Unit Four -124- Chapter nine

The Electric Current & Ohm’s Law

Electric Current:

It is the flow of electric charges in a

conducting material.

Electric current intensity (I):

It is the quantity of electricity in coulombs, passed a given cross section in

one second.
Q
I=
t

Dimensional formula:

Electric current intensity is a fundamental quantity therefore its dimensional

formula is its symbol [I].

Unit of electric current intensity:

Coulomb / second which equals to Ampere.

N.B.:

• In our study we will deal with the conventional direction of current,

which consider the electric charge is +ve charge.

• The direction of the electric current

through the external circuit is from

the positive pole to the negative pole

of battery.

• The direction of the electric current inside the battery is from the

negative pole to the positive pole.

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 Unit Four -125- Chapter nine

Potential difference between two points (V):

work
Potential difference =
ch arg e

It is the work done to transfer a unit charge from one point to another.

Units of potential difference:

Joule / Coulomb which equals to Volt.

The Electro motive force (e.m.f):

W
E=
Q

• It is the total work done to transfer an electric charge of one coulomb

through the whole electric circuit, through the source as well as the

external circuit.

• It is the potential difference between the two poles of the battery when no

current pass through the circuit.

Resistance (R):

It is the opposition of material to the flow of electric current.

L
R=ρ
A

Where:

• L: is the length of the conductor, its unit is meter.

• A: is the cross sectional area of the conductor, its unit is m2

• ρ: is the resistivity.

Resistivety [specific resistance] (ρ):

It is numerically equal to the resistance of a piece of material one meter in

length, and one square meter in cross sectional area.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Four -126- Chapter nine

Unit of resistivity:
ρL
R=
A
RA
ρ=
L

The unit of resistivity is Ohm m2/m = (Ω m)

Conductivity (σ):

It is the reciprocal of the resistivity.

1
σ=
ρ

Its unit is Ω-1 m-1 (Simon m-1 or Simon/m)

Ohm’s law:

• By using of the electric circuit, the

electric current intensity can be

changed when the value of the

rheostat’s resistance changes.

• Type a table between (I) the electric

current intensity and (V) the potential difference.

• Draw a graph between (V) as Y-axis, V

and (I) as X-axis.

• From the graph, it can illustrated that:

V∝I

V = const I
I
V = RI

Where: R is the resistance in ohms.

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Unit Four -127- Chapter nine

Ohm’s law statement:

The current intensity in a conductor is directly proportional to the potential

difference across its terminals at a constant temperature.

V=IR

Connecting the resistors:

There are two ways for

connecting resistors:

Resistors in series:

• Connect electric

circuit comprising a

battery, ammeter,

rheostat (variable

resistor) and switch.

• Measure the voltage difference across each resistor: V1, V2 and V3.

• Measure the voltage difference across the whole circuit: V

• Measure the electric pass through the circuit: I

• The voltage difference across the whole circuit equal to the

summation of the voltage difference of its resistors, (Kirchhoff’s

law)

• The electric current intensity does not divided but it is equal in all

the resistors.

• The potential difference between the groups is equal to summation

of potential differences between each resistor.

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Unit Four -128- Chapter nine

It = I1 = I 2 = I3

Vt = V1 + V2 + V3

But V’= IR’

It R’ = I1 R1 + I2 R2 + I3 R3

I R’ = I (R1 + R2 + R3)

R’ = R1 + R2 + R3
If the resistors are equals:

R’ = N r
Where:

• r is the value of each resistor.

• N is the number of resistors.

• R is the equivalent

resistance of the

group.

Resistors in Parallel:

• Connect electric

circuit comprising a

battery, ammeter,

rheostat (variable

resistor) and switch.

• Measure the voltage

difference across each resistor: V1, V2 and V3.

• Measure the electric current across each resistor: I1, I2 and I3

• Measure the voltage difference across the whole circuit: V

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Four -129- Chapter nine

• Measure the electric pass through the circuit: I

• The electric current pass through the whole circuit equal to the

summation of electric current in each resistor.

• The voltage difference does not divided but it is equal in all the

resistors.

• The electric current intensity of the group is equal to summation of

electric current intensity of each resistor.

Vt = V1 = V2 = V3

It = I1 + I 2 + I3
V
But I =
R
Vt V1 V2 V3
= + +
R R1 R2 R3

But Vt = V1 = V2 = V3
V V V V
= + +
R R1 R2 R3

1 1 1 1
= + +
R R1 R2 R3

If the resistors are equal

1 N
=
Rt R

R
Rt =
N

In case of two resistors:

1 1 1
= +
R R1 R2

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Four -130- Chapter nine
1 R1 + R2
=
R R1 R2

R1 R2
R=
R1 + R2

Ohm’s law for a closed circuit:

VB = IR + Ir

VB = I ( R + r )

V B = V + Ir

Where:

• VB is the Electro motive force.

• R the external resistance

• r the internal resistance of the source.

Glossary:

Q W V
I= V= R=
t Q I
W = VIT

P = VI

Where:

I: is the electric current in Ampere.

Q: is the electric charge in coulomb.

t: is the time in second.

V: is the voltage difference in volt.

W: is the electric work or electric energy in Joule.

R: is the resistance in Ohm.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Four -131- Chapter nine

P: is the power in watt.

Summary 2008/2009