CURRENT

ELECTRICITY
What we Learn
1. Microscopic Analysis
2. Ohm’s Law and resistance
3. Kirchhoff’s Laws and application
4. Combination of resistors
5. Cell and combination of cells
6. Heating effects of current
7. Wheat stone bridge
8. Galvanometer, Ammeter, Voltmeter
9. Meter Bridge and Post office box
10. Potentiometer
Real Life Applications of Current Electricity
1. Starting a car
2. Turning on a light
3. Cooking on an electric stove
4. Watching TV
5. Playing video games
6. Charging a cell phone
7. Water heater
8. Personal computers
9. Solar cells
10. Wind turbines
Pre–Requisite

1. Electrostatics
2. Conductors
Weightage of Current Electricity

JA (last five years) – 04 to 05 %

JM (last three years) - 09 to 10 %

Electric current

Rate of flow of charge through cross-section of a conductor is called

electric current.
If a charge ∆𝑄 crosses an area in time ∆𝑡 then the average electric
current through the area, during this time is

∆𝐐 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐧𝐞 𝐂

𝐢𝐚𝐯 = = = = = 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞
∆𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭 𝐒
 Microscopic Analysis

(i) When wire is connected to a voltage source, an electric filed is set-

up in the wire.

(ii) Due to electric field, an electric force act on each electron opposite
to field.

(iii) Due to electric force every electron gain velocity in same direction
in addition to thermal velocity known as drift velocity.
𝑒𝜀
(iv) 𝑉𝑑 = 𝑚 𝜏
τ = relaxation time

(v) Current in wire

I = neAVd
n = electrons density.
 𝐼
(vi) Current density J = 𝑅
𝐴
𝑛𝑒 2 𝜏
𝐴 𝐁
+ –
J= 𝐸
𝑚

J =𝜎𝐸 microscopic form of ohm’s law

Potential difference
𝑉𝐴 − 𝐼𝑅 = 𝑉𝐵
V = IR − ohm’s law
𝑉𝐴 − 𝑉𝐵 = 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
𝑙
R = 𝜌𝐴
1 𝑚
𝜌 = resistivity = 𝜎 = 𝑛𝑒 2 𝜏
On increasing temp 𝜏 ↓
Hence 𝜌 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅 ↑

R = 𝑅0 (1 + 𝛼Δ𝑇)

α −Temperature co-efficient of resistance

ρ= 𝜌0 (1 + 𝛼Δ𝑇) When ΔT is small change in temperature

EXAMPLE In a discharge tube 3 × 1018 electrons/sec. are moving from right to left
and 2 × 1018 (+ve) ions per second are moving from left to right. Then
find current through the discharge tube.

Solution
–
–
+
+

As current due to both type of charges

will be in same direction 𝒊 = 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 × 𝒆

(𝑵𝒆 𝒒𝒆 ) + (𝑵⊕ 𝒒⊕ ) 𝒊 = 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 × 𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟗

𝒊=
𝒕
𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 𝒆 + 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 × (𝒆) 𝒊 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝑨
𝒊=
𝟏
𝒊 = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 𝒆 + 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟖 𝒆
EXAMPLE Resistance of a wire is 5W at 50°C and 6W at 100°C then find coefficient of
resistance of wire.

Solution

Let resistance at 𝟎°𝑪 = 𝑹𝟎

𝑹𝟏 = 𝟔𝛀 = 𝐑 𝟎 [𝟏 + 𝜶(𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟎)]
𝑹𝟐 = 𝟓𝛀 = 𝐑 𝟎 [𝟏 + 𝜶(𝟓𝟎 − 𝟎)]

𝟔 𝟏 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝜶
= 𝟔 + 𝟑𝟎𝟎𝜶 = 𝟓 + 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝜶
𝟓 𝟏 + 𝟓𝟎𝜶

1 −1
α= C j
200
 𝑅 𝑰
EXAMPLE In the shown i-V curve 𝑅12 will be? R1
R2

Solution
60𝑜
Slope of given graph gives conductance (G) 30𝑜
𝑽
1 1
tan60° = G1 = 3 = , R1 =
R1 3
1 1
tan30° = G2 = = , R2 = 3
3 R 2

R1 1Τ 3 1
= =
R2 3 3
EXAMPLE Find R12, R34, R56 on the basis direction of current flow through different
paths.

Solution 𝟑

𝟔
𝟐
𝑎
𝟏
2𝑎 3𝑎 𝟓

𝟒
Solution
𝟐
𝑎

𝟏
3𝑎
2𝑎
𝟑

𝑎
𝑎

3𝑎
2𝑎
2𝑎 3𝑎
𝟒
𝟒
EXAMPLE Find out the resistance of the current flowing hollow cylindrical
conductor between (i) P & Q (ii) A & B

B
P Q
A 𝑟1

𝑟2
𝒍
Solution
Solution
 A wire is stretched so that its radius is decreased by 3% find % change
EXAMPLE in its resistance.

Solution
KIRCHHOFF'S CURRENT LAW (KCL) (Kirchhoff’s 1st law / Junction Law)

According to Kirchhoff algebraic sum of all the currents entering or leaving

at any junction is always zero.
Or
Sum of currents entering the junction is equal to the sum of the current
leaving the junction.
i2

At junction,
𝐢𝟏 + 𝐢𝟐 + 𝐢𝟑 = 𝐢𝟒 Junction point
𝒊𝟏 + 𝒊𝟐 + 𝒊𝟑 − 𝒊𝟒 = 𝟎
i1 i4 i3
EXAMPLE What is the value of current I in the following circuit ?

4A 2A
I
Solution
3A 1.3 A
KIRCHHOFF’S Voltage LAW(KVL) (Kirchhoff’s 2nd law/kirchhoff’s loop law)

According to Kirchhoffs in any closed loop algebraic sum of e.m.f. &

potential drop is always zero. V1
i
𝚺𝐕 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐩 = 𝟎

(V1 > V2 )
R1 R2
ΣV loop = 0

V2
 CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

EXAMPLE Find potential of B :-

𝟐𝛀
𝟏𝟎𝐯 + –
𝐁
Solution 𝟐𝐀 + –
𝟓𝐯
𝟐𝐀
EXAMPLE Find current in all branches ?
4V
𝟒𝛀
Solution

2V 𝟐𝛀 𝟐𝛀
10V

0
EXAMPLE Find the potential difference VA – VB for the circuit shown in the figure.
1V 1V 1V 1V
B
Solution
1W 1W 1W
1W 1W
1W 1W 1W 1W

A
1V 1V 1V 1V
EXAMPLE Find current flowing through 8V and 6V battery.
2W 4W
Solution
8V
2W 4W

6V
 Combinations of Resistance

Series Combination Parallel Combination

Series Combination
R1 R eq
2 R3

𝐕𝟏 𝐕𝟐 𝐕𝟑

I
In series, 𝐈 → same
If V is P.D. of source and V1 ,V2 and V3 is potential drop across each
resister then
Req= σ 𝑅𝑖
𝐕 = 𝐕𝟏 + 𝐕𝟐 + 𝐕𝟑
𝐈𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝐈𝐑 𝟏 + 𝐈𝐑 𝟐 + 𝐈𝐑 𝟑 Req= ‫𝑅𝑑 ׬‬

R eq = R1 + R 2 + R 3
Parallel Combination

In parallel V is same across all resistors but current will be different if

all resistors are different
If I1 , I2 and I3 are the currents through resistors R1, R2 and R3 then

I = I1 + I2 + I3
EXAMPLE Find (1) R AB = ?
1Ω
𝐴
Solution 2Ω 2Ω
2Ω
4Ω
4Ω 4Ω

𝐵
8Ω

𝐑 𝐀𝐁 = 𝟐 + 𝟒 = 𝟔 𝛀
EXAMPLE Two identical cylindrical conductor of different material connected to a
voltage source as shown in figure
Find
(a) (i) Electric current
(ii) Current density
(iii) electric field in both the conductor
(b) Find surface charge density (s) at the junction of the cylinder.

Solution
l l
r
r1 r2

V
 A long conductor of circular cross-section has radius r and length l as
EXAMPLE
shown in figure. The conductivity of the material near the axis is 𝜎1
and increases linearly with the distance from axis and becomes 𝜎2
near the surface. Find the resistances of the conductor if the current
enters from the one end and leaves from the other end.
s2

Solution s1

l
Solution
EXAMPLE The resistance of all the wires between any two adjacent dots is R.
The equivalent resistance between A and B as shown in figure is :-

A
Solution

B
EXAMPLE Find Req between?
B
(i) A & C (ii) A & O (iii) A & B
R
Solution R
R

R R
A C
O

R R
R

D
Solution
Solution
EXAMPLE Find equivalent resistance of circuit and the value of currents I1, I2 and
I3.
I2
Solution
A B
2W 2W 2W 2W 2W
I1 I3

8V
Solution
EXAMPLE Determine the reading of the ideal ammeter in the circuit below.

Solution 2W 4W 6W

4W A 4W
6W 4W 2W

16v
Solution
EXAMPLE Find : R AB = ?
R R R
A ∞
Solution
R R

B ∞
Solution

R R R
∞

x R R R

x R x
Solution
xR R X + R + xR
x=R+ =
x+R x+R

x 2 + R2 + xR
x 2 − xR − R2 = 0

R ± R2 + 4.1. R2
𝑥=
2×1

R ± 5R2
𝑥=
2

R 1+ 5
𝑥=
2
EXAMPLE R KR K2R K3R
A 

R KR K2R K3R

B 
Find equivalent resistance between A and B.

Solution
Solution
EXAMPLE A frame made of thin homogenous wire is shown in figure. Assume
that the number of successively embedded equilateral triangle with
sides decreasing by half tends to infinity. The side AB has a resistance
R0. The equivalent resistance between A and B is :-

Solution

A B
Solution
 Electric Cell
In converts chemical energy into electrical energy.
Electro motive force (EMF) of the cell – It is the potential difference
across the terminals of the cell when it is in open circuit i.e. no
current is flowing through the cell.
Or
It is the work done in moving unit positive charge from low
potential terminal to high potential terminal inside the battery.
Unit of emf = volt or J/C.

Internal resistance of the cell – it represents the obstruction offered

by the electrolyte of the cell to the
flow of ions.

Electrode-1 Electrode-2

Electrolyte
 TPD (Terminal potential Difference) of the cell –

It is a potential difference across the terminals of the cell when it is in

closed circuit i.e. when current is flowing through the cell.

CASE 01

TPD in Discharing (Discharging means output from cell)

E = IR + Ir = V + Ir  V = E – Ir
E–ir R 0
TPD = VBA = E – Ir i R

Direction of i r E
E r
Outside of the cell : +ve to –ve E–ir 0 0

Inside of the cell : –ve to +ve

CASE 02
TPD in charging (Charging of Battery is known as input to the battery)

E r

(a) In charging current is supplied to the cell from external source.

EXAMPLE A current of 1A is flowing from (+ve) to (–ve) terminal inside the cell of
emf 4.5 V and internal resistance 0.5W then find potential of the
negative terminal if potential of positive terminal is 10V.

Solution
 Combination of Cells

A. Series Combination

E1 r1 E2 r2 E3 r3 En rn Eeq. req.
A B

=
i R
i C
D
R

Eeq 𝐄𝟏 + 𝐄𝟐 +. . . . +𝐄𝐧
Eeq. = E1 + E2 + E3 …… En 𝐢= =
Req 𝐫𝟏 + 𝐫𝟐 +. . . . +𝐫𝐧 + 𝐑
req. = r1 + r2 + r3 …….rn If cells are identical, Eeq = nE, req = nr
Req. = r1 + r2 + r3 ……rn + R 𝐧𝐄
𝐢=
𝐧𝐫 + 𝐑
 B. Parallel Combination

𝐸1 𝑟1
𝒊𝟏 𝒊𝟏
𝐸2 𝑟2 𝐸𝑒𝑞 𝑟𝑒𝑞
i i i i
A B A B
𝒊𝟐
𝒊𝟑 𝒊𝟑

𝐸3 𝑟3
R
R
TPD = Eeq – ireq = V …(1)
E1 E2 E3
r1 + r2 + r3 . . . . . 1 1 1 1
Eeq =
1 1 1  = + + .....
req r1 r2 r3
r1 r2 r3 . . . . .
+ +
EXAMPLE If VB – VA = 4V then x will be ?
10𝛺 5V

Solution
A B
E2 r1 + E1 r2 2V X𝛺
VB − VA =
r1 + r2
5x + 20
4=
10 + x
4(10 + x) = 5x + 20

40 + 4x = 20 + 5x or x = 20
EXAMPLE Find the Reading of Ammeter ? 2V 2𝛺

Solution 2𝛺
B A D

2V 2𝛺
 Mixed Combination
1 2 3 n
Let
n = number of cells in each row. A B
m = number of rows

I m rows
The combination of cells is equivalent to
single cell of emf = nE and R

nr
Internal resistance =
m
Eeq
Since, i=
R + req
nE
i= nr
R+ m
 Condition of Imax
nr
Eeq nE m
i=
R + req
mnE
i=
mR + nr
R
When nr + mR → minimum 2
a+b = a− b + 2 ab
for that nr = mR
nE mE a + b ⇒ min, when a = b
Imax = 2R = 2r
EXAMPLE Four identical cells each of e.m.f. 2V and joined in parallel providing
supply of current to external circuit consisting of two 15 W resistors
joined in parallel. The terminal voltage of the equivalent cell is given as
1.6V. calculate the internal resistance of each cell.

Solution
EXAMPLE In the following circuit find current in 4W resistance.

6V, 2W
Solution 2V, 1W
3V, 1W

4V, 2W

4W