ELECTRICITY

1. Electric Current (I):

• The rate of flow of electric charge is termed as ‘electric current’.
I = Q/t (I – Electric current, Q – Electric charge, t – time taken)
• SI unit is ampere (A). (Andre-Marie Ampere – French Scientist)
• It is measured using an ammeter which is always connected in series in the circuit.
• 1 mA (milliampere) = 10-3 A
• 1 µA = (micro ampere) = 10-6 A
2. Electric circuit:
The continuous and closed path of electric current.
3. Electric Charge (Q):
The electric charge is equal to the no. of electrons in it and magnitude of charge on the electron.
Q = ne
SI unit of electric charge is Coulomb (C). (Charles-Augustin de Coulomb)

 n – No. of electron in it.

 e – the magnitude of charge on the electron.
 Charge of 1 electron is 1.6 x 10-19 Coulomb.
 1 Coulomb is equal to the charge of 6.25 x 1018 electrons.
 1 C ; in fact, is very high charge. Therefore, Charge is expressed in smaller units like milli coulomb (mC) or
micro coulomb (µC).
 Similarly, Current is also expressed in milli ampere (mA) and micro ampere (µA).

4. 1 ampere:

If 1 coulomb of charge flows for 1 second, then the current drawn by the conductor is 1 ampere.

5. Calculate the number of electrons constituting 1C of charge.

Charge of 1 e- = 1.6 x 10 -19 C

If the charge is 1.6 x 10 -19 C , then number of e- s = 1

1
If the charge is 1C , then number of e- s = 1.6 x 10 -19

1 x 10 19 10 x 10 18
= 1.6
= 1.6

10 x10 x 10 18 100 x 10 18
= 1.6 x 10
= 16
= 6.25 x 10 18 electrons

6. If 324C of charge flows through a circuit, calculate the current drawn by a radio set which run for 15 minutes.

Q = 324 C

t = 15 minutes = 900 s

I=?
𝑄 324
I= 𝑡
= 900

= 0.36 A
7. An electric bulb draws a current of 0.25 A for 20 minutes. Calculate the electric charge that flows through the
circuit.

I = 0.25 A

t = 20 minutes = 1200 s

Q=?
𝑄
I= 𝑡

Q=Ixt

= 0.25 x 1200

= 300 C

8. Potential difference (V):

It is the work done to move unit charge from one point to other.
𝑊
V=
𝑄

SI unit is Volt (V)

It is measured using a voltmeter which is always connected parallelly in the circuit.

9. 1 Volt:

If 1 Joule of work is done to move 1 coulomb of charge from one point to the other, then the potential
difference is said to be 1 volt.

10. What is the potential difference between the terminals of a battery if 250 J of work is done to transfer 20C of
charge?

W = 250 J

Q = 20 C

V =?
𝑊 250
V= 𝑄
= 20

= 12.5 v

11. How much work is done in moving a charge of 2 C from a point at 118v to a point at 128v?

Q=2C

V = 128 – 118 = 10 v

W =?
𝑊
V= 𝑄

W=VxQ

= 10 x 2

= 20 J
12. How much energy is given to each Coulomb of charge passing through 6v battery?

Q=1C

V=6v

Energy = Work done =?

W=VxQ

W=6x1

=6J

13. Symbols of electric components:

S.No Name of the Component Symbol Use

1 Open Switch

2 Closed Switch

3 Open Key

4 Closed Key

5 Cell

6 Battery

7 Variable Voltage Supply Used to adjust the output voltage.

8 Ammeter Used to measure the current in a circuit. It’s a low

resistance device.

9 Voltmeter Used to measure the electric potential difference b/w

two separate points in an electric circuit. It’s a high
resistance device.

10 Galvanometer Used for detecting and measuring a small amount of

electric current. Also used to detect the direction of I.

11 Resistor Used to reduce or control or resist the flow of current.

12 Rheostat (Variable resistance) Used to adjust the resistance / adjustment of current

in an electric circuit.

13 Bulb Off

14 Bulb On

15 Connecting Wire

16 Wires Connected

17 Wires Overlapping

14. Resistance (R):

• It is the property of a device to oppose the flow of current.

• SI unit is Ohm (Ω). (Georg Simon Ohm – German Physicist)

• Conductors have low resistance and hence allows electric current to pass through it easily.

• Insulators have high resistance and hence does not allow electric current to pass through.

15. 1 Ω: If 1A of current flows through a conductor on applying a potential difference of 1V, then the Resistance of the
conductor is 1 Ω.

16. State Ohm’s law. Derive an expression for it. Verify it experimentally. Represent it graphically.

Statement : At constant temperature , the potential difference across the ends of the conductor is directly
proportional to the current flowing through it.

Expression :

V α I
𝑉
= Constant
𝐼

𝑉
𝐼
= R (Resistance)

Verification:

A battery , key , rheostat, resistor and an ammeter are connected in series . The voltmeter is connected parallel
to the resistor. When the circuit is closed , the current starts to flow in the circuit. The rheostat is adjusted such
that a small amount of current passes through the circuit. The potential difference (V) and current (I) are noted
down from the voltmeter and ammeter respectively.

The current in the circuit is now increased by changing the sliding contact of the rheostat. The corresponding V
and I values are noted. Repeat the same for different trials.

The ratio of V /I is found to be constant i.e. current is directly proportional to the potential difference. Thus,
Ohm’s law is verified.

Graphical representation:

17. The potential difference between 2 points of a wire carrying 2A of current is 0.1 v. Find the resistance.

I=2A

V = 0.1v

R=?

𝑉
R= 𝐼
0.1
= = 0.05 Ω
2

18. An electric gadget draws a current of 3.4A from 220v supply line. What current will this gadget draw when
connected to 100 v?

I = 3.4 A , V = 220 v

When V = 100v , I = ?

𝑉 220 2200
R= = =
𝐼 3.4 34

1100
= 17
Ω

When v = 100v,

𝑉 100
I=𝑅 = 1100
17

100 𝑥 17 17
= 1100
= 11
= 1.54 A

19. The values of current ‘I’ flowing in a given resistor for the corresponding

values of potential difference ‘V’ across the resistor are given below –

I (A) 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

V (v) 0.85 1.7 3.4 5.1 6.8

Plot a graph between V and I and calculate the resistance of that resistor. (Use graph sheet)

Worksheet 1 – Electricity

1 (20). A simple circuit consists of a resistor, a battery and connecting wires?

a) How must a voltmeter be connected to a resistor in order to read the

potential difference across it?

b) How must an ammeter be connected in a circuit to correctly read the current?

c) Draw the circuit diagram.

2 (21). When a 12 V battery is connected across an unknown resistor, there is a current of 2.5 mA in the circuit.
Find the value of the resistance of the resistor.

3 (22). The values of current I flowing in a given resistor for the corresponding values of potential difference V
across the resistor are given below –
Plot a graph between V and I and calculate the resistance of that resistor.

23. Factors affecting resistance:

 Length of a conductor (L)



Area of Cross section of a conductor (A)
Nature of the conductor
Rα l
 Temperature

R α 1 /A
ρ𝑙
R=
𝐴

24. Note:

As L increases , R increases , I decreases

As A increases , R decreases , I increases

As Temperature increases , R increases , I decreases

25. Resistivity (ρ): (ρ – Rho)

It is the electrical resistance of a conductor of unit length and unit cross sectional area.
R𝑨
ρ= 𝒍 When A = 1 m2, L = 1m
𝑅𝑥1
ρ= =
1

ρ=R

SI Unit of resistivity is Ωm (Ohm metre) SI unit of resistivity:

Substitute the SI unit of R, A & L

Ωm2
Unit of ρ = 𝑚

= Ωm

26. A copper wire of length 2m and area of cross section 1.7 x 10 -2 cm2 has a resistance of 2 x 10-2 Ω . Calculate the
resistivity of copper.

L = 2m

A = 1.7 x 10-2 cm2

= 1.7 x 10-2 x 10-4 m2

= 1.7 x 10-6 m2

R = 2 x 10-2 Ω

ρ =?

R𝐴
ρ=
𝑙

2 x10-2 x 1.7 x10-6

=
2

= 1.7 x 10-8 Ωm
Worksheet 2 – Electricity

1. (27) Will current flow more easily through a thick wire or a thin wire of the same material when connected to the
same source? Why?

2. (28) A copper wire of diameter 0.5mm has a resistivity 1.6 x 10-8 Ω m. What will be the length

of the wire to make its resistance 10 Ω?

3. (29) A wire of length ‘l’ and resistance ‘R’ is stretched so that, the length is doubled and area

of cross section is halved. How will the resistance change?

4. (30) Two students performed an experiment on two given resistors R1 and R2 and plotted V I

graph. If R1 is greater than R2, which of the diagrams correctly represent the situation.
31. Resistors in series combination – Total resistance.

The resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected in series with a battery, key , rheostat and an ammeter . The voltmeter is
connected parallel to the resistors. When the current starts to flow, note down the voltmeter and ammeter
readings.

Change the ammeter position anywhere in the circuit. We will find that the current (I) flowing through all the
resistors remains the same. Now, connect the voltmeter across R1, R2 and R3 separately and note down the
readings as V1, V2 and V3 respectively.

V = V1 + V2 + V3 ------- 1

From Ohm’s law, w.k.t.

V = IR

V1 = IR1, V2 = IR2, V 3= IR3,

Substitute V, V1, V2, V3 in equ 1

IR = IR1 + IR2 +IR3

IR = I (R1 + R2 +R3)

Rs = R1 + R2 +R3

The total resistance when the resistors are connected in series is equal to the sum of the individual resistances.

32. Resistors in parallel combination – Total resistance

The resistors R1, R2 and R3 are connected parallel to each other . The voltmeter is connected parallel to the
resistors. A battery, key and an ammeter are connected in series with the resistors. When the current starts to
flow, note down the voltmeter and ammeter readings.

Connect the voltmeter parallelly to R1, R2 and R3 separately. We will find that the potential difference (V) remains
the same. Now, connect the ammeter to R1, R2 and R3 separately and note down the readings as I1, I2 and I3
respectively.
I = I1 + I2 + I3 ------- 1

From Ohm’s law, w.k.t.

𝑉
I= R

𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
I1 = , I2 = , I3 =
R1 R2 R3

Substitute I , I2 and I3 in equ 1

𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
R
= R1
+ R2
+R
3

𝑉 1 1 1
R
= 𝑉( R1
+ R2
+R )
3

1 1 1 1
RP
=R + R2
+R
1 3

The reciprocal of the total resistance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances.

33. Advantages of parallel connection:

1. If one device gets damaged, the remaining devices will work.

2. Each device will draw only the necessary current. The voltage supplied to all the devices will be the same

3. The total resistance will be less than the minimum resistance of the resistors in the circuit.