Current Electricity

In this article, we will learn about Current Electricity. We will study: 

• Electric Current
• Electromotive Force 
• Potential Difference

The article is written to meet the syllabus requirements of Secondary 4 Physics grade.
 

Electric Current

Electrostatics is the study of stationary charges. 

Current Electricity involves the study of moving charges.

Components Of A Circuit

The labels and the circuit symbols have been mixed up. Can you label them correctly and construct a typical electric circuit with them?

Solution:

These are the four key components in a circuit. The bulb is the load in an electric circuit. It is the purpose for which the circuit is being drawn. The source is the battery to transfer electricity. The metallic wire is the pathway. The switch is for controlling the circuit.

To construct the circuit, we bring together the elements in the following manner.

Conventional Current vs Electron Flow

It has to be understood that the current flow that has been discussed so far is conventional current. However, the actual flow of current, which is basically electron flow, is in the opposite direction. 

Electric Current

An electric current is a measure of the rate of flow of electric charges through a given cross-section of a conductor. The equation for electric current is therefore:

\(I=\frac {Q}{t}\)

Here,

\(I\) is for current.

\(Q\) is for the electric charges.

\(t\) is the rate of flow.

The unit of current is ampere (\(A\)), coulomb (\(C\)) for charge and second (\(s\)) for time.

Question 1:

When a current of 3 A flows for 6 seconds through a lamp, 180 W of power is used. What is the total charge flowing through the lamp?

1. 10 C
2. 18 C
3. 30 C
4. 60 C

Solution:

To find the total charge:

\(\begin{align*}\textstyle I&= \frac {Q}{t} \\ Q &= I \times t\\ &= 3 \times 6\\ &= 18\; C \end{align*} \)

So, the correct answer is: B) 18 C

Electromotive Force And Potential Difference

Why do the electrons go round the circuit?

There is a driving force, known as the electromotive force (e.m.f.). 

What drives the electrons around the circuit?

The dry cell/battery provides the electromotive force that moves the electrons round the circuit.

Fun Fact

Is electromotive force e.m.f. a force?

No. Electromotive force e.m.f. is not a force.

Electromotive Force

The electromotive force e.m.f. of an electrical source is the work done by the source in driving a unit charge around a complete circuit. The formula to calculate e.m.f. is as follows:

In the equation, the units: 

\(V\) stands for Volts.

\(J\) stands for Joules.

\(C\) stands for Coulomb.

Question 2:

“The e.m.f. of a dry cell is 2.0 V.”

The above phrase means that

1. 2.0 C of charge passes through the cell in 1s. 
2. The cell applies a force of 2.0 N on each coulomb of charge passing through it. 
3. The cell supplies 2.0 J of energy to the charge passing through it in 1 s. 
4. The cell supplies 2.0 J of energy to each coulomb of charge passing through it.

Solution:

(D) The cell supplies 2.0 J of energy to each coulomb of charge passing through it.

Explanation:

This is because e.m.f. indicates joules per coulomb.

Electromotive Force:

When identical cells are arranged in series, the resultant e.m.f. is the sum of all the e.m.f.s of the cells.

When identical cells are arranged in parallel, the resultant e.m.f. is equal to that of a single cell.

Question 3:

Four batteries, each of 2.0 V, are connected as shown.

Calculate the overall e.m.f. registered by the voltmeter. 

1. 0.5 V
2. 1.0 V
3. 2.0 V
4. 8.0 V

Solution:

C) 2.0 V 

Explanation:

The identical batteries are all in parallel configuration. Therefore, the e.m.f in a parallel battery configuration will be the same as that of a single battery.

Thus, the correct answer is: C) 2.0 V

Question 4:

Four batteries, each of 2.0 V, are connected as shown.

Calculate the overall e.m.f. registered by the voltmeter. 

1. 1.0 V
2. 2.0 V
3. 4.0 V
4. 8.0 V

Solution:

C) 4.0 V

Explanation:

There are two parallel series in the circuit. Hence, upon adding the two parallel series, the e.m.f. will be 4.0 V.

So, the correct answer is: C) 4.0 V

Potential Difference

The potential difference, p.d., across a circuit component is the work done to drive a unit charge through the component.

The equation governing potential difference is as follows:

\(V(V)=\frac {W(J)}{Q(C)}\)

Where,

\(V\) stands for Potential Difference. 

\(W\) stands for Work Done.

\(Q\) stands for Total Charge.

In the equation, the units are:

\(V\) stands for Volts.

\(J\) stands for Joules. 

\(C\) stands for Coulomb.

Electromotive Force e.m.f. vs Potential Difference p.d.

Conclusion 

In this article, we learned the following details about electric current:

• How to define current and state its S.I. units.
• How to differentiate between conventional current and electron flow.
• Apply formula (charge = current x time) to solve problems.
• Draw electric circuit diagrams.

We also learnt about the electromotive force (e.m.f.) and the potential difference (p.d.) and their S.I. units. We also studied how to calculate the e.m.f. when a few power sources are in series and/or parallel arrangements. 

The details covered in the article are as per the Physics syllabus defined for the Secondary 4 grade.