Electric current Flashcards
Electric current
The collective motion of particles carrying electric charge. Requires the relatively free motion of charge carriers.
Conductor
a material that contains charge carriers which can move freely
e.g: metals due to free electron cloud resulting from the metallic bond, and electrolyte solutions due to freely moving ions in liquid phase
Insulator
When there is no freely moving charge carriers in the material.
DC - direct current
Is constant in time
AC - alternating current
changes as a sine function over time
Direction of current
Defined according to the flow direction of positive charges (conventional current direction). Electrons in metals moves in opposite direction due to their negative charge.
Electric current
amount of charge passing through a given cross section in a unit of time
I = Δq/Δt
unit: ampere
Speed of motion of electric charges is dependent on
resistance exerted by conducting material
Ohms law
U = R*I
R does not depend on voltage
Law of resistance
R = U/I
Unit: Ohm
Ohmic resistance
Resistance of a conductor depends on..
Its dimensions and material properties.
Long conductor - weaker electric field, motion of charges is slower, lower electric current - greater resistance
Greater cross sectional area - more charge carriers can pass for a given voltage and electric field strength
R = specific resistance* (l/A)
Electric conductance
G = 1/R
Unit: S, Siemens
Specific conductance or conductivity
δ = 1/ρ
Unit: S/m
Is directly proportional to ion concentration within certain limits.
Connecting resistors:
Series: R= r1+r2+r3+…
Parallel: 1/R = 1/R+1/R+1/R+…
Joule heating
or work of the electric current
the work done by the electric field when moving electric charge carriers which turns into another form of energy; in case of ohmic resistors it turns completely into thermal energy (heat)
W = UIt
Electric power
electric work done in unit of time
P=U*I
Unit: Watt
Electrical circuit
An interconnection of electrical components enabling electric current flow.