Electric Current
NIOS · Class 12 · Physics
Summary of Electric Current for NIOS Class 12 Physics. Key concepts, important points, and chapter overview.
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Electric current is one of the most fundamental and practically important concepts in Physics. In our daily life, every electrical device — from a simple bulb to a sophisticated computer — works because of electric current. This chapter explores what electric current actually is at the microscopic l
Key Concepts
Electric current is defined as
Electric current is defined as the rate of flow of electric charge through any cross-section of a conductor. If a charge ΔQ flows through a surface in
Ohm's Law (1828) states that
Ohm's Law (1828) states that the electric current through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference applied across it, provided
Experiments show that resistance of
Experiments show that resistance of a conductor is: (1) directly proportional to its length l: R ∝ l, and (2) inversely proportional to its cross-sect
Carbon resistors use a standard colour
Carbon resistors use a standard colour code system to indicate their resistance values. Four coloured bands are printed on the resistor body: Band 1 (
For most metals
For most metals, resistivity increases linearly with temperature over a limited range: ρ = ρ₀[1 + α(T - T₀)], where ρ₀ = resistivity at reference temp
Learning Objectives
- Define electric current and relate it to the flow of charge carriers in a conductor
- State Ohm's law and distinguish between ohmic and non-ohmic conductors with I-V graph analysis
- Define resistance and resistivity, and derive the formula R = ρl/A with proper units
- Calculate equivalent resistance for series and parallel combinations of resistors
- Understand the concept of EMF, internal resistance, and terminal potential difference of a cell
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