ELECTRIC CURRENT

Electric current: -
Rate of flow of electric charge is called electric current. It is a scalar quantity. If q
charge flow in time ' t' then the current (I) is given by
q
I
t
Units: - In S.I. system units of current is Ampere.
q
I
t
If q 1 Coulomb and t 1 second
1 Coulomb
Then I 1Ampere
1 second
Therefore a current of one Ampere is said to be flowing through a conductor if one
Coulomb charge is flowing through it in one second.
Or
One Ampere current is that current which when flown through each of the two parallel
metallic wire of infinite length placed in free space at a distance of 1 meter from each other exert
a force of 2 10 7 N/m on each other.
Ohms Law: -
It states that if physical condition (temperature, mechanical strain etc.) remains
uncharged then current flowing through a conductor is always directly proportional to potential
difference applied across it. Mathematically
IV
or V I
V IR
Where R is constant of proportionality & is called electrical resistance of the conductor.
Electrical Resistance: - The property of the conduction by which it opposes the current flowing
through it is called Electrical Resistance of that conductor. According to Ohms law
V IR
V
or R
I
Mathematically Resistance of conductor is defined as equal to ratio of potential
difference applied across the conductor to the current flowing through it.
Unit: - In S.I. system units of resistance is Ohm ()
V
R
I
If V=1 volt and I=1 Ampere.
1Volt
Then R 1Ampere 1
Therefore the resistance of a conductor is one Ohm if one Ampere of current is flowing
through it if one Volt of potential difference is applied across it.

Factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends: -

Experimentally it is proved that
1. Resistance of a conductor is directly proportional to length of conductor.
RL (1)
2. Resistance of a conductor is inversely proportional to area of cross section of wire.
1
R ( 2)
A
3. Resistance of conductor depends upon nature of material and also depends upon
temperature. Combining equation (1) and equation (2) we gets
L
R
A
L
or R 3
A
Where is constant of proportionality and is called resistivity of the conductor.
If L = 1unit and A = 1unit then from equation (3) we gets
1
R
1
Or R
Therefore resistivity of conductor is equal to resistance of that conductor of unit length
and unit area of cross section.
Or
Resistivity of material is equal to resistance of a cube of that material of unit length when
current is flowing normal to any face.
Dimensional formula of Resistivity: -
We know that the Resistance of the wire of length l and area of cross section A is
given by
l
R [Here ' ' is the resistivity of the material]
A
RA
Or
l
RA
Dim of ' ' Dim of
l
3 2
[ M L T A ][L2 ]
1 2
Dim of ' '
L
Dim of ' ' ML 1 2 2 1 3 2
T A
Dim of ' '
M L T A 2
1 3 3

Unit of Resistivity: -In S.I. system unit of Resistivity is -m
Conductance: -The ease with which current flow through the conductor is called conductance.
Mathematically reciprocal of resistance of conductor is called conductance.
1
Conductance
Re sis tan ce
Unit of Conductance: -In S.I. system unit of Conductance mho or Seimen (S).
Conductivity: - Reciprocal of resistivity is called conductivity. It is denoted by ' ' .
1
Conductivity Re sistivity
1


Unit of conductivity: -In S.I. system unit of conductivity is mho m or S m .
Derivation of Ohms law: -
Drift velocity ' v d ' with which charge particle move in a current carrying conductor
when electric field E is applied is given by
eE
vd 1
m
Where m = Mass of the charge particle
e = Charge on the charge particle
= Relaxation time
If I is current flowing through conductor of length L and area of cross section A and
then drift velocity is given by
I
vd 2
neA
From equation (1) and equation (2) we gets
eE I

m neA
Im
E 2 3
ne A
If V is the potential difference across conductor then electric field intensity E inside
the conductor is given by
V
E
L
Put this value in equation (3) we get
V Im
2
L ne A
ImL
V 2
ne A
mL
V 2 I 4
ne A
Quantities with in the bracket remain constant if physical condition of conductor does not
change. Therefore above equation show that if physical condition of conductor does not change
the current flowing through conductor is directly proportional to potential difference applied
across it.
ie V I
Which is the statement of Ohms law, which states if physical condition does not change
then current flowing through conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference applied
across it.
From Ohms law
V IR 5
Here R is resistance of conductor. Comparing equation (4) and equation (4) we get
mL
R 2
ne A
m L
R 2
ne A
 Quantities with in bracket depend upon nature of material of the conductor and
independent of the shape and size of the conductor. Therefore for given substance quantities with
in bracket remain constant if temperature does not change & this constant is called resistivity of
material of the conductor and is given by,
m
2
ne

EQUILVANT RESISTANCE OF COMBINATION OF NUMBER OF RESISTANCES

Resistances in series: -
A number of resistances will said to be connected in series if current flowing
through each resistance is same. Let three resistances R1 , R 2 and R 3 are connected in series as
shown in the diagram. Suppose V1 , V2 and V3 be the potential difference across the
resistances R1 , R 2 and R 3 respectively when current I is flowing through them.

I R1 R2 I I R

V V
According to Ohms law the potential difference across resistance R 1 is given by
V1 IR 1
Similarly the potential difference across the resistances R 2 and R 3 is given by
V2 IR 2 And V3 IR 3
Therefore the total potential difference across through the resistances is given by
V V1 V2 V3
V IR1 IR 2 IR 3 1
Let R be the equivalent resistance. Therefore when the potential difference V is applied
across the resistance R the current flowing through it must be I and is given by
V IR 2
Comparing equation (1) and equation (2) we get
IR IR 1 IR 2 IR 3
IR I R 1 R 2 R 3
R R1 R 2 R 3
Therefore the equivalent resistance of the number of resistances connected in series is
equal to the sum of the resistances connected in series.

Resistances in parallel: -
A number of resistances will said to be connected in parallel if potential difference
across each resistance is same. Let three resistances, R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are connected in parallel as
shown in the diagram. Suppose, I1 , I 2 and I 3 be the current flowing through the resistances,
R 1 , R 2 and R 3 respectively when potential difference V is applied across them
R1
I I2 R2 I I R

I3 R3
V

V
 According to Ohms law the potential difference across resistance R 1 is given by
V I1 R 1
Therefore the current flowing through the resistance R 1 is given by
V
I1
R1
Similarly the current flowing through the resistance R 2 and R 3 is given by
V V
I2 And I 3
R2 R3
Therefore the total current flowing through the resistances is given by
I I1 I 2 I 3
V V V
I 1
R1 R 2 R 3
Let R be the equivalent resistance. Therefore when potential difference V is applied
across the resistance R the current flowing through it must be I and is given by
V
I 2
R
Comparing equation (1) and equation (2) we get
V V V V

R R1 R 2 R 3
V 1 1 1
V
R R1 R 2 R 3
1 1 1 1

R R1 R 2 R 3
Therefore the reciprocal of equivalent resistance of the number of resistances connected
in parallel is equal to the sum of reciprocal of the resistances connected in parallel.

Potential Difference across individual resistance in series combination: -

Suppose a potential difference V is applied across the across two resistances R1 & R 2
connected in series. Therefore the equivalent resistance R s is given by
R s R1 R 2 1

I R1 R2 I

V1 V2
V
 If I is the current flowing through the circuit then according to Ohm Law
IR s V
V
I
Rs
V
I 2
R1 R 2
Therefore the potential difference V1 across the resistances R1 is given by
V1 IR1
V
V1 R1
R1 R 2
R1
V1 V 3
R1 R 2
Similarly the potential difference V2 across the resistances R 2 is given by
V2 IR 2
R2
V2 V 4
R1 R 2
In general if n resistances R1, R 2 , R 3 ,, R n connected in series across the potential
difference V then potential difference across it resistance is given by
Ri
Vi V
R1 R 2 R 3 R n
Current passing through individual resistance in parallel combination: -
Suppose current I is passing through the circuit containing two resistances R1 & R 2
connected in parallel. Therefore the equivalent resistance R p is given by
1 1 1

R p R1 R 2
1 R R2
1
Rp R 1R 2
R 1R 2
Rp 1
R1 R 2

R1
I1
I I

I2 R2

V
 If V is the common potential difference applied across the across two resistances, then
according to Ohm Law
V IR p
R1R 2
VI
R1 R 2
RR
V 1 2 I 2
R1 R 2
Therefore the current I1 flowing through the resistances R1 is given by
V
I1
R1
1 RR
I1 1 2 I
R 1 R1 R 2
R2
I1 I 3
R1 R 2
Similarly the current I 2 flowing through the resistances R 2 is given by
R1
I2 I 4
R1 R 2
Equation (3) can also be written as
R2
R1R 2
I1 I
R2 R1

R1R 2 R1R 2
1
R1
I1 I
1 1

R1 R 2
Similarly equation (4) can be written as
1
R2
I2 I
1 1

R1 R 2
Therefore in general if current I is passing through the circuit containing n resistances
R1 , R 2 , R 3 ,, R n connected in parallel then the current Ii flowing through the resistance
R i is given by
1
Ri
Ii I
1 1 1 1

R1 R 2 R 3 Rn

Ammeter: -
 Ammeter is an instrument used to measure the electric current in the electric circuit. A
galvanometer can be converted into ammeter by connecting very low resistance called shunt
resistance parallel to it.
I Ig I
G
I Ig

S
Suppose a galvanometer of resistance G gives full scale deflection when, current I g is
passed through it. Let a very small resistance S is connected parallel to the galvanometer to
convert it into ammeter of range 0 to I. Therefore when current I is passed through the
combination, the current through the galvanometer is I g and remaining current I Ig will pass
through the shunt resistance S.
Since shunt resistance and galvanometer G are connected parallel therefore
Potential difference across S
Potential difference across G
I I g S Ig G
Ig G
S
I Ig
Ig
S G
I Ig
Therefore by knowing the values of I g and G we can find the value of shunt resistance
S which is connected parallel to the galvanometer to make it ammeter of range 0 to I. The
resistance R A of the ammeter is given by
1 1 1

RA S G
1 G S

RA SG
SG
RA
SG
As ammeter measure the current passing through it therefore it is connected in series in
the circuit. An ideal ammeter has zero resistance.
Voltmeter: -
Voltmeter is an instrument used to measure the potential difference across the two ends of
a current carrying conductor. A galvanometer can be converted into voltmeter by connecting very
high resistance in series with it
A Ig R B
G
Ig
V

Suppose a galvanometer of resistance G gives full scale deflection when, current I g is

passed through it. Let a very high resistance R is connected in series with the galvanometer to
convert it into voltmeter of range 0 to V. Therefore when current I g is passed through the
combination, the potential difference across the combination (that is across AB) must be V.
Therefore according to Ohms Law
Ig G R V
V
GR
Ig
V
R G
Ig
Therefore by knowing the values of I g and G we can find the value of resistance R
which is connected in series with the galvanometer to make it voltmeter of range 0 to V. The
resistance R V of the voltmeter is given by
RV R G
As voltmeter gives the reading of potential difference across it therefore a voltmeter is
connected parallel in the circuit. An ideal voltmeter has infinite resistance.