WMSU Lesson 1: Introduction to

Electricity
Objectives:
At the end of this session, the students
should be able to:
• State the basic SI units
• Understand unit prefixes used in scientific
notation
• State the units of the different electrical
quantities and perform simple calculations
involving these quantities
Topic Outline:
• Systems of Units
• Unit prefixes
• Different Electrical Terminologies
– Electricity
– Charge
– Current
– Voltage
– Resistance
• Factors affecting the resistance of the conductor
– Conductance
– Electric Power and Energy
I - SYSTEMS OF
UNITS
TABLE 1.1: SIX BASIC SI UNITS AND ONE DERIVED
UNIT RELEVANT TO THIS TEXT
QUANTITY BASIC UNIT SYMBOL
Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Electric current Ampere A
Thermodynamic Kelvin K
temperature
Luminous intensity Candela cd
Charge Coulomb C
II -UNIT PREFIXES
 MULTIPLIER PREFIX SYMBOL
Table 1.2 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟓 peta P
𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 tera T
shows the SI
𝟏𝟎𝟗 giga G
prefixes and 𝟏𝟎𝟔 mega M
their symbols. 𝟏𝟎𝟑 kilo k
𝟏𝟎𝟐 hecto h
10 deka da
𝟏𝟎−𝟏 deci d
𝟏𝟎−𝟐 centi c
𝟏𝟎−𝟑 milli m
𝟏𝟎−𝟔 micro µ
𝟏𝟎−𝟗 nano n
𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 pico p
𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟓 femto f
III - DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL
TERMINOLOGIES
a. ELECTRICITY
• Electricity is a form of energy generated by friction,
induction or chemical charge, having magnetic, chemical
and radiant effect.
• Electricity is electron in motion.
• Is a property of the basic particles of matter which like an
atom, consists of the ff: electron, proton and neutron.
 Electron is the negatively charged particle of an atom, sometimes
referred to as the negative charge of electricity.
 Proton is the positively charged particle of an atom which is
sometimes referred to as the positive charge of electricity that
weighs about 1850 times as much as the electron.
 Neutron is that particle of an atom which is not electrically charged
and weighs slightly more than the proton.
b. CHARGE
• Charge (symbol is Q) as an electrical property of the
atomic particles of which matter consists.
• unit of charge is in coulomb (C), where one Coulomb
is one ampere second. (1 coulomb = 6.24 ×1018
electrons).

The coulomb is defined as the quantity of electricity

which flows past a given point in an electric circuit when
a current of one ampere is maintained for one second.
charge, in coulombs is
Q = I × t Eq. 1.1
where I is the current in amperes and t is the time in
seconds.
Example 1 How much charge is
represented by 4,600 electrons?
Solution: Since 1 coulomb = 6.24 ×1018
electrons, and there are 4,600 electrons,

(4,600 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑠 )
Charge =
((6.24 ×1018 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑠)⁄𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑏)
−𝟏𝟔
Charge = 𝟕. 𝟑𝟕𝟏𝟕𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎 C or 0.7372
fC (answer)
c. CURRENT

• Electric current (symbol is i or I) is the time rate of

change of charge, measured in amperes (A).
𝒅𝒒
• Mathematically, 𝒊 ≜ Eq. 1.2
𝒅𝒕
where current is measured in amperes (A), named after
French mathematician and Physicist Andre-Marie Ampere
(1775–1836).
• Note: 1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second.
Example 2 The total charge entering
a terminal is given by q = (10 − 10𝑒 −2𝑡 )
mC. Calculate the current at t = 0.5 s.
Solution: From Eq. (1.2)
𝒅𝒒 𝒅(10− 10𝑒 −2𝑡 )
𝒊= = |𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟓
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
−𝟐𝒕
i = [(- 10)(-2)𝒆 ]
i = [(- 10)(-2)𝒆−𝟐(𝟎.𝟓) ]
i = 7.3576 mA (answer)
Example 3 If a current of 5A flows for 2
minutes, find the quantity of electricity
transferred.
Solution: Quantity of electricity (use Eq.
1.1)
Q = It coulombs
I = 5A, t = 2 × 60 = 120 s
Hence Q = 5 × 120
Q = 600 Coulombs (answer)
d. VOLTAGE
• Also known as electromotive force
(emf) or potential difference (pd).
• The voltage between two points a
and b in an electric circuit is the
energy (or work) needed to move
a unit charge from a to b;
mathematically,
𝒅𝒘
𝒗𝒂𝒃 ≜ Eq. 1.3
𝒅𝒒
where w is energy in joules (J) and q is
charge in coulombs (C).
d. VOLTAGE
• The voltage (symbol is v or V) is
measured in volts (V), named in
honour of the Italian physicist
Alessandro Antonio Volta (1745–
1827),
Note: 1 volt = 1 joule/coulomb = 1
newton-meter/coulomb
• Voltage (or potential difference) as
the energy required to move a unit
charge through an element,
measured in volts (V).
e. RESISTANCE
• Unit of electric resistance (symbol is R) is the
ohm(𝛀), where one ohm is one volt per ampere.
• It is defined as the resistance between two points
in a conductor when a constant electric potential of
one volt applied at the two points produces a
current flow of one ampere in the conductor.
𝑽
R= Eq. 1.4
𝑰
• where V is the potential difference across the two
points, in volts, and I is the current flowing
between the two points, in amperes.
Example 4 A circuit consist of a load
and an batter source of 12 volts. If
current flows in the conductor is 2
amperes, what is the resistance of the
circuit?
Solution: Use Eq. 1.4
V = 12 volts , I = 2 amperes
𝑉 12 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠
R= =
𝐼 2 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠
R = 6 ohms (answer)
f. CONDUCTANCE
• Conductance is the measure of how easily
electricity flows along a certain path
through an electrical element.
• It is the reciprocal of resistance
(conductance: symbol is G) and is
measured in siemens (S).
𝟏 𝑰
𝑮= = Eq. 1.5
𝑹 𝑽
where R is the resistance in ohms.
Example 5 Find the conductance of a conductor of
resistance: (a) 10Ω (b) 5 kΩ (c) 100mΩ.
Solution: Use Eq. 1.5
(a) Conductance
1 1
𝐺= = 𝑆𝑒𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠 = 0.1 S (answer)
𝑅 10
(b) Conductance
1 1
𝐺= = 𝑆𝑒𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠 = 𝟎. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 S = 0.2 ms
𝑅 5000
(answer)
1 1
(c) Conductance 𝐺 = = −3 𝑆𝑒𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠 = 10 S
𝑅 100×10
(answer)
Factors that Influences Conductor
Resistance:
Composition of the conductor.
Length of the wire.
Cross-sectional area of the wire.
Temperature.
 𝝆𝑳
• Resistance R = ohms Eq. 1.6
𝐴
where:
R = resistance in ohms (Ω)
L = length of the wire in meter (m)
A = cross-sectional area of the wire in
sq.meter (m²)
ρ = resistivity in ohm-meter (Ω-m)
Example 6 Calculate the resistance of a 2 km length
of aluminum overhead power cable if the cross-
sectional area of the cable is 100mm2. Take the
resistivity of aluminum to be 0.03×10−6 Ω-m.
Solution: Use Eq. 1.6
L = 2 km = 2000 m (length)
A = 100mm2 = 100×10– 6 m2 (cross-sectional area)
ρ = 0.03×10−6 Ω-m (resistivity of aluminum)
R = ? (resistance)
−
𝝆𝑳 (0.03×10^ 6 Ω – m )(2000m)
R= = – = 0.6 ohm (answer)
𝐴 100×10^ 6m2
Example 7 Determine the resistance of 1.2 km of
copper cable having a diameter of 12 mm if the
resistivity of copper is 1.7 × 10 – 8 Ω-m.
Solution: Use Eq. 1.6
L = 1.2 km = 1,200 m (length)
d = 12 mm = 0.012m (diameter)
𝜋 2 𝜋
A = 𝑑 = (0.012)2 = 1.131 × 10– 4 m2 (cross-sectional
4 4
area)
ρ = 1.7 × 10– 8 Ω – m (resistivity of copper)
R = ? (resistance)
–
𝝆𝑳 (1.7 × 10^ 8 Ω – m )(1,200 m)
R= = – = 0.1804 ohm (answer)
𝐴 1.131 × 10^ 4 m2
g. ELECTRICAL POWER
• Power is the time rate of expending or absorbing energy,
measured in watts (W).
𝒅𝒘
• mathematically, 𝑷 ≜ Eq. (1.7)
𝒅𝒕

• where p is power in watts (W), w is energy in joules (J), and t

is time in seconds (s).
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑤
From Eq. (1.2), current 𝑖 ≜ and Eq. (1.3) voltage 𝑣𝑎𝑏 ≜ ,
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑞
𝑑𝑤 𝑑𝑞
therefore, we can say that 𝑝 = × = 𝑣𝑖 , or
𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡
P=V×I Eq. (1.8)

Note: For mechanical power, it can be express in terms of

Horsepower (Hp), and 1 Hp= 746 watts.
• The power p in Eq. (1.7) is a time-varying
quantity and is called the instantaneous
power.
• The power absorbed or supplied by an
element is the product of the voltage across
the element and the current through it.
 If the power has a positive (+) sign, power is
being delivered to or absorbed by the element.
 If the power has a negative (–) sign, power is
being supplied by the element.
Example 8 Find the power delivered to an element at t = 3
ms if the current entering its positive terminal is 𝑖 = 5 cos 60𝜋𝑡
𝑑𝑖
amperes and the voltage is: (a) 𝜐 = 3𝑖, (b) 𝜐 = −3 .
𝑑𝑡
Solution:
(a) The voltage is
𝜐 = 3𝑖 = (3)(5 cos 60𝜋𝑡 𝐴) = 15 cos 60𝜋𝑡 (volts)
Hence, the power is
P = VI = (15 cos 60𝜋𝑡)(5 cos 60𝜋𝑡)
P = 75 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 60𝜋𝑡 watts
At t = 3 ms,
P = 75 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 60𝜋(3 × 10−3 ) = 75 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 0.18𝜋= 75
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 (0.18 × 180°)
P = 53.4667 watts (answer)
(b)We find the voltage and the power as
𝑑𝑖
𝜐= −3 = −3(−60𝜋)(5𝑠𝑖𝑛60𝜋𝑡) =
𝑑𝑡
900𝜋(𝑠𝑖𝑛60𝜋𝑡) volts
P = VI = [900𝜋(𝑠𝑖𝑛60𝜋𝑡)][ 5 cos 60𝜋𝑡]
P = 4500𝜋 𝑠𝑖𝑛60𝜋𝑡 cos 60𝜋𝑡 watts
At t = 3 ms,
P = 4500𝜋 𝑠𝑖𝑛60𝜋(3 × 10−3 ) cos 60𝜋(3 × 10−3 )
P=
4500𝜋 sin[ 60 180 3 × 10−3 ] cos[(60)(180)(3 × 10−3 )]
P = 6395.8455 watts or 6.3958 kW (answer)
Example 9 An electric heater consumes 1.8 MJ when connected to
a 250V supply for 30 minutes. Find the (a) power rating of the
heater and (b) the current taken from the supply.
Solution: (a) Power rating can be solve using the
formula derived from Eq. (1.9) which states that Energy
(W) = Power (P) × time (t)
𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 (𝑤)
Therefore Power (P) =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (𝑡)
1.8 ×106 𝐽
P= 60𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 = 1000 J/s or 1000 watts
30𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 ×
1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
(answer)
i.e. power rating of heater is 1000 W or 1 kW
𝑃 1000 𝑊
I= = = 4 amperes (answer)
𝑉 250 𝑉
h. ELECTRICAL ENERGY
• the energy absorbed or supplied by an element
𝑡 𝑡
from time to to time t is: 𝑤 = 𝑡 𝑝𝑑𝑡 = 𝑡 𝑣𝑖 𝑑𝑡
𝑜 𝑜

• Or simply W = P × t Eq. (1.9)

where p is power in watts, t is the time in seconds
and w is energy in joules (1 joule = 1 watt-sec).

• Energy (symbol is W) is the capacity to do work,

measured in joules (J).
• The electric power utility companies measure
energy in watt-hours (Wh), where 1 Wh =3600 J.
Example 10 An energy source forces a
constant current of 2 A for 10s to flow through a
light bulb. If 2.3 kJ is given off in the form of light
and heat energy, calculate the voltage drop
across the bulb.
Solution: Manipulate Eq. 1.2, the total charge is
∆𝑞 = 𝑖∆𝑡 = 2 × 10 = 20 𝐶
Using Eq. 1.3, the voltage drop is
∆𝑤 2.3 ×103
𝜐= = = 115 V (answer)
∆𝑞 20
Example 11 How much energy does a 100-
W electric bulb consume in two hours?
Solution: Electrical energy is equal to
W = Pt = 100 W × 2 h × 60 (min/h) × 60 (sec/min)
W = 720,000 J or 720 kJ (answer)

This is the same as

W = Pt = 100 W × 2 h
W = 200 W-h (answer)