PART 1
TASK 1:
(a) Define the following terms:
i.
FREE ELECTRONS: any electron that is not attached to an ion, atom, or molecule and is
free to move under the influence of an applied electric or magnetic field.
ii.
iii.
POSITIVE CHARGE: The numbers of protons are more than the number of electrons in an
element which gives the element its positive charge as the protons have a positive charge.
Having a deficiency of electrons; having a higher electric potential
iv.
NEGATIVE CHARGE: A negative charge is the opposite of an ion. An Ion with a negative
charge becomes an Anion. Normally with a negative charge they are called Electrons. Having
a surplus of electrons; having a lower electric potential
TASK 2:
a. Explain the concept of electrical charge: electrical property of matter that causes it to
experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of electric
charges: positive and negative. Positively charged substances are repelled from other
positively charged substances, but attracted to negatively charged substances; negatively
charged substances are repelled from negative and attracted to positive. An object is
negatively charged if it has an excess of electrons, and is otherwise positively charged or
uncharged
b. Explain the definition of the Coulombs Law: the force between two charged particles
depends on the strength of the charges and on the distance between them. Force is directly
proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between them.
F = (Q1*Q2)/40r2 where,
Q1 & Q2 = Points charge
r = Distance
F = Force
0 = Permittivity of empty space. 8.85419*10-12 c2/N.m2
1 electron
= 1.602 x 10 -19 C
TASK 3:
a. Define voltage and discuss its characteristics and provides the equation for the voltage:
The energy required to move a unit charge through an element, measured in volts (V). It is a
measurement of potential difference between two points.
V=W/Q
where V is voltage in volts(V), W is energy in joules (J) and Q is charge in coulombs (C).
b. Help your friend in understand the process of the potential difference by providing an analogy
to the process:
The description of potential difference frequently uses water as an analogy for electricity. This
analogy assumes that a mechanical pump is driving water through a closed circuit of pipes.
The potential difference in this analogy is the difference in water pressure between two points
in the circuit. Water therefore will flow between the two points if there is a difference in their
pressure, allowing the water to perform work. Similarly, an electrical circuit can perform
work only if a potential difference exists between two points in the circuit.
c. Give some examples related to the calculation of voltage.
Example:
Voltage at terminal A is equal to 50v and the voltage at terminal B is equal to 30v. Therefore,
the voltage across the resistor is given as:
VA = 50v, VB = 30v, therefore,
VA VB = 50 30 = 20v
TASK 4:
a. Define current and discuss its characteristics and provide the equation related to the current:
The time rate of change of charge, measured in amperes (A). Flow of current in metallic
conductors is due to movement of electrons. However, it is universally accepted that current is
the net flow of positive charges.
I=Q/t
where I is current in amperes(A), Q is charge in coulombs (C) and t is time in seconds.
b. Provide an analogy to show the process of current flows happen to help your friends
understand better.
For example, a tank as a battery, pipe as a wiring, faucet as a swith and water as current. So,
when the faucet (switch) is off, no water(current) will flow but if the faucet (switch) is on,
water(current) will flow.
TASK 5:
a. Name the instrument for measuring current, voltage and resistance, and then briefly explain
how to use that instrument to measure them.
Ammeter is a basic device to measure current in amperes, the symbol for ammeter is a circle
with enclosed letter A as shown in Figure 1. An ammeter is connected in series in order to
carry the current to be mea sured.
Voltmeter is a basic device to measure electrical potential or voltage in volts. The symbol
for voltmeter is a circle with enclosed letter V as shown in Figure 2. A voltmeter is
connected in parallel with the element for which the voltage is being measured.
TASK 6:
a. Explain how an ohmmeter is able to measure the resistance of a component when there is no
battery or other source of power connected to it.
Unlike voltmeters or ammeters, ohmmeters must contain their own power sources. An
implication of this fact is that ohmmeters must never be used to measure the resistance of an
energized component.
b. Suppose we needed to determine the resistance of the light bulb in this circuit, while energized
but we cannot simply connect an ohmmeter to an energized circuit, so how is it possible to
obtain the resistance measurement we desire?
Measure voltage across the light bulb, and current through the light bulb, and then use Ohm's
Law to calculate filament resistance from these measurements.