period of time (t).

The unit of current in coulomb/second is called an SUMMARY OF EQUATIONS

ampere or amp for short (A).
Current occurs in a conductor when a potential difference is 6.1
applied and an electric field travels through the conductor at nearly quantity of charge = (number of electrons)(electron charge)
the speed of light. The electrons drift very slowly, accelerated by the q = ne
electric field. The field moves the electrons in one direction in a
6.2
direct current (dc) and moves them back and forth in an alternating
charge on charge on
current (ac). ×
electrical one object second object
Materials have a property of opposing or reducing an electric = (constant) ×
current called electrical resistance (R). Resistance is a ratio between force distance between objects squared
the potential difference (V ) between two points and the resulting q1q2
F=k 2
current (I), or R = V/I. The unit is called the ohm (Ω), and 1.00 Ω = d
1.00 volt/1.00 amp. The relationship between voltage, current, and where k = 9.00 × 109 newton⋅meters2/coulomb2
resistance is called Ohm’s law.
6.3
Disregarding the energy lost to resistance, the work done by a volt-
age source is equal to the work accomplished in electrical devices in a work to create potential
electric potential =
circuit. The rate of doing work is power, or work per unit time, P = W/t. charge moved
Electrical power can be calculated from the relationship of P = IV, W
which gives the power unit of watts. V=
q
Magnets have two poles about which their attraction is concen- 6.4
trated. When free to turn, one pole moves to the north and the other to quantity of charge
the south. The north-seeking pole is called the north pole and the electric current =
time
south-seeking pole is called the south pole. Like poles repel each other
q
and unlike poles attract. I=
The property of magnetism is electric in origin, produced by t
charges in motion. Permanent magnets have tiny regions called magnetic 6.5
domains, each with its own north and south poles. An unmagnetized volts = current × resistance
piece of iron has randomly arranged domains. When magnetized, the V = IR
domains become aligned and contribute to the overall magnetic effect.
6.6
A current-carrying wire has magnetic field lines of closed, con-
centric circles that are at right angles to the length of wire. The direc- electrical power = (amps)(volts)
tion of the magnetic field depends on the direction of the current. A P = IV
coil of many loops is called a solenoid or electromagnet. The electro- 6.7
magnet is the working part in electrical meters, electromagnetic (watts) (time) (rate)
switches, and the electric motor. cost =
1,000 W/kW
When a loop of wire is moved in a magnetic field, or if a magnetic
6.8
field is moved past a wire loop, a voltage is induced in the wire loop.
voltsprimary voltssecondary
The interaction is called electromagnetic induction. An electric gen- =
erator is a rotating coil of wire in a magnetic field. The coil is rotated (number of loops) primary (number of loops) secondary
by mechanical energy, and electromagnetic induction induces a volt- Vp Vs
age, thus converting mechanical energy to electrical energy. A trans- =
Np Ns
former steps up or steps down the voltage of an alternating current. 6.9
The ratio of input and output voltage is determined by the number of
(voltsprimary)(currentprimary) = (voltssecondary)(currentsecondary)
loops in the primary and secondary coils. Increasing the voltage de-
creases the current, which makes long-distance transmission of electri- VpIp = VsIs
cal energy economically feasible. 6.10 Resistances in series circuit
Batteries connected in series will have the same current and the Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3 + ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
voltages add. In parallel, the voltage in the circuit is the same as each
source, and each battery contributes a part of the total current. 6.11 Resistances in parallel circuit
A series circuit has resistances connected one after the other so the 1 1 1 1
= + + + ···
same current flows through each resistance one after the other. A parallel Rtotal R1 R2 R3
circuit has comparable branches, separate pathways for the current to
flow through. As more resistances are added to a parallel circuit, it has an
increase in the current, the same voltage is maintained across each KEY TERMS
resistance, and total resistance of the entire circuit is lowered.
alternating current (p. 151)
Household circuits are parallel circuits, so each appliance has the
same voltage available to do work, and each appliance draws current amp (p. 149)
according to its resistance. Fuses and circuit breakers protect circuits ampere (p. 149)
from overheating from overloads or short circuits. A short circuit is a coulomb (p. 144)
new path of lesser resistance. Other protective devices are three- Coulomb’s law (p. 145)
pronged plugs, polarized plugs, and ground-fault interrupters. direct current (p. 151)

172 CHAPTER 6 Electricity 6-33

drift velocity (p. 150) 7. The rate at which an electric current flows through a circuit is
electric circuit (p. 148) measured in units of
electric current (p. 148) a. volt.
electric field (p. 146) b. amp.
electric generator (p. 163) c. coulomb.
d. watt.
electrical conductors (p. 144)
electrical resistance (p. 152) 8. The law that predicts the behavior of electrostatic forces acting
through space is
electromagnet (p. 160)
a. the law of universal gravitation.
electromagnetic induction (p. 162)
b. Watt’s law.
electrostatic charge (p. 142) c. Coulomb’s law.
force field (p. 145) d. Ohm’s law.
fundamental charge (p. 144)
9. What type of electric current is produced by fuel cells and
magnetic domain (p. 158) solar cells?
magnetic field (p. 156) a. ac c. 60 Hz
magnetic poles (p. 156) b. dc d. 120 Hz
ohm (p. 152) 10. The electrical resistance of a conductor is measured in
Ohm’s law (p. 152) units of
parallel circuit (p. 167) a. volt. c. ohm.
series circuit (p. 167) b. amp. d. watt.
short circuit (p. 170) 11. According to Ohm’s law, what must be greater to maintain the
transformer (p. 163) same current in a conductor with more resistance?
volt (p. 147) a. voltage
watt (p. 153) b. current
c. temperature
APPLYING THE CONCEPTS d. cross-sectional area
12. A kilowatt-hour is a unit of
1. Electrostatic charge results from a. power.
a. transfer or redistribution of electrons. b. work.
b. gain or loss of protons. c. current.
c. separation of charge from electrons and protons. d. potential difference.
d. failure to keep the object clean of dust. 13. If you multiply volts by amps, the answer will be in units of
2. The unit of electric charge is the a. power.
a. volt. b. work.
b. amp. c. current.
c. coulomb. d. potential difference.
d. watt. 14. Units of joules per second are a measure called a (an)
3. An electric field describes the condition of space around a. volt.
a. a charged particle. b. amp.
b. a magnetic pole. c. ohm.
c. a mass. d. watt.
d. all of the above. 15. A lodestone is a natural magnet that attracts
4. A material that has electrons that are free to move throughout a. iron.
the material is a (an) b. cobalt.
a. electrical conductor. c. nickel.
b. electrical insulator. d. all of the above.
c. thermal insulator. 16. The north pole of a suspended or floating bar magnet currently
d. thermal nonconductor. points directly toward Earth’s
5. An example of an electrical insulator is a. north magnetic pole.
a. graphite. b. south magnetic pole.
b. glass. c. north geographic pole.
c. aluminum. d. south geographic pole.
d. tungsten. 17. A current-carrying wire always has
6. The electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit a. a magnetic field with closed concentric field lines around the
is measured in units of length of the wire.
a. volt. b. a magnetic field with field lines parallel to the length of
b. amp. the wire.
c. coulomb. c. an electric field but no magnetic field around the wire.
d. watt. d. nothing in the space around the wire.

6-34 CHAPTER 6 Electricity 173

18. Magnetism is produced by 28. A solar cell
a. an excess of north monopoles. a. produces electricity directly.
b. an excess of south monopoles. b. requires chemical reactions.
c. moving charges. c. has a very short lifetime.
d. separation of positive and negative charges. d. uses small moving parts.
19. Earth’s magnetic field 29. Which of the following is most likely to acquire an electrostatic
a. has undergone many reversals in polarity. charge?
b. has always been as it is now. a. Electrical conductor
c. is created beneath Earth’s north geographic pole. b. Electrical nonconductor
d. is created beneath Earth’s south geographic pole. c. Both are equally likely
20. The strength of a magnetic field around a current-carrying wire d. None of the above is correct
varies directly with the
a. amperage of the current. 30. Which of the following units are measures of rates?
b. voltage of the current. a. Amp and volt
c. resistance of the wire. b. Coulomb and joule
d. temperature of the wire. c. Volt and watt
d. Amp and watt
21. Reverse the direction of a current in a wire, and the magnetic
field around the wire will 31. You are using which description of a current if you consider a
a. have an inverse magnitude of strength. current to be positive charges that flow from the positive to the
b. have a reversed north pole direction. negative terminal of a battery?
c. become a conventional current. a. Electron current
d. remain unchanged. b. Conventional current
22. The operation of which of the following depends on the c. Proton current
interaction between two magnetic fields? d. Alternating current
a. Car stereo speakers
32. In an electric current, the electrons are moving
b. Telephone
a. at a very slow rate.
c. Relay circuit
b. at the speed of light.
d. All of the above
c. faster than the speed of light.
23. An electric meter measures the d. at a speed described as supersonic.
a. actual number of charges moving through a conductor.
b. current in packets of coulombs. 33. In which of the following currents is there no electron movement
c. strength of a magnetic field. from one end of a conducting wire to the other end?
d. difference in potential between two points in a conductor. a. Electron current
b. Direct current
24. When a loop of wire cuts across magnetic field lines or when
c. Alternating current
magnetic field lines move across a loop of wire,
d. None of the above
a. electrons are pushed toward one end of the loop.
b. an electrostatic charge is formed. 34. If you multiply amps by volts, the answer will be in units of
c. the wire becomes a permanent magnet. a. resistance.
d. a magnetic domain is created. b. work.
25. A step-up transformer steps up the c. current.
a. voltage. d. power.
b. current.
35. A permanent magnet has magnetic properties because
c. power.
a. the magnetic fields of its electrons are balanced.
d. energy.
b. of an accumulation of monopoles in the ends.
26. Electromagnetic induction occurs when a coil of wire cuts across c. the magnetic domains are aligned.
magnetic field lines. Which one of the following increases the d. all of the above.
voltage produced?
a. Fewer wire loops in the coil 36. A current-carrying wire has a magnetic field around it because
b. Increased strength of the magnetic field a. a moving charge produces a magnetic field of its own.
c. Slower speed of the moving coil of wire b. the current aligns the magnetic domains in the metal of the
d. Decreased strength of the magnetic field wire.
c. the metal was magnetic before the current was established,
27. Electric power companies step up the voltage of generated
and the current enhanced the magnetic effect.
power for transmission across the country because higher
d. None of the above is correct.
voltage
a. means more power is transmitted. 37. When an object acquires a negative charge, it actually
b. reduces the current, which increases the resistance. a. gains mass.
c. means less power is transmitted. b. loses mass.
d. reduces the current, which lowers the energy lost to c. has a constant mass.
resistance. d. The answer is unknown.

174 CHAPTER 6 Electricity 6-35

38. A positive and a negative charge are initially 2 cm apart. What
happens to the force on each as they are moved closer and closer
together? The force
a. increases while moving.
b. decreases while moving.
c. remains constant.
d. The answer is unknown.
39. To be operational, a complete electric circuit must contain a
source of energy, a device that does work, and
a. a magnetic field.
b. a conductor from the source to the working device and
another conductor back to the source.
c. connecting wires from the source to the working device.
d. a magnetic field and a switch.
40. Which variable is inversely proportional to the resistance?
a. Length of conductor
b. Cross-sectional area of conductor
c. Temperature of conductor
d. Conductor material
41. Which of the following is not considered to have strong
magnetic properties?
a. Iron
b. Nickel
c. Silver
d. Cobalt
42. A piece of iron can be magnetized or unmagnetized. This is
explained by the idea that
a. electrons in iron atoms are spinning and have magnetic fields
around them.
b. atoms of iron are grouped into tiny magnetic domains that
may orient themselves in a particular direction or in a random
direction.
c. unmagnetized iron atoms can be magnetized by an external
magnetic field.
d. the north and south poles of iron can be segregated by the
application of an external magnetic field.
43. Earth’s magnetic field is believed to originate
a. by a separation of north and south monopoles due to currents
within Earth.
b. with electric currents that are somehow generated in Earth’s core.
c. from a giant iron and cobalt bar magnet inside Earth.
d. from processes that are not understood.
44. Electromagnetic induction takes place because
a. an electric current is measured by the rate of movement of
charges.
b. the potential is determined by how much work is done.
c. electrons have their own magnetic field, which interacts with
an externally applied magnetic field.
d. copper wire is magnetic, which induces magnetism.
45. The current in the secondary coil of a transformer is produced by a
a. varying magnetic field.
b. varying electric field.
c. constant magnetic field.
d. constant electric field.
46. An electromagnet uses
a. a magnetic field to produce an electric current.
b. an electric current to produce a magnetic field.
c. a magnetic current to produce an electric field.
d. an electric field to produce a magnetic current.
6-36
47. A transformer
a. changes the voltage of a direct current.
b. changes the power of a direct current.
c. changes the voltage of an alternating current.
d. changes the amperage of an alternating current.
48. A parallel circuit has
a. wires that are lined up side by side.
b. the same current flowing through one resistance after another.
c. separate pathways for the current to flow through.
d. none of the above.
49. In which type of circuit would you expect a reduction of the available
voltage as more and more resistances are added to the circuit?
a. Series circuit
b. Parallel circuit
c. Open circuit
d. None of the above
50. In which type of circuit would you expect the same voltage with
an increased current as more and more resistances are added to
the circuit?
a. Series circuit c. Open circuit
b. Parallel circuit d. None of the above
Answers
1. a 2. c 3. a 4. a 5. b 6. a 7. b 8. c 9. b 10. c 11. a 12. b 13. a 14. d 15. d
16. a 17. a 18. c 19. a 20. a 21. b 22. d 23. c 24. a 25. a 26. b 27. d 28. a
29. b 30. d 31. b 32. a 33. c 34. d 35. c 36. a 37. a 38. a 39. b 40. b 41. c
42. b 43. b 44. c 45. a 46. b 47. c 48. c 49. a 50. b
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT
1. Explain why a balloon that has been rubbed sticks to a wall for a
while.
2. Explain what is happening when you walk across a carpet and
receive a shock when you touch a metal object.
3. Why does a positively or negatively charged object have
multiples of the fundamental charge?
4. Explain how you know that it is an electric field, not electrons,
that moves rapidly through a circuit.
5. Is a kWh a unit of power or a unit of work? Explain.
6. What is the difference between ac and dc?
7. What is a magnetic pole? How are magnetic poles named?
8. How is an unmagnetized piece of iron different from the same
piece of iron when it is magnetized?
9. Explain why the electric utility company increases the voltage of
electricity for long-distance transmission.
10. Describe how an electric generator is able to generate an electric
current.
11. Why does the north pole of a magnet point to the geographic
North Pole if like poles repel?
12. Explain what causes an electron to move toward one end of a
wire when the wire is moved across a magnetic field.
FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS
1. Explain how the model of electricity as electrons moving along
a wire is an oversimplification that misrepresents the complex
nature of an electric current.
2. What are the significant similarities and differences between ac and
dc? What determines which is better for a particular application?
CHAPTER 6 Electricity 175
 3. Transformers usually have signs warning, “Danger—High INVITATION TO INQUIRY
Voltage.” Analyze if this is a contradiction since it is exposure to
amps, not volts, that harms people.
Earth Power?
4. Will a fuel cell be the automobile engine of the future? Identify
the facts, beliefs, and theories that support or refute your answer. Investigate if you can use Earth’s magnetic field to induce an elec-
tric current in a conductor. Connect the ends of a 10 m (about 33 ft)
5. Analyze the apparent contradiction in the statement that “solar
wire to a galvanometer. Have a partner hold the ends of the wire on
energy is free” with the fact that solar cells are too expensive to
the galvanometer while you hold the end of the wire loop and swing
use as a significant energy source.
the double wire like a skip rope.
6. What are the basic similarities and differences between an If you accept this invitation, try swinging the wire in different
electric field and a magnetic field? directions. Can you figure out a way to measure how much electricity
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using parallel you can generate?
circuits for household circuits?

PARALLEL EXERCISES
The exercises in groups A and B cover the same concepts. Solutions to group A exercises are located in appendix E.

Group A Group B
1. A rubber balloon has become negatively charged from being 1. An inflated rubber balloon is rubbed with a wool cloth until
rubbed with a wool cloth, and the charge is measured as an excess of a billion electrons is on the balloon. What is the
1.00 × 10−14 C. According to this charge, the balloon contains an magnitude of the charge on the balloon?
excess of how many electrons?  
2. One rubber balloon with a negative charge of 3.00 × 10−14 C is 2. What is the force between two balloons with a negative charge
suspended by a string and hangs 2.00 cm from a second of 1.6 × 10−10 C if the balloons are 5.0 cm apart?
rubber balloon with a negative charge of 2.00 × 10−12 C.
(a) What is the direction of the force between the balloons?
(b) What is the magnitude of the force?  
3. A dry cell does 7.50 J of work through chemical energy to 3. How much energy is available from a 12 V storage battery that
transfer 5.00 C between the terminals of the cell. What is the can transfer a total charge equivalent to 100,000 C?
electric potential between the two terminals?  
4. An electric current through a wire is 6.00 C every 2.00 s. What 4. A wire carries a current of 2.0 A. At what rate is the charge
is the magnitude of this current?   flowing?
5. A 1.00 A electric current corresponds to the charge of how many 5. What is the magnitude of the least possible current that could
electrons flowing through a wire per second?   theoretically exist?
6. There is a current of 4.00 A through a toaster connected to a 6. There is a current of 0.83 A through a lightbulb in a 120 V
120.0 V circuit. What is the resistance of the toaster?   circuit. What is the resistance of this lightbulb?
7. What is the current in a 60.0 Ω resistor when the potential 7. What is the voltage across a 60.0 Ω resistor with a current of
difference across it is 120.0 V?   3 1/3 amp?
8. A lightbulb with a resistance of 10.0 Ω allows a 1.20 A current 8. A 10.0 Ω lightbulb is connected to a 12.0 V battery. (a) What
to flow when connected to a battery. (a) What is the voltage of current flows through the bulb? (b) What is the power of the
the battery? (b) What is the power of the lightbulb?   bulb?
9. A small radio operates on 3.00 V and has a resistance of 15.0 Ω. 9. A lightbulb designed to operate in a 120.0 V circuit has a
At what rate does the radio use electric energy?   resistance of 192 Ω. At what rate does the bulb use electric
energy?
10. A 1,200 W hair dryer is operated on a 120 V circuit for 15 min. 10. What is the monthly energy cost of leaving a 60 W bulb on
If electricity costs $0.10/kWh, what was the cost of using the continuously if electricity costs $0.10 per kWh?
blow dryer?  
11. An automobile starter rated at 2.00 hp draws how many amps 11. An electric motor draws a current of 11.5 A in a 240 V circuit.
from a 12.0 V battery?   What is the power of this motor in W?
12. An average-sized home refrigeration unit has a 1/3 hp fan motor 12. A swimming pool requiring a 2.0 hp motor to filter and circulate
for blowing air over the inside cooling coils, a 1/3 hp fan motor the water runs for 18 hours a day. What is the monthly electrical
for blowing air over the outside condenser coils, and a 3.70 hp cost for running this pool pump if electricity costs $0.10 per kWh?
compressor motor. (a) All three motors use electric energy at
what rate? (b) If electricity costs $0.10/kWh, what is the cost of
running the unit per hour? (c) What is the cost of running the
unit 12 hours a day for a 30-day month?  

176 CHAPTER 6 Electricity 6-37

Group A—Continued Group B—Continued
13. A 15-ohm toaster is turned on in a circuit that already has a 13. Is it possible for two people to simultaneously operate 1,300 W
0.20 hp motor, three 100 W lightbulbs, and a 600 W electric hair dryers on the same 120 V circuit without tripping a 15 A
iron that are on. Will this trip a 15 A circuit breaker? Explain.   circuit breaker? Explain.
14. A power plant generator produces a 1,200 V, 40 A alternating 14. A step-up transformer has a primary coil with 100 loops
current that is fed to a step-up transformer before transmission and a secondary coil with 1,500 loops. If the primary coil is
over the high lines. The transformer has a ratio of 200 to 1 wire supplied with a household current of 120 V and 15 A,
loops. (a) What is the voltage of the transmitted power? (a) what voltage is produced in the secondary circuit?
(b) What is the current?   (b) What current flows in the secondary circuit?
15. A step-down transformer has an output of 12 V and 0.5 A when 15. The step-down transformer in a local neighborhood reduces the
connected to a 120 V line. Assume no losses. (a) What is the voltage from a 7,200 V line to 120 V. (a) If there are 125 loops
ratio of primary to secondary loops? (b) What current does the on the secondary, how many are on the primary coil? (b) What
transformer draw from the line? (c) What is the power output of current does the transformer draw from the line if the current in
the transformer?   the secondary is 36 A? (c) What are the power input and output?
16. A step-up transformer on a 120 V line has 50 loops on the 16. A step-down transformer connected to a 120 V electric generator
primary and 150 loops on the secondary, and draws a 5.0 A has 30 loops on the primary for each loop in the secondary.
current. Assume no losses. (a) What is the voltage from the (a) What is the voltage of the secondary? (b) If the transformer
secondary? (b) What is the current from the secondary? has a 90.0 A current in the primary, what is the current in the
(c) What is the power output?   secondary? (c) What are the power input and output?
17. Two 8.0 Ω lightbulbs are connected in a 12 V series circuit. 17. What is the power of an 8.0-ohm bulb when three such bulbs are
What is the power of both glowing bulbs?   connected in a 12-volt series circuit?

Design Elements: Science Sketch icon: ©Hocus Focus Studio/Getty Images; Concepts Applied icon: ©Ingram Publishing; Science and Society icon: ©Stocktrek/age fotostock;
People Behind the Science icon: ©Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock; Closer Look icon: ©BananaStock/PictureQuest; Closer Look icon: ©Brian Jackson/Alamy Stock Photo;
Myths, Mistakes, & Misunderstandings icon: ©stnazkul/123RF.com; Case Study icon: ©Goodluz/Shutterstock

6-38 CHAPTER 6 Electricity 177