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Electricity Unit 8

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28 views23 pages

Electricity Unit 8

Uploaded by

harshitha.h.feb15
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Electricity

Harshitha Harisha IGCSE Physics A*


Electric Charge

• Same charges repel


• Opposite charges attract
• Closer the charges, the greater the force
of attraction between them.
• Uncharged objects have a net overall
charge of zero.
• When rubbed, electrons are transferred
causing one side to have a positive or
negative charge.
• Rubbing materials separate charges that
are already there
Conductors and
insulators

• Metals are good conductors because they


have free electrons
• Insulators: easy to charge by rubbing because
any electrons that get transferred tend to stay
where they are.
• Semiconductors: Poor conductors when cold
and good conductors when warm. (silicon)
• Negative charge: gains electrons (more electrons than
protons)
• Positive charge: gives electrons (More protons than
Attraction of electrons)
uncharged objects • Earthing: Prevention of charge build up which can cause
sparks. They are connected to the ground by a conducting
material so that the unwanted charge flows away.
Induced charges
• Charges that appear on an uncharged object because of a charged object nearby.
Detecting
charge
Using electrostatic charge
• Electrostatic precipitators
• Photocopiers
• Laser printer
Electric
Field
Curves, points and edges
• When the conductor is charged up,
the charges repel each other, so they
collect on the outside. The most
concentrated near the sharpest curve.
• At a sharp point, the electric field may
be strong enough to ionize the air so
that it will conduct charge away.
• The ionized air can conduct.
Current in a simple circuit
• Electrons are pushed from the negative to positive
terminal
• A flow of charge is called an electric current.
• Current: ampere (A) and measured by ammeter
• 1000mA = 1A
• 1C is the charge passing when a current of 1 A flows
for 1 s.
• Convectional current: the direction from + to –
round the circuit but electrons flow in the other way
as they are pushed out of the negative terminal. It is
the direction of the transfer of electrons of positive
charges.
• 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝐼=
Potential difference
• The work done per unit of charge in the driving charge through the
component.
• P.d. is the highest when it is not connected in a circuit.
• The max p.d. is electromotive force (e.m.f.): is the work done per unit
of charge by the cell in driving charge round a complete circuit.
•
• In a series circuit, the p.d. is divided to each lamp
• 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
• Factors:
• Length: R∝ 𝐿
• Cross-sectional area: R∝
• Material: nichrome wire has more

Resistance
resistance
• Temperature : Metal conductors: R∝ 𝑇,
Semiconductors: R∝
• Heating effect in resistance
• Electrons collide with atoms as they pass
through a conductor. The electrons gain
energy and vibrate faster. Faster vibrations
means higher temperature.
Resistance factors
•
•
•
• Area Diameter
Resistance
components
• Variable resistor (rheostats): varying current.
• Thermistors: contain semiconductor material and
some of them are used to detect the
temperature change.
• Light-depending resistors: high resistance in the
dark but low in the light. Switch lights
automatically
• Diodes: high resistance in one direction but low
in the other. Current flows in one direction.
• Allows current to flow in one direction
Diodes • Rectification: changing a.c. to d.c. by using
diodes (rectifiers)
Potential dividers
• An arrangement that delivers only a proportion of the voltage from a
battery.
Electrical energy and power

P
Living with electricity

Switch: Fitted in live wire and works


Live wire: Makes the current flow Neutral wire: Completes the circuit
in neutral wire but the cable would
backwards and forwards and in most systems, it is kept at
still be live with the switch off. This is
continuously zero voltage by the electricity supply
dangerous if the wire is cut!

Earth wire: safety wire. Connects the


Fuse: Thin piece of wire which Circuit breaker: automatic switch metal body of the kettle to earth and
overheats and melts if the current is which cuts off the current in the stops it becoming live. Eg: live wire
too high. It is placed in live wires and circuit if It rises above a specific comes loose and touches a metal
if the current increases, the cable value. This can be reset. Uses body, a current immediately flows to
overheats and catches a fire. electromagnets. earth and blows a fuse. Safe to
touch.

Residual current device (RDC):


compares the current in the live and
Double Insulation: outer case is neutral wire and if they are not the
plastic same then the current flows to the
earth (someone touching wire). Then
the current is switched off.
Plugs

CONNECTING APPLIANCES TO THE MAINS THE FUSE INSIDE THE PLUGS TELLS YOU THAT IF THE
CURRENT IS GREATER THAN AND CLOSEST TO THE
NORMAL CURRENT THEN IT WILL BLOW A FUSE.
Electrical Hazards

Old, frayed wiring; current


flows in, and the heating Long extension leads:
effect may melt the overheat when coiled up.
insulation causing a fire

Water in sockets or plugs:


Cutting wires: a plug in
water will conduct
RCD can be used to avoid
electricity, risk of
the risk of electrocution.
electrocution

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