CHAPTER 2

ELECTRICITY

2.2 Analysing the relationship between electric current and potential difference

1. Electric field is an area where the electric force is acting.

2. If a positive test charge is located at a point A within the electric field, this charge will
be repulsed by the electric field outwardly through a point B.

3. This positive test charge moves because of the existence of the electric potential
diffrerence between point A and B.

Positive test charge

+ +
A B

4. If the positive test charge is moved from point B to point A, the work is done to
oppose the electric force.

5. Potential difference or voltage, V between A and B is defined as the work done to

move a unit charge from B to A within an electric field.

Potential difference = Work done

(Voltage) Charge

V = W
Q

Unit: V = J = JC-1
C

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 1. Ohm’s Law states that the current, I flows through an electric conductor is
proportional to the potential difference, V across two ends of the conductor, with the
conditions that the temperature and the physical state of the conductor do not change.

V ∝ I

7. A conductor which produces graph V-I with a straight line passing through the origin of
the graph is said obeys Ohm’s Law and is known as an Ohm conductor. Those
which do not have such characteristic are known as non-Ohm conductor.

V (V)

I (A)

8. Resistance, R of a conductor can be defined as the ratio of the potential difference, V

across that conductor to the current, I which flows through it.

R = V
I

Unit: Ω = VA-1
(ohm)

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9. Graphs of Ohm conductor and non-Ohm conductors.

Ohm conductor
(a) Standard resistor (b) Standard resistor (Eureka/Wolfrum,
Cuprum (II) Sulfate with Cuprum electrod)

I I

V V

Non-Ohm conductor
(c) Gas under low (d) Dilute Sulfuric (e) Vacuum diode (f) Bulb
pressure acid with Carbon tube, therma diode,
electrod photo cell

I I I I

1.7 V V V
V

10. Factors which influence the conductor resistance.

Factors:
Resistance = Resistivity x length
Area 1. Type of
material, ρ
R = ρxl 2. Length, ℓ
A 3. Cross section
area, A
Unit: Ω = Ωmxm 4. Temperature,
m2 ө

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11. Analysing the factors which influence the conductor resistance.
The circuit:

FACTOR LENGTH, ℓ CROSS MATERIAL TEMPERATURE

SECTION AREA, TYPE, ρ ө
A (RESISTIVITY)
Graph R/ Ω R/ Ω R/ Ω R/ Ω
thin Ni
mod. W
ө/oC
thick Cu V/V

ℓ/cm ℓ/cm ℓ/cm

I/A
Relationship R ∝ ℓ R ∝1 R ∝ ρ R increases
A linearly with ө
R ∝ s.w.g.
Manipulated Length of wire Cross section of Type of Temperature of
the wire material filament
Responding Resistance, R Resistance, R Resistance, R Resistance, R
Or voltage, V Or voltage, V Or voltage, V Or voltage, V
Constant C.S. Area, A Length, ℓ C.S. Area, A C.S. Area, A
Type of material Type of material Length, ℓ Type of material
(Resistivity , ρ) (Resistivity , ρ) Temperature,ө (Resistivity , ρ)
Temperature, ө Temperature,ө Current, I Length, ℓ
Current, I Current, I Current, I
Note Current, I is Thin=swg 30 Ni=Nicrom Temperature of
kept constant Mod.=swg 24 W=Wolferum/ filament rep. by
Thick=swg 22 Eureka/Const. The brightness
Cu=Cuprum of the bulb

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 12. Superconductor is the conductor with zero resistance when it is cooled below the
critical temperature, Tc.

13. If the current is produced in the superconductor coil, the current will continuously
flow without causing the lost of energy even though the electric source is
terminated.

14. Comparison of the graphs of different conductivity

Conductor wire Semiconductor Superconductor

R/ Ω R/ Ω R/ Ω

ө/oC ө/oC Tc ө/oC

15. The usage of superconductor

No Field Explaination
1 Electronic circuit board Superconductor coil in the generator, motor
and transformer makes the appliances
become smaller in size but powerfully
perform
2 Electrical Energy Supply Superconductor cable with zero resistance
increases the efficiency of supplying the
energy because the lost of energy in the
form of heat does not occur
3 Transportation “Floating” bullet train with high speed (550
kmh-1) is introduced by consuming a very
strong superconductor magnet
4 Medicine Scanning technic such as MRI (Magnetic
Resonance Imaging) is introduced to
replace X-ray. This technic generates a very
strong magnetic field from the
superconductor coil
5 Computer Computer chips are performing at faster
rate and smaller size of the chips can be
produced

Assesment

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Objective questions

1. The following statements about the electric current are true except
A Electric current is proportional to the rate flow of charge
B The current through a conductor is proportional to the potential different across it
C The current generate heat effect dan magnet effect
D The electric current can be produced only by the flow of electron

2. What will happen to the resistance of a wire if both the length and the diameter of the
wire are double ?
A Resistance does not change
B Resistance reduced to one forth
C Resistance reduced to a half
D Resistance increases two times higher

Answer: 1 D 2 C

Structured Questions

A. 1 Define the following terms.

(a) Potential different:

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Potential difference or voltage, V between A and B is defined as the work done

to move a unit charge from B to A within an electric field.

(b) Resistance: __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Resistance, R of a conductor can be defined as the ratio of the potential

difference, V across that conductor to the current, I which flows through it.

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 2 Sketch the circuit which can be used to analyse the factors which influence the
conductor resistance.

3. List the factors which influence the conductor resistance.

B 1. List and explain three of the uses of superconductor