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CHAPTER 19
Current, Resistance and
Direct Current (DC) Circuits
Goals for Chapter 19
To understand the concept of current.
To study resistance and Ohms Law.
To observe examples of electromotive force and circuits to learn
Ohms Laws application.
To calculate the energy and power in electric circuits.
To study the similarity and differences in the combination of
resistors in parallel and those connected in series.
To apply Kirchhoffs Rules to combinations of resistors.
To observe and understand devices which measure electricity
in circuits.
To combine resistors and capacitors then calculate examples of
the results.
Introduction
Electric currents flow
through light bulbs.
Electric circuits
contain charges in
motion.
Circuits are at the
heart of modern
devices such as
computers,
televisions, and
industrial power
systems.
Electric Current
A current is any motion of
charge from one region to
another. Current is defined
as
I = Q/ t.
Unit: 1 Coulomb/sec = 1
ampere (A)
An electric field in a
conductor causes charges
to flow
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Current defined
A current can be produced by
positive or negative charge flow.
Conventional current is treated as
a flow of positive charges.
The moving charges in metals are
electrons
19.2 Resistance; Ohms Law
The resistance of an object in a circuit may be calculated from the voltage and
current in a closed circuit.
Commercial resistors carry coded labels.
Tolerance Code
None 20%
Silver 10%
Gold 5%
This resistor has a resistance of 5.7 k with a tolerance of 10%.
Resistance
When the potential difference V between the ends of a
conductor is proportional to the current I in the conductor, the
ratio V/I is called the resistance of the conductor:
UNITS: OHM
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OHMS LAW
If V is directly proportional to I (that is, if R is constant), the equation
V = IR is called Ohms law.
Electric components obeying Ohms law are said to be Ohmic
devices
Resistivity
Resistivity
Temperature dependence of Resistance
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Resistivity and temperature
Resistivity depends on temperature.
Table shows some temperature
coefficients of resistivity.
Ohmic and nonohmic resistors 19.3 Electromotive force
The potential difference can draw an analogy from a waterfall.
An electromotive force (emf) makes current flow. In spite of the name, an emf
is not a force.
The figures below show a source of emf in an open circuit (left) and in a
complete circuit (right).
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Electricity flowing Example 19.4 A patient is undergoing open heart surgery. A sustained current as small as 25 A passing
through the heart can be fatal. Assume that the heart has a constant resistance of 250 . Determine
the minimum voltage that poses a danger to the patient.
Supporting Example 19.4
Supporting Analysis 19.2
Note: even a small voltage when applied directly to the heart can be fatal. Most surgeries
require that patients sometimes be grounded to prevent unwanted voltages to the heart.
Electricity flowing Example 19.4
Note: current drawn depends on the resistance of the bulb.
Each circuit may be drawn symbolically.
Each device will
be represented
by brief symbols.
The utility of the
method
becomes clear
as soon as soon
as you must
represent a car
or a blender.
There are too
many parts to
draw them as
they actually
appear.
Internal resistance in an emf source
Real sources of emf actually contain some internal resistance r.
The terminal voltage of an emf source is
V
ab
= Ir.
The potential V
ab
is called terminal voltage and is less than the emf
because of the term Ir representing the potential drop across the
internal resistance r
The terminal voltage of the 12-V battery
shown at the right is less than 12 V when it is
connected to the light bulb.
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Internal resistance in an emf source
Note: current in external circuit is still determined by V
ab
= IR so
It follows:
Several examples of circuits with different elements
Refer to worked examples 19.5, 19.6, 19.7. The same basic elements are
arranged on slightly different parallel or series combinations. Notice the dramatic
differences.
Several examples of circuits with different elements
Potential drops and rise in a circuit
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19.4 Energy and power in electric circuits
The rate at which energy is delivered to (or extracted
from) a circuit element is P = V
ab
I.
Work done on charge:
Rate at which work is done:
UNITS:
Power delivered to a Pure resistance
The power delivered to a pure resistor is
P = I
2
R = V
ab
2
/R.
19.5 Resistors in series and/or parallel
Like capacitors in the previous chapter, resistors can be
connected end-to-end (series) or simultaneously (parallel).
Resistors in series
Equivalent resistance of resistors in series equals the sum of
their individual resistances:
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Resistors in parallel Kirchhoffs Rules Figure 19.23
Many actual networks cannot be described with simple
series-parallel combinations. What then? One method is
described by Gustav Kirchhoff in the 1800s.
Kirchhoffs Rules I
A junction is a point
where three or more
conductors meet.
A loop is any closed
conducting path.
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Kirchoffs Rules II
Kirchhoffs junction rule: The algebraic sum of the currents
into any junction is zero: I = 0. (See Figure 26.7 below.)
Kirchhoffs loop rule: The algebraic sum of the potential
differences in any loop must equal zero: V = 0.
Sign convention for the loop rule
Figure below shows the sign convention for emfs and
resistors.
Junction rule at a:
1A I +2A = 0 so I = 3A
Find r: Loop rule (loop 1) start at pt. a
12V -Ir -2A(3) = 0 but I = 3A
so r = 2
To find : loop rule (loop 2): start at pt. a
- + (1A)(1) 2A (3 ) = 0 so = -5V.
Negative means actually polarity of emf is reversed.
Check: use loop 3: start at pt. a
+ 12V Ir (1A)(1) = 0 so = -5V.
Negative means actually polarity of emf is reversed.
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Recharging situations Figures 19.28 and 19.29
Rechargeable batteries and jump-starting a dead car battery
contain some complexities. Refer to Examples 19.10 and 19.11.
19.8 Electrical measuring intruments
A dArsonval galvanometer measures the current through it
(see Figures below).
Many electrical instruments, such as ammeters and
voltmeters, use a galvanometer in their design.
DArsonval galvanometer
Ammeters and voltmeters
An ammeter measures
the current passing
through it. (ideal ammeter
have zero resistance so it
does not affect the circuit
while connected to it)
A voltmeter measures the
potential difference
between two points. An
ideal voltmeter have
infinite resistance so no
current flows through it)
Figure at the right shows
how to use a
galvanometer to make an
ammeter and a voltmeter.
Ammeters and voltmeters in combination
An ammeter and a voltmeter may be used together to
measure resistance and power. Figure below illustrates how
this can be done.
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Ohmmeters and potentiometers
An ohmmeter is designed to measure resistance. (See
Figure below left.)
A potentiometer measures the emf of a source without
drawing any current from the source. (See Figure below
right.)
19.9 RC Circuits
= iR + q/c
Charging a capacitor
The time constant is = RC.
Discharging a capacitor
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Power distribution systems
Household wiring
Figure at the right shows why it is safer to use a
three-prong plug for electrical appliances.