Current Electricity Flashcards
charge on an electron
-1.6 * 10^-19 C
1 coulomb of charge has a deficit of
6.25 * 10^18 electrons
define current
rate of flow of charge across a cross section of a conductor
define ampere
1 ampere is the current that flows in a circuit when a charge of 1 coulomb passes through it in 1 second
direction of current in a circuit
opposite to direction of motion of electrons
define potential
the potential at a point is defined as the amount of work done per unit charge in bringing a positive test charge from infinity to that point
formula for potential
work done on getting charge from infinity to the point / charge
= W/Q
define potential difference
the p.d between two points is equal to the work done in moving a unit positive charge from one point on the other.
where is +ve of voltmeter connected
at higher potential point
define resistance
the obstruction offered to the flow of current by the conductor is called resistance
what is needed in a conductor for the continuous flow of current
a constant potential difference has to be maintained across its ends
statement of ohm’s law
the current flowing in a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference applied across its ends, provided that the physical conditions and temp of the conductor remains constant
resistance of a conductor is equal to
potential difference applied across its ends for the flow of unit current through it
define conductance
the reciprocal of resistance is called conductance (G)
unit is ohm^-1, or siemen (S)
slope of I/V graph
reciprocal of resistance of conductor
limitation of ohm’s law
applied only when temperature remains constant
slope of V/I graph
resistance of conductor
what are ohmic resistors
conductors which obey Ohm’s law are linear resistances
examples of ohmic resistors
all metallic conductors, nichrome, copper sulphate soln. with copper electrodes, dil. sulphuric acid
examples of non-ohmic resistors
LED, solar cell, junction diode, transistor, filament
(graph plotted for these is a curve V/I)
factors affecting resistance
- material
- length
- thickness
- temperature
relation of resistance with radius of wire
inversely proportional to square of radius
define specific resistance
resistance of a wire of that material of unit length and unit area of cross section
unit of specific resistance
ohm metre
factors affecting specific resistance
- material/substance (very low for metals, low of semiconductors, high for insulators)
- temperature (decreases with increase in temperature of semiconductors)
for what materials will specific resistance never change even on changing temp?
constantan, manganin