CHAPTER 9

ELECTRIC CURRENT
Reflections of concepts:
1. Explain how electron flow causes electric current with Lorenz -
Drude theory of electrons.
Ans.  Drude and Lorentz, scientists of the 19th century, proposed
thatconductors like metals contain a large number of free
electrons whilethepositive ions are fixed in their locations.
The arrangement of the positiveions is called lattice .
 Let us understand the behaviour of electrons in lattice space.
Assumethat a conductor is an open circuit. The electrons
move randomly in latticespace of a conductor as shown in
figure 1.

 When the electrons are in randommotion, they can move in

any direction.
 Hence, if you imagine any crosssection as shown in figure 1,
the number of electrons, crossing the crosssection of a
conductor from left to right in one second is equal to that
ofelectrons passing the cross section from right to left in one
second.
 Itmeans that net charge moving along a conductorthrough
any cross section is zero when the conductoris in open circuit.
 When the ends of the conductor are connected to the battery
through a bulb, the bulb glows because energy transfer takes
place from battery to the bulb.
  When the electrons are in ordered motion, there will be a net
charge crossing through any cross section of the conductor.
See figure 2. This ordered motion of electrons is called
electric current.

2. Write the difference between potential difference and emf.

Ans. Potential Difference:

 Work done by the electric force on unit positive charge to

move it through a distance ‘l’ from A to B is called potential
difference between those points. Potential difference is
denoted by a symbol V.
 The potential difference between two points separated by a
distance l in a conducting wire is given by,
W Fe l
V ¿ =
q q
 This potential difference is also called voltage. The SI unit of
potential difference is “Volt” and it is denoted by V.

Electromotive force (emf):

 emf is defined as the work done by the chemical force to
move unit positive charge from negative terminal to
positive terminal of the battery.
 A voltmeter is used to measure potential difference or emf
across an electric device like battery. It must be connected in
parallelto the electric device to measure the potential
difference across the ends of the electric device.

3. How can you verify that the resistance of a conductor is

temperature dependent?
Ans.  Measure the resistance of the bulb when it is in open circuit
 using a multi meter.
 Note the value of resistance in your note book. Connect a
circuit withcomponents as shown in figure 13. Switch on the
circuit. After fewminutes,measure the resistance of the bulb
again as explainedabove.
 Note this value in your note book.The value of resistance of
the bulb in second instance is more than the resistance of the
bulb in open circuit.

 You will notice that the bulb gets heated. The increase in
temperatureof the filament in the bulb is responsible for
increase in resistance ofthebulb. Hence we can conclude that
there is a relation between resistance of the bulb and its
temperature.
 Thus the value of resistance of a conductor depends on
temperaturefor constant potential difference between the
ends of the conductor.

4. Explain how electric shock takes place.

Ans.  Electric shock can be experienced when there is a potential
difference exists between one part of the body and another
part. When current flows through human body, it chooses the
path which offers low resistance.
 The resistance of a body is not uniform throughout it. For
example, skin offers more resistance than the organs inside
the body. As long as current flow continues inside the body
the current and resistance of human body goes on changing
inversely.
 Hence, the electric shock is a combined effect of potential
difference, electric current and resistance of the human body.
 5. Draw a circuit diagram for a circuit in which two resistors A and B
are connected in series with a battery and a voltmeter is connected
to measure the potential difference across the resistor A.
Ans.

6. In the figure Q-6 the potential at A is ____________ when the

potential at B is zero.

Given,
i=1A
R=5Ω
V=2V
VB=0V
Apply Kirchhoff's voltage law,
VA−VB=iR+V
VA−0=1×5+2
VA=7V

Application of concepts:
 1. Explain overloading of household circuit.
Ans.  Electricity enters our homes through two wires called lines.
Theseline wires have low resistance and the potential
difference between thewires is usually about 240V.
 All the electric devices of our home are connected at
different pointsbetween these two wires. This means all the
electric appliances are inparallel connection. Hence,
potential drop across each device is 240V.
 Based on the resistance of each electric device, it draws
some currentfrom the supply. Total current drawn from the
mains is equal to the sum ofthe currents passing through
each device (Junction law).
 If we add more devices to the household circuit the current
drawnfrom the mains also increases.
 When the current drawn from the mains is more than 20A.
Overheatingoccurs and may cause a fire. This is called
overloading.

2. Why do we use fuses in household circuits?

Ans.  To prevent damages due to overloading weconnect an
electric fuse to the household circuit. In this arrangement,
the entirecurrent from the mains must pass through the
fuse.
 The fuse consists of a thin wire of low melting point.When
the current in the fuse exceeds 20A, the wirewill heat up and
melt.
 The circuit then becomes openand prevents the flow of
 current into the householdcircuit. So all the electric devices
are saved fromdamage that could be caused by overload.

3. Two bulbs have ratings 100 W, 220V and 60 W, 220 V.

Which one has the greater
resistance?
Ans. We know
2 2
V V
P= ⇒R =
R P

1st bulb:
P = 100 W, V = 220 V
2
V 2 ( 220 ) 48400
R== = = = 484 Ω
P 100 100

2nd bulb:
2
V 2 ( 220 ) 48400
R== = = =806.6 Ω
P 60 60
Therefore second bulb offers more resistance than the first bulb.

4. Why do we consider tungsten as a suitable material for

making the filament of a bulb?

Ans. The filament of an electric bulb is usually made of tungsten,

because of its higher resistivity values (5.60 x 10 -8Ω-m) and
melting point (34220C).

5. Are the head lights of a car connected in series or parallel?

Why?
Ans. The headlights are connected in parallel. If one headlight gets
damaged, the other one will still function.

6. Why should we connect electric appliances in parallel in

household circuit? What happens if they are connected in
series?
Ans.  All appliances are connected in parallel. In parallel wiring if
any one appliance is switched off, it does not affect the
functioning of the other.
 In a set of series combination, if one appliance breaks down,
the circuit becomes open and the flow of current stops.

7. If the resistance of your body is 1,00,000 Ω, what would be

the current that flows in your body when you touch the
terminals of a 12 V battery?
Ans. R = 1,00,000 Ω
V = 12 V
 I=?

V=IR
V 12
I = = = 0.00012 amp
R 100000

Higher order thinking questions:

1. Imagine that you have three resistors of 30 Ω each. How may
resultant resistances can be obtained by connecting these three in
different ways? Draw relevant diagrams.
Ans
.

2. A house has 3 tube lights, two fans and a television. Each tube light
draws 40W. The fan draws 80W and the Television draws 60W. On
the average, all the tube lights are kept on for five hours, two fans
for 12 hours and the television for five hours every day. Find the
cost of electric energy used in 30 days at the rate of Rs. 3.00
per KWH.
Ans Electrical energy consumed by
. 3 Tube lights = 3 x 40 x 5 = 600 WH
(40W,5 hours)
2 Fans = 2 x 80 x 12 = 1920WH
(80W, 12 hours)
1 TV = 1 x 60 x 5 = 300 WH
( 60W, 5 hours) ______________
2820 WH

2820 X 30
Electric energy consumed in 30 days = 1000 KWH

= 84.6 KWH
 Cost = Rs. 84.6 X 3 = Rs. 253.80

Multiple choice questions:

1. A uniform wire of resistance 50 Ω is cut into five equal parts. These
parts
are now connectedin parallel. Then the equivalent resistance of the
combination is _________________ [A ]
A) 2 Ω B) 12 Ω C) 250 Ω D) 6250 Ω
2. A charge is moved from a point A to a point B. The work done to move
unit charge during this process is called ____________ [C ]
A) potential at A B) potential at B
C) potential difference between A and B D) current from A to B
3. Joule/ coulomb is the same as ______________________ [B ]
A) 1 watt B) 1 volt C) 1 ampere D) 1 ohm
4. The resistors of values 2 Ω, 4 Ω, 6 Ω are connected in series. The
equivalent resistance in the circuit is ___________________ [C]
A) 2 Ω B) 4 Ω C) 12 Ω D) 6 Ω
5. The resistors of values 3 Ω, 6 Ω, 18 Ω are connected in parallel. The
equivalent resistance inthe circuit is ____________ [D ]
A) 12 Ω B) 36 Ω C) 18 Ω D) 1.8 Ω
6. The resistors of values 6 Ω, 6 Ω are connected in series and 12 Ω are
connected in parallelThe equivalent resistance of the circuit is__ [B ]
A) 24 Ω B) 6 Ω C) 18 Ω D) 2.4 Ω
7. The current in the wire depends __________ [C ]
A) only on the potential difference applied
B) only on the resistance of the wire
C) on both of them
D) none of them