electronics

Terms

In the universe, there are four fundamental forces:

  • The Strong Force
  • The Electromagnetic Force
  • The Weak Force
  • The Gravity Force

The Electromagnetic Force concerns particles (whatever they are) of different charge, a mass-like quantity.

A charged particle with charge Q (a real number) will cause a force field F on a charge q (r is the distance between q and Q in space):

F:=÷{1}{4⋅π⋅ε_0}\cdot ÷{Q⋅q}{r²}

(whereas ε_0:=8{,}8542⋅10^{-12} ÷{F}{m} is the electric constant).

Or, if you are unhappy with the destination q, the electric field strength E is:

E:=÷{F}{q}=÷{1}{4⋅π⋅ε_0}\cdot ÷{Q}{r²}

The constant factor is just to connect the unit of the electric force to the other SI standard units of measurement. Its value is:

÷{1}{4⋅π⋅ε_0}=9E9 ÷{m}{F}

Now, in a conductor there are some free electrons which can move from atom to atom and these cause electricity to flow (they do not carry the electricity literally, but they cause a field with causes electricity to flow).

(electrons have charge -e, e:=1.602176487⋅10^{-19} C).

In any case, if the charge Q moves through a conductor, we say an electric current I is flowing (in analogy to water currents).

I:=÷{d}{dt}Q

Likewise as with gravity, we introduce the (electrostatic) potential energy W_{el}:

W_{el}:=∫F⋅dr=÷{1}{4⋅π⋅ε_0}\cdot ÷{Q⋅q}{r}+C

I'm not sure where the minus sign is now...

Or, if you are unhappy with the destination q, the electrostatic potential is:

ϕ:=÷{W_{el}}{q}=÷{1}{4⋅π⋅ε_0}\cdot ÷{Q}{r}+C_2

As was the case with gravity, you can choose the zero potential to be anywhere.

If there is a difference in electrostatic potential, this is called a voltage U:

U:=ϕ_1-ϕ_2

In this case, if possible, a current will flow in order to even out the differences until there is no voltage anymore (if possible).

If no current can flow, influence will still happen: the charges within each atom will rearrange in a way so that like-signed charges are as far away from each other and differently-signed charges are as closely together as possible.

Wire

A wire is an electrical conductor which has little resistance to the current.

Usual materials a wire is made of: copper, silver.

Author: Danny (remove the ".nospam" to send)

Last modification on: Sun, 27 Dec 2009 in 02._Alternating_Current/01._Ideal_Element/index.