Chapter 1: Basic Atomic Theory

Key points:

 Matter is anything that occupies space and has a mass.

 The smallest particle of matter is called Atom.
 An atom consist of protons, neutrons and electrons.
 Electrons carry negative charge while protons carry a positive charge.
 Electrically, material can be grouped as:
o Conductors : materials having many free electrons which easily allow an electric
current to flow through them.
o Semiconductors : materials which are poor conductors at low temperatures and
good conductors at higher temperature are called semiconductors.
o Insulators: is substance that does not conduct electricity.
 Most common conductors are silver, copper, gold, aluminum and brass.
 Semiconductors are silicon, germanium , and gallium.
 Some excellent insulating materials are porcelain, glass, rubber and PVC.

Chapter 2. Cells and batteries.

Key points
 An electric cell consist of:
o Positive electrode (anode).
o Negative electrode(cathode).
o Electrolyte.
 Primary cells cannot be recharged, while secondary cells are rechargeable.
 The most common primary cells are the zinc acid cell, Leclanche cell and the mercury
cell.
 Batteries consist of two or more cells connected together to supply large amount of
electric energy.
 Cells are connected in series to achieve higher voltage supply.
 Cells are connected in parallel to increase the current supply.
Chapter 3: sources of electrical energy
 A D.C generator produces a unidirectional voltage and current.
 The three major parts of D.C generator are:
o Stator: is the non rotating part and can be made of permanent magnets or
electromagnets.
o Rotor: is the rotating part of the machine and consist of loop wire.
o Commutator : is the part which converts the e.m.f. generated in a direct current
and direct voltage.
 Piezo electricity: converts mechanical energy into electric energy when pressure is
exerted on it.
 Thermocouple: when junction of two dissimilar metals is heated, the heat energy forces
free electrons of one metal in to the other, thus generating e.m.f.
 Modern solar cells are made of silicon and germanium semiconductor material.

Chapter 4:electric circuit.

 An electric circuit is made of:
o Power source
o Load
o Control
o Conductors
 Most frequently used terms to describe the conditions of the circuit are:
o Closed circuit,
o Open circuit,
o Short circuit.
 An electric current is the rate of flow of an electric charge.
𝑄
𝐼=
𝑡
 The ampere(A) is the unit of an electric current.
 A current of 1 ampere flows in a circuit if a charge of one coulomb passes through a
point in the circuit in one second.
 One coulomb represents charge carried by 6.24 ∗ 1018 electrons.
 Electromotive force is the force available from the source of power in an electric circuit
to push electrons round the circuit. e.m.f. is measured in volts.
 Electrical resistance: is the opposition offered by a conductor to the flow of an electric
current.
 The resistance of a conductor depends on four factors:
 o The type of material(silver, aluminum ,iron, etc).
o The length: the longer the length, the higher the resistance.
o The cross sectional area of a conductor: the larger the area, the lower the
resistance.
o Temperature: resistance increases with an increase in temperature, except
semiconductors.
𝜌𝑙  ρ is Greek letter pronounced rho. Its
𝑅= resistivity of the material.
𝐴
 L is length of the wire.
Problems
 A is cross-sectional area of the wire.
1. A charge of one coulomb passes through a point in an electric circuit in 0.4 seconds,
calculate the current in the circuit.
2. A current of 10A flows in a circuit for 2 seconds, how much electric charge has flowed in
the circuit?
3. Calculate the resistance of a wire whose length is 2m and area of 0.785∗ 10−6 𝑚2 . the
resistivity of the wire is 0.28*10−6.

Chapter 5: voltage, current and resistance

Key points
 Ohm's law states that an electric current flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to
the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance.
 When resistors are connected is series, their equivalent resistance is equal to the sum of
the resistance of the resistors.
𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + ⋯ 𝑅𝑛
 The total voltage drop across the resistance connected in series is equal to the sum of the
voltage drop across each resistance.
 The current flowing in series circuit is the same at all points in the circuit.
 When the resistances are connected in parallel, the total circuit current is equal to the sum
of the branch current and same voltage drop appears across them.
 When resistances are connected in parallel, their equivalent resistance is given by:
1 1 1 1 1
= +𝑅 +𝑅 +⋯𝑅 .
𝑅𝑇 𝑅1 2 3 𝑛
Problems
1. An electric cooker of 50 ohms draws a current of 6 amperes from the supply. Calculate
supply voltage.
2. A circuit contains a power source of 12 volts and resistance of 2 ohms, calculate the
current flow in the circuit.
3. Three resistors are connected in series between the terminals of 9 volt battery. Their
resistances are 100Ω,300 Ω and 50 Ω respectively,
 a. What is the total resistance of the circuit?
b. Determine the current flowing in the circuit.
c. What is the voltage drop across each resistance.

4. A 6 ohm and 12 ohm resistances are in series. If the current flow through the 6 ohm
resistor is 50mA, calculate the voltage drop across them.
5. Four resistors of 10 Ω,2 Ω and 1 Ω are connected in parallel across 18 v battery.
Calculate
a. Total resistance.
b. Current taken by each resistance.
c. Total current of the circuit.

6. A parallel circuit has three branch resistance of 20, 10 and 5 ohms each. The current
through the 20 ohm branch is 1 amp.
a. Draw related schematic diagram.
b. Calculate the source voltage.
c. Calculate current through 10 and 5 ohm resistors.
7. Using the circuit shown in the diagram, calculate
a. The total circuit resistance
b. The supply current 8Ω
c. The voltage across each resistance
25Ω 15Ω
d. The current through each resistance Ω 8Ω

8. Using the circuit shown in the diagram, calculate 12V

a. The total circuit resistance
b. The supply current
c. The voltage across each resistance
d. The current through each resistance