Electricity and Circuits

I
n our everyday life, electricity plays a very important role (inside in our home as well as outside
the home). In our home, we run television, fans, light bulbs, etc with the help of electricity. In
outside, in railway stations, the engine of the trains is also running with the help of electricity.
Without electricity, the roads would be of no lights, and it will become dark, therefore we
cannot travel through the roads. From the above discussions, we can conclude that without
electricity, our life will be miserable.

In this chapter, we will learn about electric charge, electric current, calculation of electric current, electric
circuits, how to make a bulb glow and so on. But before learning electricity, we should know about
electric charges. It is discussed below.

If we take a hair comb and shred a piece of paper into very tiny pieces, and bring the comb near it, no
paper will be attached to it. Because the comb is electrically neutral. But when we comb our hair and then
bring the comb near the shredded pieces, the bits of papers are attached to the comb. This is because at
the first time, the comb has not gained any electrical charge. But when we comb our hair (that is rubbing
the comb on our hair), it gains electrical charges, and apply an electrical force on the papers, and then
attracts it. The unit of electric charge is coulomb, which is abbreviated by the letter C (in capital).

Electrons and Protons

We know that in a matter (a substance which occupies space and volume), has negatively charged atoms
called electrons and positively charged atoms called protons. An electron has 1.6 × 10-19 C of negative
electric charge and a proton has the same amount of positively electric charge. Let us now solve a
problem.

Example 1. Find the number of electrons in 1 C of electric charge.

We can say that 1 coulomb of charge is that charge which exerts a force of 9 × 109 newtons of force from 1
metre distance. We will now discuss different types of electric charges.

Different Types of Electric Charge

The different types of electric charge are like charge and unlike charge.

1. Like Charge (Positive-Positive, Negative- Negative): Like charge is that charge when negatively
charged particles
(electrons) and positively charged particles (protons) meet each other. When they together meet, they
repel each
other.

2. Unlike Charge (Positive-Negative and vice versa): In this charge, the positively charged protons
meets negatively
charged electrons, which attract each other.

Conductors and Insulators.

The materials which conducts electricity is called conductor. Or in other words, the material through
which electricity (or electric current) can pass is called conductors. Examples of conductors are: nichrome,
metal, copper wire, etc. Carbon in form of graphite can conduct current well. Human body is also a good
conductor of electricity. The conductors (which conducts electricity) is used in connecting between wire
because to able the electric current (which is produced from a source called cell) to flow through the
electric circuit and make the light bulb glow. Actually, the electrons in the conductors (through which
electricity can flow) are loosely packed by their nuclei of atom. Through these gaps, the electric current
(inform of electricity) can flow. Insulators are just opposite of conductors, that is, they cannot conduct
electricity. Or in simpler words, they does not allow electric current to flow through them. The nuclei of
the electrons tightly pack them up, so there is not space for travel of the electric current. Examples of
conductors are ebonite, rubbers, plastics, glass, paper clips, etc.

In an electric circuit, if we place a conductor (for example, a metal bar), the electricity will able to flow
through the bar and make a closed loop, or make a circuit closed (or complete). A closed circuit makes a
light bulb (or simply bulb) glow (or to give light). Instead of the conductor, if we place a insulator, the
bulb would not glow, because, insulators does not allow electric current to flow through it. Thus, the
circuit remains incomplete and the light bulb does not glow.

Electric Circuit

An electric circuit is a closed loop where electric current flows to light a bulb is called electric circuit. It
has components like cell, battery (made of more than one cell), electric wire (like copper wire), resistor,
variable resistor (called rheostat), switch, fuse etc. A cell is a main device in an electric circuit which
produces electric current which lights a bulb. We will now discuss about the cell and its internal
structure.

Cell

A cell is a main device in an electric circuit which produces electric current by a chemical change in it. It is
covered by a zinc container. Inside it, it has ammonium chloride and powdered manganese dioxide and a
carbon rode in it. A chemical reaction takes place inside it which produces electric current. We have just
discussed that a cell produces electric current (which is produced from the chemical reaction which takes
place inside the zinc container of the cell). We will now discuss the flowing of the electric current in the
circuit which is produced from cell. The cell has positive terminal and negative terminal. The current
which is produced inside the cell flows from positive terminal of the cell, gets the bulb lighted and comes
to the negative terminal of the cell. Or in simpler words, the electric current passes through positive
terminal of the cell to negative terminal of the cell. Please note that two or more cells joined forms a
battery, which also has a metal cap, which denotes positive terminal of the battery and the plane base
represents negative terminal of the battery. From the above discussion, we can say that: The electric
current will flow from that side of the cell where the positive terminal is. Now, one question arises: How
to know which side of the cell is positive terminal, or negative terminal? It is discussed below.

The positive terminal of a cell is denoted by + sign (plus sign) and has a metal cap. From that side the
electric current will passes through the wire. The negative terminal of the cell (where the current reaches)
has base and is denoted by - sign (minus sign). Thus, in a circuit, we can tell the way (or path) of the
electric current according to the terminals of the cell, which we will solve. Now, we have above discussed
that when we join two or more cells, we have a battery. We will now discuss the rule for forming the
battery (by joining cells). We should keep unlike terminals (not same terminals) in side. Or in simpler
words, we should keep positive terminal with negative terminal or negative terminal with positive
terminal. It’s a wrong way to connect the cells of a battery by keeping like terminals, that is, negative
terminal with negative terminal and positive terminal with positive.

Example 2. A simple electric circuit is shown below. Find the way through which the current flows.

Q R

+ -
P S
Solution. As we know that electric current will flow from positive terminal of the cell (which is
denoted by + sign), and the negative terminal of the cell where the current reaches (which is denoted
by - sign). Using that, we can find the way of electric current, when the switch (which is denoted by a
horizontal square on right side) is closed.

Positive terminal of the cell is on the left side. So, the current first reaches the point P on the circuit.
Then the current reaches point Q (since it is straight from point P) and then it reaches the point R, and
then S and then reaches the negative terminal of the cell.

So, the direction of the current is PQRS.

Please note that in the above diagram, if the circuit really exists, the current would follow (or travel)
and rectangular direction. If the circuit is in a shape of circle, the current would also travel in circular
direction. Therefore, current flows in the shape of the circuit from the wire.

Factors Depending on the Brightness of Bulbs.

There are many factors depending on the factors of brightness of bulb. The number of cells, voltage
(or volt) of the cell, the number of cells in the battery, and number of bulbs. We will discuss each of
the factors in detail, one by one.

Suppose we make a battery of three cells having cells of 10 V (V stands for volt, the word volt is also
replaced as voltage). Therefore, total voltage of the battery = 10 V × 3 = 30 V. And also we make
another battery of each cell having 12 V, so total voltage of battery = 12 V × 3 = 36 V. Suppose the
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡
electric current passes the wire in 2 seconds in each case. Using the formula: A (Ampere) = , we
𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
will calculate the total current passes through each circuit to make the bulb glow. Before we calculate,
let us learn the word ‘ampere’ given in the above formula. Ampere is the unit of electric current. It is
abbreviated by the letter A. There are smaller units, microampere, abbreviated as mA.

In the first circuit, current passes (30 ÷ 2) ampere, that is, 15 ampere, and in second circuit, the current
passes (36 ÷ 2) ampere, that is, 18 ampere. Therefore, 3 ampere more current is used to glow the bulb
in the second circuit. Therefore, the bulb in the second circuit glows brightly than the first circuit.

Factor 1. If the cell or battery has more voltage, the bulbs also glows accordingly.

For a 10 V cell we take 2 bulbs in first circuit and 5 bulbs in second circuit. Bulbs in the first circuit
receives 5 V and bulb in second circuit receives 2 V. Or in simpler words, 2 bulbs are using the current
formed by a single cell and 5 bulbs are taking the current formed by a single cell. Obviously, bulbs in
second circuit will glow brighter than the second circuit.

Factor 2. More uses current from one bulb, the more dimly it is.