Electric current and Circuit
Electric current is the amount of charge flowing through a particular area in unit time. In other words, it is the rate of flow of electric charges. In circuits using metallic wires, electrons constitute the flow of charges. Conventionally, in an electric circuit the direction of electric current is taken as opposite to the direction of the flow of electrons, which are negative charges. Instrument Measuring Electric Current is called Ammeter. It is always connected in series in a circuit.
Electric potential and Potential Difference
Electric potential difference between two points in an electric circuit carrying some current as the work done to move a unit charge from one point to the other
Potential difference (V) between two points = Work done (W)/Charge (Q)V = W/Q
The SI unit of electric potential difference is volt (V).
The potential difference is measured by means of an instrument called the voltmeter. The voltmeter is always connected in parallel across the points between which the potential difference is to be measured.
Ohm's Law
Ohm's Law: The electric current flowing through a metallic wire is directly proportional to the potential difference V, across its ends provided its temperature remains the same. This is called Ohm’s law.
In other words – v µ I or V/I = constant = R or V = IR
R is a constant for the given metallic wire at a given temperature and is called its resistance. It is the property of a conductor to resist the flow of charges.
As per Ohm’s law the resistance of the conductor depends:
(i) on its length,
(ii) on its area of cross-section, and
(iii) on the nature of its material.
The SI unit of resistivity is Ω m. It is a characteristic property of the material.
The metals and alloys have very low resistivity in the range of 10–8 Ω m to 10–6 Ω m. They are good conductors of electricity.
Insulators like rubber and glass have resistivity of the order of 1012 to 1017 Ω m.
Both the resistance and resistivity of a material vary with temperature.
Resistivity of an alloy is generally higher than that of its constituent metals. Alloys do not oxidise (burn) readily at high temperatures. For this reason, they are commonly used in electrical heating devices, like electric iron, toasters etc. Tungsten is used almost exclusively for filaments of electric bulbs, whereas copper and aluminium are generally used for electrical transmission lines.
