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Charge and Current

• An electric current (I) is the rate of flow of electric charge.

Where
• I is Current (A)
• Q is Charge (C)
• t is Time (s)

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Ohm’s Law

V  IR V, I and R can be superimposed into the

Ohms Law Triangle.

V V V
I R I R I R
V V
R I V  IR
I R
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Power
• In an electrical circuit, power is supplied by the source
(e.g. batteries) and consumed or dissipated in load (e.g.
light bulb).
• Power is the rate at which energy is transformed:
Where
• P is Power (W)
• V is Voltage (V)
• I is Current (A)
• From Ohm’s Law, V= IR

P = I2R

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Series circuit
• When there is only one path that the current can take before
returning to the battery.

• The current is the same at all points.

V
• The voltage is divided between the bulbs.

• Total equivalent resistance is the sum of all individual resistances.

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Parallel circuit
• When there is more than one distinct path that current can take
before returning to the battery.

• The current of each branch adds

to give the total current.

• Voltage in each branch is the same as the supply voltage therefore

bulbs in parallel will each be as bright as a single bulb.

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Electric Charge and Electric Field

• An electric charge generates an electric field.
• A charge sets up a field around itself such that it will influence
other charges present in that field.
• When an electric charge is placed inside an electric field, it
experiences an electric force.
• The electric field can be represented by electric field lines (drawn
as arrows in diagram). The directions of the arrows show the
direction of the force experienced by another positive test charge
within the electric field.
Direction
of force
+ +
Direction
+ − of force
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A charge in a uniform electric field

Charge in electric field (bu.edu)

Simulation of a charged particle being launched horizontally

into a uniform electric field that is directed down.
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Net electric field strength due to a group of

point charges

Net electric field strength

Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2f-pJ1AH2Q
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Current carrying wire in magnetic field

Watch the video:

https://youtu.be/uJ8vn8RTaLM
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Magnetic Effect of Current

I
• The direction of the magnetic field
follows the “right-hand grip” rule.
• The right thumb is in the same direction
as the flow of current, and the direction
in which the other four fingers curl is
the direction of the magnetic field. B
• Take note that the direction of current is
taken to be from the positive to the
negative end of the battery (i.e. it is
opposite to the direction of electron
flow).
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Electromagnetic Induction

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HyORmBip-w