Module Title : Fundamentals of Electricity

ELECTRICITY – is a flow of electron from an area high in electron excess to one lower electron content.
Ex. Similar to the flow of water in a pipe

Electrical parameters:

Voltage – symbol= V or E – unit = volts

- the amount of electrical pressure that pushes the electric current through the electrical device
Ex. The more pressure in a water system, the more water that flows when the valve is open
The more voltage in a given circuit the more electric current flow
Note : It takes the bigger hammer to drive a larger nail in the same material, and it takes more
voltage to force more current through a given circuit
Note: it is not the pressure that actually lights the lamp, turns the motor, etc.. it is the pressure
Volts that forces the electric current to flow and do the work.

Current – symbol = I , unit = ampere or amps

- is the movement of electricity through wires and electric device
Ex. The horse moves the carriage , the voltage moves the electricity, we don’t have a current
unless the electricity is moving, electricity isn’t moving is called static electricity, moving
electricity is called electric current.
It is the electric current that moves the lamp, but in order to make the electricity move so that
we have current flow there must be voltage behind electricity. To produce power both current
and voltage are needed
Resistance – unit= ohms , symbol= R
It is the opposition to current flow.
Ex. Resistance opposes the current flow just as mechanical friction opposes the puling of the
heavy box across the floor. Its cause friction, friction causes heat, electrical friction is no
exception when current flows through a resistance Heat is produce, for a given amount of
current, the higher the resistance the greater the amount of heat produce, increasing the
amount of voltage so that more current flows will also increase the heat produce.

4 factors that determine Resistance

1. kinds of material used –
Silver- 9.9 copper 10.4 gold – 14.7 chromium- 15.6 aluminum- 17.0
Titanium- 19.2 zinc- 34.6 nickel – 41.7 iron – 52.9 platinum- 65.9 tin- 78.2 etc

2. cross sectional area- the resistance is inversely proportional to csa. The bigger the wire the lower
Resistance, the smaller wire the higher resistance ex. Wire no. 14 AWG or 2.0 mm 2 is
higher resistance compare to wire no. 12 AWG or 3.5mm2 ( same length )

3. length- resistance is directly proportional to the length of a conductor

Ex. 100 ft of wire no. 12 is lesser the resistance of 300 ft. of same conductor
4. temperature – hot wire high resistance , cold wire the lower resistance

Note: Carbon- negative temperature coefficient

An electric circuit is a path in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow. Electric
current flows in a closed path called an electric circuit.

Parts of Electrical circuit

1. Source – ex. Battery 12 VDC

2. Load - ex, Lamp
3. Wire or conductor - ex. Copper
4. Control – ex. Switch

AC Current ( alternating Current ) – ex. 220 VAC usually supply in residential wiring

DC Current – ( Direct Current ) Ex. 9 VDC usually battery supply

Types of connection
Series – connection along the line

Parallel connection- connection across the line

Series – Parallel
 Ohms law formula and Power

Power – amount of doing work. Unit= watt, symbol= P

E P
P E²
I I
R I² R P
E
R

E=I*R P=I*E P = I²*R E = √P/R

I=E/R I=P/E I = √P/ R P = E²/R
R=V/I E=P/I R = P/I² r = E²/P

Series formula Parallel

R total = R1 + R2 + R3 …….. R total = R1 * R2
R 1 + R2
I total = IR1 = IR2 = IR3 …….. = 1
1/R1 + 1/ R2 + 1/R3 …….. 1 /.5+.5+.5 = 1/1.5
value

2ohms
V total = VR1 + VR2 +V R3 ……..
I total = IR1 + IR2 + IR3 ……..

V total = VR1 = VR2 = VR3 ……..

APPLICATION OF OHM’S LAW

Ohm’s law- When a current flows in an electric circuit the magnitude of the
current flowing is determined by the EMF in the circuit and the resistance of the
circuit. The resistance to current flow is dependent upon the cross section of the
conductor; length of the conductor and the kind of conductor.

This relationship between the voltage E, current I, and resistance R, is expressed

by Ohms Law and may appear in one of the three familiar forms as follows:
E=IR I=E/R R=E/I

Question: A circuit has a resistance of 5 ohms. If a voltmeter connected across its

terminal reads 10 volts, how much current is flowing through the circuit?
ANSWER: I=E/R= 10/5= 2 amps
Question: A hot resistance of an incandescent carbon lamp is 220 ohms. It
requires ½ ampere to cause it to glow. What voltage must be impressed across it?
ANSWER: E= IR = E ½ x 220= 110 volts

EXERCISES:
Question1. An electromagnetic has a resistance of 62.5 ohms. It will lift a certain
piece of iron when the current through its winding is reduced to 3.8 amperes, but
will not drop the load until the current is reduced to 2.5 amperes. What voltage is
required: (a) to lift and (b) to release the load.

Question2. The pressure across the pure resistance circuit is 40 volts. What is the
value of the resistance to permit the flow of 5 amperes?

Question3. If the voltage source of 12 volts is used to energize a load which allow
4 amperes to pass through; (a) What the original value of the load? (b) What
value of resistance it reduce the voltage by 25% and the current by 50%?

Question4. An electric flat iron is rated 220 volts. When connected to the source
the ammeter reads 1.5 amperes. What is the resistance value of the flat iron?

Question5. A DC load with a resistance 5,000 ohm is connected to the source the
voltmeter reads 200 volts. What is the amount of current flow in milli- amperes?

APPLICATION OF WATTS LAW

WATTS LAW- The power in watts in a DC current is equal to the current multiplied
by the voltage.
By formula: P = IE where, P is the power in watt
I = P/E I is the current in amperes
E = P/I E is the voltage in volt
Sample problem:
(a) How much power is required to heat an electric iron operating on 120 volts
and drawing 6 amperes?
(b) Find the voltage required to light a 150 W lamp that normally draw 1.5
amperes?
(c) How much current will be drawn if the same 150 W lamp is operated on
120 volt source?
 SIMPLIFIED FORMULA IN WATTS LAW WHEN CURRENT IN THE CIRCUIT IS
UNKNOWN:

P= E2/R
When the voltage in the circuit is unknown, the watts formula is modified to
P= I2R
Sample problem:
(a) How much power is consumed in a resistance of 10 ohms when the current
is 5 amperes?
(b) How much power is consumed when a resistance of 20 ohms is connected
to source of 200 volts?
(c) A wattmeter and ammeter are connected in a DC motor circuit. When the
motor is running, the wattmeter reads 1,200 and the ammeter is 9.5
amperes. What is the line voltage?

CONDUCTOR- any material through which electricity can flow

INSULATOR – any material that have few electron content or no free electron
Semi conductor - a solid substance that has a conductivity between that of an insulator
and that of most metals, either due to the addition of an impurity or because of
temperature effects. Devices made of semiconductors, notably silicon, are essential
components of most electronic circuits.