GENERAL PHYSICS 2 MODULE

ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

In describing electric circuits, certain quantities and units are needed. This module
intro- duces you to some of these.

In this module, you will:

a) differentiate current, voltage and resistance;
b) describe and correctly use units of current, volt- age and resistance:
c) discuss the four factors that affect the amount of resistance; and
d) define resistivity.

CURRENT

Electric current is the movement of charged particles in a specific direction. The

charged particle may be an electron, a positive ion or a negative ion, and they are
referred to as current carriers. The symbol used for current is I because early scientists
thought about the intensity of the electricity in a wire.

Current is the measure of how much charge is passed through a given point in a
conductor per given amount of time. The unit of current is given in coulomb per second
(C/s) and is named ampere (A) after the French physicist Andre Marie Ampere (1775-
1836), who discovered that two parallel wires attract each other when cur- rents flow
through them in the same direction and repel each other when currents are made to
flow in opposite directions.

The relationship between time, charge and current is given as

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑞
𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝑜𝑟 𝐼 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡
The unit is:
𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏 𝐶
𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒 = 𝑜𝑟 𝐴 =
𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑠

Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC)

If the current continues to flow in the same direction through the conducting wire all
the 10 time, it is called direct current (DC). This is the kind of current that we get from
flashlight cells and batteries.

If the current periodically reverses the di rection in which it is moving, it is called

alternating current (AC). This is the kind of current we have in our home and in school.

VOLTAGE

Voltage, which is also known as electromotive force (emf) or potential difference (pd),
is the electric pressure that causes current to flow. Potential difference is potential
energy divided by charge. The potential energy here is the work needed to move a
charged body against the electric force, toward or away from another charged body. If
the two bodies have the same charge (e.g., both are positive), work is needed to move

CHARIBEL R. SARTE
Faculty In-Charge
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2 MODULE
ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

them closer. If the two charged bodies are of opposite charge, work is needed to move
them apart. Also, the term 'electromotive force' could be misleading; it is not a force.

The symbol for voltage is V. The unit of voltage is the joule per coulomb which is called
the volt (V).

The relationship between charge, energy and voltage is:

𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑊
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑉 =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 𝑞
𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝐽
The unit is 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 = 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏 𝑜𝑟 𝑉 = 𝐶

Voltage can be created by techniques involving the production of excess electrons at

one terminal and a deficiency of electrons at another terminal.

Devices such as an electric generator, electric cell, thermocouples, crystals and solar
cells produce voltage.

RESISTANCE

Resistance is the opposition a material offers to current. The symbol for resistance is
R. All materials offer some resistance to current but the amount of resistance differs
from each other. There are high-resistance and low resistance materials. More energy
is required to move electrons through high-resistance materials.

The unit used to specify the amount of resistance is the ohm, represented by the
symbol Ω. The ohm is defined as the amount of resistance that allows 1 A of current
to flow when the voltage is 1 V. It can also be defined as the amount of resistance of
a column of mercury 106.3 cm in length, with a cross-sectional area of 1 mm², and at
a temperature of 0°C.

Resistance of an object depends on four factors:

1) length,
2) cross-sectional area,
3) resistivity of the material and
4) temperature.

The amount of resistance of an object is directly proportional to its length and inversely
proportional to its cross-sectional area. There is no simple relationship between
resistance and temperature. For most objects, the resistance in- creases with an
increase in temperature. But for some, such as carbon, the resistance decreases with
an increase in temperature. Take a look at Table 46.1. The table shows how the
different factors affect resistance.

CHARIBEL R. SARTE
Faculty In-Charge
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2 MODULE
ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

FACTORS THAT AFFECT RESISTANCE

Resistivity

The characteristic resistance of a material is given by its resistivity. Resistivity ratings

allow comparison of the abilities of different materials to conduct current. A table of
resistivity in 2-m (ohm-meters) of some materials is presented below. It shows that a
material with a lower resistivity is a better conductor.

The relationship of resistance (R) to length (L), cross-sectional area (A) and resistivity
(p) is given as,
⍴𝐿
𝑅=
𝐴
Resistivity of Some Materials

CHARIBEL R. SARTE
Faculty In-Charge
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2 MODULE
ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

Examples:

1. What is the electric resistance of a silver wire 0.50 m long with diameter of 1.5
mm?
Given: L=0.50 m
⍴ = 1.59 x 10-8 Ω-m
1𝑚
d = 1.5 mm x 1𝑥10−3𝑚𝑚 = 1.5 x 10-3 m
Find R:
• First, find for Area:

𝛱𝑑2 (3.14)(1.5 𝑥10−3 𝑚)^2

𝐴= = = 1.77 𝑥 10−6 𝑚2
4 4

• Then, find R:

⍴𝐿 (1.59 𝑥 10−8 Ω − 𝑚)(0.50 𝑚)

𝑅= =
𝐴 1.77 𝑥 10−6 𝑚^2

R = 4.49 x 10-3 m.

2. Lyla wants to use glass rod as an insulator. The rod’s diameter is 9 mm and its
resistivity at 200C is 1 x 109 Ωm. How long must the rod be to offer a resistance
of 9.1 x 1010 Ω?

Given
R = 9.1 x 1010 Ω
⍴ = 1 x 10 9 Ω-m
d = 9 mm = 9 x 10-3 m

𝛱𝑑 2 (3.14)(9 𝑥10−3 𝑚)^2

𝐴= = = 6.36 𝑥 10−5 𝑚2
4 4
𝜌𝐿 𝑅𝐴
𝑖𝑓 𝑅 = , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∶ 𝐿 = =
𝐴 𝜌

(9.1 𝑥 10 10 Ω)(6.36 𝑥 10−5 𝑚2 )

𝐿= 1 𝑥 109 Ω 𝑚
= 5. 79 𝑥 10−3 𝑚 = 5.79 𝑚𝑚

DID YOU KNOW?

The human body's resistance to current is in the order of 500 000 Ω when the
skin is dry. This resistance decreases when the skin is wet. The body's
resistance can go as low as 100 Ω when it is soaked with saltwater. This is
because ions in saltwater are current carriers and readily conduct electric
charge.

CHARIBEL R. SARTE
Faculty In-Charge
 GENERAL PHYSICS 2 MODULE
ELECTRICAL QUANTITIES AND UNITS

SELF-CHECK

1. How much current is flowing when 15 C pass a specified point in 5 s?

2. Why is it incorrect to say, "The voltage at point X is 12 volts"?

3. What are the four factors that affect the resistance of a material?

4. An electric motor winding uses 180 m of copper conductor with a cross-sectional

area of 0.26 cm2. Find the resistance of the electric winding at 20°C.

REFERENCE:

Padua, A. and Crisostomo R (2003). Science and Technology Series: PRACTICAL

AND EXPLORATIONAL PHYSICS Modular Approach. Vibal Publishing House,Inc.

CHARIBEL R. SARTE
Faculty In-Charge