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Understanding Electric Current Basics

The document discusses electric current and some of its properties. It defines current (I) as the amount of charges passing through a reference point per second. Current is proportional to drift velocity (vd) of the charges and the volume charge density (ρv). Ohm's law states that current density (J) is equal to the conductivity (σ) multiplied by the electric field (E). Kirchoff's current law states that the algebraic sum of currents in a junction must be zero, meaning the total current flowing into a node must equal the total flowing out.

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Saghir Ahmad
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48 views5 pages

Understanding Electric Current Basics

The document discusses electric current and some of its properties. It defines current (I) as the amount of charges passing through a reference point per second. Current is proportional to drift velocity (vd) of the charges and the volume charge density (ρv). Ohm's law states that current density (J) is equal to the conductivity (σ) multiplied by the electric field (E). Kirchoff's current law states that the algebraic sum of currents in a junction must be zero, meaning the total current flowing into a node must equal the total flowing out.

Uploaded by

Saghir Ahmad
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Electric Current

The Electric Current


E I E

The field causes the electrons to travel parallel to the electric field. The motion of the electrons is opposite to the electric field direction. This is equivalent to motion of positive charges in the direction of E. The charges move with a drift velocity vd which is proportional to E.

vd = E............is..called ..the..mobility

The Electric Current


E I E The current I is the amount of charges per second passing through a reference point.

I = vd v A........ Ampere( A)

Here A is the conductor cross-section and v is the volume charge density.

I = vd v .....or.....J = v vd ...... A / m 2 A

where J is the current density.

J = v E = E....... ..is..the..conductivity..of ..the..conductor..material J = E is known as Ohms law at a point.


3

The Electric Current


J = E
The current through any surface

I = J .ds
Since tubes of current form closed circuits on themselves,

J .d s = 0

This is for steady current and applies to any volume even a junction with several leads. This is Kirchoff's current law. Applying the divergence theorem

J .ds = .Jdv = 0

.J = 0
4

The Electric Current


For non- steady current

J .ds

may not be zero

Qi In general J .ds = t
where volume (Positive current flow). V . J dv J . d s d dV = = = V V t t v .J = t .D = v From Maxwell,s equation D .( J + )=0 .J = .D t t
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Qi t is the net flow of current out of a

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