Two different things that sound alike!

Electrical Energy and Electrical Potential

In order to bring two like charges together work must be done. In order to separate two opposite charges, work must be done.

Recall Work: W = F d cos(q)

As the monkey does + work on the positive charge against electric force, he increases the energy of that charge. The closer he brings it, the more electrical potential energy it has.

Try the same thing with grav. force. It is the same!!!! charge → mass

This work done by external force against electrical force is stored as electrical PE, U.

When he let it go, the charge will gain kinetic energy and can do a work.

Greater amount of charge → greater force needed → greater work done → greater stored potential energy U.

qUV

The SI unit of electric potential is the volt.

1J1V1C

electric potential energy electric potential

charge

If a charge q at point P (in electric field E) has electric potential energy U, the electric potential V at that point is:

→ introducing the electrical potential energy per unit charge, known as electrical potential, which doesn’t depend on the amount of charge.

So essentially, potential energy is capacity for doing work which arises from position or configuration.

• Note important difference between energy and potential:• A point has potential, charge placed there has electric potential energy

Two points that are at the same distance from the charged object have the same potential.

+

+++ ++

++

+++

++

So, when two charged object are placed there, they are at the same potential, but the one with more charge on it has higher electric potential energy – could do more work.

++++++++

+++++++

The difference between the potentials at two different points, A & B, is equal to the change in electric potential energy between these two points or the work done per unit of positive charge in order to move it from one point to the other.

Potential Difference Between Two Points (ΔV = VB – VA)

Law of conservation of energy: change in potential energy = change in kinetic energy

To place a charge in electric field a work has to be done on the charge. That work is stored as potential energy, U, of the charge. The point where the charge is, has potential V (charge q placed there has potential energy U = qV). Charge placed in electric field E will experience electric force, F= qE. If the charge is free to move it will accelerate, it will gain kinetic energy and can do a work.

∆ V= ∆ Uq =Wq

For things like batteries, we specify the potential difference between the contacts (poles) on the batery. So a "D-cell" has a rating of 1.5 volts which means that every 1C of charge (electrons) that moves from the negative side of the cell to the positive side will do 1.5 Joules work.

1. Potential difference = 1.5 V → 2. Potential energy of 1 C electrons relative to positive pole is 1.5 J.3. That energy is being converted into kinetic energy on the way to positive pole. 4. Kinetic energy is being converted into work due to collisions with atoms within conductor. That is what makes bulb (and wires unfortunately too) to heat up and give off light (not wires, hopefuly)5. Electrons reach positive pole completely exausted without any energy, ready to reenergize again in the cell.

The AA-cell may only light a light bulb for 15 minutes while the D-cell may keep the same bulb lit for several hours (simply more charge). In the 12 volt car battery, every coulomb of charge that moves from one side to the other does 12 Joules worth of work. In a 120 volt electrical outlet, every Coulomb of charge does 120 Joules worth of work as it moves from one side of the outlet to the other.

surprise, surprise ! We use the same name for different things, and even worse we use couple of different names to express the same thing, like:

1. The variable we use for potential, potential difference, and the unit for potential difference (volts) is V. Cute!!!!!

2. Don't let that confuse you when you see V = 1.5V

3. Electric potential energy is not the same as electrical potential.

4. The electron volt is not a smaller unit of the volt, it's a smaller unit of the Joule.

5. Electrical potential can also be described by the terms, potential difference, voltage, potential drop, potential rise, electromotive force, and EMF. These terms may differ slightly in meaning depending on the situation.

http://home.datacomm.ch/k.schraner/blitzanimation.gif

Electrical Energy Storage

◊ We can store electric energy in a capacitor :◊ Found in nearly all electronic circuits eg. in photo-flash units. ◊ Simplest is: two close but separated parallel plates. When connected to a battery electrons get transferred from one plate to the other until the potential difference between them = voltage of battery.◊ How?

Positive battery terminal attracts electrons on LH plate; these are then pumped through battery, through the terminal to the opposite plate. Process continues until no more potential difference btn plate and connected terminal.

- - -- - -

- - -- - -

+ + ++ + ++ + ++ + +

◊ Discharging: when conducting path links the two charged plates. ◊ Discharging is what creates the flash in a camera.

♦ If very high voltages (eg caps in tv’s), its dangerous if you are this path!

Potential difference or Voltage (symbol V)

• When the ends of an electric conductor are at different electric potential, charge flows from one end to the other. Voltage is what causes charge to move in a conductor. Charge moves toward lower potential energy the same way as you would fall from a tree.

• Voltage plays a role similar to pressure in a pipe; to get water to flow there must be a pressure difference between the ends, this pressure difference is produced by a pump

• That’s why we call voltage “electric pressure”

• A battery is like a pump for charge, it provides the energy for pushing the charges around a circuit

Voltage and current are not the same thing

• You can have voltage, but without a path (connection) there is no current.

voltage

An electrical

outlet

Current– flow of electric chargeIf I connect a battery to the ends of the copper bar the electrons in the copper will be pulled toward the positive side of the battery and will flow around and around. this is called current – flow of charge

copper

Duracell+

An electric circuit!

Electric current (symbol I)

• DEF: the rate at which charge flows by a given cross-section.

• measured in amperes (A)

q

◊ the flow of electric charge q that can occur in solids, liquids and gases.

qI = t

1C1A = 1s

Solids – electrons in metals and graphite, and holes in semiconductorsLiquids – positive and negative ions in molten and aqueous electrolytesGases – electrons and positive ions stripped from gaseous molecules by large potential differences.

Electrical resistance (symbol R)• Why is it necessary to keep pushing the charges to make

them move?• The electrons do not move unimpeded through a

conductor. As they move they keep bumping into the ions of crystal lattice which either slows them down or bring them to rest.

.

atoms

free electron

(actually positive ions)

path

The resistance (R) is a measure of the degree to which the conductor impedes the flow of current.Resistance is measured in Ohms ()

OHM’S LAW - Current, Voltage and Resistance

• DEF: Current through resistor (conductor) is proportional to potential difference on the resistor if the temperature of a resistor is constant

(than the resistance of a conductor is constant).

VI =

Rvoltagecurrent =

resistanceOther way:

• if resistance R is constant/ temperature is constant • I – current V – potential difference across R

Examples

• If a 3 volt flashlight bulb has a resistance of 9 ohms, how much current will it draw?

• I = V / R = 3 V / 9 = 1/3 Amps

• If a light bulb draws 2 A of current when connected to a 120 volt circuit, what is the resistance of the light bulb?

• R = V / I = 120 V / 2 A = 60

Effects of electric current on the BODY- electric shock

Current (A) Effect

0.001 can be felt

0.005 painful

0.010 involuntary muscle contractions (spasms)

0.015 loss of muscle control

0.070if through the heart, serious disruption; probably fatal if current lasts for more than 1 second

questionable circuits: live (hot) wire ? how to avoid being electrified?

1. keep one hand behind the body (no hand to hand current through the body)

2. touch the wire with the back of the hand. Shock causing muscular contraction will not cause their hands to grip the wire.

human body resistance varies: 100 ohms if soaked with salt water; moist skin - 1000 ohms; normal dry skin – 100 000 ohms, extra dry skin – 500 000 ohms.

What would be the current in your body if you touch the terminals of a 12-V battery with dry hands?

I = V/R = 12 V/100 000 = 0.000 12 A quite harmless

But if your hands are moist (fear of AP test?) and you touch 24 V battery, how much current would you draw?

I = V/R = 24 V/1000 = 0.024 A a dangerous amount of current.

Factors affecting resistance

Conductors, semiconductors and insulators differ in their resistance to current flow.

Wires, wires, wires

The resistance of a wire can be completely ignored – if it is a thin wire connecting two, three or more resistors, or can become very important if it is a long, long wire as in the case of iron, washing machine, toaster ……

The resistance of a conducting wire depends on four main factors: • length • cross-sectional area • resistivity • temperature

Resistance of a wire when the temperature is kept constant is:

LR = ρA

The resistivity, ρ (the Greek letter rho), is a value that only depends on the material being used. It is tabulated and you can find it in the books. For example, gold would have a lower value than lead or zinc, because it is a better conductor than they are.The unit is Ω•m.

Of course, resistance depends on the material being used.

In conclusion, we could say that a short fat cold wire makes the best conductor.

If you double the length of a wire, you will double the resistance of the wire.

If you double the cross sectional area of a wire you will cut its resistance in half.

L – lengthA – cross-sectional area

Example

A copper wire has a length of 160 m and a diameter of 1.00 mm. If the wire is connected to a 1.5-volt battery, how much current flows through the wire?

The current can be found from Ohm's Law, V = IR. The V is the battery voltage, so if R can be determined then the current can be calculated. The first step, then, is to find the resistance of the wire:

L = 1.60 m.r = 1.00 mmr = 1.72x10-8 m, copper - books

The current can now be found from Ohm's Law:

The resistance of the wire is then:

R = r L/A = (1.72x10-8 m)(1.67)/(7.85x10-7m2 ) = 3.50

I = V / R = 1.5 / 3.5 = 0.428 A

Ohmic and Non-Ohmic conductorsHow does the current varies with potential difference for some typical devices?

curr

ent

potential difference

devices are non-ohmic ifresistance changes

curr

ent

potential difference

curr

ent

potential difference

metal at const. temp. filament lamp diode

I 1 = is const. R is const.V R

Devices for which current through them is directly proportional to the potential difference across device are said to be ‘ohmic devices’ or ‘ohmic conductors’ or simply resistors. There are very few devices that are trully ohmic. However, many useful devices obey the law at least over a reasonable range.

When a current is flowing through a load such as a resistor, it dissipates energy in it. In collision with lattice ions electrons’ kinetic energy is transferred to the ions, and as a result the amplitude of vibrations of the ions increases and therefore the temperature of the device increases.That thermal energy (internal energy) is then transferred as heat (to the air, food, hair etc.) by convection, or radiated as light (electric bulb).

Where is that energy coming from? This energy is equal to the potential energy lost by the charge as it moves through the potential difference that exists between the terminals of the load.

DEF: Power is the rate at which electric energy is converted into another form such as mechanical energy, heat, or light.

Power dissipation in resistors

DEF: Electric power is the rate at which energy is supplied to or used by a device.

Power is measured in J s-1 called watts W.

If a vacuum cleaner has a power rating of 500 W, it meansit is converting electrical energy to mechanical, soundand heat energy at the rate of 500 J s-1. A 60 W light globeconverts electrical energy to light and heat energy at therate of 60 J s -1.

Appliance Power rating

Blow heater 2 kWKettle 1.5 kWToaster 1.2 kWIron 850 WVacuum cleaner 1.2 kWTelevision 250 W

Basic definition of power:

Deriving expressions for determining power

WP = t

Remember: W = qV → and I = q/t, soqVP = t

P = I V 1J1W = = 1A 1V1s

P = IV = V2/R = I2 R

Look at your hair dryer. If label says “10 A”, that means that the power of the hair dryer is 10x120=1200 W, or 1.2 kW (using a standard US 120 V outlet).

In USA you can not get direct information on power of appliance you buy.

Comparison of US and other countries that use voltage of 240 V. As the power of appliances is the roughly the same, the appliances in USA have to draw a greater current, hence have to have less resistance. As the consequence the wires (both used for connecting and in appliances) are thicker in USA.

example• How much current is drawn by a 60 Watt light bulb connected to a

120 V power line? P = 60 W = I V = I x 120

so I = 0.5 A• What is the resistance of the bulb? I = V/R R = V/I = 120 V/0.5 A

R = 240

Paying for electricity• You pay for the total amount of electrical energy (not power) that

is used each month• In Irving the cost of electric energy used is 14 ¢ per kilowatt-hour. • How do we get kilowatt-hour and what is that? • Power = energy/time• Energy = power x time, so energy can be expressed in units

watts x second what is simply a joule.

Physicists measure energy in joules, but utility companies customarily charge energy in units of kilowatt-hours (kW h), where :

Kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 103 W x 3600 s

1 kWh = 3.6 x 106 J

1W x 1s = 1J

$$$ example $$$

• At a rate of 14 cents per kWh, how much does it cost to keep a 100 W light bulb on for one day?

• energy (kWh) = power (kW) x time (h)

• energy (kWh) = 0.1 kW x 24 h = 2.4 kWh cost / day = 2.4 kWh x 14 cents/kWh = 33.6 ¢ for one month that amounts to $ 10.1.

Direct Current (DC) electric circuits• a circuit containing a battery is a DC circuit• in a DC circuit the current always flows in the same direction. • The direction of the current depends on how you connect the battery

Either way the bulb will be on.

Duracell+

The electrons go one way but the current flows the opposite to the direction that the electrons travel.That’s convention.

• a circuit must provide a closed path for the current to circulate around

• when the electrons pass through the light bulb they loose some of their energy the conductor (resistor) heats up

• the battery is like a pump that re-energizes them each time they pass through it

hystoric explanationclick me

When a battery is connected across the ends of a metal wire, an electric field is produced in the wire. All free electrons in the circuit start moving at the same time. Free electrons are accelerated along their path reaching enormous speeds of about 106 ms-1. They collide with positive ions of crystal lattice generating heat that causes the temperature of the metal to increse. After this event, they are again accelerated because of the electric field, until the next collision occurs. Due to the collisions with positive ions of crystal lattice, hence changing direction, it is estimated that the drift velocity is only a small fraction of a metre each second (about 10-4 m s-1).

Drift speed

example: in an el. circuit of a car, electrons have average drift speed of about 0.01 cm/s, so it takes ~ 3 hour for an electron to travel through 1m.

it’s not even a snail’s pace!!!!!

• the electricity that you get from the power company is not DC it is AC (alternating) created by an AC electric generator.

• In an AC circuit the current reverses direction periodically

_ +The current in AC electricity alternates in direction. The back-and-forth motion occurs at freq. of 50 or 60 Hz, depending on the electrical system of the country.

AC movement of electrons in a wire

!!!!!!! the source of electrons is wire itself – free electrons in it !!!!!! If you are jolted by electric shock, electrons making up the current in your body originate in your body. They do NOT come from the wire through your body into the ground. Alternating electric field causes electrons to vibrate. Small vibrations – tingle; large vibrations can be fatal.

curr

ent

time

AC

curr

ent

time

DC

How does the voltage and current change in time?

DC does not change direction over time;

the actual voltage in a 120-V AC circuit varies between +170V and -170V peaks.

AC vs. DC current

• for heaters, hair dryers, irons, toasters, waffle makers, the fact that the current reverses makes no difference. They can be used with either AC or DC electricity.

• battery chargers (e.g., for cell phones) convert the AC to DC

• Why do we use AC ?? DC seems simpler?• late 1800’s the war of the currents• Edison (DC) vs Tesla (Westinghouse) (AC)• Edison opened the first commercial power plane for

producing DC in NY in 1892• Tesla who was hired by George Westinghouse

believed that AC was superior• Tesla was right, but Edison never gave up!

Why AC is better than DC

• DC power is provided at one voltage only• The major advantage: AC voltages can be transformed

to higher or lower voltages (can be stepped up or down to provide any voltage required)

• This means that the high voltages used to send electricity over great distances from the power station can be reduced to a safer voltage for use in the house.

• This is done by the use of a transformer. • DC is very expensive to transmit over large distances

compared to AC (more loss to heat), so many plants are required

• DC power plants must be close to users• AC plants can be far outside cities• by 1895 DC was out and AC was in

D.C. circuit analysis

An electric circuit has three essential components1. A source of emf.2. A conducting pathway obtained by conducting wires or some alternative.3. A load to consume energy such as a filament globe, other resistors and electronic components.

Electric Circuits: Any path along which electrons can flow is a circuit. For a continuous flow of electrons, there must be a complete circuit with no gaps. A gap is usually provided by an electric switch that can be opened or closed to either cut off or allow electron flow.

When the switch is closed, a current exists almost immediately in all circuit. The current does not “pile up” anywhere but flows through the whole circuit. Electrons in all circuit begin to move at once. Eventually the electrons move all the way around the circuit. A break anywhere in the path results in an open circuit, and the flow of electrons ceases.

In the mid-nineteenth century, G.R. Kirchoff (1824-1887) stated two simple rules using the laws of conservation of energy and charge to help in the analysis of direct current circuits.

These rules are called Kirchoff’s rules.

‘The sum of the currents flowing into a point in a circuit equals the sum of the currents flowing out at that point’.

1. Junction rule – conservation of charge.

I1 + I2 = I3 + I4 + I5

2. loop rule – conservation of energy principle: Energy supplied equals the energy released in this closed path

‘In a closed loop, the sum of the emfs equals the sum of the potential drops’.

V = V1 + V2 + V3

• Burning out of one of the lamp filaments or simply opening the switch could cause such a break.

eq 1 2 3R = R + R + R

Resistors in Series

• connected in such a way that all components have the same current through them.

logic: the total or effective resistance would have length L1+ L2+ L3

and resistance is proportional to the length

Equivalent or total or effective resistance is the one that could replace all resistors resulting in the same current.

Resistors in Parallel

• Electric devices connected in parallel are connected to the same two points of an electric circuit, so all components have the same potential difference across them.• The current flowing into the point of splitting is equal to the sum of the currents flowing out at that point: I = I1 + I2 + I3.

• A break in any one path does not interrupt the flow of charge in the other paths. Each device operates independently of the other devices. The greater resistance, the smaller curent.

3

1 1 1

eq 1 2

1 = + + R R R R

equivelent resistance is smaller than the smallest resistance.

RESISTORS IN COMPOUND CIRCUITS

Now you can calculate current, potential drop and power dissipated through each resistor

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab

http://www.saaphysics.com/CircuitsPracticeQuiz.htmhttp://www.glencoe.com/qe/science.php?qi=2246

In practical use, we need to be able to measure currents through components and voltages across various components in electrical circuits. To do this, we use AMMETERS and VOLTMETERS.

Ammeters and voltmeters

An ammeter – measures current passing through it

• is always connected in series with a component we want to measure in order that whatever current passes through the component also passes the ammeter.

• has a very low resistance compared with theresistance of the circuit so that it will not alter thecurrent the current being measured.

• would ideally have no resistance with no potentialdifference across it so no energy would be dissipated in it.

A voltmeter – measures voltage drop between two points

• is always connected across a device (in parallel).

• has a very high resistance so that it takes very littlecurrent from the device whose potential differenceis being measured.

• an ideal voltmeter would have infinite resistance with no current passing through it and no energy would be dissipated in it.