Chapter 1 Electron Theory

Chapter I.
DC/AC Sources and Electrical Circuit Components,

Voltage and Current Laws
I. Electron Theory
A. Atoms
• All matter whether a gas, liquid, or solid is composed of atoms.
• Atoms are made of fundamental substomic particles called
protons, neutrons, and electrons.
PROTON - positively charged particles that are inside
the nucleus of an atom.
ELECTRON - negative charge that is found in all atoms.
NEUTRON - neutral sub-atomic particles.
Microscopic Solar System

B. Orbital Electrons
• All negatively charge electrons revolve about the positive
nucleus (protons plus neutrons) in definite orbits that depend
upon certain energy relationship.
• In atomic theory and quantum mechanics, an atomic orbital is
a function describing the location and wave-like behavior of an
electron in an atom.
• There are three kinds of energy possesses as the electron
revolves,
 the energy required to displace the electron from nucleus
that it may revolve at some fixed radius from the atomic
center,
 the energy represented by its motion around the nucleus, and
 the energy that results from its spin on its own axis.
C. Valence Electrons and Conductivity in Solids
• Atoms can combine in orderly and repetitive arrangement to
form the kinds of solid used in electrical circuit, also called as
electric conductor.
• Three common electric conductors are silver, copper, and

aluminum. These three conductors have typical crystal
structure. It is cubic structure of metallic molecule.
• The particular geometric pattern of the crystal, the crystal

lattice, is maintained by the bonding of the electrons in the
outer shell which called valence electrons. They are in
conductors generally free to move from atom to atom. This
electron mobility that is responsible for the conduction process.
• In Electrical Conductivity, solid materials may be classified as
conductor, insulators, and semiconductors.
Good conductors- fewer than four valence electrons

(ex. copper has 1, and aluminum has 3)
Poor conductors-have more than four valence electrons

(ex. phosphorus has 5), also called as insulator
Semiconductor- exactly have 4 valence electrons

(ex. germanium has 4)
• Copper, silver, and aluminum are excellent conductors because they
have enormous number of free electrons.
Elements No. of Free

Electrons/IN3
Copper 1.64 x 1024
Silver 1.68 x 1024
Aluminum 1.0 x 1024
• In contrats, rubber extremely poor conductor because has about

3 free electrons per cubic inch only.
II. Electric Charge and Electric Current
• Electric current is, in fact, represented by a transfer of electric
charge.
• The application of of an electric pressure to a conductor
imparts lateral motion to its free electrons because the latter
are charged. The magnitude of the charge is commonly given
in coulombs.
 each negatively charge electron = 1.56 x 10-19 Coulomb
 concentration of 6.28 x 1018 electrons=1 Coulomb
• When one coulomb of electric charge continously passes a
given point every second the electric current is said to be one
ampere.
𝑸 where I = current, Amp
𝑰= Q = charge, Coulombs
𝒕 t = time, Sec, during electrons move
• The quantity Q (coulomb) is, geometrically the area, if I (ampere) is
plotted along one axis, the ordinate and t (second) is plotted along
perpendicular axis, the abscissa.
Relation between Current and Time
I(A)
Q=It
Quiz: 0 t
(sec)
The current in a conductor changes uniformly from 0 to 3 amp in 3 sec,
remians steady at 3 amp for 5 sec, and then drops uniformly to 1.5 amp
in 7 sec. Calculate the total amount of charge transferred in the elapsed
time of 15 secs.
Answer: 35.25 Coulomb
Sample Problem
1. Calculate the number of free electrons in a copper conductor having a

diameter of 0.064 inches and a length of 1000 ft.
no of free electrons =
= 6.33 x 1026 electrons

2. Find the current in amperes if 1000 Coulombs pass through a wire or a
conductor in 2 minutes.
2 min = 120 sec
I=
= 8.33 A
3. Will a fuse rated at 4 amperes blow if 200 C pass through with it in
1.2 minutes?
2 min = 72 sec
I=
200C
=
72 s
= 2.78 A
Will not blow.

4. Given current variation in a given conductor.
Determine (a) Q total charge; (b) I ave
III. Electron Velocity in Conductors
For Copper
Let u be the electron velocity, in/sec
u=
1. Given A=0.00161 in2, I=4.5 A. Determine electron velocity of
(a) copper, (b) aluminum.
2.
Determine the number of trips of the load current

on the copper wire.
=2. 42 trips
IV. EMF (Electromotive Force) or VOLTAGE
-the characteristic of a device or machine that tends to create
electron flow. Example battery, generator etc.
V. Electrical Resistance and Resistivity
Resistivity
Is a specific resistance or constant
that depends on the characteristic
or conductivity of materials
Material ρ (Ω•m) at 20 °C
L Resistivity
R   , ohms() Silver 1.59×10−8
A
Annealed copper 1.72×10−8
Aluminum 2.82×10−8
Volume Resistivity
1. The resistance of a conductor varies directly as the square of the length

when the volume is fixed.
L
R=
L2
R
A
2.The resistance of a conductor varies inversely as the square of its cross
section when the volume is fixed.
Sample Problem
1. Calculate the resistance of 3500 feet copper wire having a diameter

0.5 in with resistivity equal 1.724μΩ - cm.
2. Determine the resistance of a bus bar made of copper if the length is
10 meters long and the cross-section is a 4x4 cm2.
VI. Kinds of Current
1.Unidirectional Direct Current

When the current does vary somewhat in
magnitude but does not reverse in direction.
2. Direct Current
Is one in which energy takes place
unidirectionally or it is a steady flow of electric
charge in one direction around the loop.
3.Pulsating Direct Current

Is one in which the magnitude varies
considerably and pulsated regularly there
being no change in direction.
4. Alternating Current
Current changes periodically in magitude as
well as direction.
5. Oscillating Current
Alternating in character, increases and
decreases in magnitude and changes in
direction periodically with respect to time.
Kinds of Voltage
Emfs, i.e., voltages are, for the most part, quit similar to currents with
regard to changes in magnitude and direction. These are therefore
referred to by such terms as dc or ac voltages or oscillating emf.

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Chapter I.

DC/AC Sources and Electrical Circuit Components,

NEUTRON - neutral sub-atomic particles.

Microscopic Solar System

• Three common electric conductors are silver, copper, and

• The particular geometric pattern of the crystal, the crystal

Good conductors- fewer than four valence electrons

Poor conductors-have more than four valence electrons

Semiconductor- exactly have 4 valence electrons

Elements No. of Free

• In contrats, rubber extremely poor conductor because has about

1. Calculate the number of free electrons in a copper conductor having a

= 6.33 x 1026 electrons

2 min = 120 sec

Will not blow.

Let u be the electron velocity, in/sec

Determine the number of trips of the load current

1. The resistance of a conductor varies directly as the square of the length

1. Calculate the resistance of 3500 feet copper wire having a diameter

1.Unidirectional Direct Current

3.Pulsating Direct Current

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