• In figure 𝑎: a loop of copper all points inside it are in the

same potential.
• The free electrons inside the conductor move in
random directions.
• No net transport of charge and thus no current through
the wire.

• In figure 𝑏: When inserting a battery, there will be a

potential difference.
• Thus, the situation no longer static.
• There is a net charge flow in a particular direction.
• This net flow of charges is called the electric current.
• A current is a measure of amount of charge that moves
past a point per unit time.
• Current is a scalar quantity its unit is coulomb per
second or the ampere (A).
• 1 ampere = 1 A = 1 Coulomb per second = 1 C/s
• The current is in its steady state when the electron flow
reaches a constant value (it does not vary with time).
 The current is the same for planes aa’, bb’, and cc’ and for all planes that pass completely through the
conductor, no matter what their location or orientation.

(Current = rate at which charge flows)

The charge that passes through the plane in a time interval extending from 0 to t is:

Since charge is conserved, any electron passes through aa’ should pass through bb’,
and cc’.
• The current density is the amount of current
flowing through a cross-sectional area.
• The current density 𝐽 is a vector quantity.
𝑖
• It’s magnitude is: 𝐽 = 𝐴 , when 𝑖 is uniform
across the surface.
• 𝐽 has the same direction as the current 𝑖.
𝐴
• The SI unit is a𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒/𝑚2 or (𝑚2)
• If the current density is uniform the current is
also uniform and has a magnitude 𝑖 = 𝐽𝐴
• During the transition the amount of charge and
thus the current does not change, but the
charge density does change.
• 𝐽 is greater at the narrower conductor. 𝐽1 𝐽2
• As streamlines become closer together as the
current density become greater.

𝐽2 > 𝐽1
• Drift speed is the speed of the charge carriers.

The relation between current density 𝐽 and the drift speed 𝑣𝑑

The number of the charge carriers in a length 𝐿 of the wire is 𝑛𝐴𝐿,

where 𝑛 is the number of carriers per unit volume. The total charge of
the carriers in the length 𝐿 is then,

• For +ve charge carriers: 𝐽 and 𝑣𝑑 have the same direction.

• For -ve charge carriers: 𝐽 and 𝑣𝑑 have the opposite directions.
Example :
A small but measurable current of 1.2x10-10 A exists in a copper wire whose diameter is 2.5 mm.
The number of charge carriers per unit volume is 8.49x1028 m-3. Assuming the current is uniform,
calculate the (a) current density and (b) electron drift speed.

(a) The magnitude of the current density vector is

𝑖 𝑖 4(1.2𝑥10−10 )
𝐽= = =
𝐴 𝜋 𝑑2 4 𝜋 2.5𝑥10−3 2
= 2.4𝑥10−5 𝐴 𝑚2

(b) The drift speed of the current-carrying electrons is

𝑗 2.4𝑥10−5
𝑣𝑑 = =
𝑛𝑒 (8.47𝑥1028 )(1.6𝑥10−19 )
= 1.8𝑥10−15 𝐴 𝑚2
The resistivity, r, of a resistor is defined as:

• The SI unit for r is Ω. 𝑚

• The conductivity 𝜎 of a material is the reciprocal of

its resistivity:

Noorah AlAhmadi
Note : Temperature enters the equation above as a difference T  T0  .
Thus either the Celsius or the Kelvin temperature scale can be used.
This devise obeys Ohm’s Law This devise is called pn-junction diode
does not obey Ohm’s Law
Rem: Ohm’s law is that a plot of 𝑖 versus 𝑉 is linear; that is, 𝑅 is independent of 𝑉. We
can find the resistance using 𝑅 = 𝑉/𝑖 whether they obey Ohm’s law or not.
Rem: Ohm’s law is that a plot of 𝑖 versus 𝑉 is linear; that is, 𝑅 is independent of 𝑉. We
can find the resistance using 𝑅 = 𝑉/𝑖 whether they obey Ohm’s law or not.
 𝑑𝑊
It is known that 𝑃 = 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑊 = 𝑑𝑈 = 𝑑𝑞 𝑉