given temperature to calculate the resistance
of the wire of given geometry.

1
The inverse of resistivity is called conductivity. There are contexts where the use of conductivity is more
convenient.

1
Electrical conductivity=σ=
ρ

Resistance Varies With Temperature

If a conductor has a resistance Ro at a temperature T o, then the resistance R at a temperature T is

R=R o +α R o (T −T o )

where α is the temperature coefficient of the material of a conductor. Usually α varies with
temperature, and so this relation is applicable only over a small temperature range.

Circular Mil
In engineering practice the unit of area of a round conductor is often the circular mil∨cmil . The mil is
1
a unit of length equal to 0.001 in., which is in. A circular mil is a unit of area to the area of a circle
1000
whose diameter is 1 mil. The area Acm in circular mils of a circle whose diameter in mils is D m is equal to
D2m:

Acm =D 2m

The advantage of using the circular mil as a unit of area is that it avoids multiplication and division by π .
When the length of the conductor is given by feet and its area in circular mils, the unit of resistivity is the
ohm−cmil per foot .

D = 1 mil A =1 cmil

Sample problem 1
A wire carries a current of 1 A. How many electrons pass any point in the wire each second?

q
no . of electrons=
e
It
¿
e
(1 A )(1 s)
¿ −19
=6.25 ×1018 electrons
1.6× 10 C
 2
Sample problem 2
A 120-V toaster has a resistance of 12 𝝮. What must be the minimum rating of the fuse in the
electric circuit to which the toaster is connected?
V
I=
R
120V
¿
12 Ω
¿ 10 A

Sample problem 3
A 120-V electric heater draws a current of 25 A. What is its resistance?
V
R=
I

Ans. 4.8 𝝮

Sample problem 4
A 20-m length of a certain wire has a resistance of 15 𝝮. What length of this wire would have a
resistance of 8 𝝮?

l1 l2
=
R 1 R2
R2
l 2=l 1
R1
8Ω
¿( 20 m)
15 Ω
¿ 10.67 m

Sample problem 5
What is the resistance of a copper wire 0.5 mm in diameter and 20 m long? The resistivity of
copper is 1.7 x 10−8 Ω• m.

ρl
R=
A
(1.7 ×10−8 Ω• m.)(20 m)
¿
(0.5 ×10−3 m)2
π
4
¿ 1.73 Ω

3
Sample problem 6
A platinum wire 80 cm long is to have a resistance of 0.1 𝝮. What should its diameter be? The
resistivity of platinum is 1.1 x 10−7 Ω •m .
ρl
R=
A
ρl
A=
R
2
d ρl
π =
4 R
4 (1.1× 10−7 Ω •m)(0.8 m)
d=
√ √
4 ρl
πR
=
π (0.1 Ω)
=1.06 mm

Sample problem 7
A copper wire has a resistance of 10.0 𝝮 at 20℃ . (a) What will its resistance be at 80 ℃ ? (b) At
0 ℃ ? The temperature coefficient of resistance of copper is 0.004 /℃ .

a) R=R o +α R o (T −T o ) ans. 12.4 𝝮

b) R=R o +α R o (T −T o ) ans. 9.2 𝝮

Sample problem 8
A resistance thermometer makes use of the variation of the resistance of a conductor with
temperature. If the resistance of such a thermometer with a platinum element is 5 𝝮 at 20 ℃ and 9 𝝮
when it is inserted in a furnace, Find the temperature of the furnace. The value of α for a platinum is
0.0036/℃ .
∆ R=R0 α ∆ T
Ans. 242.22 ℃

Sample problem 9
The specific resistance of the copper used in electric wire is 10.4 𝝮•cmil/ft. Find the resistance of
1500 ft of copper wire whose diameter is 0.080 in.

ρl
R=
A
 cmil
(10.4 Ω• )(1500 ft)
ft
¿
¿¿¿

4
Sample problem 10
The specific resistance of Nichrome is 600 𝝮•cmil/ft. How long should a Nichrome wire 20 mils in
diameter be for it to have a resistance of 5 𝝮?
Ans. 3.33 ft