CIRCUITS 1

BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ELECTRICITY

Contents:
The Atomic Structure
The Copper Atom
The Coulomb’s Law
The Principle of Free Electron
Topic Objectives:

To recall the definition and parts of an atom

To illustrate the atomic structure of copper material.
To explain Coulomb’s Law
To describe the principle of free electron
FUNDAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP IN CIRCUIT THEORY

So why doesn't the electron just spin off ? Why does it

stay orbiting the nucleus?
- the electron is attracted to the nucleus because of
its CHARGE.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefor.html
 The force caused by the spinning, which should cause the
electron to spin off away from the nucleus, is balanced by the
charge force attracting the electron towards the nucleus. So it
doesn't fly off OR cling to the nucleus, it spins around being
pulled equally in both directions

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefor.html
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CHARGES

COULOMB’S LAW

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefor.html
An ion is an atom or group of bonded atoms which
have lost or gained one or more electrons, making
them negatively or positively charged.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion)
COULOMB’S LAW

“The force of attraction or repulsion between two charged bodies is

inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.”

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/estatics/u8l3b.html
 COULOMB’S LAW EQUATION

Where:
Q1 represents the quantity of charge on object 1 (in Coulombs),
Q2 represents the quantity of charge on object 2 (in Coulombs), and
d represents the distance of separation between the two objects (in
meters).
The symbol k is a proportionality constant known as the Coulomb's law
constant. The value of this constant is dependent upon the medium that the
charged objects are immersed in. In the case of air, the value is
approximately 9.0 x 109 N • m2 / C2.
If the charged objects are present in water, the value of k can be reduced
by as much as a factor of 80. It is worthwhile to point out that the units on k
are such that when substituted into the equation the units on charge
(Coulombs) and the units on distance (meters) will be canceled, leaving a
Newton as the unit of force.
 Example A
Suppose that two point charges, each with a charge of +1.00 Coulomb are
separated by a distance of 1.00 meter. Determine the magnitude of the electrical
force of repulsion between them.

Example B
Two balloons are charged with an identical quantity and type of charge: -6.25 nC.
They are held apart at a separation distance of 61.7 cm. Determine the magnitude
of the electrical force of repulsion between them.

Example C
Two balloons with charges of +3.37 µC and -8.21 µC attract each other with a
force of 0.0626 Newtons. Determine the separation distance between the two
balloons.

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/estatics/u8l3b.html
 Practice Exercise:
1. The Q in Coulomb's law equation stands for the _____.
a. mass of a charged object b. # of excess electrons on the object
c. the current of a charged object d. the distance between charged objects
e. charge of a charged object

2. The symbol d in Coulomb's law equation represents the distance from ___.
a. A to B b. A to D c. B to C d. B to D
e. C to D f. A to G g. B to F h. C to E

3. Determine the electrical force of attraction between two balloons with separate
charges of +3.5 x 10-8 C and -2.9 x 10-8 C when separated a distance of 0.65 m.

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/estatics/u8l3b.html
4. Determine the electrical force of attraction between two balloons which are
charged with the opposite type of charge but the same quantity of charge. The
charge on the balloons is 6.0 x 10-7 C and they are separated by a distance of
0.50 m.

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/estatics/u8l3b.html
COULOMB : The Unit of Charge
Electrical Charge (Q) is measured in coulombs,
symbolized by C.
One coulomb is the total charge possessed by
6.24 x 10 18 electrons

number of electrons
Q =
6.24 x 10 18 electrons/C

Example:
1. How many coulombs do 93.8 x 1016 electrons represent?

2. How many electrons does it take to have 3C of charge?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/elefor.html
THE COPPER ATOM – the most commonly used metal in
electrical/electronics industry.
4th shell = 2(4)2 = 32e

3rd shell = 2(3)2 = 18e

2nd shell = 2(2)2 = 8e

29 p
29 n 1st shell = 2(1)2 = 2e

No. of Electron in each shell

Is given by 2n2

Where n = shell number

Nucleus
Valence electron (free electron)
 Since Copper atom has only one(1) electron in the outer-
most shell UNSTABLE AND VOLATILE
 Since the outermost shell electron is farthest from the
nucleus THE FORCE OF ATTRACTION IS WEAKER!

FREE ELECTRON - the outermost shell electron or (valence

electron)
Free Electrons are in rapid motion around the nucleus. While the
electrostatic force is trying to pull the nucleus and the electron together,
the electron is in motion and trying to pull away.
These two effects balance, keeping the electron in orbit. The electrons in
an atom exist in different energy levels. The energy level of an electron is
proportional to its distance from the nucleus.

http://www.tpub.com/content/doe/h1011v1/css/h1011v1_30.htm
 Helium atom model
This helium (He) model displays two valence electrons
located in its outermost energy level.
Helium is a member of the noble gases and contains
two protons, neutrons, and electrons

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion)

Fact:
One cubic inch of copper at
room temperature has 1x1024
free electrons moving randomly

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