BASIC ELECTRICAL IDEAS

1.1 Electrical Charge

1.1.1 Electricity
Electricity is a phenomenon that occurs when
electric charges are stationary or moving. The fundamental
attribute of matter is electric charge, which is carried by
elementary particles. The electron is the particle involved
in electricity, and it bears a negative charge. Thus, the
collection or motion of a large number of electrons results
in the many manifestations of electricity.

In some elements,
there are electrons on the outside of the atom that, when
a force is applied, can come loose and move to another
atom. When a bunch of atoms are together and electrons
are moving from one atom to the other in the same
direction, this is called electricity. Electricity is the
"flow" of electrons

IMPORTANT TERMS

❖ Protons – positively charged particles that stays in the nucleus of an atom. Protons is
very small, but it is fairly massive compared to the other particles that make up matter.
The mass of one proton is 1.673 𝑥 10−27𝑘𝑔.
❖ Neutrons – particles having no charge. Neutrons are about same size as protons but
their mass is slightly greater, 1.675 𝑥 10−27𝑘𝑔.
❖ Nucleus – the central part of the atom where the protons and neutrons are located.
❖ Atomic Number – represents the number of electrons or protons of an atom.
❖ Atomic Mass – represents the sum of protons and neutrons of an atom.
❖ Valence electrons – electrons found in the outermost shell or orbit of an atom.

1.1.2 Electrostatic Force

The Coulomb force or Coulomb interaction is another name for the electrostatic
force. It's the force that attracts or repels two electrically charged things. Charges that are
similar repel each other, while charges that are dissimilar attract each other. The strength
of the force between two charges is calculated using Coulomb's law.
 1.1.3 How Electricity is Produced
1. Static Electricity
2. Electricity produced from Pressure
3. Electricity produced from Heat
4. Electricity produced from Chemical Reaction
5. Electricity produced from Magnetism

1.2 System of Units

1.2.1 Definition
International System of Units (SI), French Système International d’Unités,
international decimal system of weights and measures derived from and extending the
metric system of units. Adopted by the 11th General Conference on Weights and Measures
(CGPM) in 1960, it is abbreviated SI in all languages.

1.2.2 Basic Units

1.2.3 SI Derived Units

1.2.4 SI Derived Units with Special Names and Symbols
1.2.5 Metric Prefixes

1.2.6 Units Outside the SI that are Accepted for Use with the SI System
1.3 Force, Work, Power, e.m.f.

1.3.1 Force
Force is an external agent capable of changing the state of rest or motion of a
particular body. It has a magnitude and a direction. The direction towards which the force
is applied is known as the direction of the force and the application of force is the point
where force is applied.

The Force can be measured using a spring balance. The SI unit of force is Newton(N).

Common symbols: F→, F

SI unit: Newton

In SI base units: kg·m/s2

Other units: dyne, poundal, pound-force, kip, kilo pond

Derivations from other quantities: F=ma

Dimension: LMT-2

Formula for Force

The quantity of force is expressed by the vector product of mass (m) and acceleration
(a). The equation or the formula for force can mathematically be expressed in the form of:

F = ma
where,

m = mass
a = acceleration
It is articulated in Newton (N) or Kgm/s2.

Acceleration a is given by

a = v/t

where

v = velocity
t = time taken
 So, force can be articulated as:

F = mv/t

Inertia formula is termed as p = mv which can also be articulated as Momentum.

Therefore, Force can be articulated as the rate of change of momentum.

F = p/t = dp/dt

Force formulas are beneficial in finding out the force, mass, acceleration,
momentum, velocity in any given problem.

Types of Force
Contact Force Non-Contact Force
Muscular Gravitational
Mechanical Electrostatic
Frictional Magnetic

1.3.2 Work
In physics, work is defined as a force causing the movement—or displacement—of
an object. In the case of a constant force, work is the scalar product of the force acting on
an object and the displacement caused by that force. Though both force and displacement
are vector quantities, work has no direction due to the nature of a scalar product (or dot
product) in vector mathematics. This definition is consistent with the proper definition
because a constant force integrates to merely the product of the force and distance.

Calculating Work
The basic calculation of work is actually quite simple:

W = Fd
Here, "W" stands for work, "F" is the force, and "d" represents displacement (or the
distance the object travels)):
Example
A baseball player throws a ball with a force of 10 Newtons. The ball travels 20
meters. What is the total work?

To solve it, you first need to know that a Newton is defined as the force necessary to
provide a mass of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) with an acceleration of 1 meter (1.1 yards) per
second. A Newton is generally abbreviated as "N." So, use the formula:

W = Fd
 Thus:

W = 10 N * 20 meters
(where the symbol "*" represents times)

So:

Work = 200 joules

A joule, a term used in physics, is equal to the kinetic energy of 1 kilogram moving
at 1 meter per second.

1.3.3 Power
In physics, power is the amount of energy transferred or converted per unit time. In
the International System of Units, the unit of power is the watt, equal to one joule per
second. In older works, power is sometimes called activity. Power is a scalar quantity.
1.3.4 Electromagnetic Force

Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental forces in the universe. It describes

how charged particles react to electric and magnetic fields, as well as the fundamental links
between them. Electromagnetic force, like all forces, is measured in Newtons.

Electrostatic forces are described by Coulomb’s law, and both electric and magnetic
forces are covered by the Lorentz force law. However, Maxwell’s four equations provide
the most detailed description of electromagnetism.

Engineers make solenoids – electromagnets – by twisting lengths of metal in a spiral

fashion around a cylindrical template. You can determine the magnitude of that force by
plugging the dimensions and other properties of the magnet based into a simple equation:
F = (n X i)2 X magnetic constant X a / (2 X g2). Passing an electrical current through the
solenoid results in a magnetic field that exerts force on nearby ferromagnetic objects,
such as pieces of iron or steel. The joining together of magnetic and electric forces on a
charged item is called the Lorentz force.

Calculating E.M.F.

F = (n x i)2 x magnetic constant x a / (2 x g2)

Where, F = force, i = current, g = length of the gap between the solenoid and a piece
of metal, a = Area, n = number of turns in the solenoid, and the magnetic constant = 4 x PI
x 10-7.

Analyze your electromagnet to determine its dimensions and the amount of current
you will be running through it.

Example

Imagine you have a magnet with 1,000 turns and a cross-sectional area of 0.5 neters
that you will operate with 10 amperes of current, 1.5 meters from a piece of metal.
Therefore:

N = 1,000, I = 10, A = 0.5 meters, g = 1.5 m

Plug the numbers into the equation to compute the force that will act on the piece of metal.

Force = ((1,000 x 10)2 x 4 x pi x 10-7 x 0.5) / (2 x 1.52) = 14 Newtons (N).

1.4 Resistance and Conductance

1.4.1 Resistance

An electron traveling through the wires and loads of the external circuit encounters
resistance. Resistance is the hindrance to the flow of charge. For an electron, the journey
from terminal to terminal is not a direct route. Rather, it is a zigzag path that results from
countless collisions with fixed atoms within the conducting material.

Variable affecting resistance

The flow of charge through wires is often compared to the flow of water through
pipes. The resistance to the flow of charge in an electric circuit is analogous to the frictional
effects between water and the pipe surfaces as well as the resistance offered by obstacles
that are present in its path.

First, the total length of the

wires will affect the amount of
resistance. The longer the wire, the
more resistance that there will be.
There is a direct relationship
between the amount of resistance
encountered by charge and the
length of wire it must traverse

Second, the cross-sectional

area of the wires will affect the
amount of resistance. Wider wires
have a greater cross-sectional area.
Water will flow through a wider
pipe at a higher rate than it will flow
through a narrow pipe.

A third variable that is

known to affect the resistance to
charge flow is the material that a
wire is made of. Not all materials
are created equal in terms of their
conductive ability. Some materials
are better conductors than others
and offer less resistance to the flow
of charge. Silver is one of the best
conductors but is never used in
wires of household circuits due to
its cost.
 Calculating Resistance

the resistance of an electrical component can be found by measuring the

electric current flowing through it and the potential difference across it.

This equation, called Ohm’s Law, shows the relationship between potential
difference, current and resistance:

Voltage = Current multiplied resistance

V = IR

where:

V is the potential difference in volts, V

I is the current in amperes (amps), A

R is the resistance in ohms, Ω

The equation can be rearranged to find the resistance:

R = V/I

Example

3 A flows through a 240 V lamp. What is the resistance of the lamp?

Resistance = V/I

2403 = 80 Ω
1.4.2 Conductance

Conductance (also known as electrical conductance) is defined as the potential for

a substance to conduct electricity. Conductance is the measure of how easily electrical
current (i.e. flow of charge) can pass through a material. Conductance is the inverse (or
reciprocal) of electrical resistance, represented as 1/R.

Calculating Conductance

Electric conductance calculation formulas:

Conductance = 1 / R (Electric resistance)
Conductance = I (Current) / V (Voltage)
1.5 Electrical Power and Energy

1.5.1 Electrical Energy

Electrical energy is the energy derived from electric potential energy or kinetic
energy of the charged particles. In general, it is referred to as the energy that has been
converted from electric potential energy. We can define electrical energy as the energy
generated by the movement of electrons from one point to another. The movement of
charged particles along/through a medium (say wire) constitute current or electricity.

A cell has two terminals – a negative and a positive terminal. The negative terminal
has the excess of electrons whereas the positive terminal has a deficiency of electrons. Let
us take the positive terminal as A and the electrical potential at A is given by V(A).
Similarly, the negative terminal is B and the electrical potential at B is given by V(B).
Electric current flows from A to B, and thus V(A) > V (B).

The potential difference between A and B is given by

V = V(A) – V(B) > 0

Mathematically, electric current is defined as the rate of flow of charge through the
cross-section of a conductor.

Thus, it is given by
I = ∆Q/ ∆t

where I is the electric current and ∆Q is the quantity of electric charge flowing
through a point in time ∆t.

The potential energy of charge Q at A is Q V(A) and at B, it is Q V(B). So the

change in the potential energy is given by

∆Upot = Final potential energy – Initial potential energy

= ∆Q [(V (B) – V (A)] = –∆Q V
= –I V∆t (Since I = ∆Q/ ∆t)

If we take the kinetic energy of the system into account, it would also change if the
charges inside the conductor moved without collision. This is to keep the total energy of
the system unchanged. Thus, by conservation of total energy, we have:
∆K = –∆Upotential
or ∆K = I V∆t > 0
 Thus, in the electric field, if the charges move freely across the conductor, there
would be an increase in the kinetic energy as they move.

When the charges collide, the energy gained by them is shared between the atoms.
Consequently, the vibration of the atoms increases resulting in the heating up of the
conductor. Thus, some amount of energy is dissipated in the form of heat in an actual
conductor.

1.5.2 Units of Electrical Energy

The basic unit of electrical energy is the joule or watt-second. An electrical energy
is said to be one joule when one ampere of current flows through the circuit for a second
when the potential difference of one volt is applied across it. The commercial unit of
electrical energy is the kilowatt-hour (kWh)
1 kwh = 1000 × 60 × 60 watt – second
1 kwh = 36 × 105 Ws or Joules
Generally, one kwh is called one unit.

1.5.3 Electrical Power

It is the rate at which work is done or energy is transformed in an electrical circuit.

Simply put, it is a measure of how much energy is used in a span of time.

In physics, the rate of transfer of electrical energy by an electrical circuit per unit
time is called electrical power. Here electrical energy can be either kinetic energy or
potential energy. In most of the cases, potential energy is considered, which is the energy
stored due to the relative positions of charged particles or electric fields. Electrical power
is denoted by P and measured using Watt.

Symbol P

SI Unit Watt, joule per second

Scalar or Vector Scalar Quantity

P=VI Where,
Formula V is the potential difference (volts)
I is the electric current
1.6 CIRCUIT SYMBOLS

Wire Symbols

Connection Symbols

Cell and Battery Source Symbols

Fuse Symbols Transformer Symbols

Ground Symbols Bell and Buzzer

 Lamp Symbols

Motor, Ammeter, Voltmeter Inductor Symbols

Switch Symbols
 Relay Symbols Resister Symbols

Capacitor Symbols Speaker

Phase Symbols

Semiconductor Symbols
 Conductor Symbols

Integrated Circuit Symbols

Digital Circuit Symbols

1.7 CIRCUIT ELEMENTS

Cell
A cell is a device used to power electrical circuits. It
has two terminals; positive and negative. The terminal marked
negative is the source of electrons, that when connected to a
circuit delivers energy.
Switch
A switch is a
device that can break an
electrical circuit by
diverting the current from
one conductor to another conductor or an insulator. These set
of contacts are termed as open and closed. Open circuit means
that the contacts are separated and the circuit is broken, so no
current is flowing.
 Light Bulb
A light bulb is a device that produces light from electricity. Light
bulbs turn the electricity to light by sending current through a thin wire
called filament. The filament is usually made of tungsten, a material that
emits light when electricity is passed through it. The emission of light is
due to the high resistance offered by the material tungsten, which we will
learn in higher classes.
Apart from lighting, the light bulbs are used in electronic items as
an indicator, traffic signals, indicator lights in cars, etc.

Connecting Wires
A wire is a flexible strand of metal,
usually cylindrical. Wires are used for
establishing electrical conductivity between two
devices of an electrical circuit. They possess
negligible resistance to the passage of current.
The wires are covered by an insulated coating of
different colors. The color codes are used to
distinguish between neutral and ground, and live
wire, which differs from one country to another.

BASIC ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

REFERENCES
Britannica
Ducksters
Study.com
Thought.co
Byjus: Force
Thought.co - Power
Wikipedia
Hyperphysics
Sciencing
Physics Classroom
BBC
Electrical4U
Ask Numbers
Byjus - Electrical Energy and Power
EDrawSoft
Byjus- Circuit Component
TLC - Direct