Basic Concepts of

Electricity

The Atom
An Atom Consists of
very small small
particles called
Nucleus. Which
Consists of
Protons
Neutrons

Electrons moves
around the nucleus in
a path called orbit .

Charge
If an atom has more protons than
electrons, it is Positively charged
If an atom has more electrons than
protons, it is Negatively charged

Charge
Charge is an electrical property of
atomic particles

Measured in Coulombs

Charge
Particle

Designation

Charge (C)

Proton

Positive

1.6 X 10-19 C

Neutron

Neutral

0C

Electron

Negative

-1.6 X 10-19 C

Electrons
A very small, elementary particle
Electrons are called charge carriers

Mass of 9.11 1031 kg

Charge of -1.6 X 10-19 C

Holes
Holes are also considered charge
carriers
Holes are locations of positive charge
Rather than being moving protons,
however, they are basically the absence of
electrons

Static Electricity
Electrons may be able to move around
between atoms.

When atoms are either stationary or

moving very slowly relative to each
other, we call this electrostatics or Static
Electricity.

Static Electricity can be

Produced by: Rubbing your feet on a carpet.
Rubbing your hair with a balloon.
Rubbing your hair with a Cumb.
Lightning in rainy seasons.

Static Electricity Rule: Objects with like charge tend to repel each
other.
Objects with different charge tend to
attract each other.

Like Charges Repel each

other.
In which direction the rod on the string will
move?

Opposite Charges Attract each

other.
In which direction will the rod on the string
swing?

Static Electricity

Piece of Metal

Moving Electrons
Electrons can move around between
atoms in one object or two
Static Electricity

Electrons can move in a constant direction

at a constant rate
Current

Electrical Variables:-

Current and voltage are the two

basic variables in electric circuits

Current
Electric current is the flow of electronic
charge in a conductor

Current
Electrons can only move freely around
some atoms.

Their movement depends on the type of

the atoms.

Conductors
What is a Conductor??
Substance in which electrons move freely is called
Conductors.
Example of Conductors.
Metals: silver, copper, aluminum.
Salt water.

Insulators
What is an Insulator???
substance which prevents electrons from
moving.
or allow electrons to flow in small amounts.
Example of an Insulator???
Wood.
Plastic.
Rubber.

Semiconductors
What is a Semiconductor??
Substance which allows electrons to flow
under some certain circumstances.
Or In a special Case

Example of Semiconductors.
Silicon
Germanium

Current
Current can only flow when a circuit is
completed
An electric circuit is an interconnection of
electrical elements

Current
The time rate of change of charge

dq q
I

dt t
Number of electrons (or holes) that pass a
single point in one second

Current
Measured in Amperes (A) = C/s
Note that we dont talk about electrons/sec
this would be a really large number

Is represented by the variable I or i

Example Problem
If 465 C of charge pass through a wire in
2.5 minutes, find the current in Amperes.

Current Direction

Current direction can be taken in the

direction that holes are moving.

Current Direction

Wire

Current Direction

Holes

Current Direction

Holes

Electrons

Current Direction

Current
Direction

Holes

Electrons

Current Direction
Current is actually the average forward
movement of all electrons

Direct Current
If current does not change with time, but
remains constant, we call it direct current
(dc)
A current that varies with time is called
alternating current (ac)

Direct Current
Alternating Current
When a current is constant with time,
we say that we have direct current,
abbreviated as dc. On the other hand,
a current that varies with time, reversing
direction periodically, is called
alternating current, abbreviated as ac.

Direct Current (DC)

6

Electron
Flow

Hole
Flow

10
10

0
t

10
10

Alternating Current (DC)

6

I( t )

10
10

0
t

10
10

Directions for Current

Voltage
The voltage associated with a circuit
element ,is the energy transferred per
unit of charge that flows through the
element.
The units of voltage are volts (V), which
are equivalent to joules per coulomb
(J/C).

Voltage
That makes current flow?
Voltage is the push to move electrons
Also called potential difference
Measured in volts

Voltage
Potential difference can be a result of:
Voltage sources, like batteries
Build up of static electricity

Voltage
The voltage is measured
across an element
Voltage is represented by
the variable V or v
The plus (+) and minus (-)
signs are used to define a
reference direction or
voltage polarity

Voltage
The vab can be interpreted
in two ways:
1. Point a is at a potential of
vab volts higher than point b
2. The potential at point a
with respect to point b is vab

Voltage
Inverting the voltage polarity
changes the sign of the
voltage

vab vba

Voltage
Both (a) and (b) represent the same
voltage

Voltage
In (a) point a is +9V above point b
In (b) point b is -9V above point a

Voltage
There is a 9-V voltage drop from a to b
There is a 9-V voltage rise from b to a

Voltage
A voltage drop from a to b is equivalent to
a voltage rise from b to a

Voltage Sources
Convert some other form of
energy into electrical energy
Potential Difference exists
across the two terminals
regardless of whether they are
connected

Current is induced only when

they are connected

+
-

Power
For practical purposes, we need to know
how much power a device can handle
A 100-watt bulb gives more light than a
60-watt bulb
Our bills to the utility companies charge us
for the electric energy consumed over the
months time

Energy
Energy is the capacity to do work
There are lots of different kinds of
energy
Electrical
Chemical
Heat
Nuclear

Energy
Is always conserved
No energy is ever created it is only converted
from a different type of energy
No energy is ever destroyed, it is converted
into a different type of energy

Energy
Motors and generators convert energy

Motor

Electrical
Energy

Mechanical
Energy

Generator

Power
Power is the rate of expending or
absorbing energy

Measured in Watts (W)

Power
Depends on the current and voltage
through a circuit element
P=IXV

The power absorbed or supplied by an

element is the product of the voltage
across the element and the current
through it

Power
Voltage and current sources supply or put
energy into a circuit
Circuit elements (resistors) absorb energy
and transform the energy into another
form

Power
To determine the sign/polarity of the
power, we have to look at the current
direction and voltage polarity
We use the passive sign convention to
determine whether power is positive or
negative

Power
Passive sign convention says
If the current enters through the
positive terminal of an element
and P = + VI

Power
Passive sign convention says
If the current enters through the
negative terminal, P = - VI

Power
In general,
+ Power absorbed = - Power supplied

The Law of Conservation of Energy must

be obeyed in any electric circuit
The sum of power in a circuit must be zero

Summary
An electric circuit consists of electrical
elements connected together
Current is the rate of charge flow
Voltage is the energy required to move
charge through an element
Power is the energy supplied or absorbed
per unit time and is equal to I X V

PROBLEMS

Example Problem-1
The circuit below has five elements. If p2 = 100
W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = -60 W, p5 = 20 W. Calculate
the power p1 received or delivered by element 1.

Soln of Example Problem-1

p2 = 100 W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = -60 W, p5 = 20 W

We must approach this problem with

conservation of energy.

Soln of Example Problem-1

p2 = 100 W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = -60 W, p5 = 20 W

Sum of individual powers must be equal to zero.

Soln of Example Problem-1

p2 = 100 W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = -60 W, p5 = 20 W

p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 0

Soln of Example Problem-1

p2 = 100 W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = -60 W, p5 = 20 W

p1 100W 20W 60W 20W 0

Soln of Example Problem-1

p2 = 100 W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = 60 W, p5 = 20 W

p3 40W 0

Soln of Example Problem-1

p2 = 100 W, p3 = -20 W, p4 = 60 W, p5 = 20 W

p3 40W

Example Problem-2
For this voltage
source, how much
power is supplied to
the circuit?
What is the power
absorbed by the
circuit element?

Soln of Example Problem-2

Power absorbed by the
voltage source:

P I V
P 5 A 2V
P 10W
According to passive sign convention,
should the power be positive or
negative?

P 10W

Soln of Example Problem-2

Follow the same process
to find power absorbed
by the element (P1):

P I V
P 5 A 2V
P 10W

According to passive sign convention,

should the power be positive or
negative?

P 10W

Soln of Example Problem-2

We could have also
found this using
conservation of energy:

0 PS P1

0 10W P1

P 10W