15 Currents

05 December

Simulation of electron drift speed versus temperature

Seng Kwang Tan 15 Currents, IP4 11 Current Electricity 0 Comments

Metal Lattice Simulation

3.0 V
20 °C
Mean drift speed: 0.0 mm/s
At low temperature, ions vibrate less, so collisions are fewer and drift speed (and current) is higher for 3.0 V.
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This simulation demonstrates the principle that the resistance of a metal conductor increases with temperature. As temperature rises, the metal ions in the lattice vibrate more vigorously. This increased vibration causes charge carriers (electrons) to collide more frequently with the ions, hindering their movement. As a result, resistance increases and the current flowing through the conductor decreases for the same applied voltage.

At the A-Level, this simulation extends the understanding of current by examining it from a microscopic perspective in terms of mean drift velocity. Instead of viewing current simply as the rate of flow of charge, students learn that electrons in a conductor move slowly on average, with a small net drift in the direction of the electric field. The current depends on how many charge carriers are available and how fast they drift. This is expressed using the equation:

$$I = nAv_dq$$

where II is the current, nn is the number density of charge carriers, AA is the cross-sectional area of the conductor, vdv_dis the mean drift velocity of the electrons, and qq is the charge of each carrier. As temperature increases, more frequent collisions reduce the drift velocity, helping to explain why current decreases even though the charge carriers are still present—linking microscopic behaviour with macroscopic electrical measurements.

08 June

AC Generator Simulator

Seng Kwang Tan 15 Currents, 18 Electromagnetic Induction, IP4 16 Electromagnetic Induction, Simulations 0 Comments
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An AC generator, or alternator, is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by means of electromagnetic induction. At its core, the generator consists of a coil of wire that is made to rotate within a magnetic field. This magnetic field is usually produced by permanent magnets or electromagnets positioned so that their field lines pass through the area enclosed by the coil.

As the coil rotates, it cuts through the magnetic field lines. This motion causes the magnetic flux linkage through the coil to change over time. According to Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction, whenever there is a change in magnetic flux linkage through a circuit, an electromotive force (emf) is induced in the circuit. The faster the coil rotates or the stronger the magnetic field, the greater the rate of change of flux, and thus, the greater the induced emf.

The rotation causes the magnetic flux to vary in a sinusoidal manner, leading to an emf that also varies sinusoidally. This means the direction of the induced current reverses every half-turn, producing an alternating current (AC). The expression for the induced emf is typically given by: $\epsilon(t)=NBA\omega \sin⁡( \omega t)$

where $N$ is the number of turns in the coil, $B$ is the magnetic flux density, $A$ is the area of the coil, $\omega$ is the angular velocity of rotation, and $t$ is time.

To extract the current from the spinning coil without tangling wires, slip rings are connected to the ends of the coil. These rotate with the coil and maintain contact with carbon brushes, which allow the generated current to flow into an external circuit.

In essence, an AC generator works by continually rotating a coil within a magnetic field, causing a periodic change in magnetic flux that induces an alternating voltage. This principle is the foundation of electricity generation in power stations around the world.

22 February

Videos on Series and Parallel Bulbs

15 Currents, IP4 12 DC Circuits, IP4 13 Practical Electricity 0 Comments

These are two videos that I made on series and parallel bulbs. The second video is specially made to highlight the increase in brightness of the remaining bulbs when one or more bulbs is removed from its socket.

What students will learn in O levels is that the brightness of the bulbs will not change as the potential difference is a constant, being the emf itself.

Based on the conflict between what is taught and what is observed, students will be led to discuss the reason why.

If anyone is interested in getting the demonstration kit, do check out Funlearners.com.

08 February

AC Power with Half-Wave Rectification

Seng Kwang Tan 15 Currents, GeoGebra 0 Comments

As a means of visualising what happens to the potential difference, current and power dissipated in an alternating current circuit with half-wave rectification, I have created the interactive applet with all 3 graphs next to each other.

It should be easy for students to see that with half-wave rectification, the power dissipated is half that of a normal a.c. supply with the same peak p.d. and current.

06 January

Root-mean-square Currents

Seng Kwang Tan 15 Currents, GeoGebra 0 Comments

The concept of root-mean-square values for Alternating Currents is challenging if students are to relate the I-t graph with the Irms value directly.

They have to be brought through the 3 steps before arriving at the Irms value. This interactive applet allows them to go through step by step and compare several graphs at one time to see the relationship.

Through the interaction, students might be asked to observe that the Irms value is never higher than the peak Io.

For a complete sinusoidal current:

For a diode-rectified current:

In comparing the Irms of both currents, students can be asked to consider why the ratio of the values is not 2:1 or any other value, from energy considerations.

Worked on this earlier as I am the lead lecturer for this JC2 topic and am trying to integrate useful elements of blended learning. Do let me know in the comments if you have ideas or feedback that you would like to share.

12 September

How to survive a lightning strike

Seng Kwang Tan 15 Currents, Blog, IP4 10 Static Electricity, IP4 11 Current Electricity 0 Comments

This is an interesting question on electricity: in order to survive a lightning strike, which of the following costumes offer the best protection? A coat of armour, your birthday suit, a wetsuit or a superman costume? Watch this MinuteEarth video on Faraday’s cage to find out!