CE 220: ELECTRICAL

Course Objective:
The course CE220-Electrical Engineering is
designed to provide Basic but comprehensive
coverage of fundamental principles of Electrical
Engineering.
The focus is on acquainting students especially in
courses for non-electrical engineering majors, with
the nature of the subject and the potentialities of
its techniques, while emphasizing the principles.
Since principles and concepts are most effectively
taught by means of a problem-oriented course,
judicially selected topics are treated in sufficient
depth so as to permit the assignment of
adequately challenging problems, which tend to
implant the relevant principles in students minds.
 Course Outcomes and
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able:
To understand generalized concepts and laws
governing Electrical Engineering.
To identify the operational characteristics of:
(a) DC operated circuits
(b) AC operated circuits
To retain adequate knowledge of Power Production
and Distribution.
To keep a fare understanding of principles regarding
operations of Electro-mechanical systems.
To grasp a fair understanding of residential wirings.
 Lecture#01
ELECTRIC CURRENT AND
OHM'S LAW
 Electron Drift Velocity
Let , in a conductor,

The number of free electrons available per m3

of the conductor material = n

axial drift velocity = v metres/second.

In time =dt,

Distance traveled would be =v x dt.

If area of cross-section of the conductor =A

then the volume is vAdt and the number

of
 electrons contained in this volume
is nvA dt.
Obviously,
all these electrons will cross the
conductor cross-section in time dt.

If e is the charge of each electron,

then total charge which crosses the
section in time dt is dq =nAev dt.
Since current is the rate of flow of
charge,
 dq nAevdt
i nAev
dt dt
Current density : Current
per unit area J
i nAev
J nev A/m 2

A A
Assuming a normal current
density
J =1.55 X 106 Alm2, n = 1029
for a copper conductor

and
e =1.6 x 10-19 coulomb,
1.55 x 106 = 1029x 1.6X 10-19x v :.
v = 9.7 X 10-5m/s

= 0.58 cm/min

It is seen that contrary to the

common but mistaken view, the
electron drift velocity is rather very
slow and is independent of the
current flowing and the area of the
conductor.
 Current density i.e.,
the current per unit
area. is a vector
quantity. It is denoted
by the symbol
J
Therefore. in vector
notation, the
relationship between
current I and J is: I J .a
[where a is the vector notation for area 'a']
For extending the scope of the above
relationship. so that it becomes
applicable for area of any shape,.

i J .da
 Example 1.1.
A conductor material has a free-electron
density of 1024 electrons per metr3.When
a voltage is applied, a constant drift
velocity of 1.5 X 10-2 meter/second is
attained by the electrons. If the cross-
sectional area of the material is 1
cm2,calculate the magnitude of the
current.
Electronic charge is 1.6 x 10-19coulomb.
 Solution.
The magnitude of the current is:
I = nAev amperes
n = 1024; A = 1cm2 = 10-4m2
e = 1.6 x 10-19C ; v = 1.5X 10-2m/s
= 1024X 10-4x 1.6 X 10-19x 1.5X 10-
2=0.24 A
 Charge Velocity and Velocity of
Field Propagation
The speed with which charge drifts in a
conductor is called the velocity of charge.
As seen from above. its value is quite low,
typically fraction of a meter per second.
However. the speed with which the effect
of e.m.f. is experienced at all parts of the
conductor resulting in the flow of current
is called the velocity of propagation of
electrical field. It is independent of
current and voltage and has high but
constant value of nearly 3 x 10 8 mps.
 Laws of Resistance
The resistance R offered by a conductor
depends on the following factors :
(i) It varies directly as its length, I.
(ii) It varies inversely as the cross-section A
of the conductor.
(iii) It depends on the nature of the
material.
(iv) It also depends on the temperature of
the conductor.
Low R Larger R
 1 l
Neglecting the last R l and R R
factors for the time A A
being l
R
A
where is a constant depending on the
nature of the material of the conductor
and is known as its
specific resistance or resistivity.
 l 1m
If Then R
A 1m
2

Hence the specific resistance of a material may be defind as :

The resistance between opposite face of

a meter cube of that material
 The Unit of Resistance

The practical unit of resistance is

ohm.** A conductor is said to have a
resistance of one ohm if
it permits one ampere current to flow
through it when one volt is impressed
across its terminals.

The symbol for ohm is .

Units of Resistivity