Electricity

Electric Charge:

It is the thing that a body attains when it loses or gains the electrons. Charge is the

scalar quantity and S.I unit is Coulomb (C), which is equivalent to the charge contained

in nearly 6 × 1018 electrons.

Electric Conductors:

These are the substances which allow passage of electric charge to flow through them

and have very low electric resistance.

Insulators:

These are the substances which don’t allow to passage of charge through

themselves. Examples: Rubber, Glass, Wood, Mica, Ebonite are the insulators.

Electric Current (I):

It is the amount of charge that flows per second through a cross-sections of the

conductor. It is a scalar quantity and measured by Ammeter and it is always connected

in series in a circuit through which the current is to be measured. The unit of electric

current is ampere. Small quantities of current are expressed in milliampere (1 mA = 10-

3
A)

Charge
I=
Time
Coulomb
Unit of electric current = = Ampere
Second

sciencesajidali@gmail.com
Electric Circuit:

The electric circuit comprising a cell, an electric bulb, an ammeter and plug key. It is

also note that the electric current flow in the circuit from positive terminal of the cell

to the negative terminal of the cell through the bulb and ammeter. Galvanometer is

a device used to detect and measure current upto 10-6 A.

Fig. 11.1 Electric circuit with cell, ammeter, electric bulb and plug key
Electric Potential:

The electric potentialis the difference in potential energy per unit charge between

two locations in an electric field.

Potential difference (V) between two points = Work done (W) / Charge

W
V=
Q

The SI unit of electric potential difference is volt (V) and it a scalar quantity. Therefore

1 V = 1 Joule / 1 Coulomb Or1V = 1JC-1. The potential difference is measured by

voltmeter. The voltmeter is always connected in parallel across the two points between

which the potential difference is to be measured. Galvanometer can be converted into

voltmeter by connecting a very high resistance in its series. The electric potential on

Earth is considered to be zero.

Ohm’s Law:

The potential difference, V across the ends of a given metallic wire in an electric circuit

is directly proportional to the current through it, provided it remains at the same

temperature. This relationship is called the Ohm’s law, which expressed as follows-

VαI

Or V/I = constant

=R

Or V = IR

R is constant for the given metallic wire at a given temperature and is called its

resistance. The SI unit of resistance is ohm and represented by the Greek latter Ω.

Resistance is the ability of material to oppose the electric resistance.

1 ohm = 1 volt/1 ampere.

A component used to regulate current without changing the voltage source is called

variable resistance. A device rheostat is often used to change the resistance in the

circuit.

 On increasing the temperature of the metal, its resistance increases.

 On increasing the temperature of semiconductor, its resistance decreases.

 On increasing the temperature of electrolytes, their resistance decreases.

 On increasing the length of the conductor, its resistance increases.

 On increasing cross-sectional area of the conductor then the resistance

decreases.
For resistance in series and parallel

(a) (b)

Fig. 11.2 (a) Resistors connected in series (b) Resistors connected in parallel

Resistance formula for resistors in series- R = R1 + R2 + R3 +………+ Rn

1 1 1 1 1
Resistance formula for resistors in parallel- R
= R1 + R2 + R3 … . … …+ Rn

Resistivity:

Resistance of the conductor depends on the following three factors-

On its length ii. On its area of cross-section iii. On the nature of its material
The resistance of a uniform metallic conductor is directly proportional to its length (l)
and inversely proportional to the area of cross-section (A). That can be expressed as
follows-
1
R α lEq. 11.1 and R α A Eq. 11.2
From Eqs. 11.1 and 11.2, we get
l
R α A or

l
R = ρA Eq. 11.3

Where ρ (rho) is a constant of proportionality and is called the electrical resistivity of

the material of the conductor. The SI unit of resistivity is Ωm. It is a characteristic

property of the material. The metal and alloys both have very low resistivity in the

range of 10-8 Ωm to 10-6 Ωm, so these are good conductors of electricity. Insulators

like glass, rubber etc. have high resistivity in the range of the order of 1012 to 1017
Ωm. Both resistance and resistivity of a material vary with temperature. Resistivity of a
conductor change with impurity. Resistivity of an alloy is greater than the resistivity of

its constituents.

Shunt:

It is a low resistor connected in parallel with a circuit that reduces the amount of

electric current flowing through it.

Electric Power:

We know that, the rate of doing work is power. This is also the rate of consumption

of energy. “The rate at which electric energy is dissipated or consumed in an electric

circuit is called electric power. Which is denoted by P.

P = VI

Or P = I2R = V2/R

The SI unit of electric power is watt (W). It is power consumed by an electric device

that carries 1 A of current when operated at a potential difference of 1V.

1 W = 1 volt × 1 ampere = 1 VA

The energy use in households, industries and commercial establishments are usually

expressed in kilowatt hour as 1 unit.

1 kWh = 1 kW × 1 h

= 1000 W × 3600 s

= 3600000 joule

1 kWh = 3.6 × 106 J

Transformer:

It is a device which converts low voltage AC into high voltage AC, and high voltage AC

into low voltage AC. It is based on electro-magnetic induction. It is working as on step-

up and step-down process.

Semiconductors:

Semiconductors are those substances in which electric conduction is not possible at

low temperature but on increasing the temperature, the electrical conductivity occurs.

The electrical conductivity of semiconductors increases with the increase in

temperature. A pure semiconductor is called intrinsic semiconductor. An impure

semiconductor is called extrinsic semiconductor.

Semiconductors

Intrinsic Semiconductors Extrinsic Semiconductors

Pure form of N-Type P-Type

Ge, Si Pentavalent impurity Trivalent impurity
N, P, As, Sb, Bi etc. Ga, B, In, Al

Transistor:

Transistor is a combination of two p-n junctions joined in series. Transistors are

divided into two types: n-p-n junction transistor and p-n-p junction transistor.
Magnets:

Magnets is the material which can attract the magnetic substances such as cobalt,

nickel and iron is called a magnet and the property of attracting the magnets

substance by a magnet is called magnetism. Those magnets which don’t lose their

magnetism with normal treatment are called permanent magnets. Permanent magnet

are made of certain alloy of nickel, cobalt, and iron with some carbon. These magnets

are made in various shapes such as bar, rod, disc, ring etc. Those materials which retain

their magnetism for a long time are called hard magnetic materials. When a magnet is

freely suspended, it aligns itself in the geographical North-South direction. When

poles of two magnets are put close together, they exert force on each other. This force

is called intersection between the poles. Dissimilar poles attract each other and similar

poles repel each other.

Magnetic Field and Field Lines:

Fig.11.3Field lines around a bar magnet

The area which surrounding the magnet in which, another magnet experience a force

on it is called magnetic field. Magnetic field is a quantity hat has both direction and

magnitude. The unit of magnetic field is newton/ampere-meter or weber/meter2 or

tesla. Magnetic lines of force are imaginary lines in which magnetic field, which shows

the direction of magnetic field continuously. Magnetic lines of force is always travel

from north pole to towards the south pole at outside. But inside the magnet from

south pole to towards the north pole.

Characteristics of diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic substances:

Diamagnetic Substances:

Diamagnetic materials are those materials that are freely magnetized when placed in
the magnetic field.Examples: Zinc, Bismuth, Copper, Gold, Diamond, Mercury etc.

Paramagnetic Substances:

Paramagnetic materials are materials that tend to get weakly magnetized in the

direction of the magnetizing field when placed in a magnetic field. Examples:

Aluminium, Platinum, Manganese, sodium etc.

Ferromagnetic Substances:

Ferromagnetism gets its name from the word ‘ferrous’ which means iron which was
the first metal known to show attractive properties to magnetic fields. Examples: Iron,
Cobalt, Nickel, etc.

Curie Temperature:

The temperature at which ferromagnetic material turn to paramagnetic on heating is

called Curie temperature. For soft iron, curie temperature is 1000 K.

 Important Points:

 DC (Direct Current) motor is a device which converts electrical energy

into mechanical energy.

 AC (Alternate Current) Dynamo (or generator) is a device which convert

mechanical energy into electrical energy. It works on the principle of
electro-magnetic induction.

 Triode valve can be used as amplifier, oscillator, transmitter and

detector.
  Rectifier is a device which converts alternating voltage into direct
voltage or current. Diode valve acts as a rectifier.

Objective Questions:

1. What should be present in a substance to make it a conductor of

electricity-

(a) Strongly held electrons (b) Free electrons

(c) Strongly held protons (d) Free protons

2. What is the SI unit of electric charge-

(a) Volt (b) Coulomb

(c) Ampere (d) Ohm

3. Which of the following is a conductor of electricity-

(a) Silver (b) Copper

(c) Aluminium (d) All of the above

4. What is the SI unit of electrical conductance-

(a) Volt (b) Watt

(c) Siemens (d) Ampere

5. Which of the following is a good conductor of heat but a bad conductor

of electricity-

(a) Celluloid (b) Rubber

(c) Asbestos (d) Mica

6. On which of the following techniques photo-state machine works-

(a) Magnetic Image-Making (b) Thermal Image-Making

(c) Electrostatic Image-Making (d) Electromagnetic Image-Making

7. Full form of CFL used in place of electric bulbs is-

(a) Compact fluorescent lamp (b) Constantan filament lamp

(c) Closed filament lamp (d) Closed fluorescent lamp

8. When the main switch of the house is put off it disconnects the-

(a) Live wire only (b) Live wire and the earth wire

(c) Live wire and the neutral wire (d) Earth wire and the neutral wire

9. Why is tungsten used exclusively for the filament of an incandescent

lamp-

(a) Tungsten can be drawn into thin wires which in turn offer high resistance

(b) Tungsten has a fairly good resistivity

(c) The melting point of tungsten is very high

(d) All of these

10. A dynamo which is said to generate electricity actually acts as a-

(a) Source of ions (b) Source of electric charge

(c) Converter of energy (d) Source of electrons

11. Which is used in storage batteries-

(a) Copper (b) Lead

(c) Zinc (d) Tin

12. Rectifiers are used to convert-

(a) DC to AC (b) AC to DC

(c) Low voltage to high voltage (d) None of these

13. The magnet is strongest near the-

(a) On equator point from the poles of the magnet

(b) Ends of the magnet

 (c) Centre of magnet

(d) None of the above

14. A multi meter is used to measure-

(a) Current (b) Voltage

(c) Resistance (d) All of the above

15. A bird sitting on a high-tension electric wire does not get electrocuted
because-

(a) It has high resistance

(b) The body is earthed

(c) It does not form a closed path for the flow of current

(d) Its feet are good insulators

16. Which of the following metals is used for the manufacture of heating
elements provided in electric iron-

(a) Nickel (b) Chromium

(c) Nichrome (d) Tungsten

17. Temporary magnets are used in-

(a) Generators (b) Loudspeakers

(c) Motors (d) All of these

18. Indicate which of the following material does not retain magnetism
permanently-

(a) Soft iron (b) Hardened steel

(c) Stainless steel (d) None of these

19. Electric current is measured by-

(a) Ohmmeter (b) Hygrometer

(c) Ammeter (d) Potentiometer

20. An electric bulb is connected to a 220V generator. The current is 0.50 A.
What is the power of the bulb-

(a) 440 W (b) 110 W

(c) 55 W (d) 0.0023 W

Answer Key:

1-B 2-B 3-D 4-C 5-D

6-C 7-A 8-C 9-D 10-C
11-B 12-B 13-B 14-D 15-C
16-C 17-D 18-A 19-C 20-B

Important Scientific instruments:

Instrument Use

 Odometer: It is used to measure the distance

covered by wheeled vehicles
 Audiometer: It is used to measure the intensity of
sound
 Calorimeter: It measure quantity of heat
 Electroscope: It detects presence of an electric charge
 Fathometer: It detects the depth of the ocean
 Lactometer: It is used to determines the purity of
milk
 Barometer: It is used to measure the atmospheric
pressure
 Manometer: It is used to measure the pressure of
gases
 Hydrophone: It is used to measure the sound under
water
 Photometer: It is used to compares the luminous
intensity of the source of light
 Phonograph: It is an instrument for producing sound
 Periscope: It is used to view objects above sea
level (used in submarines)
 Marine’s compass: It is used by sailors to determine the
direction
 Altimeter: It is used to measure the altitude (used
in aircraft)
 Radiometer: It is used to measure the emission of
radiant energy
 Seismograph: It is used to measure the intensity of
earthquake shocks
 Speedometer: It is an instrument, used in vehicles to
record its speed
 Tachometer: It is used measuring the rotation speed
of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other
machine
 Stereoscope: It is used to view two dimensional
pictures
 Udometer or Pluviometer or Ombrometer: It is used to measure the
amount of rainfall
 Radiator: It is used to cool the engine of vehicles
 Venturimeter: It is used to measure the speed of flow
of liquid

Important Inventions and discoveries:

Invention Inventor Invention Inventor

Gramophone Edison Bi-cycle Macmillan

Electric bulb Edison Jet Engine Frank Wheetal

Telephone Graham Bell Battery (Electric) Alessandro Volta

Helicopter Bracket Air conditioning Carrier

Steam Engine James Watt Rail Engine George Stefans

Revolver Colt Transistor Shaklay

Scooter G. Brousa Television Philo Taylor Farnsworth