CHARGE, CURRENT AND CIRCUITS P2

Static Electricity is the study of stationary charge. But to

get into a stationary (“equilibrium”) position, a
collection of charges often has to move.

Moving charge is called a current.

Current means “flow”. Sometimes people say that

rivers have a current – this is the same thing, except
that charge is flowing instead of water.

Charge, Current and Time

Current is the rate of flow of charge.

If we know how much charge is flowing, and the time it

takes to flow, we can find out the current.

Lightning strikes the Eiffel Tower

in 1902: When too much charge
builds up in one place, it is forced
where Q = Charge (in Coulombs, C) to go somewhere else. This
I = Current (in Amps, A) happens when lightning strikes. A
t = time (in seconds, s) huge amount of charge is built up
on clouds, and the charge flows
violently down to Earth.
The average bolt of lightning takes just 0.17
milliseconds (0.00017s) to hit the ground, and What forces the charge down?
carries a current of 30 kA (30,000 A). How much charge is transferred?

Conductors and Insulators

Electricity can only flow through a conductor: a perfect insulator will not allow any charge
through. This is because conductors have free ions (charged particles) that are able to move
about.

For this reason, an electric circuit must have complete loop of conducting material all the
way around, or the current cannot flow (see box below).
 CHARGE, CURRENT AND CIRCUITS P2
Circuit Diagrams

Circuit diagrams are simplified versions of

real life experimental setups. Symbols are
used to represent various components. You
must learn all these circuit symbols.

An electric circuit must have conducting wire all

the way around, as in the circuit above, or the
current cannot flow.
In the circuit below, the switch is open, so the
charge cannot pass through. No charge can flow,
so the current must be zero.

What is the reading on the ammeter here?

Spud-U-Lite
Amazingly, an electric
current can be drawn from
a potato, by using Copper
and Zinc electrodes placed
close to (but not touching)
each other.
 CHARGE, CURRENT AND CIRCUITS P2

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