Electrostatics
Electrostatics
Electrostatics
Electrical Charge:
Electrical charge, denoted by Q. Charge is the characteristics property of the
elementary particles of the matter. The elementary particles are electrons, protons and neutron.
Charge can be either positive or negative and is usually measured in coulombs. The charge of an
electron is called negative charge and charge of a proton is called positive charge. The charge of an
electron is equal to 1.602x10-19 coulombs.
Current:
The rate of flow of electric charges is called, “electric current”. The unit of current is ampere
(A). It is denoted by the letter ‘I’
Ampere:
An ampere is defined as the flow of one coulomb of charge in one second. 1 ampere = 1
coulomb per second.
Resistance:
It is defined as the property of a substance which opposes the flow of current through it.
It is represented by R. The unit of resistance is ohm (Ω). One ohm is one volt per ampere.
Conductors:
Conductors are materials that readily allow current. They have a large number of free
electrons. Most metals are good conductors.
Silver is the best conductor and copper is next. Copper is the most widely used conductive material
because it is less expensive than silver. Copper wire is commonly used as a conductor in electric
circuits.
Examples:
Copper, Aluminium, Brass, Platinum, Silver, Gold and Carbon etc.,
Insulators:
Insulators, or non-conductors, are materials with electrons that are tightly bound to their
atoms and require large amounts of energy to free them from the influence of the nucleus.
Examples:
Plastic, Rubber, Glass, Porcelain, Air, Paper, Cork, Mica, Ceramics and Certain oils.
Semiconductors:
These materials are neither good conductor nor insulators.
Their electrical conductivity lies between good conductors and insulators.
Examples:
Silicon and germanium
Relation between V,I and R |Circuit theory|
Ohms law:
The relationship between Voltage, Current and Resistance in any DC electrical circuit was
explained by the German physicist Georg Ohm, (1787 - 1854).
Georg Ohm found that, at a constant temperature, the electrical current flowing through a fixed
linear resistance is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it, and also inversely
proportional to the resistance.
Statement:
It states that the current ‘I’ flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to the applied
voltage ‘V’ and inversely proportional to the resistance ‘R’, provided the temperature remains
constant.
Thus, I α V
2.Active Elements:
An element capable of supplying energy is called as active elements.
An active element can be considered as source of energy.
Resistance:
It is defined as the property of a substance which opposes the flow of current through it. It is
represented by R. The unit of resistance is ohm (Ω). One ohm is one volt per ampere.
Laws of Resistance:
The resistance of an electrical conductor depends upon the following factors:
(a) The length of the conductor,
(b) The cross-sectional area of the conductor,
(c) The type of material and
(d) The temperature of the material.
Resistance (R) is directly proportional to length (l), and inversely proportional to the cross-sectional
area (a).
The temperature coefficient of resistance can be defined as the change in resistance per degree
change in temperature and expressed as a fraction of the resistance at the reference temperature
considered.
Kirchhoff’s laws:
Kirchhoff’s laws are more comprehensive than ohm’s law and are used for solving
electrical networks.
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL) It states that “the algebraic sum of the currents in a junction of a
circuit is zero. (or) The sum of current entering the junction is equal to the sum of the current leaving
the junction.
Explanation:
Consider 5 conductors carrying currents. Assume positive sign for the current flowing
towards the junction and negative sign for the current flowing away from the junction.
Let P is a junction.
During this charging process, electrons flow only through the connecting leads.