Chapter 5: Current and Resistance: 5.1 The Motion of Electric Charge

PHY150
CHAPTER 5 : CURRENT AND RESISTANCE
5.1 The motion of electric charge
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Current arises from the motion of electrons.
The electric current I is the rate of flow of charge Q

past a given point P on an electric conductor.
Q
I 
t Unit : Ampere
Where Q - amount of charges (Coulomb)

t - time
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The direction of conventional current is always the

same as the direction in which positive charges would
move.
5.2 Electromotive force (emf)
A source of electromotive force is a device that

converts chemical, mechanical or other form of energy
into electric energy necessary to maintain a continous
flow of electric charge. The source of emf is
represented by the symbol : 
The emf is actually the potential difference across the

terminals of a battery when it is not connected to a
circuit. Emf is NOT a force. It represents the
maximum potential difference across the terminals.
Under practical circumstances, when a battery is in

circuit and charge flows, the voltage across the
terminals is slightly less than the emf. This is due to
the internal resistance, r in the cell and the operating
voltage is called terminal voltage, V.
V =  - Ir
Where I is the electric current in ampere.
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I
r

5.3 Resistance and Resistivity
When electrons move through a wire, they encounter

resistance to their motion. In order to move electrons
against the resistance, it is necessary to apply a
potential difference between the ends of wire.
V = IR Ohm’s Law
The resistivity  of a material determines how much

resistance it gives to the flow of electric current. It
depends on:
i) the kind of material

ii) the length
iii) the cross-sectional area
iv) the temperature
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l
R= 
A
Where  = resistivity of wire (-m)

l = length of wire (m)
A = the cross-sectional area of wire (m2)
5.4 Resistors in series and parallel
Equivalent resistance for resistors in series :
Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + Rn =  R
Equivalent resistance for resistors in parallel :

1 1 1 1 1 1
    
Req R1 R2 R3 Rn R
5.5 Electrical Power and Energy
Power, P is the rate at which energy is supplied.
P = IV Unit : watt
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P = I2R the dissipated power
5.6 The kilowatt-hour (kWh)
The electrical energy:
E = Power (watt) x time (s) Unit : Joule
However, for billing process, the electrical energy that

is supplied to the consumer is calculated in kWh.
E = Power (kW) x Time (h) Unit : kWh
5.7 Electrical meters
Ammeter is used to measure current.

Voltmeter is used to measure potential
difference/voltage
The crucial part of an analog ammeter/voltmeter is a

galvanometer. The galvanometer works on the
principal of the force between magnetic field and
current. The deflection of the needle of a
galvanometer is proportional to the current flowing
through it.
The full-scale current sensitivity, IG of a galvanometer
is the current needed to make the needle deflect full
scale.
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Galvanometer can be altered to be voltmeter or

ammeter by connecting it to a shunt/multiple resistor.
Ammeter
G/meter
IG r
A B
I IR R
C D
VAB = VCD
IG r = I R R
IGr
 R= IR
Example : Design an ammeter to read 1.0A at full scale

using a galvanometer with a full scale sensitivity of 50 A
and resistance r = 30 .
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30 G/meter
50A
R
1A 1 - 50A
Solution : 50 x 10-6 (30) = (1 – 50 x 10-6) R
(5 x10 6 )30
R= 0.999950
= 1.5 x 10-3 
The shunt resistor must thus have a very low resistance so

that most of the current will pass through it.
Voltmeter
A voltmeter consists of a galvanometer and a multiple

resistor, connected in series.
G/meter
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R r
IG
A B C
V = VAB + VBC
= IGR + IGr
Example : Using the same galvanometer with internal

resistance, r = 30  and full-scale current sensitivity of 50
A, design a voltmeter that reads from 0 to 15V.
Solution: 15 = 50 x 10-6(R + 30)
15  (50 x10 6 )30

 R= 50 x10 6
= 300 k
Voltmeters and ammeters can have several series of shunt

and multiple resistances to offer a choice of range. It is then
called multimeter.
r G/meter
I
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R1
R2
R3
Multiammeter
G/meter
r R1 R2
R3
R4
Multivoltmeter
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PHY150

CHAPTER 5 : CURRENT AND RESISTANCE

5.1 The motion of electric charge

The electric current I is the rate of flow of charge Q

Where Q - amount of charges (Coulomb)

The direction of conventional current is always the

5.2 Electromotive force (emf)

A source of electromotive force is a device that

The emf is actually the potential difference across the

Under practical circumstances, when a battery is in

Where I is the electric current in ampere.

5.3 Resistance and Resistivity

When electrons move through a wire, they encounter

The resistivity  of a material determines how much

i) the kind of material

Where  = resistivity of wire (-m)

5.4 Resistors in series and parallel

Equivalent resistance for resistors in series :

Equivalent resistance for resistors in parallel :

5.5 Electrical Power and Energy

Power, P is the rate at which energy is supplied.

P = I2R the dissipated power

5.6 The kilowatt-hour (kWh)

The electrical energy:

E = Power (watt) x time (s) Unit : Joule

However, for billing process, the electrical energy that

E = Power (kW) x Time (h) Unit : kWh

5.7 Electrical meters

Ammeter is used to measure current.

The crucial part of an analog ammeter/voltmeter is a

Galvanometer can be altered to be voltmeter or

Example : Design an ammeter to read 1.0A at full scale

Solution : 50 x 10-6 (30) = (1 – 50 x 10-6) R

The shunt resistor must thus have a very low resistance so

A voltmeter consists of a galvanometer and a multiple

Example : Using the same galvanometer with internal

Solution: 15 = 50 x 10-6(R + 30)

15  (50 x10 6 )30

Voltmeters and ammeters can have several series of shunt

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