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Basic Concept of Electricity
Basic Concept of Electricity
Danugrao
T.L.E. Teacher
Electricity:
It's a lot easier to describe what it does than what it is. For example,
electricity operates our lights, runs our refrigerators and powers our
electric motors.
The word "electric" comes from the Greek word "amber" and has been
used to describe a wide range of related phenomena. We can't see
electricity, but we can see its effects, such as light.
Electricity can exist in a number of forms, but there are two types
of commonly used electricity:
The scientific symbol for amperage is an "I", dating back to the early days of
electricity. It is still used by scientists and engineers. Electricians and wiring
guides use "A" as the amperage symbol. In this title, we'll use the practical
symbol "A" for current flow in amps.
Resistance
Electrical resistance is defined as the resistance to flow of electricity through a material.
Even the best conductors, such as gold, have some resistance. Resistance elements
essentially fall somewhere between a conductor and an insulator. Resistance can also be
considered a measurement of how tightly a material holds onto its electrons. For
example, common resistance elements in a circuit are lights, motors, and electrical
resistance heaters.
The electrical resistance of a material is measured in units called "ohms". The lower the
resistance of a material, the better the material acts as a conductor. For example, copper
has a lower electrical resistance than aluminum; copper is a better conductor. The
resistance value for most materials is listed in physics or science books.
We can use a water piping system as an analogy. The resistance in the water pipe to the
flow of water comes mainly from the size of the pipe. Rust and corrosion inside the pipe,
objects stuck inside the pipe, and the number of bends and fittings all add up to increase
the resistance to the flow of water.
The same is true of current flow in an electric circuit. A number of factors determine the
resistance to current flow such as wire diameter, wire length and any impurities in the
wire's makeup. For example, smaller wires have more resistance than larger diameter
wires and longer wires have more resistance than shorter wires.
Power
The ability to do work. Watt is the standard unit in the metric system. 746 watts
equals one horsepower in the English system of units.
Energy
Electrical energy is the average amount of power used over a given time period
and is commonly measured in "kilowatt-hours." Electric utility electric meters
accurately measure the kilowatt-hour energy use by the customer, and may also
measure peak power use during a specified time interval.
Let's calculate the energy use for a blow dryer. Say the blow dryer is rated at
1,500 watts by the manufacturer. This is how much electric power it uses when
it operates. If the blow dryer is operated for a total of 2 hours each month, the
blow dryer consumes 1,500 watts x 2 hours = 3000 watt-hours. Since utility rates
are based on kilowatt-hours, divide by 1,000 to get 3 kilowatt-hours. This shows
how power consumption and operating time are important in determining
energy use.
Ohms Law and Power
The relationship between Voltage, Current and
Resistance in any DC electrical circuit was firstly
discovered by the German physicist Georg Ohm.
Georg Ohm found that, at a constant temperature, the
electrical current flowing through a fixed linear
resistance is directly proportional to the voltage
applied across it, and also inversely proportional to the
resistance. This relationship between the Voltage,
Current and Resistance forms the basis of Ohms
Law and is shown below.
Ohms Law
Ohm’s Law
By knowing any two values of the Voltage, Current or Resistance quantities we
can use Ohms Law to find the third missing value. Ohms Law is used
extensively in electronics formulas and calculations so it is “very important to
understand and accurately remember these formulas”.
To find the Voltage, ( V )
[V=IxR] V (volts) = I (amps) x R (Ω)
To find the Current, ( I )
[I=V÷R] I (amps) = V (volts) ÷ R (Ω)
To find the Resistance, ( R )
[R=V÷I] R (Ω) = V (volts) ÷ I (amps)
It is sometimes easier to remember this Ohms law relationship by using
pictures. Here the three quantities of V, I and R have been superimposed into a
triangle (affectionately called the Ohms Law Triangle) giving voltage at the
top with current and resistance below. This arrangement represents the actual
position of each quantity within the Ohms law formulas.
Ohms Law Triangle
Ohms Law Example No1
For the circuit shown below find the Voltage (V), the
Current (I), the Resistance (R) and the Power (P).
Voltage [ V = I x R ] = 2 x 12Ω = 24V
Current [ I = V ÷ R ] = 24 ÷ 12Ω = 2A
Resistance [ R = V ÷ I ] = 24 ÷ 2 = 12 Ω
Power [ P = V x I ] = 24 x 2 = 48W
Activity:
Find the solution and fill the blanks with the correct
answer in the Table.
V – oltage C – urrent R - esistance
1. V = I x R = ? 15 mA 10 Ω
120 V 2. I = V÷ R = ? 60Ω
50 V 20 mA 3. R = V ÷I = ?
70V 10 mA 4. R = V ÷I = ?
5. V = I x R = ? 25 mA 50 Ω
220 v 6. I = V÷ R = ? 75 Ω
110 V 7. I = V÷ R = ? 30 Ω
8. V = I x R = ? 40 mA 100 Ω
75 V 9. I = V÷ R = ? 12 Ω
150 V 100 mA 10. R = V ÷I = ?