ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

Title : Circuit Variables

Period : 2 Hours

I- OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lessons, students are expected to:

A. Define the nature of electricity
B. Understand the electron theory of electricity
C. Describe the electric charge and the electrostatic field
D. Explain circuit variables
E. Solve related problems to the circuit variables

II- SUBJECT MATTER:

1. TOPICS
a. STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM
b. ELECTRON THEORY OF ELECTRICITY
c. THE ELECTRIC CHARGE
d. THE ELECTROSTATIC FIELD
e. POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE, CURRENT, CURRENT FLOW

2. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
a. Edminister, Joseph (1997). Schaum’s Outline of Theory and
Problems of Electric Circuits. McGraw-Hill Book C0- Singapore.
ISBN 0-07-114287-8
b. Bird, John.” Electrical and Electronic Principles and
Technology”. Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2.
Burlington MA
c. John Bird. “Electrical Circuit Theory and Technology.” Second
Edition. McGraw-Hill Book C0- Singapore. ISBN 0-7506-5784-7
d. MILTON GUSSOW, M.S. Schaum’s Outline of Theory and
Problems of BASIC ELECTRICITY
e. http://sman78-jkt.sch.id/ebooks/Books/Basic%20Electricity.pdf
f. https://www.britannica.com/technology/electric-circuit

3. MATERIALS
a. Lecture Notes
b. PowerPoint Presentation
c. Calculators

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

III- LEARNING PROCEDURES AND STRATEGIES

Preparatory Activity

Introduction:
This module is intended to introduce the electric circuits and its variable.
Electricity is defined as a fundamental form of energy observable in
positive and negative forms that occurs naturally (as in lightning) or is
produced (as in a generator) and that is expressed in terms of the
movement and interaction of electrons .1

Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence

and flow of electric charge. Electricity gives a wide variety of well-known
effects, such as lightning, static electricity, electromagnetic induction and
electrical current. In addition, electricity permits the creation and reception of
electromagnetic radiation such as radio waves.2

Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged

particles (such as electrons or protons) either statically as an accumulation of
charge or dynamically as a current.3

Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of

electron and protons as charged particles. It can be derived either
statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a
current.

Lesson Proper:
ELECTRON THEORY OF ELECTRICITY

STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM

The field of study, electricity is the investigation of the forces created by

charged particles, especially electrons, and the motion and interactions of
those particles. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.
Everything in the universe is made of atoms — every star, every tree, every
animal. The human body is made of atoms. Air and water are, too. All matter
can be classified into either one of two groups: elements or compounds. In an
element, all the atoms are the same. Examples of elements are aluminum,
copper, carbon, germanium, and silicon. A compound is a combination of
elements. Water, for example, is a compound consisting of the elements
hydrogen and oxygen. The smallest particle of any compound that retains the
original characteristics of that compound is called a molecule.

Matter is composed of very small particles called atoms. The center of an

atom is called the nucleus. Atoms are composed of subatomic particles of
electrons, protons, and neutrons in various combinations.
1- https://www.britannica.com/technology/electric-circuit
2- https://www.abctlc.com/downloads/courses/BasicElectricity.pdf
3- Concise Oxford English Dictionary,revised 10th editon

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ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

The electron is the fundamental negative charge (-) of electricity.

Electrons revolve about the nucleus or center of the atom in paths of concentric
“shells,” or orbits.

Neutrons are a type of subatomic particle with no charge. Like protons,

neutrons are bound into the atom's nucleus as a result of the strong nuclear
force.

The proton is the fundamental positive (+) charge of electricity. Protons

are found in the nucleus. The number of protons within the nucleus of any
particular atom specifies the atomic number of that atom.

Protons have a positive charge (+)

Neutrons have no charge
Electrons have a negative charge (-)

Relative
Mass Relative
Particle Symbol Mass (kg) Location
(proton Charge
= 1)
proton p+ 1.673 × 10−27 1 +1 inside the nucleus
electron e− 9.109 × 10−31 0.00055 −1 outside nucleus
neutron n0 1.675 × 10−27 1 0 inside the nucleus

A stable (neutral) atom has a certain amount of energy, which is equal to

the sum of the energies of its electrons. Electrons, in turn, have different energies
called energy levels. The energy level of an electron is proportional to its
distance from the nucleus. Therefore, the energy levels of electrons in shells

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

farther from the nucleus are higher than those of electrons in shells nearer the
nucleus.

The electrons in the outermost shell are called valence electrons. When
external energy such as heat, light, or electric energy is applied to certain
materials, the electrons gain energy. This may cause the electrons to move to a
higher energy level. An atom in which this has occurred is said to be in an
excited state. An atom in an excited state is unstable.

When an electron has moved to the outermost shell of its atom, it is least
attracted by the positive charges of the protons within the nucleus of its atom. If
enough energy is then applied to the atom, some of the outermost shell or
valence electrons will leave the atom. These electrons are called free electrons.
It is the movement of free electrons that provides electric current in a metal
conductor.

ELECTRON SHELLS

The atoms of other elements contain additional electron shells that are
farther removed from the nucleus than the electron shell. In figure below, the
electron shells that surround the nucleus of the copper atom. Each shell is
designated by a letter (k, l, m, and n) and there is an upper limit on the number
of electrons, which each shell can contain. If we regard the innermost (k) shell
as shell number 1, the next (l) as shell number 2, and so on, the maximum
number, M, of electrons that the nth shell can contain is given by the formula:

M = 2n2
Thus, the innermost shell can contain at most 2 electrons, the next shell, 8
electrons, the next shell, 18 electrons, and the fourth shell, 32 electrons. Equation
is valid for determining the number of electrons in any of the first four shells of an
atom.

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

Sample Problems:

1. Describe the atom of the following:

a. Hydrogen c. Silicon
b. Helium d. Copper

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

THE ELECTRIC CHARGE

The word 'electric' is derived from the Greek word 'elektron' meaning
amber. The existences of charges were known when charged particles were
produced by rubbing (due to friction) of suitable materials. These facts are
demonstrated by simple experiments.

Electric charge can be defined as the characteristic of a unit of matter.

A very important fact that accounts for many of the electrical

phenomena we will study in this site is that there is a force of attraction between
oppositely charged particles and a force of repulsion between similarly charged
particles. For example, two electrons in the vicinity of one another will each
experience a force that drives them apart. An electron and a proton will each
experience a force that draws them together.

Like charges repel and opposite charges attract.

THE COULOMB

The magnitude of electric charge a body possesses is determined by the

number of electrons compared with the number of protons within the body. The
symbol for the magnitude of the electric charge is Q, expressed in units of
coulombs (C). A charge of one negative coulomb, -Q, means a body contains
a charge of 6.25 x 10 18 more electrons than protons.

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

Example Problems:

1. What is the meaning of +Q?

2. A dielectric material has a negative charge of 12.5 X 1018 electrons. What
is its charge in coulombs?

THE ELECTROSTATIC FIELD

The fundamental characteristic of an electric charge is its ability to exert a

force. This force is present within the electrostatic field surrounding every
charged object. When two objects of opposite polarity are brought near each
other, the electrostatic field is concentrated in the area between them. The
electric field is indicated by lines of force drawn between the two objects. If an
electron is released at point A in this field, it will be repelled by the negative
charge and will be attracted to the positive one. Thus both charges will tend to
move the electron in the direction of the lines of force between the two objects.
The arrowheads indicate the direction of motion that would be taken by the
electron if it were in different areas of the electrostatic field.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

Because of the force of its electrostatic field, an electric charge has the ability to
do the work of moving another charge by attraction or repulsion. The ability of a
charge to do work is called its potential. When one charge is different from the other,
there must be a difference in potential between them. The sum of the differences of
potential of all the charges in the electrostatic field is referred to as electromotive force
(emf). The basic unit of potential difference is the volt (V). The symbol for potential
difference is V, indicating the ability to do the work of forcing electrons to move.
Because the volt unit is used, potential difference is called voltage.

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

Voltage-Water Analogy

CURRENT

The movement or the flow of electrons is called current. To produce

current, the electrons must be moved by a potential difference. Current is
represented by the letter symbol I. The basic unit in which current is measured is
the ampere (A). One ampere of current is defined as the movement of one
coulomb past any point of a conductor during one second of time.

The definition of current can be expressed as an equation:

Where:

I = current, A
Q = charge, C
T = time, s

Example Problem:

1. If a current of 2 A flows through a meter for 1 minute (min), how many

coulombs pass through the meter?

CURRENT FLOW

In a conductor, such as copper wire, the free electrons are charges that
can be forced to move with relative ease by a potential difference. If a
potential difference is connected across two ends of a copper wire, the applied
voltage (1.5 V) forces the free electrons to move. This current is a drift of
electrons from the point of negative charge, -0, at one end of the wire, moving
through the wire, and returning to the positive charge, +Q, at the other end. The
direction of the electron drift is from the negative side of the battery, through
the wire, and back to the positive side of the battery. The direction of electron
flow is from a point of negative potential to a point of positive potential. The
solid arrow indicates the direction of current in terms of electron flow. The
direction of moving positive charges, opposite from electron flow, is considered

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

the conventional flow of current and is indicated by the dashed arrow. In basic
electricity, circuits are usually analyzed in terms of conventional current because
a positive potential is considered before a negative potential. Therefore, the
direction of conventional current is the direction of positive charges in motion.
Any circuit can be analyzed by either electron flow or conventional flow in the
opposite direction. In this book current is always considered as conventional
flow.

Current-Water Analogy

Voltage/Current-Water Analogy

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS 1 MODULE 1

1) If 1 A current flows in a circuit, the number of electrons flowing through this

circuit is
A. 0.625 × 1019
B. 1.6 × 1019
C. 1.6 × 10 – 19
D. 0.625 × 10 - 19
2) How many coulombs of charge flow through a circuit carrying a current
of 10 A in 1 minute?
A. 10
B. 60
C. 600
D. 1200

Prepared by: Engr. Heronafine C. De Guzman