Unit 4: Electricity (Part 1)

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Explain what is meant by current, potential
difference and resistance, stating their units
2. Draw and interpret circuit diagrams and set up
circuits containing electrical sources, switches,
lamps resistors (fixed and variable), ammeters and
voltmeters
3. Recognize that the resistance of a circuit can be
varied by arranging resistors in series or in parallel
4. Explain qualitatively the chemical, heating and
magnetic effects of an electric current and list
some of its applications.
What is Electricity?
Definition:
Electricity is a
form of energy for
making an
electrical
appliance work.

Electrical energy
can be changed to
other forms of
energy.
Sources of Electricity
Electrical energy comes from 2 main sources:
1) Mains electricity
• is generated by power stations and
obtained through mains sockets
• supplies a lot of energy and can give
electric shocks
• is used for electrical appliances

2) Electric cell
• comes in different voltages in portable forms
• supplies a little energy and is safe to use
• is used for portable electrical devices
Electric Circuits
• To make an electrical appliance work, electricity must flow through
it. The path along which the electric current moves is called the
electric circuit.
connecting wires
• Electric circuits are made
up of electrical
components.
• These components
must be joined together
electric
without any gap in
cell
between to form a
closed circuit. light circuit
bulb board
Electric Circuits
• Incomplete circuits are called open circuits.

connecting wire no source of

is missing electrical energy

• An electric current flows only when there is

• a source of electrical energy and
• a closed circuit
http://www.article19.com/shockwave/oz.htm Circuit simulation
Circuit Diagrams
• Symbols are used to represent the various electrical components in
circuits. Some of these are:
Component Symbol Component Symbol

+
+

An electric cell Battery

Switch (open)

Light bulb (lamp) Switch Switch (closed)

Connecting wires Connecting

(not joined) wires (joined)
Circuit Diagrams
• Examples of circuit diagrams:
Switches
• A switch is used to open or close a circuit.

• switches used on • main switch used

circuit boards in buildings
• Circuit diagrams for open and closed circuits:

• Open circuit. • Closed circuit.

Bulb does not Bulb lights up
light up when when the
the switch is switch is
open. closed.
 - What is it?
- Can we measure it?
- How do we measure?
 What is an Electric Current?
Definition:
An electric current is the rate
of flow of charge in a circuit.
(amount of charge moving
past any point in a circuit
electric cell
per second)

The electric cell in a circuit

gives energy to the electrons connecting wire
and pushes them around a
circuit, from the negative filament
terminal of the cell, round
the circuit and back to the flow of electrons
positive terminal of the cell.
electric current
• For historical reasons, the direction of
conventional current flow is the direction of a
positive charge flow.
• In a circuit, the current is due to the flow of
electrons

electron flow
+ -
battery

conventional
current flow

bulb
Measuring Electric Current
• The SI unit for electric current is ampere (A).
• Smaller currents are measured in milliamperes (mA).

1 A = 1000 mA
1
1 mA = 1000 A or 0.001A

• Different electrical components and appliances

require different sizes of current to turn them on.

0.5 A
10 A
Measuring Electric Current
An ammeter is an instrument used for measuring
electric current. It is connected in series to the circuit.

ammeter
symbol
Positive (red) side of
ammeter is connected
nearest to the positive
terminal of the cell.
Similarly the negative
(black) terminal of
ammeter always joins
to the negative
terminal of the cell.
 - Potential Difference
- Electromotive Force

What are they? Why the 2 names?

How are they related? How are
they different?
Electromotive Force
The electromotive force (e.m.f) of an electrical
energy source is defined as the work done by
the source in driving a unit charge round a
complete circuit.

The SI unit for e.m.f is volt (V).

Electromotive Force

Analogy of a water pump as an emf source

The water in the pipe will With a pump, the water

remain stationary will be forced to move
through the pipe
Potential Difference
The potential difference across an electric
component is defined as the work done in
driving a unit charge through the component.
(Or the amount of electrical energy converted to
other forms when a unit charge passes through
the component.)

The SI unit for potential difference is volt (V).

Measuring potential difference and e.m.f
A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring
potential difference and e.m.f. It is connected in
parallel to the circuit.
V
voltmeter
symbol

Positive (negative)
side of voltmeter is
connected nearest
to the positive
(negative) terminal
of the cell.
Potential Difference & Electromotive Force
• The term Voltage is
commonly used to describe
Voltage
how many volts are across
an electrical device.
• The term potential
difference is used for the
voltage between any two
points in a circuit.
• The term electromotive p.d . e.m.f.
force is used for the voltage
between the two terminals
of a battery or cell.
Potential Difference & Electromotive Force

E.m.f. of battery = 1.50 V

V P.d. across the

resistor
a b
= 1.00 V
High Low
potential V potential
+
P.d. across the
light bulb = 0.50 V
Cells in Series and Parallel

In series

If a cell has emf = 2V, then total emf = 6V

In parallel

If a cell has emf = 2V, then total emf = 2V

- How are we going to measure?
- In series?
- In parallel?
Resistance
An electric current does not always flow easily in a
circuit because the circuit wires and the
components resist the flow of electrons. The wire
and components are said to have resistance.

The greater the resistance in a circuit, the lower

the current.

Different conductors have different resistances.

Resistance wires, made of nichrome have a higher
resistance than copper wires.

The SI unit for resistance is the ohm ().

Resistors
An electrical component that is specially made to
have a certain resistance is called a resistor.
Resistors that have one fixed resistance are called
fixed resistors.

fixed resistor
symbol
Variable Resistors
A variable resistor (or rheostat) allows
resistances to be changed easily. When
the resistance changes, current through variable
the circuit also changes. resistor symbol

Two types of rheostats:

1) Sliding rheostat 2) Rotating rheostat

sliding contact
sliding contact control
knob resistance
wire
connecting
wires
resistance wire
Variable Resistors

Rheostats have many uses.

speed
controller of
a remote-
control car

volume
control on
radios
light
dimmers
 Ohm’s Law

• In 1826, a German scientist, Georg Simmon Ohm,

discovered the relationship between the current
flowing through a metal conductor and the potential
difference across its ends of the conductor.

The current I, passing through a

conductor is directly proportional
to the potential difference, V, between its
ends, provided that physical conditions
and temperature remain constant.
Experiment to investigate Ohm’s Law

A
resistor

By varying the variable resistor, a graph of current I against

potential difference V is plotted.
 Ohm’s Law
V
I

O I
O V

IV
or V/I = constant
V/I = R
where V =p.d. of the component in volts (V)
I =current through the component in ampere(A)
R=resistance of the component in ohm ()
Example

• A lamp draws a current of 0.25 A

when it is connected to a 240V source.
What is the resistance of the lamp ?

Solution

Since V = IR
240 = 0.25 R
R = 960 A
Example

• Calculate the current flowing through

a 5 resistor when the potential
difference across the resistor is 2 V.
Solution
since V = IR
2= I5
I = 0.4 A
Series and Parallel circuits

• Resistance:
In series

In parallel
In Series
• When resistors are connected in series,

the total resistance (effective resistance or

resultant resistance) is equal to the sum of the
individual resistances.

Thus,
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3

Each resistor added in series increases the effective

resistance of the circuit and reduces the current flow.
In Series
V V = V1 + V2 + V3
• IR = I1R1+ I2R2+ I3R3
I • but I = I1 = I2 = I3
V1 V2 V3
R1 R2 R3 • R = R1 + R2 + R3
I1 I2 I3

• Current is the same throughout.

• Voltage is shared.
Series Circuits

• Each component (eg. bulb) is joined to the next component to form a

single path. The current that flows through each component in series is
the same.

• A break in any part of a series circuit stops the flow of current in the
whole circuit.
http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/nwaight/ohm/TRY%20IT%20OUT.html
• circuit demo
Example
• A voltage of 4V supplied by the
battery is applied to two
resistors of 6Ω and 2Ω
connected in series.
• Calculate :
• a) the combined resistance,
• b) the current flowing,
• c) the p.d. across the 2Ωresistor.
• d) the p.d. across the 6Ωresistor.

• 8 ohms, 0.5A, 1V, 3V

In Parallel

• When resistor connected

in parallel ,the total
resistance (or effective
resistance or resultant resistance) is less.
Each resistor added in parallel decreases
the effective resistance of the circuit
and increases the current flow
In Parallel
V
I = I 1 + I2 + I 3
V1
I1
I R1 • V/R = V1/R1+ V2/R2+ V3/R3

I2
V2 • but V = V1 = V2 = V3
R2
• 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
I3 V3
R3

• Voltage is the same throughout.

• Current is shared.
Parallel Circuits
Parallel circuits

• A parallel circuit divides into two or more branches with electrical

components (eg. bulb) in each branch. The current divides and flows
through each parallel branch. The potential difference across each
parallel branch is the same.

• If a component breaks or is removed, the other components remain

on.
Example
• A voltage of 6V is applied to
two resistors of 3 Ω and 6 Ω
connected in parallel.
• Calculate:
• a) the combined resistance,
• b) the current flowing in the main
circuit,
• c) the current in the 3 Ω resistor,
• d) the current in the 6 Ω resistor.

• 2 Ω ,3A, 2A, 1A
Example - Combined Circuit
• If R1= 2.0 Ω
Emf= 12V
R2 = 4.0 Ω, R3 = 6.0 Ω ,
• What is the effective
V2 resistance?
I I2
R2
V1 • What is the circuit
R1 current I ?
I1 I3 R3
• Find V1,V2 and V3
V3
• Find I2 and I3.

• 4.4 Ω, 2.7A, 5.4V, 6.6V, 6.6V 1.6A, 1.1A,

Effects of an Electric Current

Heating Effect of an Electric Current

When an electric current flows through a wire, the
wire heats up. Electrical energy has been
converted into heat energy.

The greater the resistance of the wire, the greater

the amount of heat produced. This heating effect
is used in common electrical appliances.

hair
iron kettle dryer
Heating Effect of an Electric Current
A kettle uses both copper and nichrome wires.

copper wire with

low resistance
produces less
heat

nichrome wire with

high resistance
filament wire produces a lot of
produces heat
heat and
light
In a light bulb, the heated filament (resistance
wire) becomes so hot that light is also emitted.
Magnetic Effect of an Electric Current
A straight wire is placed near a compass. When
an electric current flows through the wire, the
compass needle is deflected. This shows that an
electric current has a magnetic effect.

current
in wire
compass needle is
deflected
Magnetic Effect of an Electric Current

An electromagnet consists of a coil of wire usually

wound around a piece of iron. It is a temporary
magnet which can be turned on and off using electric
current.

coil of wire
iron core

to
battery
compass needle is strongly
attracted to iron core
 Uses of Electromagnets

Cranes that lift iron/steel

Iron/steel separators

Electric bells electric

bell
Magnetically levitated
trains
crane
Electric motors
electric motor
Speakers in fan
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/repair/doorbell3.htm
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/speaker6.htm
Uses of Electromagnets

Shanghai's flashy new Maglev, the world's

fastest train.

The train can reach almost

322 km/h in 2 min, with a
maximum speed of 430
km/h.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT-mVT-ORww
Chemical Effect of an Electric Current

What is Electrolysis?

Definition:
Electrolysis is the
chemical change that
occurs when an
electric current
passes through
solutions or molten
compounds.
Chemical Effect of an Electric Current

Uses of electrolysis

Electroplating

Metal objects can be plated with a thin layer of

another metal.
 Chemical Effect of an Electric Current

In electroplating, a key is covered with a thin

layer of copper when electricity is passed
through the solution.
- +

copper
key copper
wire
on the
copper
key
sulphate
solution
start after a few
http://learningat.ke7.org.uk/scienceweb/GCSE/Metals/Electrolysis%20Simple.htm minutes
Electrolysis demo
Unit 4: Electricity (Part 2)
Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Explain what is meant by power and state its units
2. Discuss the importance of reducing electrical
energy wastage
3. State some electrical hazards and precautionary
measures to ensure the safe use of electricity in
the home
Electrical Power

Definition:
Power is the energy converted per second.

S.I. unit for power : watt (W)

1 kW = 1000 W
1 MW = 1 000 000 W
Electrical Power

Power = Energy used

time
P = E/t
where
P = power (unit : watt, W)
E = energy (unit: joule, J)
t = time (unit: second, s )

1 W = 1 J/s
Energy used = Power x time
E = Pt
Electrical Power

• 100 W = 100 J/s

• A 100 W lamp converts 100 J of
electrical energy into heat and light
energy in 1s.

• Which lamp is brighter? :

40 W or 100 W??
Electrical Power
An electric iron is labelled
‘240 V, 1 kW.

This means that the iron when connected

to a voltage supply of 240 V, will use up
electrical energy of 1000 J in 1s.
Electrical Power
Typical power ratings of some common appliances
Example
An electric kettle of 2200 W is used for 1 min.
How much electrical energy is used?

Solution
E = Pt
= 2200 x 1 x 60
= 132000 J
= 1.32 x 105 J
Commercial Unit of Electricity

• In Singapore, every home has an

electricity meter to measure the amount
of electrical energy has been used.

An electricity meter
 kilowatt hour (kWh)
• Electrical energy is sold in units of kilowatt hour
(kWh) (or one unit of electricity).
• One kWh is the energy used by a 1 kW electric
appliance in an hour.
• 1 unit of electricity = 1 kWh

Energy consumed = Power x Time

E (kWh) = P (kW) x t (h)
Example
If SP Services charges 18 cents for each kWh of electrical
energy used, calculate the total cost of using a 3 kW electrical
kettle for 20 minutes and a 100 W filament bulb for 5 hours.

Solution:
Electrical energy used by electric kettle,
E1 = P × t = 3 kW × (20/60)h = 1 kWh
Electrical energy used by bulb,
E2 = (100/1000)kW × 5 h = 0.5 kWh
Total energy used E = E1 + E2 = 1 + 0.5 = 1.5 kWh
Hence the total cost = 1.5 × 18 = 27 cents = $0.27
 Practice
• How much would you have to pay SP Services if you
used two 40 W lamps and a 120 W television for 5 hour a
day for the month of April? (Assume the cost of 1 kWh
of energy to be 16 cents).

• Solution
Total energy used E = P t
= (2 x 40) + 120 (5 x 30) = 30 kWh
1000

Cost needed = $ 0.16 x 30 = $ 4.80

Electrical Consumption In School

Electricity Usage(2004,2005 vs 2006)

140,000.00
130,000.00
Usage (kWh)

120,000.00
110,000.00
100,000.00
90,000.00
80,000.00
70,000.00
60,000.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2004 Monthly Usage (kWh) Monthly
2005 Monthly Usage (kWh)
2006 Monthly Usage
Average usage 107502.12 kWh
School Usage only - Less Canteen Electricity
Electricity 2004 Monthly 2005 Monthly 2006 Monthly
Usage Usage (kWh) Usage (kWh) Usage (kWh)
Jan 101,420.00 115,157.50 78,919.217
Feb 109,350.00 111,862.50 124,383.358
Mar 117,555.00 126,290.00 117,467.075
Apr 120,326.88 132,885.50 125,323.772
May 130,826.52 120,342.50 118,881.646
Jun 84,655.176 88,754.100 86,050.518
Jul 120,323.37 127,033.60 126,626.940
Aug 120,840.94 127,679.70 129,654.238
Sep 103,613.93 116,953.30 101,831.875
Oct 107,879.30 111,810.70 111,560.247
Nov 81,026.21 86,381.60 97,934.340
Dec 67,251.46 67,786.00 62,797.538

Monthly average 105,422.40 111,078.08 106,785.90

 Reducing Energy Wastage
• Effects of climate change such as warming temperatures and
rising sea levels are due to the emission of greenhouse gases such
as carbon dioxide.
• In Singapore, carbon dioxide is largely released when fossil fuels
such as oil and gas are burnt to meet our energy needs.
• Our energy demand is expected to grow in the future due to an
expanding economy and a growing population.
• Much of this growing energy demand could be avoided if we use
energy more efficiently instead of increasing energy production.
• Energy Efficiency is therefore an important strategy to reduce
our GHG emissions.
Five Simple Steps to Save 10% of
Your Home Electricity Use
• The air-conditioner uses the bulk of the electricity in
a home. A fan uses less than 1/10th the electricity
used by an air-conditioner!

• The lower the temperature setting, the more energy

used by your air-conditioner. If you use an air-
conditioner, set the temperature at 25oC or higher.
For every degree raised, save about $15 a year.

• Switch off home appliances at the power socket.

Standby power can account for up to 10% of your
home electricity use.
Five Simple Steps to Save 10% of
Your Home Electricity Use
• Choose energy efficient light bulbs (e.g. compact
fluorescent lamps). Using a compact fluorescent
lamp (7W) instead of an incandescent bulb (40W)
can save about about $15 per bulb per year*.

• Choose an energy-efficient appliance (e.g. air-

conditioner. refrigerator) by checking the energy
labels. A 4-tick air-conditioner saves you about $270
in electricity bills a year compared to a 1-tick model,
and a 4-tick refrigerator saves you about $80 a year
over a 1-tick model*.

http://www.e2singapore.gov.sg/energy-saving-tips.html
Safe use of electricity in the home
wiring a 3-pin plug
• Three wires are required
in a three-pin plug: • Live wire (brown)
• Neutral wire (blue)
• Earth wire (yellow-green strips)
fuse
E

N
The Earth Wire in an Iron
Safe use of electricity in the home
Electricity flows through the live and
neutral wires but not the earth wire.

switch fuse
live
wire

L mains supply
N
neutral wire
E heating wire

earth wire
Safe use of electricity in the home
The earth socket is connected to the ground to
prevent a person from getting an electric shock
when touching the appliance.

current flows
live wire touches through the boy
the kettle

L
L
N
N E
current flows
to the ground
ground ground

danger of not earthing the when appliance is earthed, it

appliance is safe to touch
Safe use of electricity in the home

Earthing
• Earthing prevents user from getting an electric
shock when he touches a faulty appliance which
has accidentally become ‘LIVE’!
• It is a good conductor which has a very low
resistance in comparison to human body, i.e
current will take the earth wire and by-pass
human body to the Earth in the case where an
appliance becomes ‘LIVE’ .
 safe use of electricity in the home
double insulation
Some electrical appliances (e.g.hair dryers, electric
shavers and television sets) connected to power circuits are
not earthed by having only a 2-pin plug (live and neutral
wires).

• double insulation is used

• live electrical components
are carefully shielded and
isolated from the user
• accessible metal parts
cannot become live unless
two independent layers of
insulation fail
symbol for double
insulation
 safe use of electricity in the home
Fuse
• Fuse is a safety device used to protect equipment and
wiring from excessive current flow.
• When a current larger than the fuse rating flows, the fuse
wire becomes hot and melts (blown).
• It is always installed on the live wire.
• Fuse ratings:
1A, 2A, 5A, 10A, 13A

fuse symbol
safe use of electricity in the home
Circuit Breakers
earth leakage circuit
breaker – an
electromagnetic miniature circuit
switch that breaks breaker – an
main switch (trips) the circuit electromagnetic
– turns on and when there is a switch that
off the current leakage of breaks (trips) the
electricity 30mA or more circuit when there
supply to the through the earth is too much
whole house wire current
 safe use of electricity in the home

Electricity is supplied to the house through the mains cable

which consists of a live wire and a neutral wire
• the mains cable is
consumer unit
connected to a mains
fuse, an electricity meter
and consumer unit
• a live wire allows
main
current to flow through; switch
has a certain potential
• a neutral wire is at zero electric
meter
potential
mains
circuit showing how electricity fuse
is supplied to the home live neutral
Dangers/Hazards of Electricity
Two major dangers when using electricity
• risk of an electric shock
• risk of fire

Dangers are caused by

• the use of electrical wires with damaged insulation
• the overheating of cables
• touching wet electrical appliances
Dangers/Hazards of Electricity
Damaged insulation

• Damaged insulation
exposes the live wire
carrying the current.
• When the live wire is
touched, it will cause
an electric shock.

Safety precaution :
Regular checks and
replacement of damaged
cables.
Dangers/Hazards of Electricity

Electric fires may be due to :

- Short circuit
- Overloading

Short-circuit
• When live wires come into contact with the neutral
wires .
• A large current will flow through the wires causing
the wires to overheat and a fire may start.
Dangers/Hazards of Electricity
Overloading
• Overloading occurs if too
many electrical appliances
are connected to the same
socket and used at the same
time
• the total current drawn by
them through the electric
cable from the mains supply
may be very large
• cable becomes overloaded
and overheated, which may
result in a fire
Dangers/Hazards of Electricity
damp conditions
• dry skin has a resistance of 100
000  or more
• wet skin lowers resistance of
human body
• water especially with sweat,
contains salts of good
conductibility may cause
resistance to fall to a few
hundred ohms
Dangers/Hazards of Electricity
Physiological Effect of electric shock
Current (approx)
mA
Effect

1 Threshold- no pain below this point

5 A frightening but harmless shock

Uncontrolled muscular contractions- you

10 - 20
can’t let go

50 Pain and exhaustion. Breathing affected.

Uncoordinated contraction of the heart

100 - 300
leading to death