This chapter discusses electric current, resistance, and related concepts. It defines current as the flow of electric charge carriers and introduces current density to describe current flow through a cross-sectional area. Resistance is defined as the opposition to current for a given voltage, and resistivity is a material's intrinsic resistance. Ohm's law states that current is directly proportional to voltage for resistive materials. Power calculations relate the rate of energy transfer to current and voltage.

1. Chapter 26: Current and Resistance
What are we going to talk about in chapter 27:
• What is an electric “current”?
• What is an electric “current density”?
• What is “resistance”; what is resistivity?
• What is the relation between current, voltage drop and
resistance?
• Ohm’s law
• What is the power provided by a battery?
• What is the power dissipated in a resistor?
• A word or two on semiconductors and superconductors!!
1

2. 26-1: Moving charges and electric currents:
There is a current when there is a net flow of charges in motion.
Examples of current:
• Lightning strokes
• In neurons to regulate muscular activities.
• In conductors: in household wiring, light bulbs,
and electrical appliance.
• Beam of electrons: picture tube in TV.
• Charges of both signs: ionized gases of fluorescent
lamps.
• In electrolytes: car battery.
• In semiconductor chips: p-type on n-type. 2

3. Global: Van Allen belt
Solar system: solar wind
Is there a current in a conducting wire that is just laid down on the
table?
Free electrons in a conducting wire w/o potential difference.
When there is a potential difference, there will be a current in the
conductor. Do the electrons actually move from one end of the
conducting wire to the other?
Flow of water in tube.
In H&D: we discuss (only): steady currents of conduction electrons
moving through metallic conductors such as copper wires.
3

4. 26-2: Electric current
i = dq/dt
q = ∫i dt
For steady currents:
q = I ∆t
The SI units of current is C/s ≡ ampere: A
4

5. Current is a scalar quantity; the arrows in figures do not indicate
vectors; they merely show direction (or sense) of flow along a
conductor, not a direction in space!
Convention: (for historical reasons)
A current arrow is drawn in the direction in which positive charge
carriers would move, even if the actual charge carriers are negative
and move in the opposite direction.
At a branching,
i o = i1 + i2 + i3 + …
Checkpoint-1
5

6. 26-3: Current density (J):
The current density is a vector that describes the flow of charge
through a cross section of the conductor at a particular point.
What is the direction of J?
J = |J| is the current per unit area through an element.
i = ∫ J · dA
For a uniform current parallel to dA ,
J = i/A
SI units for J: A/m2
6

7. The concept of streamlines: stream lines that are closer together
imply greater current density.
In figure 27-4 the current is the same for every plane that passes
completely through the conductor, but the current density is not the
same everywhere!
Drift speed:
When there is a current, the random speed of electrons ~ 106 m/s;
however, the drift speed (vd) of electrons ~ 10-4 m/s, in the direction
opposite of the direction of the applied electric field that causes the
current.
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8. Relation between drift speed and current density:
q = (n A L) e
t = L/ vd
Therefore,
vd = i/(n A e)
or
J = n e vd
Note:
|n|: is the density of charge carriers.
(n e): is the density of charge.
For negative charge carriers, J and vd have opposite directions.
Checkpoint-2
8

9. 26-4: Resistance and Resistivity:
Resistance (R) is a measure of how much an object resists current
for a specific potential difference across its two ends.
R = V/i
High R means little i for a specific V.
Can two objects made from the same material have different R?
Two wires of the same length, made of the same material have
different cross sectional areas. Which one has a larger R?
The [R] is V/A ≡ Ω = ohm
A resistor is a device whose function is to provide resistance. 9

10. Resistivity (ρ) is a measure of how much resistance a specific
material has to current, regardless of the object’s shape.
[For isotropic material]:
ρ = E/J
[ρ] = Ω m
Conductivity (σ) is the inverse of ρ. Therefore,
J=σE
[σ] = (Ω m)-1
Note: Ω-1≡ mho
10

11. How does R relate to ρ for a wire of length L and cross sectional
area A?
R = ρ L/A
Can two objects made from the same material have different ρ?
Checkpoint-3
11

12. Variation of ρ with temperature:
ρ increases ~ linearly with temperature (for metals):
ρ- ρo = ρo α (T-To)
α is called the temperature coefficient
of resistivity.
Is α positive or negative for conductors?
What happens to the conductivity of aluminum or copper, for
example, as the temperature increases?
Does this make sense?
12

13. α < 0 for semiconductors!!
What happens to the conductivity of a semiconductor as the
temperature increases?
Does this make sense?
Solve problem 27-25:
Ans. 2000 K
13

14. 26-5: Ohm’s law
Ohm’s law is not really a “law”.
It is an assertion that the current through a device is always directly
proportional to the potential difference applied to the device.
So, devices can be categorized into Ohmic or Non-Ohmic.
If, for V = i R, the resistance (R) is constant independent of V then
we say the device/ material is Ohmic.
Similarly, if ρ is constant [for E = ρ J] the material is Ohmic.
In general, conductors are Ohmic as long as the electric field is not
too high. 14

15. Diodes, transistors and amplifiers are non-ohmic devices.
Checkpoint-4
15

16. 26-7: Power in electric circuits:
From the principle of conservation of energy, the transfer of energy
is equal to the decrease in electric potential energy in going from [a]
to [b].
The rate of such transfer is:
P=iV
The energy may be transferred into a resistor, motor, rechargeable
battery, …etc.
What is the rate of transfer of energy from the battery to the device?
(the same P!)
16

17. If the ‘device’ is a resistor, energy will be “dissipated”. Why?
For Ohmic devices, the thermal energy produced (i.e. dissipated) is:
P = i2 R = V2/R
Solve problem 27-37:
Ans. 10.9 A, 10.6 Ω, 4.5 MJ
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