The cells are the source of direct current. Direct Current (d.c.) is a current of constant magnitude flowing in one direction. In a cell, chemical energy changes into electrical energy when it sends current in the circuit. A cell consists of two conducting rods called electrodes, at some separation placed immersed in a solution (or jelly), called the electrolyte. Kinds of cells: There are two kinds of cells: a) Primary cells and b) Secondary cells or accumulators.
Sr. No. Primary Cell Secondary Cell
1. Chemical reaction is irreversible Chemical reaction is reversible 2. Chemical energy is converted into Electrical energy is converted into electrical energy when current is chemical energy when current is drawn from it. passed in it (while charging) and chemical energy is converted into electrical energy when current is drawn from it.(during discharging)
3. It cannot be recharged It can be recharged
4. Its internal resistance is high Its internal resistance is low. 5. It is capable of giving weak current It can provide low as well as high only. current. 6. It is light and cheap It is heavy and costly. e.g. Simple voltaic cell, dry cell, e.g. Lead (or acid) accumulator. Ni-Fe Daniel cell, Leclanche cell accumulator.
Current is rate of flow of charge across a cross-section normal to the direction of flow of current. If charge ‘Q’ flows through cross section of a conductor in time ‘t’ then Current (I) = Charge (Q) Time (t) Current is a scalar quantity. If ‘n’ electrons pass through a cross section of a conductor in time ‘t’, then Q=nxe I = Q = ne t t The conventional current is in the direction opposite to the direction of motion of electrons. Unit of current: SI unit of charge is coulomb and SI unit of time is second, so SI unit of current is coulomb per second which is called ampere. Current of 1 A means the rate of flow of 1 C charge per second. Charge of 1 electron is -1.6 x 10 -19 C So 1 C charge is carried by 1/ 1.6 x 10 -19 = 6.25 x 10 18 electrons. 18 Therefore if 1 A current flows through a conductor means that 6.25 x 10 electrons pass in 1 second across that cross section of the conductor. Weak current is measured in milli-ampere (mA) = 10 -3 ampere and micro-ampere (µA) = 10 - 6 ampere
Symbols used in Circuit diagram
Sr. No. Electrical Components Symbol Function
1. Cell Source of Direct current
Battery
2. a.c source (mains) Source of Alternating current
3. Key It is used to put the current on
and off in a circuit.
4. Rheostat It is used to adjust the magnitude
of current in a circuit. The resistance can be varied continuously. 5 Ammeter It is used to measure the magnitude of current flowing in a circuit.
6 Voltmeter It is used to measure the
potential difference between two points of a circuit.
7 Galvanometer It is used to detect the presence
of a weak current or to know the direction of flow of current in a circuit. 8 Connecting wire Used to connect various electrical components. Simple Electrical circuit
This is a simple electric circuit with only 3 components. i.e. battery, switch and load (lamp) Any appliance which is connected in a circuit is called a load. E.g. bulb, heater etc. Its
symbol is . Insulators : The substances which do not allow the current to flow through them are called the insulators. They almost have no free electrons and they offer a very high resistance in the path of current. Eg: cotton, rubber, plastic, glass, leather, pure water, asbestos, china clay etc. Conductors: The substances which allow the current to flow through them easily are called the conductors. They have a large number of free electrons and they offer a small resistance in the path of current. Eg: all metals such as copper, aluminium, silver, iron, brass, steel, mercury and impure water (acidulated water). The human body also allows current to flow through it. Closed and Open Circuits The path along which current flows is called a circuit. Current flows only if the circuit is complete (closed).For an electric circuit to be complete (closed), each component of it must pass current through it. If there is an insulator in the path (or if the circuit is broken), the circuit is incomplete (or open) and the current will not flow through it. Flow of electrons between the conductors: When two charged conductors are joined by a mettalic wire, free electrons flow from a conductor having higher concentration of electrons to the conductor having lower concentration of electrons.The movement of electrons stops when concentration of electrons in both becomes equal. In an electric cell, an excess of electrons on one electrode(i.e. cathode) and a deficit of electrons on the other electrode(i.e.anode) are maintained for a sufficiently long time by a chemical reaction within the cell.Thus, an electric cell works as a source of electrons and there is a continous flow of electrons in the circuit connected with the cell, in direction from cathode to anode. The direction of flow of electrons is from low potential (negative)terminal to high potential (positive) terminal.The electric current is said to flow from a body at higher potential to a body at lower potential.The direction of flow of conventional current is opposite to the direction of flow of electrons.
Potential Difference: The potential difference between two conductors is equal to the work done in transferring a unit positive charge from one point of a conductor to another point of the conductor.
V=W/Q.
Potential difference is a scalar quantity.Its S.I unit is volt.(symbol V).
1V = 1J 1C Potential difference between two points is said to be 1 volt if work done in transferring 1 coulomb of charge from one point to the other point is 1joule.
Ohms Law:Ohms law states that current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference applied across its ends provided its temperature is constant. V =IR where R is the resistance of conductor.
Resistance:The obstruction offered to the flow of current by the wire is called its electrical resistance. The SI unit of resistance is ohm.(symbol Ω). R=V I 1 Ω =1V IA The resistance of a conductor is said to be 1 ohm if a current of 1 ampere flows through it when the potential difference across it is 1 volt.
Factors affecting the resistance of a conductor:
1.The material of the wire: Good conductors of electricity having higher concentration of free electrons such as metals,offer less resistance. 2.The length of the wire- A longer wire offers more resistance. 3.The area of cross section of the wire- A thicker wire offers less resistance. 4.The temperature of the wire- The resistance of the metallic wire increases with the increase in temperature.
