Wiktor Wise
A substance that allows electricity to pass through it is known as an electrical conductor. Electric current is the flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space. The passage of an electric current through a conductor increases the internal energy of the conductor, converting thermodynamic work into heat. This process is known as Joule heating, or ohmic heating, and was first studied by James Prescott Joule in 1841.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Substance that allows electricity to pass through it | Electrical conductor |
| Materials that conduct electricity | Metals |
| Charge carriers | Electrons, ions |
| Unit of electric current | Ampere (amp) |
| Series circuit | Same current flows through each component |
| Parallel circuit | Multiple paths for the current to move through |
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Electric current
The rate at which charge passes through a given unit area is known as current density. Electric current is measured in units of ampere, commonly referred to as "amps" and symbolized as "A". One ampere is equivalent to one coulomb per second.
In conductive materials like metals, certain electrons are not bound to specific atoms and can move freely. When a voltage or potential difference is applied across the conductor, it creates an electric field that exerts a force on these free electrons, propelling them through the conductor. This flow of electrons is what we recognise as electricity.
To establish an electric current, a complete path or circuit is necessary. The circuit must lead from the negative charge source, through the conductor, and back to the positive charge source. This is analogous to a series circuit, where components are arranged end-to-end, allowing the same current to flow through each component. In contrast, parallel circuits provide multiple paths for the current to traverse, with components arranged side by side.
The passage of an electric current through a conductor can lead to an increase in the conductor's internal energy through a process known as Joule heating, or ohmic heating. This phenomenon was first studied by James Prescott Joule in 1841, and it forms the basis of Joule's Law, which states that the heat produced is proportional to the square of the current multiplied by the electrical resistance of the conductor.
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Conductors and insulators
Materials that conduct electricity are known as electrical conductors. They conduct electrical current very easily because of their free electrons. Examples of electrical conductors include many metals, such as iron, steel, copper, and aluminum. Electrical objects use metal parts to conduct electricity, such as the copper wires inside electrical leads, the metal pins in plugs, and the metal wire filaments in lightbulbs. Copper is a popular material used for wires because it is a very good conductor of electrical current and is inexpensive compared to other metals. Other materials that are sometimes used as conductors include silver and gold.
Our bodies are also electrical conductors, and receiving an electric shock can be dangerous. A strong electrical shock can disrupt the function of the heart and cause burns. Therefore, we need to shield our bodies from conductors that carry electricity.
Materials that do not conduct electricity are known as electrical insulators. They oppose the electrical current and make poor conductors. Insulators are materials whose atoms have tightly bound electrons. These electrons are not free to move around and be shared by neighbouring atoms. Common insulator materials include glass, plastic, rubber, air, and wood. Insulators are used to protect us from the dangerous effects of electricity flowing through conductors. For example, the rubbery coating on wires is an insulating material that shields us from the conductor inside.
Thermal insulators are materials that prevent heat from passing through them. A good thermal insulator will keep cold objects cold and hot objects hot. Examples of thermal insulators include wood, plastic, and many fabrics, such as wool and cotton.
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Circuits
A circuit is a complete circular path that electricity or data can flow through. In an electronic circuit, electrons leave the power source, travel along conductors, go through a load to perform work and then return to the source. The circuit is so-called because of the circular path that the electrons flow through. The relationship between the electrical flow and load is described in Ohm's Law.
In a simple circuit, the electrons travel from the negative side of the power supply to the positive side. In modern electronic devices, circuit traces act as conductors on a printed circuit board (PCB). The circuit board will also contain all the connectors and other components needed for the circuit to perform its function.
Electronic circuits are made up of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. The combination of components and wires allows various operations to be performed, such as amplifying signals, performing computations, and moving data.
An open circuit is when the path for electricity is broken so that it cannot flow in a complete circuit. In an open circuit, no electricity can flow and no work can be done. A short circuit is when there is a direct path for electricity from the output to the input of a power supply. As electricity will always follow the path of least resistance, all of the current will go through the short, bypassing the load. This can cause the circuit to fail and damage the power supply, as well as causing overheating and the potential for fire.
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Electrons
An electric current is a flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through an electrical conductor or space. These charged particles are called "carriers". In electric circuits, the charge carriers are usually electrons moving through a wire.
For a net current to flow, more electrons must be moving in one direction than in the other. This can be achieved by increasing the energy of the system, for example, by increasing the temperature. In a semiconductor, as the temperature rises above absolute zero, there is more energy available to excite electrons into the conduction band, where they can contribute to electrical conductivity.
In a series circuit, the same current flows through each component, and the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances. If one component fails, the circuit breaks, and the current stops flowing. In contrast, parallel circuits provide multiple paths for the current to move through, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each path.
The passage of an electric current through a conductor can increase the internal energy of the conductor through Joule heating, converting thermodynamic work into heat. This phenomenon, also known as ohmic heating or resistive heating, was first studied by James Prescott Joule in 1841.
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Joule heating
The process can be described as follows: a potential difference (voltage) between two points of a conductor creates an electric field, which accelerates the charge carriers in the direction of the electric field, giving them kinetic energy. When these charged particles collide with the quasi-particles in the conductor, energy is transferred from the electrons to the lattice, creating further lattice oscillations. These oscillations of the ions are the origin of the radiation (thermal energy) that is measured in an experiment.
The amount of heat generated is proportional to the square of the current multiplied by the electrical resistance of the wire. This relationship is known as Joule's Law, which states that the heat per unit time developed in the wire is proportional to the resistance of the wire and the square of the current.
The formula for Joule's heating is Q=I^2Rt, where the heat energy generated is proportional to the time when the electric current and electrical resistance are constant.
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Frequently asked questions
A substance that allows electricity to pass through it is called an electrical conductor.
Electricity passes through electrical conductors via a flow of charged particles, such as electrons or ions. In electric circuits, these charged particles are often electrons moving through a wire.
Metals are a common type of electrical conductor. In a DC circuit, a metal wire is connected across the two terminals of a voltage source, such as a battery. The source then places an electric field across the conductor.
