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7.1 Analysing Electric Fields and Charge Flow

Electric Charge and Electric Current

-Electric charge is the source of electrical force.There are two types of electrical force:

-Positive (+) and negative ( -).

-The electric force between two charges is known as electrostatic force or Coulomb`s force.

-Van de Graff is often used as a source of electrostatic charges in the laborator y.

-Electric currents is made up of flowing electrons.Each electron carries a negative charge of

1.6 x 10 -19 Celcius.

-Electric current is the rate at which electic charges flow through a conductor.

-The SI unit for current is ampere (A),where 1A=1 C s -1.

Electric Field

-Electric Field is a region in which an electric charge experiences an electric force.

-A field can be represented by a number of lines,called electric lines of force.These lines

indicate both the strength and direction of the field.

-Electric field is vector quantity.

-The direction of the electric field at a particular point is given by the direction of the force
acting on a positive test charge placed at that point.

-When a negative charge is placed in this electric field,it experiences a force pulling it
towards the positively -charged sphere.

The Effect of an Electric Field on a Charge

-A small polystyrene ball coated with conducting material is suspended on an insulating

thread.It is then brought near to a positively -charged metal dome of a Van de Graff
generator.The near end of the polystyrene ball is negatively charged by induction.
7.2 Analysing the Relationship between Electric Current
and Potential Difference

Potential Difference

-An electric charge is placed at a point in an electric field,it experiences an electric force
acting on it.Work is required to move the electric charge in the electric field against this
force.This charge is said to have an electric potential at tha t point.

-The energy carried by the charges will be converted into the forms of energy such as light
and heat energy in the bulb.So work is done when electrical energy carried by the charges is
dissipated as heat and light energy after crossing the bulb.

-The potential difference between two points in the electric field is defined as the work done
or the energy that would be required to move one coulomb of charge from one point to
another.

-The SI unit for potential difference is Volt (V).

-The potential di fference between two points in an electric field is one volt,if the work done to
-1
move one coulomb of charge between the two points is one joule.Which is: 1V=1 J C

Ohm`s Law

-The proportional relationship of the potential difference between the ends of an ideal
conductor and the current passing through it is known as „


-Ohm`s law states that the current passing through an ideal conductor is directly proportional
to the potential difference between its ends,provided that the temperature and other p hysical
factors of the conductor are kept constant.

Resistance

-The measure of a conductor`s opposition to the current flow is known as the resistance of
the conductor.Different conductors have different resistance to current flow.

-The resistance,R of a c onductor is defined as the ratio of potential difference,V across the
conductor to the current,I flowing through it.
-The SI unit of resistance is ohm.

-One ohm is the resistance of a conductor when a potential difference of 1 volt applied
across its ends causes a current of 1 ampere to flow through it.

Factors Affecting Resistance

-In the telecommunications and power industries it is essential to select suitable electric
cables to carry electric currents for many different purposes.

-The most important factor to be considered when selecting the cables is the resistance of
the conductors in the cable.

-The resistance of a conductor is affected by the type of material it is made of and by its
length,thickness and temperature.