ELECTRIC CURRENT

Electric Current is define as the rate of flow of charge.

I= Q
t.
Q = charge that flows
t = time taken
The SI unit of current is the AMPERE ( A ). = COULOMB
SECOND
1 A is the steady current that flows through a conductor
when a charge of 1 Coulomb flows through the conductor
in 1 second.
The amount of charge, Q flowing through any conductor is
given by
Q = It
Each electron carries a charge of 1.6 x 10-19 C.
1 C of charge is 6.25 x 1018 electrons.

EXERCISES
1. In 15 minutes 9000 C charge flows through a light
bulb. Find the amount current produced.
2. How much charge flow in a circuit when:
i. 10A current pass through the circuit for 5seconds.
ii. 250mA of current flow for 1 minutes 20 seconds.
3. What is the amount of the charge ( in coulomb )
flowing through in a conductor for each second if
10mA of current pass through it.
4. A battery can supply a current of 3.0A for 12 hours.
Determine the total charge that flow in the circuit
which is connected to the for 12 hours.
5. When the bulb is light up for 100 minutes, the amount
of charge passing through the bulb is 30000 C. What is
the size of the current flowing through bulb.
6. A conductor which carries 1.0 x 10-9 C of electric
charge is connected across a galvanometer.The current
detected is 1 microampere.
i. What is the time taken for that amount of charge to
flow through the galvanometer.
ii. Determine the amount of electron flowing through
the galvanometer.
( charge of one electron = 1.6 x 10-19 C )

An experiment to show the relationship between electric charge and current

The motor of the Van de Graff generator is turned on for a few minutes to produce
positive charge on the metal dome of the generator.
The motor of the Van de Graff generator is turned on for a few minutes to produce
positive charge on the metal dome of the generator.
The motor is turned off and the crocodile clip held by a wooden tongs is brought in
CONTACT with the metal dome of generator.
when the crocodile clip touches the spehere the galvanometer pointer is deflected. This
shows that current is flowing through the galvanometer.
The electrical current is produced by the flow of electrons from earth through the
galvanometer to the metal dome to neutralize the positive charges on its surface.

ELECTRIC FIELD
An electrical field is a region surrounding a charged body where electrostatic force can be
experienced.
The electric field can be represented by arrow lines. These lines show the path that would
be taken by a positive test charge placed in the electric field.

.
A positive test charge moves away in a radial direction from a positively charged sphere,
whereas it is pulled towards the centre of a negatively charged sphere.

The arrangement of an apparatus shown below can be used to observe electric field
pattern.

A glass dish is filled with olive oil until the pair of electrodes is completely below the oil
surface.
Semolina powder is dispersed evenly on the surface of the oil.
The high voltage is increased until a pattern of the electric field becomes visible when the
semolina powder on the oil surface become aligned in the direction of electric field and
thus maps out the electric field lines.
Other patterns of the electric field are observed using electrodes of different shape. .

EXERCISES
1. How many electrons are there in 1 C of negative charge.
2. The SI unit of electric current is ..
3. The current of 3.0 V battery of a radio is 0.3 mA. In one hour of operation, how much
charge flows in current.
4. When the switch is on the current that flow in a lamp is 4.0 x 10-6 A. Calculate the
number of electrons flowing in the lamp when it switched on for an hour.
( Charge of an electron is 1.6 x 10-19 C ).
5. A battery can continuously supply a current of 3.0 A for 12 hours. Determine the
amount of charge flowing in the circuit connected to the battery for 12 hours.
6. Name the unit of charge.

Electric current
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Electric Current is the flow (movement) of electric charge. The SI unit of electric
current is the ampere (A), which is equal to a flow of one coulomb of charge per second.
Easier - Electricity is a form of energy produced by the movement of electrons.
Electricity is electrical power or an electric current. This form of energy can be sent
through wires in a flow of tiny particles. It is used to produce light and heat and to run
motors.
Harder - Electricity is a basic feature of all matter, of everything in the universe.
Electrical force holds atoms and molecules together. Electricity determines the structure
of every object that exists. Together with magnetism, it causes a force called
electromagnetism, a fundamental force of the universe.
Electricity or electrical signals are essential to many biological processes. In our bodies,
electrical signals are carried through the nervous system, moving information to and from
the brain. Electrical signals communicate to our brain what the eyes see, what the ears
hear, and what the fingers feel. Electrical signals from our brain causes our muscle
movements. Electrical signals cause each heartbeat.
One of the most important forms of electricity is in electrical current. During the
industrial revolution of the 1800s, people began to find ways to use electricity to do
work. Today electricity is used throughout our homes, at work, in communication, in
transportation, and in medicine and science. Electrically powered devices are prevalent.
Relatively cheap electricity has made electrical appliances, machines, and other devices
possible.