Class 7 Science Electric Current and its Circuits Chapter Notes

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Electric Current and its Circuits

4.1 Introduction
Electricity is important in our daily life. Our household contains television, fan, AC, tubelights etc. These all appliances need electricity to work.

4.2 Symbols of Electric Components
Some common electric components can be represented by symbols. In Table 4.1 some electric components and their symbols are shown. An electric cell has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. In the symbol of the electric cell, the longer line represents the positive terminal and the thicker, shorter line represents the negative terminal.

For a switch the ‘ON’ position and the ‘OFF’ position are represented by the symbols as shown. The wires used to connect the various components in a circuit are represented by lines.
Table 4.1 Symbols for some electric circuit components

Notice that the positive terminal of one cell is connected to the negative terminal of the next cell. Such a combination of two or more cells is called a battery.

In the bulb there is a thin wire, called the filament which glows when an electric current passes through it. When the bulb gets fused, its filament is broken.

4.3 Electrical circuit : Electrical circuit is an electrical network which provides an electrical path for the flow electrical current and electrical charge. An electrical circuit generally consists of various electrical components and electrical load

In the above figure, various electrical components have been shown.

(i) Battery/Cell (B) : A cell or battery acts as the source of charge/current in an electrical circuit.

(ii) Electrical switch (S) : An electrical switch is a device which is used to either make or break the path for the flow of current.

(iii) Electrical load (RL) : The external element or object across which all the electrical measurements or calculation are made. This is the chief element which is used for the conversion of the electrical energy into the required form of energy for use. Example : bulb, heater, etc.

(iv) Voltmeter (V) : This is an electrical instrument that is used to measure the potential difference between the two points in an electrical circuit. It is to be noted that voltmenter is always connected in parallel to the two points, across which the potential difference is to be calculated.

(v) Ammeter (A) : This is an electrical instrument that is used to measure the electrical current flowing through a load or electrical path. An ammeter is always connected in series with the electrical path through the electrical current is to be measured.

Note :–

(i) In a battery, the positive terminal is considered to be the starting point of charge/current while negative terminal as the ending point.

(ii) Outside the battery current flows from positive to negative terminal whereas the direction is reversed inside the battery.

(iii) The switch may be in ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ state depending on whether it is closed or open.

(iv) Whether the current/charge will flow through the electrical load or not, is decided by the topology of the elecrical circuit and position of electrical switch.

4.4 (i) Electric Charge : Electric charge can be defined as the physical factor that arives due to deficiency or excess of electrons in a substance. This factor is responsible for the electrical effects.
(ii) Electric Current : The electric current is defined as rate of flow of charge. Mathematically, Electric current,I = Charge (Q) /Time (t) Electric current is scalar quantity. Its unit is Ampere (A).

4.5 Electrical Potential Difference : The electrical potential difference between two points is the compelling force which causes the electrical charges and hence the electric current to flow through an electrical path. Theoretically, it is defined as the amount of work done in moving a unit positive charge between two points without imparting any kinetic energy in it.
i.e., V_A - V_B = W_AB/q
 ; where, VA – VB = Potential difference between two points A and B
q = unit positive charge, WAB = Amount of work done in moving the charge between the point A and B.
S.I. unit of electrical potential difference in volt (V).

Electrical potential : The electric potential at a point is defined as the amount of work done in bringing a unit positive charge from infinity to the point of consideration. S.I. unit of electric potential is same as that of potential difference i.e., Volt (V).

Note :

(i) Electrical potential difference is a practical term whereas the electric potential is a referential term in which one of the pont is considered to be as infinity.
(ii) Electric current and positive charges flows from the high potential to low potential in an electrical circuit, outside the battery.
(iii) Electrons (negative charge) flows from low potential to high potential. Therefore, the direction of flow of current is taken to be opposite to the direction of flow of electrons.

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