Electric Current and Ohm’s Law Physical Science

Electric Current Types Direct current – charge flows only in one direction. Ex: battery operated items Alternating current – a flow of electric charge that regularly reverses its direction. Ex: plug into wall

Factors Affecting Conduction Conductor – material through which charge can flow easily. Resistance – opposition to flow of charge in a material. resistance is affected by: thickness (lowers) length (increases) temperature (increases)

Voltage Voltage is a measure of potential difference – the difference in electrical potential energy between two places in an electric field. Sources of voltage battery (chemical energy) solar cell (radiation energy) generators

Units of Electricity and Ohm’s Law Voltage = V Current = I Resistance = R V = I R

Homework Read 604-607 Questions 1-8