PSC 1351 Review Chapter 6 1. Coulomb's Law: If charges Q, andQ: are near each other and separated by a distance d_, then the charges will repel each other if they have the same sign and will attract each other if they have opposite signs. The interaction force is: F=k QQ ye +f. 4 Fy +, +@, where k = 9 X 10° N, mC? 2, Basic Unit of Electric Charge: In the metric system, the basic unit of electric charge is the Coulomb (C). 3. Quantum of Charge: The smallest possible charge is that of an electron (1.6 X 10" C) or that ofa proton (+1.6 X 10" C). All charges in nature are integral multiples of this smallest possible charge, called the quantum of charge. It takes 6.24 X10'* electrons to build up a charge of -1 C. 4. Basic Structure of an Atom: An atom is composed of a very small central positive particle called the nucleus, which is orbited by negative electrons, The nucleus is made up of positively charged particles called protons (charge +1.6 X10 C) and neutral particles called neutrons. Protons and neutrons have masses approximately equal to each other: 1.67 X 107” kg. Electrons orbit the nucleus and have a charge -1.6 X 10" C. Their mass is very small: 9.11 X 10" kg. In other words, a proton or neutron is about 1830 heavier than an electron. 5, Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is called the atomic number: Z. The atomic number determines the nature of each element. For example: for Hydrogen, Z = 1; for Oxygen, Z = 8; for Copper, Z = 29. Since under normal conditions atoms are electrically neutral, the number of electrons orbiting about the nucleus equals the number of protons in the nucleus (atomic number). 6. Isotopes: The number of neutrons in the nucleus (neutron number N) may vary slightly for atoms of the same element. Atoms with the same atomic number but different neutron number are called isotopes. Example: Two stable isotopes of Carbon (atomic number 6) have N= 6 (Carbon 12) and N= 7 (Carbon 13). A very important unstable (radioactive) isotope of Carbon has N= 8 (Carbon 14)and is called radiocarbon because of its very important application for finding the age of organic remains (its half-life is $730 years.) 7. Electrostatic Charges: If a piece of rubber is rubbed with fur or cloth, the rubber will acquire electrons from the fur or cloth and will have a net negative charge. If a piece of glass (or plexiglass) is rubbed with silk, then the silk will take away electrons from the glass and therefore the glass will become positively charged. Attraction of opposite charges and repulsion of like charges may be easily demonstrated with the use of an electroscope. 8. Electric Field Lines: Lines that point in the direction in which a positive test charge will move if placed in a region where other charges are present. Positive charges are sources of electric field lines. Negative charges are sinks of electric cee 8) Single Positive) ae Negative c) Parallel Plate d) Electric Dipole Charge tharge Capacitor 2 Electric Potential Difference: Electric potential difference is defined as the ratio of the stored electrical energy (work) to the electric charge. It is a scalar: V=Aw/Q Units: JC or volts (V) Example: a 12 volt car battery stores 12 Joules of electrical potential energy for every Coulomb of charge at the positive terminal. 10, Electric Current: An electric current is a flow of electric charges. It is defined as the ratio of the amount of charge flowing divided by the time that it takes that charge to flow through a wire: T=AQ/At Units: (C/sec) = Amperes (A)11. Conventional Flow of Current: Conventional current flow is from positive to negative. This is opposite to the electron flow direction. 12, Electrical Resistance: Property of a material that tends to oppose the flow of electric current through it. Symbol: R. Units: Ohms (2). Circuit symbol: —\/V/A— It depends on length L, cross sectional area A and resistivity, p: R=p(L/A) where the resistivity p is a characteristic property of the conductor. 13. Ohm's Law: If a potential difference V is placed across a conductor of resistance R, ‘then a current I will flow through the conductor such that: V=IR 14, Electric Power: Ifthe potential difference across a device is V and the current flowing through itis I, then the electric power delivered by or dissipated in the device is P=VI Units: Watts (W). Remember that 1 kW = 1000 W Electric power transmitted from a generating station is raised to very high voltage in order to reduce current flow through the transmission line, and thereby reduce the electrical power lost in the transmission line ( P = FR) 15, Electrical Energy Units: The basic unit of energy in the metric system is the Joule (J). However, the electric power company measures electrical usage in homes in units of kilowatt-hours (kW.hr). The electrical energy used is: AW= PAt where the power, P, is in kW and the time, At is in hours. 16. Ferromagnetic Materials: Materials composed of the elements Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co) or Nickel (Ni), or alloys thereof, have very strong magnetic properties and are called ferromagnetic. Permanent magnets may be constructed from them. All other elements are essentially non-magnetic, and that includes copper, silver and aluminum. 17. Magnetic Field of a Bar Magnet: Magnetic field lines travel from North pole to : the South pole of the magnet. Magnetic field of the Earth is similar. tie Anes SS 7 Guay naples Aaié