Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Lesson 5:
Calculating Current

A battery or generator is __________________________________ to push electrons through the wires

of a circuit. Electrons are particles that have a ____________________________.
Billions of _________________________________________ make up electric current.
Electric current is ____________________________________________________________. The electric
current in a circuit is measured in _________________ with an ________________. The formula for
electric current is:
CURRENT =

Variable Variable Unit Unit Symbol

Symbol
Time
Current
Electric charge
Current is a _________________, like measuring how many cars pass one point in a second. What is the
current if 30 Coulombs of charge move by a certain point in 3 s?
𝑄
𝐼= 𝑡
𝐼= 𝐼= A

So what is electric charge in coulombs? We count the amount of electric charge (Q) in coulombs (C). A
coulomb is a ________________________________________
1 coulomb (C) of electric charge = ____________________________________
1 C = 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 electrons !

Alternating and Direct Current

Direct current (DC) is when the electrons ___________________________________ in a path.
_____________________________ is provided by batteries and used in most small devices like cell
phones and laptops. Alternating current (AC) is when the _________________________ and is most
efficient for moving current in high power lines from generating stations to our homes.
_______________ convert AC to DC current.

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Measuring Current
Electric current is measured with an _________________.
Ammeters must be connected in ___________. The negative
terminal is black. Also connect the _________ terminal wire to
the side closest to the _____________ terminal of the battery.

There are two _____________________ terminals and always

start by connecting your wire to the lowest or 1 A terminal for a
more ________________ reading. There are two scales on the
ammeter so be sure to read the correct scale with numbers
from 0 – 1 A.
Recap & Homework questions:
1. What direction do electrons flow in a circuit?

2. What device measures current?

3. What are the units used to measure current?

4. What is the difference between DC electricity and AC electricity?

5. What is a dry cell?

6. Why does a circuit need to be closed in order for a current to flow?

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 Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Electric Power and Efficiency

Electric Power - the rate at which electrical energy is produced or used. Measured in ____________

Power = _______________________ or P = ________

Energy is measured in ____________ (J) and ____________ (s) so 1 watt = ____________.

The greater the wattage of a device, the more ____________ it uses.

kilowatt• hour (kW•h) : The unit for measuring electrical energy usage. The use of one kilowatt of
power for one hour is 1 kWh and it is another unit for energy in addition to the ____________.
1 kW = 1000 W
Electric Efficiency: ______________________________________________________________________
● No electrical appliance is 100% efficient
● 100% efficiency means that the energy that the electrons contain in a circuit is all converted to
the desired form of energy at the load.
Ex. The purpose of a light bulb is to produce light. If all energy is converted from electrical energy to light
energy then the bulb is 100 % efficient. This doesn’t happen. Along with the light, heat is also produced.
The light produced by the bulb is the useful energy transformation; the heat is a by-product or waste.
x x
Percent efficiency = _______________________ = ___________

Sample Problem:
A light bulb uses 100 J of electrical energy to produce 35 J of light energy.
Calculate the percent efficiency of the light bulb.

Cost of Electricity : Cost = power used(kW) x time (h) x unit cost of electricity (¢)
Sample Problem: A laptop computer uses a 75 W adapter when plugged in. Electricity costs 5.6¢/ kWh.
Calculate how much it would cost to operate the laptop for 1 year for 24 hours per day.

Try yourself
1. Calculate the cost of using each appliance over the course of a year. Use a utility charge of 8.5 cents
per kW•h.

2. Suppose a light bulb uses 780 J of input energy to produce 31 J of light energy. What is its percent
efficiency?

3. What is the electrical energy used if the power of a microwave oven is 0.8 kW and the oven is turned
on for half an hour?

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Lesson 6:
Voltage & Potential Difference
A battery has chemical potential energy. Energy (E) is measured in _____________________. Chemical
reactions in a battery energize and separate electrons from atoms. The __________ terminal of the
battery produces _____________________________________________. The
______________________ terminal lacks electrons.
When the switch on a circuit is closed, the energized electrons move from the negative terminal,
through a _____________ and ________ to the positive terminal with
______________________________________. The chemical energy from the battery is converted to
light energy.
Potential difference is_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ .
Potential difference is also called _______________ or ________________________________.
Potential difference is measured in ________________ by a voltmeter.
The voltmeter must be connected at the two points where the voltage is being compared. That’s why
________________ must be connected in _________________________.
The formula for potential difference is:

Potential Difference =

OR
Variable Variable Symbol Unit Unit
Symbol
Potential difference or Voltage
Energy

Electric Charge

NOTE:Potential difference or voltage is the only variable where the symbol for the units is the same as
the symbol for the variable.
Recap:
1. What is another name for stored energy?
2. How is an apple falling from a tree like the potential difference in a battery?
3. What does potential difference measure?
4. What is another name for potential difference?
5. When you walk into a dark room and turn the light on, do the electrons travel all the way from
the switch to the light? Explain.

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

ELECTRIC CURRENT PROBLEMS

The formula for electric current is:

Variable Variable Unit Unit Symbol
Symbol
Time seconds
Current Amperes
Electric charge Coulombs

Example Problem:
The current flowing through a smoke alarm circuit is 15 A. How much charge flows through the circuit in
20 seconds?

Solving Problems with GRASS:

The GRASS method is a series of steps that are helpful for problem-solving. Each letter in GRASS stands
for a step. Let us solve the example problem using this method:

Given: write down all information given,

including variable symbols and units

Required: write down the variable that you

are trying to calculate or solve for

Approach: write down the equation that you

will use to solve the problem
Solve: rearrange the equation if necessary,
enter in the numbers for the variables that
you have, perform the calculation

State: write a final statement that includes

the variable and the proper units

For some equations, you can use a formula triangle instead of algebra to
rearrange an equation with three variables. The horizontal line represents
division and the vertical line represents multiply.
Q=Ixt
I=Q/t
t=Q/I

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

ELECTRIC CURRENT PROBLEMS WORKSHEET:

Use the GRASS method to solve the following problems.
Problem #1 Problem #2
A circuit has 12 C of charge pass through How long does it take 40 Coulombs of
a given point in 5 s. What is the electric charge to pass by a given point if the
current in this circuit? current is 16 A?
Given: Given:

Required: Required:

Approach: Approach:

Solve: Solve:

State: State:

Use GRASS to solve these problems. You do NOT need to write the words Given, Required etc but you
must follow all the steps. Include units after every number.
3. In 25 seconds, how much 4. If 46 C of electric charge flows 5. A 15 A circuit has 3 C of
charge flows through a circuit if through a circuit in 1.5 minutes, charge pass through. How long
the current is 3 A? what was the current? did it take?

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

SOLVING ELECTRICITY PROBLEMS

The formula for electric current is: , the formula for voltage is:
The corresponding formula triangles and equations are:

Complete the formula for the triangles.

Q= E=
I= V=
t= Q=

Complete this table identifying the variable symbols and the unit symbols. Variable symbols are always
written before the equal sign. Unit symbols are always written after a number.
Variable Variable Unit Unit Symbol
Symbol
Energy Joules
Voltage (Potential volts
Difference)
Time seconds
Current Amperes
Electric charge Coulombs

Solving Problems with GRASS:

Each letter in the acronym GRASS represent a distinct problem-solving step:
Given: write down all information given, including variable symbols and units
Required: write down the variable that you are trying to calculate or solve for
Approach: write down the equation that you will use to solve the problem
Solve: rearrange the equation or use the correct formula triangle, enter in the numbers for the
variables that you have, perform the calculation
State: write a final statement that includes the variable and the proper units

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Example Problems :
Use the GRASS method to solve the following example problems.
Problem #1 Problem #2
Find the potential difference of a battery If 240 C of electric charge passes a certain point
that uses 54 J of energy to energize 18 C of in a circuit in 5.0 minutes, what is the current
electric charge. through that point?
Given: Given:

Required: Required:

Approach: Approach:

Solve: Solve:

State: State:

Recap and Homework Problems:

1. Suppose that a 9.0 V battery delivers 4.0 C of charge.
a) How much energy is provided to the charge by the battery? (36 J)

b) If the total current in (a) is 1.5 A, for how long was the battery used? (2.7 s)

2. What amount of energy does a kettle use to boil water if it has 800 C of charge passing through it
with a potential difference of 120 V? (96,000 J)

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

3. A flash of lightning transfers 1.5 x 109 (=1,500,000,000) J of electrical energy through a potential
difference of 5.0 x 10 7 (=50,000,000) V between cloud and ground. Calculate the quantity of charge
transferred in the lightning bolt. (30 C)

4. A lightning strike carries 5.0 C of charge in the 0.02 s it takes to reach the ground. What is the electric
current carried by the lightning strike? (250 A)

5. A small electric motor draws a current of 0.40 A. How long will it take for 8.0 C of charge to pass
through it? (20 s)

6. How much current is flowing through a light bulb when it takes 24 s for 18 C of charge to pass
through its filament? (0.75 A)

7. Suppose your calculator requires 0.00020 A to operate, and that it will be on for 2.0 minutes while
you solve this problem. What quantity of charge will flow during this time? (0.024 C)

8. Challenge! Calculate the energy stored in a 9.0 V battery that can deliver a current of 5.0 mA (=0.005
A) for 2.0 x 103 (=2000) s. Hint: Calculate charge first. (90 J)

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Lesson 7:
Circuit Analysis
1. LOADS IN SERIES

When all the loads are connected in one path the current _______________________ at every point in
the circuit. In series circuits the total voltage from the source is
_______________________________. In the diagram and formulae T represents the total current
leaving the battery and 1,2,and 3 represent locations where a meter was placed.
If there are 3 loads the formulae are:

IT =

VT =

Remember SCS – _________________________

2. LOADS IN PARALLEL

When all the loads are connected on separate parallel paths then the voltage is the
________________________________________. In parallel circuits the total current from the source is
_______________________________________.
The formulae are:

IT =

VT =

Remember PVS – _______________________________

Analogy:
The electrons in current are like runners in a cross country race.
The voltage is like the energy of each runner.

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Circuit Analysis Worksheet

Series Parallel
Voltage/Potential Difference Voltage/Potential Difference
Given: V1 = 6 V, V2 = 4 V, VT = 12 V Given: V1 = 10 V
Find: Find:
V3 = _____V V2 = _____V
V3 = _____V
Current VT = _____V
Given: IT = 8 A
Find: Current
I1 = _____ A Given:
I2 = ______ A I1 = 2 A
I3 = ______ A I2 = 8 A
I3 = 10 A
Find:
IT = _____ A

1. Calculate the missing current in each of the following circuit diagrams:

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

2. Calculate the missing potential difference (voltage) in each of the following circuit diagrams:

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Lesson 8:
Ohm’s Law and Resistance
Electrical resistance is the ability of a conductor to _____________________________________
______________in a circuit.
All loads are _______________________________. Electrons give up energy as they move past a load.
The SI symbol for resistance is ______. Resistance is measured in units called ________, and is
represented by the symbol ____ (the Greek letter “Omega”).

Ohm’s Law relates voltage, electrical current and resistance:

“The potential voltage difference between two points on a circuit is _______________________
____________________________________________________________________________.”
One volt of potential difference equals 1 A of current flowing through a load with a resistance of 1 Ω.
Equations:
Voltage = Resistance x Current
V=
R=
I=

Variable Variable Unit Unit Symbol

Symbol
voltage

current

resistance

Ex. A motor has a current of 5 A running through it and a resistance of 10 Ω. What is the voltage across
the motor?

Given: Solve:

Required:

Approach: State:

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Resistance and Wire Thickness, Wire Length and Wire Material

Electric wire resists the flow of electrons. The resistance makes the atoms and molecules rub together,
which builds up _____________. The ________________ the resistance, the _____________ the heat.
Resistance depends mainly on three things: (1) wire ________________, (2) wire ____________,
and (3) wire _________________.
1. Wire Thickness (Wire A vs Wire B)
Which wire has more room for electrons to move? ____ Less room? _____
In which wire will electrons rub more? ________ Rub less? ________
Which wire has more resistance? __________ Less resistance? _______
Which of the 2 wires will get warmer than the other? ___________
Thin wire resists electricity _____________ than thick wire.

2. Wire Length (Wire C vs Wire D)

On which wire do electrons move farther? ______ Shorter? _____
In which wire will electrons rub more? _______Rub less? _____
Which wire has more resistance? _______Less resistance? _____
Which of the 2 wires will get warmer than the other? _______
Long wire resists electricity ____________ than short wire.

3. Wire Material
Some metals resist electricity more than others. Materials that have greater resistance build up
__________ heat. Materials that have lower resistance _______________________.
Nichrome (made of nickel and chrome) is used in toasters and electric irons.
Nichrome has ____________ resistance.
Copper is used in most electrical wiring (in homes, in power cords).
Copper has __________ resistance.

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Name: _____________________________ SNC1D Unit 3|Electricity

Ohm’s Law and Resistance Worksheet

Write out complete solutions to the following problems on a separate sheet of lined paper. Remember to
put units after all numbers and show all variables.
Part A: Current
1. If 144 C of charge passes through a point in a conductor in 3 min, what is the current through
that point?
2. Find the current in a conductor when 24 C of charge passes a point in the conductor every 30 s.

Part B: Potential Difference

1. If 42 J of chemical energy in a battery places 7.0 C of negative charge at the negative terminal,
leaving a deficit at the positive terminal, what is the potential difference between the negative
and positive terminals of the battery?
2. Find the potential difference between the terminals of a battery that uses 180 J of chemical
energy to separate 20 C of charge.
Part C: Ohm’s Law
1. If a wall outlet provides a potential difference of 120 V and a current of 8.6 A through the
heating coil in a toaster, what is the resistance of this heating coil?
2. Find the resistance of a light bulb if 2.4 A runs through it, when a potential difference of 12 V is
placed across the light bulb.
3. Show complete 6 line solutions for each problem.
Voltage (V) Current (A) Resistance (Ω)
a 120V 12.5vA
b 6A 36 Ω
c 6.0 V 24 Ω
d 4.0 V 0.20 A
e 0.5 A 240 Ω
f 120 V 100 Ω

Part D: Unit Analysis – Use the formula to determine:

1. One _______________ is equal to one coulomb per second.
2. One volt is equal to one __________ per coulomb.
3. One ohm is equal to one volt per _______________ .

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