Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

College of Science and humanities

Department of Physics
Renewable energy program

PHRE 203: General Physics 2

Lecture 7
Current & resistance
Chapter#27
Dr. Nadiah Aldaleeli
Miss. Amnnah Alwasbi
27.1 Electric Current
- The current is the rate at which charge flows through the Surface.
- The average current is:

- ΔQ : the amount of charge that passes through area , Δt : time interval

27.1 Electric Current
- Instantaneous current I:

-The SI unit of current is the ampere (A):

27.1 Electric Current
-The current in the same direction of
positive charge.

- The direction of the current is opposite the

direction of flow of electrons (in ordinary
conductors).
27.1 Electric Current
27.1 Electric Current
A- If the ends of a conducting wire
are connected to form a loop
ΔV = 0 (E=0)
ΔQ=0 I=0
27.1 Electric Current
B-In the diagram, all points on the loop are not at the
same potential
E≠0

Fe exerts on the conduction electrons in the

wire,
electrons move in the wire
I is created
27.2 Resistance
-The current density J in the conductor is defined as the
current per unit area

- J is a vector quantity.
- J is in the direction of charge motion for positive charge
carriers and opposite the direction of motion for negative
charge carriers.
27.2 Resistance
The current density is proportional to the
electric field:

This law is called: Ohm’s law

σ is called the conductivity
27.2 Resistance
Ohm’s law states that:
For many materials (including
most metals), the ratio of the
current density to the electric
field is a constant σ that is
independent of the electric
field producing the current.
27.2 Resistance
- Materials that obey Ohm’s law
ohmic.

- Materials and devices that do not obey

Ohm’s law nonohmic.
27.2 Resistance
In the diagram, A uniform conductor of
length ℓ and cross-sectional area A.
27.2 Resistance
The resistance R:

SI units of resistance is (ohm Ω):

27.2 Resistance
(a) I-V curve for an ohmic
material. (linear)

(b) A nonlinear I-V curve for

a junction diode. This device
does not obey Ohm’s law
 Resistivity and Resistance
- Resistivity ρ is the inverse Of conductivity:

Resistivity is property of a substance,

while resistance is a property
of an object

- ρ has the units ohm-meters (Ω.m).

- resistance of a uniform block
of material along the length ℓ
can be expressed as :
27.2 Resistance
Resistivities and Temperature Coefficients of Resistivity for
Various Materials:
27.2 Resistance
Resistors are designated by the symbol:
Example (27.2) The Resistance of a Conductor
Example (27.3) The Resistance of Nichrome Wire
Example (27.3) The Resistance of Nichrome Wire
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
27.4 Resistance & Temperature
27.6 Electrical Power
-As the charge moves through the resistor, the system loses the electric
potential energy during collisions of electrons with atoms in the resistor.

-The rate at which the system loses electric potential energy is:
27.6 Electrical Power
The power, representing the rate at which energy is
delivered to the resistor:

SI unit of power
is the watt
27.6 Electrical Power
27.6 Electrical Power
Example (27.7) Power in an Electric Heater
Question (1)
Question (4)
Question (5)
Question (9)
Question (10)
Question (19)
Question (20)
Problem (1)
Problem (8)
Problem (12)
Problem (14)
Problem (14)
Problem (16)
Problem (23)
Problem (36)
Problem (43)
Problem (45)
 Exercises

Problems : (27.9, 27.13, 27.15,

27.37, 27.42a)