Unit Four -131- Chapter nine

The Electric Current & Ohm’s Law

Electric Current:

……………………………………………

……………………………………..……………..

………….………….

Electric current intensity (I):

Q
I=
t
Definition: …………………………………………………………………….

Rule: …………………………………………………………………………..

Dimensional formula: …………………………………………………………

Units: ………………………………. Or ……………………………………..

N.B.:

• In our study we will deal with the conventional direction of current,

which consider the electric charge is (+ve / -ve) charge.

• The direction of the electric current

through the external circuit is from

the ……………. pole to the ………

…….. pole of battery.

• The direction of the electric current inside the battery is from the …

………… pole to the …………….. pole.

Potential difference between two points (V):

work
Potential difference =
ch arg e

Definition: ………………………………………………………………….

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -132- Chapter nine

Rule: ………………………………………………………………………….

D.F.: …………………………………………………………………………..

Units: ……………. or ……………………… or …………………………..

The Electro motive force (e.m.f):

W
E=
Q

Definition: ………………………………………………………………….

Or: ………………………………………………………………………….

Unit: …………………………… or ……………………………………….

• If the electromotive force is 8 volts, then the potential difference is

(greater than – equals to – less than) 8 volts.

Resistance (R):

Definition: …………………………………………………………………….

Unit: …………………………….. symbol of the unit: ……………………….

Parameters affecting the electric resistance:

a) Length of the conductor:

The resistance is (directly / inversely) proportional to the length of the conductor.

R ∝ .........
R 1 L........
=
R 2 L........

Where the rest of factors are constant.

b) Cross sectional area of the conductor:

The resistance is (directly / inversely) proportional to the cross sectional area of the

conductor.

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -133- Chapter nine

R ∝ ........
R1 A.......
=
R2 A....

Where the rest of factors are constant.

c) Resistance depends on kind of the matter:

Therefore:

• The relation between resistance and length: R ∝ ..........

• The relation between resistance and area: R ∝ ..........

• From the previous two equations: R ∝ ...........

• Therefore: R = ...........

.......
R = .......
.......
Where ρ is the resistivity; and it depends on the kind of matter.

Resistivety (specific resistance) (ρ):

Rule: ……………………………..………………………………………

Definition: ………………………………………………………………

Dimensional formula: ……………………………………………………

Unit: ………………………………….…………………………………..

Conductivity (σ):

Definition: ………………………………………………………………

Rule: ……………………………..………………………………………

Dimensional formula: ……………………………………………………

Unit: ……………………………………………………………………..

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -134- Chapter nine

Question:

What are the factors that affect each of resistance and resistivity?

…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Examples:

1) What will happen to the resistance of a resistor when its length increases

to its double and its cross sectional area decrease to its half.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

[Increases 4 times]

2) What are the resistivity and the electrical conductivity of a copper wire of
length 25 meters, diameter 0.09 cm and resistance 0.67 Ω.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………….………………………………

[1.7 x 10-8 Ω m, 5.87 x 107 Simon/m]

3) When a current of 2 A flows through an unknown resistor, the potential

difference across it will be 10 volts. Calculate the resistivity of the

material of such resistor if its length is 2 meters and its cross sectional

area is 0.1 cm2.

…………………………………………………………………………………

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -135- Chapter nine

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

[2.5 x 10-5 Ωm]

4) Calculate the resistance of a copper wire of length 2 meters and cross

sectional area 0.05 cm2 if the resistivity of cooper is 1.7 x 10-3 Ωm.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………….…………………………………………………………………

[680 Ω]

Electric circuit:

It consists of:

• …………………………………...

• …………………………………...

• ……………………………………..

• ……………………………………...

• ……………………………………...

Ohm’s law:

• ………………………………………….. V

• …………………………………………..

Work Sheet 2008/2009

I
 Unit Four -136- Chapter nine

• …………………………………………..

• …………………………………………..

• …………………………………………..

• …………………………………………..

V∝I

V = const I

V = RI
Ohm:

Definition: …………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………

Unit: …………………………………………………………………………..

Example:

In Ohm’s experiment the following table obtained:

V in volts 1 A 2 2.5 3.5 5
I in mA 200 300 400 B 700 1000

Draw (V-I graph) and from the graph find:

• The value of (a) and (b).

• The value of the fixed resistance.

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -137- Chapter nine

a = …………………. , b = ………………..

Slope = …………….. , R = ……………….

Connecting the resistors:

There are two ways for connecting resistors:

Resistors in series:

• Explain an experiment to determine the equivalent resistance for

group of resistors connected in series.

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• The electric current intensity (divided / does not divided).

• The potential difference between the groups is (equal / not equal) to

summation of potential differences between each resistor.

I’ = …………………………….

V’ = …………………………… (1)

From Ohm’s law

V = …………………………. (2)

From (1) and (2)

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -138- Chapter nine

I’ R’ = ……………………….

I R’ = I (……………………..)

R’ = R1 + R2 + R3
If the resistors are equals:

R’ = N r
Where:

• r is …………………………..

• N is ………………………….

• R’ is ………………………….

Resistors in Parallel:

• Explain an experiment to determine the equivalent resistance for

group of resistors connected in parallel.

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• ………………………………………………………………………

…………..

• The potential difference (divided / does not divided).

• The electric current intensity of the group is (equal / not equal) to

summation of electric current intensity of each resistor.

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -139- Chapter nine

Vt = ………………………….

It = ………………………..… (1)

From Ohm’s law

I = …………………………. (2)

From (1) and (2)

…………………………………….

1 1 1 1
= + +
R ....... ....... .......
If the resistors are equal
1 N
=
Rt .........

.......
Rt =
........

In case of two resistors:

1 1 1
= +
R R1 R2
1 ....... + .......
=
R R1 R2

............
R=
....... + ......
N.B.:

• In case of connection in series the total resistance is greater than the

greatest resistor. (G.R)

………………………………………………………………………………..

• In case of connection in parallel the total resistance is less than the

smallest resistor. (G.R)

Work Sheet 2008/2009

Unit Four -140- Chapter nine

………………………………………………………………………………..

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -141- Chapter nine

Ohm’s law for a closed circuit:

VB = I ( R + r )

VB = ......... + ........

VB = V + ......

Where:

• E: is ……………………………...

• R: is ………………………………

• r: is ……………………………….

Glossary:

Q W V
I= V= R=
t Q I
W = VIT

P = VI

Where:

I: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

Q: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

t: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

V: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

W: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

R: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

P: is ……………………………………. and its unit is …………………

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -142- Chapter nine

1) Three resistors of 25 Ω, 70 Ω and 85 Ω are connected in series to a 45

volts battery on negligible internal resistance. Calculate, the current

flowing in each resistor and the terminal P.d of each.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

……………….………………………………………………………………

[0.25 A, 6.25 V, 17.5 V, 21.25 V]

2) If the resistors in the previous problem are connected in parallel to the

same battery, calculate:

a. The current flowing in each resistor.

b. The total resistance.

c. The current through the circuit.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

[1.8 A, 0.64 A, 0.529 A , 15.14 Ω, 2.97 A]

Work Sheet 2008/2009

 Unit Four -143- Chapter nine

3) Two resistors A and B are connected in parallel, the combination is

connected in series to a resistor C and an 18 volt battery of negligible

internal resistance. If the resistance of A, B and C are 3, 6, 7 Ω

respectively. Calculate the total resistance, the current flowing through

the circuit and through each of A and B.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

[9 Ω, 2 A, 4/3 A, 2/3 A]

4) A cell of E.M.F 2 volts and internal resistance of 0.1 Ω is connected to a

circuit of external resistance 3.9 Ω Calculate the current flowing through

the circuit.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

[0.5A]

5) Calculate the total resistance

20Ω
of the circuit shown in the
10Ω
30Ω

20Ω 40Ω

Work Sheet 6V 122008/2009

V
Unit Four -144- Chapter nine

figure and the total current flowing through the circuit if the internal
resistance of each cell is 2 Ω.

The previous figure can be drown as:

………………………………………… 20Ω

…………………………………………
30Ω
…………………………………………

………………………………………… 10Ω 20Ω 40Ω

…………………………………………
6V 12 V
……………………….…………………

[20 Ω, 0.75 A]

Work Sheet 2008/2009