, , , and are the building blocks of electrical systems. They describe how electricity moves and works in circuits. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping how electrical devices function and interact.
These fundamental quantities are interconnected through key relationships like . Mastering them sets the foundation for analyzing more complex electrical systems and solving real-world engineering problems.
Charge and Current
Electric Charge and the Coulomb
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Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field
Charges can be positive or negative, with opposite charges attracting and like charges repelling each other
The unit of electric charge is the (C), named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
One coulomb is defined as the amount of charge transferred by a current of one in one second (1C=1A⋅1s)
The charge of an electron is approximately −1.602×10−19 coulombs, while a proton has a charge of +1.602×10−19 coulombs
Current and the Ampere
Current is the flow of electric charge through a material, typically measured in amperes (A)
One ampere is defined as the flow of one coulomb of charge per second (1A=1C/s)
Current can be either or
DC flows in one direction consistently, like in a battery-powered circuit
AC periodically reverses direction, like in household electrical outlets
The direction of conventional current is defined as the direction in which positive charges would flow, from the positive terminal to the negative terminal
However, in most materials, electric current is actually carried by negatively charged electrons moving in the opposite direction
Voltage and Electric Fields
Voltage and the Volt
Voltage, also known as electromotive force (EMF), is the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points in an electrical circuit
The unit of voltage is the (V), named after Alessandro Volta
One volt is defined as the potential difference between two points in a conductor when a current of one ampere dissipates one of power (1V=1W/A)
Voltage can be thought of as the "pressure" that pushes electric charges through a circuit
A higher voltage means a greater potential difference and a stronger "push" on the charges
Electric Fields and Potential Difference
An electric field is a region around an electrically charged particle or object in which another charged particle experiences a force
The strength of an electric field is measured in volts per meter (V/m)
A potential difference of one volt between two points one meter apart creates an electric field strength of one volt per meter
The relationship between voltage and electric field strength is given by V=Ed, where V is the voltage, E is the electric field strength, and d is the distance between the two points
Electric fields can be visualized using field lines, which point in the direction a positive test charge would move if placed in the field
Field lines start on positive charges and end on negative charges, with the density of lines indicating the strength of the field
Power and Ohm's Law
Power and the Watt
Power is the rate at which energy is transferred or converted, measured in watts (W)
One watt is defined as one joule of energy per second (1W=1J/s)
In electrical systems, power is the product of voltage and current, given by the formula [P = VI](https://www.fiveableKeyTerm:p_=_vi), where P is power, V is voltage, and I is current
For example, a 12V battery supplying 5A of current is providing 12V×5A=60W of power
Power can also be expressed in terms of resistance and either voltage or current: P=V2/R or P=I2R, where R is resistance in ohms
Ohm's Law
Ohm's Law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points, provided the temperature remains constant
Mathematically, Ohm's Law is expressed as V=IR, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance
Rearranging this equation gives I=V/R and R=V/I, allowing you to calculate any of the three quantities given the other two
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω), named after Georg Ohm
One ohm is defined as the resistance between two points in a conductor where a voltage of one volt produces a current of one ampere (1Ω=1V/A)
Ohm's Law is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering and is used to analyze and design electrical circuits
For instance, if a 10Ω is connected across a 5V battery, Ohm's Law tells us that the current through the resistor will be I=V/R=5V/10Ω=0.5A