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Electric Current. There are 72 names of French mathematicians, engineers and scientists on the side of the Eiffel tower. Electric Current (I). The flow of electric charge Unit- Amperes (Symbol A) An Ampere - 1 coulomb of charge second
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There are 72 names of French mathematicians, engineers and scientists on the side of the Eiffel tower
Electric Current (I) • The flow of electric charge • Unit- Amperes (Symbol A) • An Ampere - 1 coulomb of charge second (1 coulomb = 6.24 billion billion electrons) Measured using an ammeter
Electric Current • When no electricity is applied…free electrons (conducting electrons) are always moving in random motion • But when the switch is closed the free electrons of the conductor are forced to drift toward the positive terminal under the influence of the electric field
Resistance- helps to control the amt of current • Opposition to the passage of an electric current through that conductor. • Unit- ohm (Ω)
Resistance (R) • The resistance of an object depends primarily on 3 factors: • 1) What the material is made of • Place in order of least resistance the following materials: • Aluminum, gold, silver, glass, copper • Silver • Copper • Gold • Aluminum • Glass
The resistance of an object depends primarily on 3 factors: • 2) It’s thickness • A thick copper wire has lower resistance than an otherwise-identical thin copper wire.
Not a good idea • 3) It’s length • For example- a long copper wire has higher resistance than a short copper wire.
Ohm’s Law • Current = Voltage Resistance Current (amps)= Voltage (volts) Resistance (ohms) The greater the voltage the _ the current The greater the resistance the _ the current
Resistance • A typical lightbulb has a resistance of 100 Ώ • An iron or toaster has a resistance of 15-20 Ώ The lower resistance permits a large current, which produces a considerable amount of heat