Chapter-12

ELECTRICITY
Lecture - 01

By: Er. Rakshak Sir

1. Electric current:-
Electric current is the flow of electrons through a conductor.
• The device which causes the flow of electrons through a conductor is called
a cell.
• Electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
• Electric current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.
• This is called conventional current.
Electric current is expressed as:-
• The rate of flow of charges through a conductor or the quantity of charges
flowing through a conductor in unit time.
𝐐
I= I – Current
𝒕
Q – quantity of charge
t – time
• The SI unit of electric charge is coulomb (C). It is the charge contained in
6 × 1018 electrons.
• The SI unit of current is called ampere (A).
• One ampere is the current flowing through a conductor if I coulomb of charge
flows through it in 1 second.
𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛
1 ampere =
𝟏 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝
• Electric Current is measured by an ammeter. It is always connected in series
in a circuit.
2. Electric potential and Potential difference:-

• Electric current will flow through a conductor only if there is a difference

in the electric potential between the two ends of the conductor. This
difference in electric potential between the two ends of a conductor is
called potential difference.
• The potential difference in a circuit is provided by a cell or battery. The
chemical reaction in the cell produces a potential difference between the
two terminals and sets the electrons in motion and produces electric
current.
Potential difference between two points A and B of a conductor is the amount of
work done to move a unit charge from A to B.
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐖
Potential difference = or V =
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐐

The SI unit of potential difference is volt (V).

One volt is the potential difference when 1 joule of work is done to move acharge
of 1 coulomb from one point to the other.
𝟏 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝟏𝐉
1 volt = or 1 V =
𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛 𝟏𝐂

Potential difference is measured by a voltmeter. It is always connected in parallel

across the two point between which the potential difference is to be measured.
3. Electric circuit:-
(a) Electric Circuit:-
• Electric circuit is a continuous and closed path of an electric current.
• A schematic diagram of an electric circuit comprising of a cell,
electric bulb, ammeter and plug key.
(b) Symbols of components used in electric circuits:-
An electric cell A battery or combination
of cells
Plug key or switch Plug key or switch
(open) (closed)

Electric bulb A resistor of resistance R

Variable resistance or Voltmeter

rheostat
Ammeter A wire crossing over
without joining

A wire joint
4. Ohm’s law:-
Ohms law is a relationship between the potential difference across a
conductor and the current flowing through it.
Ohm’s law states that :-
‘The current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference between its ends provided its temperature remains
constant.’
𝐕 𝐕
I  V or V  I or = constant or = R
𝐈 𝐈
Where R is a constant called resistance for a given metallic wire at a given
temperature.
Verification of Ohm’s law :-

Set up the circuit as shown in the circuit diagram. First use one cell and note the
current (I) in the ammeter and the potential difference (V) in the voltmeter
across the nichrome wire AB. Repeat by using two cells, three cells and four
cells and note the readings in the ammeter and voltmeter. Then plot a graph
between the current (I) and potential difference (V). The graph will be a
straight line.
This shows that the current flowing through a conductor is directly
proportional to the potential difference across its ends.
𝐕
I  V or V  I or = R
𝐈
where R is a constant called resistance of the conductor.
5(a). Resistance:-
• Resistance is the property of a conductor to resist the flow of current
through it.
𝐕
According to Ohm’s law R =
𝐈
• The SI unit of resistance is ohm (Ω).
• If the potential difference across the two ends of a wire is 1 V and the
current flowing through it is 1 A then the resistance R of the conductor is
1 ohm (1 Ω ).
𝐕
Since I =
𝐑
• The current flowing through a resistor is inversely proportional to the
resistance.
• So if the resistance is doubled, then the current gets halved.
(b). Factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends:-
The resistance of a conductor depends upon its:-
(i) Length
(ii) Area of cross section
(iii) Material of the conductor.
Resistance is directly proportional to the length of the conductor and inversely proportional to
the area of cross section of the conductor.
Rαl
R α I/A
𝐈 𝐈
or Rα or R=
𝐀 𝐀
Where ρ (rho) is a constant of proportionality called Resistivity of the material of the conductor.
• The SI unit of resistivity is ohm meter ( Ωm).
• Conductors like metals and alloys have low resistivity 10–8 Ω m to 10–6 Ω m.
• Insulators like rubber, glass etc. have high resistivity 1012 Ω m to 1017 Ω m.
6(a). Resistors in series:-

When three resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in series across AB

(i) The current in all the resistors is the same.
(ii) The total voltage (PD) across the resistors is equal to the sum of the
voltage across each resistor.
V = V1 + V2 + V3
(iii) The equivalent resistance is the sum of the resistances of each resistor.
RS = R1 + R2 + R3
(b). Resistors in parallel:-

When three resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in parallel across AB,
(i) The voltage (PD) in all the resistors is the same.
(ii) The total current in all the resistors is the sum of the current in each resistor.
I = I1 + I2 + I3
(iii) The reciprocal of the equivalent resistance is the sum of the reciprocals of
each resistance.
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +
𝐑𝐩 𝐑𝟏 𝐑𝟐 𝐑𝟑
7. Electrical energy and Electric power:-
(i) Electrical energy is the work done to maintain the flow of current in a
conductor.
W=Q×V I=Q/t Q=I×t
W=I×t×V V = IR
W = I2Rt
The unit of electrical energy is joule (J).
(ii) Electric power is the rate at which electric current is used.
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐖
Power = P= W = I2Rt = I2Rt
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝒕
𝐕 𝐈𝟐 × 𝐕
Power = I2R R= = =I×V
𝐈 𝐈
or Power = I × V
The SI unit of power is watt (W).
One watt is the power when 1A of current flows across a potential
difference of 1V.
1000 W = 1 kW 1 kWh = 1000 watt × 3600 seconds
= 3.6 × 106 joules
The commercial unit of power is watt hour (Wh) or kilo watt hour
(kWh).
One kWh is the power consumed when 1W of power is used for 1 hour.
8. Heating effect of electric current:-
If a current I flows through a resistor of resistance R and t be the time for
which a charge Q flows through it, then the work done to move the charge
through potential difference V
W=Q×V
𝐖 𝐐×𝐖
P = =
𝒕 𝒕
𝐐
= I or P = V × I
𝒕
or Heat energy supplied = P × t = V × I × t
According to Ohm’s law V = IR
Heat produced H = I2Rt