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Current
The flow of charges in a circuit is called current.
Current (I) is measured in Amperes (A) and milli ampere (mA).
Conventional current direction is from positive to negative.
Electrons flow from negative to positive
The more the charges passing through the wire in one second,
the bigger the current is. Then we can say that current (I) is the
rate of charge flowing.
Q=I×t
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Example question 1
In 10 second 60 C of charge flows around the circuit. Calculate
the current trough the circuit.
Q=I×t
Example question 2
A current of 150 mA flows around a circuit for 3 minute. How
much electric charge flows around the circuit in this time?
First convert time into second = 3 × 60 = 180 sec
Then convert current into ampere = 150 / 100o= 0.15 A
Cells in parallels
When cells are connected in parallel, the combined e.m.f. is
the e.m.f. of one individual cell.
e.g.
Combined e.m.f = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6V
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Resistance (R)
How much current can a cell push through a resistor?
This depends on the resistance of the resistor. The greater its
resistance, the smaller the current that will flow through it. The
resistance of a component is measured in Ohm (Ω) and is defined
by this equation:
7.5 Ω
Measuring resistance
Connect a electrical component or a conducting wire
series to the battery and ammeter. Then connect the
voltmeter parallel to the electrical component or wire
as shown below.
Cross-sectional area
For a wire fixed length, its resistance is inversely proportional to
the cross sectional area. The greater the cross sectional area of the
wire, the more electrons there are available to carry charge along
the wire length and so the lower resistance. So if cross-sectional
area of a wire increases resistance of the wire decreases.
Temperature
For metallic wires, as temperature increases, the
resistance of it also increases. But for some materials like
silicon and germanium (semiconductors), as temperature
increases resistance decreases.
Material
Resistance depends on the kind of substance.
Copper is a good conductor and is used for connecting
wires. But Nichrome has more resistance and is used in
the heating elements of electric heater.
Rheostat
A variable resistor or rheostat is used to vary the current in a
circuit. A sliding contact moves, it varies the length of the wire
in the circuit and hence the resistance will be changed.
Effect of temperature on resistance
The circuit below can be used to investigate how current trough
a conductor depends on the p.d. across it. The conductor in this
case is a coiled-up length of nichrome wire, kept at a constant
temperature by immersing it in a large amount of water. The
p.d. across nichrome wire can be varied by adjusting variable
resistor.
Typical results are shown in the table and graph below.
Current / A p.d. / V Resistance / Ω
0.2A 1V 5Ω
0.4A 2V 5Ω
0.6A 3V 5Ω
0.8A 4V 5Ω
1A 5V 5Ω
The result in the table shows that when the voltage
increases the current also increases within constant
temperature. And the gradient of the graph is constant
value (voltage / current is equals to constant value of
resistance).
So we can conclude that under constant temperature
voltage is directly proportional to the current. This is
called Ohm’s law.
The resistance of the most of the conductors becomes
higher if the temperature of the conductor increases. As
the temperature rises, the metals ions vibrate more and
provide greater resistance to flow the electrons. For
example filament lamp, as the current flows through
the metal filament, it gets hotter so its resistance
increases. This means the current varies with voltage is
not directly proportional and not give straight line for
current-voltage graph.
Light dependent resistor (LDR)
A light dependent resistor (LDR) is a type of variable resistor
whose resistance depends on the amount of light falling on it .
An LDR is made of material that does not normally conduct
well (semiconductor Cadmium Sulphide). In the dark, an LDR
has a high resistance, often over 1MΩ. However, light can
provide the energy needed to allow a current to flow. Shine
light on an LDR and its resistance decreases. In bright light its
resistance may fall to 400Ω).
LDRs are used in circuits to detect the level of light, for
example in security lights that switch on automatically at
night.
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Resistors in series
The total resistance R of the resistors connected in series circuit
is equals to the sum of the separate resistance.
R = R1 + R2 +R3
Example
R = R1 + R2 +R3 = 2 + 8 = 10Ω
Resistors in parallel
The effective resistance R of the resistors connected in parallel can be
calculate by using the formula:
Example
= 1.43Ω
Now try this?
R = R1 + R2 R = R1 + R2
R = 2 + 8 = 10 R = 5 + 5 = 10
= 5Ω
D.C. Circuits
Series circuit
* The voltage through each lamp is same so each lamp has same
brightness.
* If the one lamp is melt the other lamps will work but in series
if one lamp melts others will not work.
Electrical symbols
Ammeter
Lamps Voltmeter
AC power supply