Chapter 3

Electricity

Objectives:

  • Explain the atomic nature of electricity
  • State the laws of electrostatics
  • Using the Inverse Square law, calculate changes in intensity and distance
  • Describe the three methods of electrification
  • Describe insulators and conductors
  • Describe the four basic factors of electrodynamics
  • Differentiate between current flow and electron flow
  • Explain current, potential difference and resistance
  • Describe differences between series and parallel circuits
  • Using Ohm’s law, calculate changes in voltage, amperage, and resistance in series and parallel circuits.

Electricity concerns the distribution and movement of electrons.

ELECTROSTATICS

Define electrostatics: the study of the distribution of fixed charges, electrons at rest.

Objects can become charged just like atoms.

Define the term electrification: the process of electron charges being added to or subtracted from an object.

How does an object have a negative charge?

To have more electrons relative to another object

How does an object have a positive charge?

To have less electrons relative to another object

What is zero or ground potential?

The reference point for discussing charges, the earth has an infinite number of charges making it neutral, Zero potential to perform work and release energy.

LAWS OF ELECTROSTATICS

Define each of the following five laws of electrostatics.

1)Repulsion-attraction: like charges repel, unlike charges attract (electric field is created, has direction)

2)The Inverse Square law: force is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes and inversely proportional to the distance squared between them

Coulomb’s Law (F = kq1q2 / D2) is more accurate. But use: I1 / I2 = D22 / D12

3)Distribution: charges reside on the external surface of conductors and equally throughout nonconductors

4)Concentration: concentration of charge will be on the surface where curvature is sharpest (cause ionization or static discharge)

5)Movement: only negative charges move along solid conductors

ELECTRIFICATION

What are the three methods of electrification?

Friction, contact and induction

Friction

Define friction: electrification when an object is rubbed against another

What are the ideal conditions for friction to occur?

During cold weather when low humidity removes stabilizing electrons from the air

Give an example of attraction friction: rubbing a balloon against wool, electrons transfer to the balloon and will then stick to a ‘positively’ charged wall

Give an example of repelling friction: comb removing electrons from hair, leaving each strand with a ‘positive’ charge, like charges repel, individual hair strands will seek to separate, making hair stand on end

How does a humidifier in the darkroom eliminate electrostatic discharge that causes artifacts on radiographic film?

Increases humidity, causes slight condensation on surfaces, moisture becomes a pathway for the distribution of electrons

Contact/Conduction

Define electrification by contact: two objects touch, electrons move from one object to the other

What is resulting charge of both objects after contact electrification?

Both objects have a more equal distribution of charge

Give an example of contact electrification: touching metal doorknob (contact) after walking across a carpet (friction) and experiencing an ‘electric shock’

What is static discharge?

When oppositely charged objects are in close proximity, electrons jump the gap to equalize electron distribution

How is excess energy released during a static discharge?

In the form of light photons

Why is this relevant to a radiographer?

The light forms an image on the film, degrades diagnostic quality of the film, repeat film is needed.

Induction (electric fields)

Why is induction the most important method of electrification?

Because it is used in the operation of electronic devices (motors, solenoids, transformers)

Induction is the process of: electrical fields acting on one another without contact

Every charged body is surrounded by a force field, which is called: an electric field

When a strongly charged object comes near a weakly charged object the electric fields act on one another before contact occurs.

ELECTRODYNAMICS

Electric current is defined as electrons that aremoving in predominantly the same direction

Define vacuum: a space from which air has been removed

Why is a vacuum important to the production of x-rays?

It permits electrons to reach the speed necessary to produce x-rays.

What is the most common conductor used in electricity?

Copper wire

Electrons move along a conductor is a similar fashion as: dominos

Electrons move at nearly the speed of: light

Materials, which allow electrons to flow, are called: conductors (Cu, Al, H2O)/ superconductors (Titanium)

Materials, which inhibit the flow of electrons, are called: insulators (plastic, wood, rubber, glass)

Materials, which have the ability to act as insulators under certain circumstances and a conductor at other times are called: semiconductors (silicon, germanium) temp. determines the ability: increase of temperature causes a decrease in resistance.

Define an electrical circuit: a pathway that permits electrons to move in a complete circle from their source, through resisting devices and back to their source

What are some sources for an electrical circuit?

Batteries, generators, solar converters, and atomic reactors

What are the most efficient sources of electrical current?

Batteries and generators

Current Flow

Electrons move from the highest concentration to the lowest.

Electric current is described as going from positive to negative while electron flow is actually from negative to positive.

What are the four most common terms to define current?

Quantity (of electrons), force, opposition/resistance (amount of), and direction (of travel)

What is direct current?

All electrons moving in the same direction, straight line

What is alternating current?

Electrons move first in one direction, then reverse and move in the opposite direction, sine wave

Current

Current is sometimes defined as the number if electrons: flowing past a given point per unit of time

What is the unit used to measure current?

Ampere = 1 Coulomb of charge / second

Milliamperage (mA) on x-ray equipment controls the: number of electrons available to produce x-ray photons, in x-ray equipment mAs (a combination of kV, mA and sec) is used.

Potential Difference

The force, which electrons travel, is a function of the difference between the number of: electrons in excess at one end of the circuit and deficiency at the other end

The best term to describe the strength of movement behind electrons is: potential difference

An alternate term used to mean potential difference is: Electromotive force (emf)

What is the unit of potential difference?

Volt

What is the SI unit for mechanical energy and work?

Joule

Resistance

Define resistance in relation to electricity.

The amount of opposition to current in the circuit

What is the unit of resistance?

Ohm

What are the primary factors which effect resistance in electrical circuits?

The ability to conduct electrons(number of valence electrons- better conductors have one valence electron, and distance of electron from the nucleus), length of conductor, cross sectional diameter and temperature.

How does the length of a conductor affect resistance?

As the length doubles, resistance doubles

How does the cross sectional diameter affect resistance?

It is inversely proportional, as cross-sectional diameter doubles, resistance will be halved.

How does the temperature affect resistance?

Increased temperature increases free electron collisions, which increases resistance

How does temperature affect semiconductors?

Semiconductors become more conductive as temperature increases

Ohm’s law

Ohm’s law describes the relationship between which factors?

Current, potential difference and resistance

What is the formula including resistance?

V = IR where V = potential difference

I = current

R = resistance

What is the unit of power?

Watt

What is the formula for calculating power?

P = IV

What is the power-loss formula? What is it used to calculate?

Shows the importance of changes in resistance to heat output. Power.

How does current affect heat power loss?

Double current, power loss increases by a factor of 4 (P = I2R)

SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

What are the formulas for calculating current, voltage and resistance in a series circuit?

It = I1 = I2 = I3

Vt = V1 + V2 + V3

Rt = R1 + R2 + R3

What are the formulas for calculating current, voltage and resistance in a parallel circuit?

It = V1 + I2 + I3

Vt = V1 = V2 = V3

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

Which factor in a series circuit is constant (equal throughout circuit)?

Current

Which factor in a parallel circuit is constant (equal throughout circuit)?

Voltage

Parallel circuits are not broken when a single resistance is interrupted.

Which type of circuit is preferred in electrical wiring in buildings? Why?

Parallel, because failure of device does not break the electrical supply to the other devices

In a parallel circuit, what happens to resistance, amperage and voltage if more resistors are added to the circuit?

Resistance decreases, current increases and the voltage remains unchanged

What is a disadvantage of a parallel circuit?

Increase in current can short circuit entire system, which is a fire hazard

What device is used to prevent the wires from becoming too hot and causing a fire? How do these devices work?

Circuit breaker: permits breaking of circuit before a dangerous temperature is reached

Fuse: metal tab melts when dangerously heated, breaking circuit

Define rheostat: resistor that permits a variable contact to slide along a series circuit of resistance coils

Explain how a rheostat operates: when rheostat is connected in a series circuit, an increase in resistance will result in a decrease in voltage and vice-versa if the current remains unchanged

What is the disadvantage of rheostats?

Cause energy waste in heat

Inverse Square law

What will the new intensity be at 30” if an object has an intensity of 100 mR at 60”?

I1 = 100mR

I2 = ? I1 / I2 = D22 / D12

D1 = 60” 100mR / ? = 900 / 3600

D2 = 30’ I2 = 400mR

If the intensity measures 200mR at 50”, what new distance will be needed to decrease the intensity to 50mR?

I1 = 200mR

I2 = 50mR I1 / I2 = D22 / D12

D1 = 50” 200mR / 50mR = ? / 2500

D2 = ? D2 = 100”

Ohm’s law

What is the amperage in a circuit of 10 volts and 10 ohms?

I = ? I = V/R

V = 10 volts I = 10 volts / 10 ohms

R = 10 ohms I = 1 amp

What is the current in a circuit with 100 volts and 15 ohms?

I = ? I = V / R

V = 100 volts I = 100 volts / 15 ohms

R = 15 ohms I = 6.67 amps

What is the voltage in a circuit with 25 ohms and 50 amperes?

V = ? V = RI

I = 50 amperes V = 25 ohms * 50 amperes

R = 25 ohms V = 1250 volts

What is the voltage in a parallel circuit that has 20 amperes and resistance of 6, 10, and 15 ohms?

V = ?

I = 20 amps

1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3

1/Rt = 1/6 + 1/10 + 1/15

R = 3 ohms

V= IR

V = 20 amps * 3 ohms

V = 60 volts

What is the amperage in a series circuit of 110 volts with resistance of 5, 10, and 15 ohms?

I = ?

V = 110 volts

Rt = R1 + R2 + R3

Rt = 5 + 10 + 15

R = 30 ohms

I = V / R

I = 110 volts / 30 ohms

I = 3.67 amperes

What is the potential difference in a circuit of 20 amperes and 10 ohms?

V = ?

I = 20 amperes

R = 10 ohms

V = IR

V = 20 amperes * 10 ohms

V = 200 volts

What is the power rating of an x-ray generator capable of 1000mA at 110kV?

P = ?

I = 1000mA = 1 ampere

V = 110kV = 110,000 volts

P = IV

P = 1 ampere * 110,000 volts

P = 110,000 watts

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Katherine Walz