PHYSICS

Article: #1
Electric Current

Consider a small area A kept perpendicular to the direction of flow of charges as shown in figure.
A
q+

q–

Positive charges q+ are flowing from left to right and negative charge q– are flowing from right to left across the area.
Net charge flowing through the area in the interval t from left to right q = q+ – q–.
q
The quotient = i, is defined as the current across the area in the direction left to right. If the quotient is negative
t
then the current is in the direction right to left.
The electric current in measured by ‘rate of flow of charge’.
Charge dq
Current i = = ,
Time dt
if flow is uniform
q
i=
t
Unit : Ampere (A)
1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second
Dimension : (M0L0T0A1)
ne
If n electrons pass through any cross section in every t seconds then i =
t
where e = 1.6 × 10–19 coulomb.

Average & Instantaneous Current

i. Average current
If Q charge flows through any cross section of conductor in the interval t to t + t, then average current in
 Q Q 2 − Q1
that interval is defined as the ratio of Q to t; Iav = =
t t2 − t1
ii. Instantaneous current
If the limit of t is tending to zero, then the current is defined to be instantaneous current at time t.
Q dQ
I = Lim =
t →0 t dt
Key Points
dQ
Instantaneous current through a cross-section I =
dt
Charge passed through the cross section in the interval t to t + dt
dQ = Idt
Total charge in the interval t1 to t2
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 CURRENT ELECTRICITY
t2

Q =  Idt = Area below I versus t graph in the interval t1 to t2 as shown in figure.

t1

t
t1 t2

Average current in the interval t1 to t2

t2

Q
 Idt
t1
Iav = =
t t2

 dt
t1

Areabelow I versus t graph

=
Timeinterval
1 Ampere
If 1 coulomb of charge flows per second then 1 ampere of current is said to be flowing.
1 ampere of current means the flow of
6.25 × 1018 electrons per second through any cross section of conductor
Direction of current flow
By convention, direction of current is taken as direction of motion of positively charged particles and opposite to
the direction of negatively charged particles.
Order of currents in domestic appliances is 1A.
Order of current in our nerves is 1 µA.
Order of current in lightening is 104 A.
Electric current is a scalar quality Although in diagrams, we represent current in a wire by an arrow but the arrow
simply indicate the direction of flow of positive charges in the wire.
Current is a scalar quantity because it does not obey vector law of addition.

Flow of charge in conductors

Value of the current is same throughout the conductor, irrespective of the cross section of conductor at different
points.
Net charge in a current carrying conductor is zero at any instant of time.
A current carrying conductor cannot said to be charged, because in conductor the current is caused by electron
(free electron). The no. of electron (negative charge) and proton (positive charge) in a conductor is same. Hence
the net charge in a current carrying conductor is zero.
E

+ –
F

• Electric field outside a current carrying conductor is zero, but it is non zero inside the conductor.
• The electric field inside charged conductor is zero in electrostatic condition, but it is non zero inside a current
carrying conductor.
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PHYSICS
Key Points
1. In liquids, the charge carriers are positive and negative ions.
2. In gases, the charge carriers are positive ions and free electrons.
3. In semiconductors, the charge carriers are holes and free electrons. The conventional direction of flow of current
is opposite to the direction of flow of electrons.

Ex.1 : If a charge of 1.6 × 10–19 coulomb flows per second through any cross section of any conductor, the current
constituted will be –
(1) 2.56 × 10–19 A (2) 6.25 × 10–19 A (3) 1.6 × 10–19 A (4) 3.2 × 10–19 A
q
Sol.: From definition of current i =
t
Here q = 1.6 x 10–19 C and t = 1 sec
1.6  10–19
i= = 1.6 × 10–19 ampere
1

Ex.2 : The no. of electrons flowing per second through any cross section of wire, if it carries a current of one
ampere, will be –
(1) 2.5 × 1018 (2) 6.25 × 1018 (3) 12.5 × 1018 (4) 5 × 1018
q ne
Sol. : I= = [ q = ne, from quantization of charge]
t t
It 11
n= = = 6.25 × 1018
e 1.6  10 –19

Ex.3 : The no. of electron passing through a heater wire in one minute, if it carries a current of 8 ampere, will be–
(1) 2 × 1020 (2) 2 × 1021 (3) 3 × 1020 (4) 3 × 1021
It 8  60
Sol. : n= = = 3 × 1021
e 1.6  10 –19

Ex.4 : In hydrogen atom, the electron moves in an orbit of radius 5 × 10–11 m with a speed of 2.2 × 106 m/sec. the
equivalent current will be –
(1) 1.12 mA (2) 4.32 mA (3) 3.32 mA (4) 7.12 mA
Sol. : Time taken by the electron in 1 revolution is
2 r Q Qv
T= ; current I = =
v T 2R
where R is the radius of orbit and v is the speed.
2.2  106  1.6  10 –19
I= = 1.12 mA
 22 
2     (5  10–11 )
 7

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 CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Ex.5 : If charge flowing through a conductor is given by q = 1.5 t2 + t. The current flow at t = 2 second will be –
(1) 4A (2) 5A (3) 6A (4) 7A
dq
Sol. : We know i =
dt
dq
Here q = 1.5 t2 + t  = 3t + 1
dt
 dq 
Now I=   = 3 × 2 + 1 = 7 Amp.
 dt at t =2s

Ex.6 : A conductor of non–uniform cross–sectional area, has cross–sectional area at three points as A1 = 2cm2, A2 =
4cm2 and A3 = 6cm2. If a current of 5 ampere is passed through A1. Value of current, when passed through A2
and A3 respectively as–
(1) 10 A, 15 A (2) 20 A, 30 A
(3) 2.5 A, 1.66 A (4) 5A, 5A
Sol. : (4) Current will remain same. (Independent of cross sectional area)

Ex.7 : A steady current is flowing in a cylindrical conductor. Is there any electric field within the conductor
Sol. : Yes, The current in a conductor flows only when the electric field established in the conductor applies a force
on each free electron.

CURRENT DENSITY :
The current density at a point in a conductor is the ratio of the current at that point to the area of cross–section
of the conductor at that point.
I
It is denoted by J i.e. J =
A
I = Electric current and A = Area of cross section. And area A is normal to current I.
If A is not normal to I, but makes an angle  with the normal to current, then
I I
J= =
A normal A cos 

A cos 
Q •P
 J
Q A
I = A
t (a) (b) n̂

 I = J A cos = J.A
dI = J.dA  I =  J.dA
Electric current is the flux of current density.
It is a vector quantity. It’s direction is the direction of motion of the positive charges at that point.
Unit : ampere / meter2 (A/m2)
Dimension : [M0L–2T0A]
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PHYSICS
Ex.8 : An electron beam has an aperture 1.0 mm2. A total of 6.0 × 1016 electrons go through any perpendicular cross
section per second. Find (a) the current and (b) the current density in the beam.
Sol. (a) The total charge crossing a perpendicular cross section in one second is
q = ne
= 6.0 × 1016 × 1.6 × 10–19 C
= 9.6 × 10–3 C
The current is
q 9.6  10 –3 C
i= = = 9.6 × 10–3 A
t 1s
As the charge is negative the current is opposite to the direction of motion of the beam.
(b) The current density is
9.6  10–3 A
JA = i = 2
= 9.6  103 Am–2
1.0mm

MECHANISM OF CURRENT FLOW IN CONDUCTORS

If an electric field is applied to an electric charge, it will experience a force. If it is free to move then it will
contribute to a current.
In atoms and molecules, negatively charged electrons and positively charged nuclei are bound to each other and
thus are not free to move in electric field.
In some materials, the electrons will still be bound so when electric field is applied, they will not accelerate to
develop current. These materials are generally called insulators. In electric solutions both positive and negative
ions move to develop current.
In bulk matter, these molecules are so closely packed that electrons no longer are attached to individual nuclei. If
an electric field is applied some of the electrons are practically free to move within the bulk material to develop
currents in them. These materials are generally called conductors and these electrons are known as free
electrons.
in the absence of electric field, the electrons move with their thermal motion. During their random motion they
collide with fixed ions such that their speed before collision is equal to speed after collision but the direction of
velocity after collision is completely random. Therefore, number of electrons in any direction will be equal to the
number of electrons travelling in opposite direction, so there is no net electric current.
A B
+ ––
++ – –
–––
+++ E – –
– ––
++ –
+ + ––
+ ––
–

When electric field E is applied, the electrons will be accelerated due to the field E from end B to A. The motion
constitute an electric current .

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR CURRENT FLOW

Thermal speed (order of vT =105 m/s)
Conductor contain a large number of free electrons, which are in continuous random motion. Due to random
motion, the free electrons collide with positive metal ions with high frequency and undergo change in direction at
each collision. So, the thermal velocities are randomly distributed in all possible directions are, individual thermal
velocities of the free electrons at any given time. the total number of free electrons in the conductor = N
 u + u + ..... + uN 
average velocity uavg. =  1 2 =0
 N 

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 CURRENT ELECTRICITY

Drift Velocity
Drift velocity is defined as the velocity with which the free electrons get drifted towards the positive terminal
under the effect of the applied electric field.

Relaxation time
Average time elapsed between two successive collisions. It is of the order of 10–14 s. It is a temperature
dependent characteristic of the material of the conductor. It decreases with increases in temperature.

Relation between drift velocity & relaxation time

When the ends of a conductor are connected to a source of emf, an electric field E is established in the
V
conductor, such that E =

where V = the potential difference across the conductor and  = the length of the conductor.

The electric field E exerts an electrostatic force –eE on each electron in the conductor.
–eE
The acceleration of each electron a =
m
m = mass of electron, e = charge of electron

Under theactionof electric

fieldrandommotionof an
electron withsuperimposed drift

so velocity of each electron v = u + at

So
vav = vd = u + at 
 vd = u  +a  t 
since the average thermal velocity of free electrons is zero.
eE
vd = a  vd = – 
m
order of drift velocity is 10–4 m/s

Mean free Path ()

The mean distance travelled by a conduction electron during relaxation time is known as mean free path . Mean
free path of conduction electron
 = Thermal velocity × Relaxation time
(order of  = 10Å)
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PHYSICS

Relation between current density, conductivity and electric field

Let the number of free electrons per unit volume in a conductor = n
Total number of electron in dx distance = n(Adx)
Total charge Q = n(Adx)e
Cross sectional area = A

A
•

I dx

Q x
Current = nAe   = neAvd
t t
I  eE 
Current density J = = nevd J = ne   
A m
 ne2    eE 
J=  E vd =   
 m  m
ne2 
again for ohmic conductor J =  E   =
m
1
=

In vector form where  is conductivity &  is resistivity.
 and  depends only on the material of the conductor and its temperature.

Mobility (µ)
It is defined as the magnitude of the drift velocity per unit electric field
|v |
µ= d
|E|
Its SI unit is m2V–1s–1
Its practical unit is cm2V–1s–1
e E
We have Vd =
m
v d e
µ= =
E m
Mobility of free electrons is independent of electric field and dimension of conductor.

Ex.9: A current of 5A is passing through metallic wire of cross–sectional area 4 × 10–6 m2, the drift speed of
electrons will be (in m/s) (density of electron per unit volume is 5 × 1026)
(1) 1.56 × 10–2 (2) 1.6 × 10–19 (3) 1.56 × 102 (4) 1.6 × 1019
Sol. : We know I = neAvd
5
 vd =
5  10  1.6  10 –19  4  10 –6
26

= 1.56 × 10–2 m/s

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 CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Ex.10 : A silver wire having 1mm diameter carries a charge of 90 C in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Silver contains 5.8 ×
1028 free electrons per m3. The current (in amp.) in wire and drift velocity of the electron will be respectively–
(1) 0.02, 2.69 × 10–6 (2) 0.03, 3.69 × 10–7 (3) 3.2, 2.69 × 10–7 (4) 2.3, 3.69 × 10–6
q 90
Sol. : i = = = 0.02 A
t 4500
i i 0.02
J= = 2= = 2.55 × 104 A/m2
(
A r  5  10–4 )
2

J 2.55  104
vd= = =2.69 × 106m/s
ne (5.8  1028 )(1.6  10 –19 )

Ex.11 : The total momentum of electrons in a straight wire of length  = 1000 m carrying a current I = 70A, will be –
(in Ns)
(1) 0.40 × 10–6 (2) 0.20 × 10–6 (3) 0.80 × 10–6 (4) 0.16 × 10–6
Sol. : We know I = neAvd where vd → drift velocity
n → no. density of electron.
Total no. of electron N = nA
Total momentum (P) of electron = Nmvd
I I m
or P = (nAm) × =
neA e
70  1000  9.3  10–31
 P= = 0.40 Ns
1.6  10–19

Ex.12 What do you mean by thermal motion of free electrons in conductors ?

Sol. In conductors some of the electrons are practically free to move within the conductor. Kinetic energy of
3
these electrons depends on the temperature T of conductor i.e., E = kT, where k = Boltzmann constant. So,
2
the motion in these electrons is known as thermal motion.

Ex.13 Can electrons produce current due to their thermal speed. Explain.
Sol. No, velocity of free electrons during thermal motion is random. So, their net flow through any cross section is
zero. So current is zero.

Ex.14 Find the resistivity of a metal carrying an electric field E = 10 V/m causing a current density J = 3 × 105 A/m2.
E 10
Sol. = = = 3.33 × 10–5 ohm-m
J 3  10 5

Ex.15 An electric field E = 5 × 10–3 V/m sets a current i = 1 amp along a wire of radius = 10–3 m. Find . (no. density
of e– = 3×1028/m3)
J [1 / (10 –3 )2 ]
Sol. = = = 0.064 × 109 (-m)–1
E 5  10 –3
m  (9.1  10 –31 )(0.064  109 )
Then  = 2 =
ne (3  1028 )(1.6  10 –19 )2
= 7.5 × 10–14 s
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PHYSICS

Ex.16 What are the possible paths of free electrons inside a conductor ?
Sol. In the absence of electric field inside conductor, Free electrons are unaccelerated, so their path between
consecutive collisions is straight line.
In the presence of electric field inside conductor, free electrons are accelerated so their path is generally
curved. (zigzag path)

Ex.17 The number density of electrons in copper is 8.5 × 1028 m–3. Find the current flowing through a copper wire of
length 0.2 m, area of cross section 1mm2, when connected to a battery of 3V. Given that electron mobility =
4.5 × 10–6m2 V–1s–1 and charge on electron = 1.6 × 10–19 C.
Sol. Here, V = 3 volt;  = 0.2 m; A = 1 mm2 = 10–6 m2; n = 8.5 × 1028 m–3; µ = 4.5 × 10–6 m2V–1s–1 and e = 1.6 × 10–19C
The electric field set up across the conductor,
V 3
E= = = 15 Vm–1
0.2
Now, the current through the wire,
=nAµEe
= 8.5 × 1028 × 10–6 × 4.5 × 10–6 × 15 × 1.6 × 10–19
= 0.92 A

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