E.

ELECTRICITY
AND MAGNETISM
14. Electric current

2
1

Outline Objectives
a) define electric current, and use the
14.1 Conduction of electricity equation I = dQ/dt
14.2 Drift velocity b) explain the mechanism of conduction of
14.3 Current density electricity in metals
14.4 Electric conductivity and resistivity c) explain the concept of drift velocity
d) derive and use the equation I = Anev
e) define electric current density and
conductivity
f) use the relationship J = E
3 4

Objectives
g) derive and use the equation = ne2t/m
h) define resistivity, and use the formula = RA/l
i) 14.1 Conduction of
the relationship J= E
j) explain the dependence of resistivity on
electricity
temperature for metals and semiconductors
by using the equation = ne2t/m
k) discuss the effects of temperature change on
the resistivity of conductors, semiconductors
and superconductors.
6
5

Current and Charge Movement Current and Charge Movement

Current-The rate at which electric Whenever electric charges move, an
charges move through a given area. electric current is said to exist
The current is the rate at which the
charge flows through a certain cross-
section
For the current definition, we look at
the charges flowing perpendicularly to a
surface of area A
7 8
Definition of the current: Current
Charge in motion SI unit for current is the ampere
through an area A. The
time rate of the charge One ampere (amp, A) is equal to one
flow through A defines coulomb of charge passing through an
the current (=charges area in one second.
per time):
I= Q/ t
1A = 1C/1s
+ -
Units: C/s=As/s=A
SI unit of the current:
Ampere
9 10

Electric Current, cont Electric Current, cont

The direction of current flow is the It is common to refer to a moving
direction positive charge would flow charge as a mobile charge carrier
This is known as conventional A charge carrier can be positive or
(technical) current flow, i.e., from negative
plus (+) to minus (-)
However, in a common
conductor, such as copper, the
current is due to the motion of
the negatively charged electrons
11 12

Conventional Current Sources of Current

The moving charges that make up current Batteries and generators supply
can be positive, negative, or a combination. electrical energy to charge carriers.
In a conductor current is due to the motion Batteries convert chemical energy
of electrons.
into electrical energy.
In the Physics Text, they use current as the
movement of positive charges (earlier Generators convert mechanical
described by the instructor as hole theory). energy into electrical energy
Ions can move positive charges, rather than
individual electrons.

13 14

Type of Current Electric Current

Current can be Alternating or Direct

Alternating current (ac) continually
changes direction.
- +
Direct current (dc) charges move
only in one direction.

15 16
 Microscopic Model of Current Microscopic Model of Current
Volume = A x, x=vd t
Drift velocity vd
n is the number of charge
carriers per unit volume
Q = number of carriers in
section X charge per carrier
=( )
) No electric Field
There is an electric Field
/ =
17 18

Electric Current
Electric charges Rate of flow of electric charge from one region to another
E is called electric current
F
Electric circuits are means for conveying energy from one
place to another place
Electric potential is transferred from a source (battery) to
a device where the energy is either stored or converted to
+ another form i.e. sound, heat or light etc..
+
Electric circuits transport energy without moving any of
+
its parts

19 20

Electric Current Electric Current

Let us consider a battery of potential difference V,
The electric field is zero every where within a
is connected across the ends of a conductor having
conductor
length L
In metals, like copper and aluminum some of
electrons are free to move An electric field E = V/L is established in the
These free electrons move randomly in all conductor
directions
There is no net flow of charge in any direction and E
hence no current
There is no force on i
electrons and no net flow - +
of charges
21 22

Electric Current Electric Current

This electric field E acts on the electrons and gives The electric current i is same for all cross-sections
them a net motion in the direction opposite to E of a conductor, even though the cross-sectional area
i may be different at different points
net charge dq passes through any surface in a time The direction of current is the direction that positive
interval dt dq charges would move, even if the actual charge carriers
i =
dt are negative
Even though we assign direction to current but is a
The net charge that passes through the surface in scalar quantity, the arrow that we draw is just to show
any interval is found by integrating the current the sense of charge flow
q=
23 24
 Semiconductors Semiconductors
Properties of silicon Semiconductor
Pure semiconductor : high resistivity -> insulator
Property copper silicon Doping : two different impurities (n type, p type)
Resistivity
Type of material metal semiconductor
Charge carrier density 9 10 28 1 1016 In a conductor : increase of temperature ->
8
Resisitivity 2 10 3 10 3
Temperature coefficient
increase in the collision rate -> decrease in ->
of resistivity, K -1 4 10 3
70 10 3
increase of resistivity
In a semiconductor : increase of temperature ->
increase in the collision rate , increase in the
number of charge carriers -> decrease of
resistivity m
25 e2n 26

Semiconductors
Semiconductors Conduction band
Unoccupied states

Semiconductors are Conduction band

Gap = 2 ev
materials that exhibit a
decrease in resistivity Gap = 0.7 ev
with an increase in
temperature Valence band Valence band Occupied states
is negative Conductor Semiconductor Insulator
There is an increase in
the density of charge Below the dashed The dividing line The energy gap
carriers at higher line about all the between empty and is very large
states are occupied filled state is in the gap
temperatures
27 28

Semiconductors Semiconductors
In conductors, valence band is the highest band occupied by In semiconductor, the conduction band is completely empty
the electrons, which is partially filled and partially empty. and valence band is completely occupied. At ordinary
There is a dividing line between the filled and empty state, the temperature there is a small probability that an electron may
electrons in the filled states can easily jump (by applying some jumps from the valence band to the conduction band by
external electric field) to the upper empty states, which acquiring enough energy. This is possible because the energy
contribute to the current gap between the conduction and valence of semiconductor is
In insulator, the conduction band is empty and valence band small, which is about 0.7 ev in case of germanium.
is completely occupied by the electrons. The gap between the The difference between the conductors and semiconductors
conduction band and valence band is very large i.e. about 2 ev is in the resistivity. Resistivity of the conductor increases with
or more than that. An electron may not be able to acquire such temperature while that of a semiconductor decreases with
a large amount of energy from external source and jumps to increase in temperature. The condctivity of the semiconductors
the conduction band. Thus insulators are bad conductors changes by external factors such as temperature, applied

29 30

Drift Velocity
Electrons do not move at the speed of
light.
14.2 Drift velocity When a switch is turned on charges
from one end of the circuit push
charges to the other end of the circuit.
When a potential difference is placed
on the conductor, and electric field is
produced. (chp 17, 18)
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32
 The force due to the electric field The energy gained by electrons as they are
sets electrons in motion (current). accelerated by the electric field is
greater than the energy loss due to
The electrons collide with other collisions.
electrons as they travel towards the
positive area of the potential Drift Velocity-the net velocity of a charge carrier
difference. moving in an electric field.

33 34

Current density
Current i is a characteristic of a particular conductor and
is a macroscopic quantity like, the mass, volume and
length of an object
The related microscopic quantity is the current density
14.3 Current density J the quantity of charge passing
per second through a unit area taken perpendicular to
the direction of the flow of charge at that points on that
cross section, where J = (q/t)/A = i/A, unit: A/m2
It is a vector and is characteristic of a point inside the
conductor, while current is the characteristic of the
conductor as a whole

35
36

Current density Current density

The magnitude of current density is simply electric current per Thus current can also be determined by integrating the current
unit area i.e. density over the surface or current is the flux of the vector J
over the surface A
J = i/A (1) (2)
i =
Its unit is ampere/m2
i
J will be oriented in the direction that a positive charge carrier
would move in that direction
- - -
- - - - - A
i J
- - - -
- - -
- - - - - A
E
J
- - - - Above equation clearly shows that current is a scalar because
it is the scalar product of two vectors
E 37 38

Current density Current density

eE Energy transfer from accelerating electron to the vibrating
move within the conductor atoms because of the collision
The electron acquire a constant average velocity called drift
Thus there is no net acceleration velocity (Vd) in the direction opposite to E

i We can calculate the magnitude of that drift velocity from

L the current density J
-
- - -- - - Let L be length and A be the cross-section area of the
J e conductor
- - - -
Thus volume of the conductor be V = AL
E
n be the number of free electrons per unit volume
39 40
 Current density
The number of free electrons in the wire will be = nAL i
vd =
nAe
So charge will be q = (nAL)e , where e is the charge on
single electron
j=
i
Thus much amount of charges passes through the wire in A
time t j
vd = ne
t = L/Vd
where current is i = q/t Now adopting the convention for positive current density we
can write the current density in the vector form as
nALe
i = = nAevd j = - ne vd
L/vd

41 42

Current density
Example:
What is the drift velocity of electrons in
a Cu wire 1.8 mm in diameter carrying a
current of 1.3 A?
In Cu there is about one conduction
electron per atom. The density of Cu
atoms is 28 3
n 8.49x10 m

43 44

Example: What is the drift velocity of electrons in a

Cu wire 1.8 mm in diameter carrying a current of 1.3 A?

In Cu there is about one conduction electron per atom.

The density of Cu atoms is n 8.49x1028 m 3 14.4 Electrical
Find vd from J = I/A = 1.3A/( (.0009m)2) = 5.1x106 A/m2 conductivity and
vd
J 5.1 105 A / m 2 Resistivity
use
ne (8.49 1028 / m 3 )(1.6 10 19 C )
vd 3.8 10 5 m /s
Much less than one millimeter per second! 46
45

Electrical conductivity Electrical conductivity

1. The rate of charge flow (current) w/in a 1. For a uniform cylindrical conductor, combining
these elements leads to the conduction equation:
conductor depends on dq A
=i= V=g V
a. The potential difference between 2 regions dt L
A
along the conducting pathway material ( V) The quantity, L
, is called the conductivity (g):
A
b. The cross sectional area of the conducting g=
L
pathway (A) 3. Conductivity is more commonly expressed as the
c. The ability of the conductor to conduct
1 L L
charge ( ) {the conductivity} R=
g
=
A
=
A
d. The length of conducting pathway (L) V m
m
A

47 48
 Superconductivity Superconductivity
Resistivity of the conductors is temperature If temperature of the conductors decreases to
dependent, increase in the temperature increases absolute zero, the vibrations of atoms decreases
the resistivity of the conductors and vice versa. significantly and might be consider stationary,
Resistivity of the conductor is due to the and the conductor will have zeoro resistivity.
scattering of electrons by the vibrating atoms. Such a conductors that have zero resistivity are
Decrease in temperature decreases the vibration called superconductor. It has been found
of atoms, which further deceases scattering of experimentally that some materials behave
electrons with vibrating atoms, that results in superconductivity at 77K
decrease in the resistivity of the conductors.

49 50

Superconductors
A class of materials and Superconductors, cont
compounds whose
The value of TC is sensitive to:
resistances fall to virtually
zero below a certain chemical composition
temperature, TC pressure
TC is called the critical molecular structure
temperature Once a current is set up in a
The graph is the same as a superconductor, it persists without any
normal metal above TC, applied voltage
but suddenly drops to zero Since R = 0
at TC 51 52

Superconductor Application
Superconductor
An important Superconductivity
application of In 1911, Dutch physicist Kamerlingh Onnes
superconductors is a The resistance of mercury
In 1986, high temperature superconductor
superconducting (new ceramic superconductor)
magnet Superconductor
The magnitude of the Normal conductors (ex, Silver, Copper)
cannot become super conducting material
magnetic field is about at any temperature
10 times greater than a New ceramic super conductor
normal electromagnet Room temperature : good insulator
Low temperature : superconductor
Used in MRI units 53 54

Resistivity
Resistivity
The resistance of a wire is directly
proportional to its length and inversely
proportional to its cross-sectional area:

The constant , the resistivity, is

characteristic of the material.
55 56
 Resistivity

Some clarifications:
The resistance of a wire is directly
Batteries maintain a (nearly) constant
proportional to its length and inversely
potential difference; the current varies.
proportional to its cross-sectional area:
Resistance is a property of a material or
device.
Current is not a vector but it does have a
direction.
Current and charge do not get used up. The constant , the resistivity, is
Whatever charge goes in one end of a circuit characteristic of the material.
comes out the other end.

57 58

Resistivity Resistivity

For any given material, the resistivity For any given material, the resistivity
increases with temperature: increases with temperature:

(18-4)

Semiconductors are complex materials, Semiconductors are complex materials,

and may have resistivities that decrease and may have resistivities that decrease
with temperature. with temperature.

59 60

Standard resistors are

manufactured for use in
electric circuits; they
are color-coded to
indicate their value and
precision.

61 62

Current and Resistance, Resistivity and Conductivity

Resistance The electrical resistance of a circuit component or device is
Electric Current defined as the ratio of the voltage applied to the electric
Current Density current which flows through it

Resistance, Resistivity and Conductivity R = V (4)

i
We determine the resistance of a conductor between the two
points by applying the potential difference V between those
Energy Transfer in an Electric Circuit points and measure the current i that results.
Semiconductors If V is in volts and i in amperes, the resistance R is in
volt/ampere which is called ohms
Superconductivity

63 64
 Conductivity Conductivity
The electrons in a conducting materials are accelerated by In SI units, the unit of conductivity is siemen/meter = S/m
the electric field E, Thus their drift velocity Vd is proportional
to the electric field E Where 1 Siemen = ampere/volt
Which means that the current density j is proportional to the Inverse of the conductivity is called resistivity, which is also
electric field E the characteristic of materials
j E = 1/
j = E (5)
j = E (6)
The proportionality constant is called the electrical
conductivity of the material. It is not property of the particular The units of resistivity is ohm-meter i.e. -m
sample of the material It must be noted that the resistivity is independent of the
magnitude and direction of applied electric field
65 66

Resistivity Resistivity
Consider a conductor of length L having cross section area A From equations 6 and 7 we have
, let V is the potential applied across the two ends E
= j
L
A V/L
i = i /A
Where V/i = R , Thus
V L
R = A (8)
There is a uniform electric field E and current density j
produced in the conductor
The resistance of a conductor is independent of the magnitude
v j = i and sign of the applied potential, it is the property of specific
E= A (7)
L specimen of the sample.
67 68

i A conducting device obeys law if the resistance

V between any pair of points is independent of the
magnitude and polarity of the applied potential
v = iR (8a) difference

If we plot current verses voltage for a conductor, the ratio V/i

is always constant, which is called resistance.
Thus the resistance of a device is constant and is independent
of the potential difference across it

69 70

and such conductors/devices are called Ohmic

In metal valence electrons are not attached to individual
Its means that resistance /(resistivity) of material is atoms but are free to move
independent of the applied voltage/ (Electric field)

is not linear and is called non-Ohmic like a pn junction diode

The statement v = iR
a general definition of the resistance of a conductor whether it

The microscopic equivalent of the statement v = iR is

E= j These are called conducting electrons
71 72
 These freely moving electrons are some time called electron Electron- Lattice collision in actual crystal
gas
The ions are vibrating at any temperature about their
The electrical conduction in metals is based upon this free- equilibrium position
electron model
Impurities (foreign atoms) may be present
Approximately the uniform average speed of electrons in
the case of copper is 1.6 exp6 m/s Their will be some missing atoms

In ideal metallic crystal at 0 k electron-lattice collisions will So the resistivity of the metals may be increased due to
not occur according to the prediction of quantum mechanics Raising its temperature
Thus at T 0 K, Adding small amounts of impurities
By increasing the number of lattice imperfections

73 74

When we apply electric field to a metal , the electrons The mean time between the two collisions is
modify their motion and they drift slowly in the opposite
direction to that of the applied field =
v
This drift speed is very less as compared to the average Average change in the electron speed between two collisions is
speed of the electrons (about 1010)
a or a
We can calculate the drift speed Vd in the terms of electric v
field E, average speed v and mean free path We define this to be the drift velocity of electron
Electric field E eE eE
Vd = a =
imparts acceleration a to the electron m
Where drift velocity in the terms of current density is
a= eE
m vd = j
ne
75 76

j eE Temperature Variation of Resistance

Vd = ne =
(9)
m - Intro
The resistivity of a metal depends on many
=
E (10) (environmental) factors.
j
Now from equations 9, 10 The most important factor is the
m temperature.
= (11)
n e2 For most metals, the resistivity increases
In above equation all terms are constant except T, and it with increasing temperature.
doesn't depend upon the applied electric field, so resistivity
The increased resistivity arises because of
larger friction caused by the more violent
Its means that resistivity of material is independent of the
applied field
motion of the atoms of the metal.
77 78

For most metals, resistivity increases

Temperature Variation of Resistance -
approx. linearly with temperature. Example
Platinum Resistance Thermometer
o 1 T To T
Metallic Conductor A resistance thermometer, which measures
is the resistivity at temperature T temperature by measuring the change in the resistance
(measured in Celsius) of a conductor, is made of platinum and has a
resistance of 50.0 at 20oC. When the device is
T immersed in a vessel containing melting indium, its
For a conductor with fixed cross section Superconductor resistance increases to 76.8 . Find the melting point
is the reference resistivity at the reference of Indium.
temperature T (usually taken to be 20 oC).
is a parameter called temperature coefficient of Solution:
resistivity. Using =3.92x10-3(oC)-1
R Ro 1 T To
79 80
Platinum Resistance Thermometer
A resistance thermometer, which measures temperature by measuring the change
in the resistance of a conductor, is made of platinum and has a resistance of 50.0
at 20oC. When the device is immersed in a vessel containing melting indium, its
Resistance and Temperature
resistance increases to 76.8 . Find the melting point of Indium. Over a limited temperature range, the resistivity
of a conductor varies approximately linearly with
Solution: the temperature
Using =3.92x10-3(oC)-1 from table 17.1.
o [1 ( o )]
Ro=50.0 . T T R Ro 76.8 50.0
o
o is the resistivity at some reference
1
Ro 3 o
To=20oC. 3.92 10 C 50.0
temperature To
R=76.8 . 137o C To is usually taken to be 20° C
T 157 o C is the temperature coefficient of
resistivity
SI units of are oC-1
81 82

Resistivity and Temperature,

Temperature Variation of Resistance Graphical View
For metals, the resistivity is
Since the resistance of a conductor with nearly proportional to the
uniform cross sectional area is temperature
proportional to the resistivity, you can A nonlinear region always
find the effect of temperature on exists at very low
resistance temperatures
The resistivity usually
R = Ro[1 + (T - To)] reaches some finite value as
the temperature approaches
absolute zero
83 84

Summary

Electric
Current
End of Session
Electrical
Current
Conduction Drift Velocity Conductivity
Density
& Resistivity

Ampere, A = Current Conductivity,

Resistivity,
I = dQ/dt density, J = I = Anew
C s-1 = RA/l = ne2t/m
I/A, J = nve

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