Y10 -Self study -conventional current

Flow rate = current intensity

Water circulating in
the pipe = Electric
current

Obstruction
= Resistance

Pipe =
Conductor

The difference in potential or
voltage between two points in a
circuit is the impulse that the
current receives to pass from one
point in the circuit to the other.

The electrical resistance quantifies
the opposition of the conductive
material to the electrons
circulating through it.

The current intensity measures the
amount of electric charges that
circulates through a section of a
conductor per second.

Electricity / Water - Flow Analogy

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Symbol

Name

Definition / use

Unit

symbol

Unit name

I

Current

The flow of electrons in a circuit

A

(amps)

(amperes)

q

Electrical

charge

The quantity which is the origin of
the electrical force; it is bipolar with
values that are positive or negative

C

(Coulombs)

R

Resistance

The opposition to the current flow

Ω

(Ohms)

V

Voltage

The electric potential difference

V

(Volts)

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​Current, voltage, and resistance

​1. Electricity = The flow of electric current in a conductor.

​2. Electric Current = the RATE of flow of charges through a conductor.

​3. Current = a measure of the flow of electrons around a circuit.

​Current, voltage, and resistance

​1. Electriciy - The flow of electric current in a conductor.

​2. Electric Current - the RATE of flow of charges through a conductor.

​3. Current - a measure of the flow of electrons around a circuit.

​4. Voltage - the measure of HOW MUCH energy the electron carries through a part of a circuit.

​

Multiple Choice

The potential difference that causes charges to move in a circuit is ___.

• voltage
• resistance
• current
• electric discharge

Multiple Choice

An example of a voltage source is a _____.

• voltmeter
• battery
• resistance
• switch

​Current, voltage, and resistance

​1. Electriciy - The flow of electric current in a conductor.

​2. Electric Current - the RATE of flow of charges through a conductor.

​3. Current - a measure of the flow of electrons around a circuit.

​4. Voltage - the measure of HOW MUCH energy the electron carries through a part of a circuit.

​5. Resistance - a measure of how hard the electrons travel through a part of the circuit.

Multiple Choice

What is Resistance?

• The flow of electrons

• Electric potential difference

• A measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit.

Multiple Choice

Based on the model, which of the following would be true regarding the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance?

• Current will reduce voltage.

• Current will not pass through resistance.

• Resistance will reduce current.

• Voltage will reduce resistance.

Multiple Choice

As the resistance of a circuit increases, the current will

• increase
• decrease
• stay the same

​Direction of Electron Flow

​Conventional Flow - Electrons flow from a positive terminal to the negative terminal of an energy source when voltage is applied.

​

​Electron Flow - Electrons flow from a negative terminal to the positive terminal of an energy source when voltage is applied.

Multiple Choice

What 'flows' in a wire?

• Protons
• Neutrons
• Atoms
• Electrons

Multiple Choice

____________ __________ assumes that current flows out of the positive side of the battery, through the circuit, and back to the negative side of the battery.

• Conventional Current

• Ohms Law

• Electron Flow

• Kirchoff's Current Law

Multiple Choice

____________ __________ is what actually happens. The electrons flow out of the negative side of the battery, through the circuit, and back to the positive side of the battery.

• Conventional Current

• Ohm's Law

• Electron Flow

• Kirchhoff's Current Law

Electron movement vs Conventional current

Electrons move away from the negative terminal
towards the positive terminal:

Conventional current (what we refer to as
current in electronics) move from the positive
terminal towards the negative terminal:

+

+

-

-

We can imagine current as the
movement of positive charge.

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