English Vietnamese

Unified Energy Theory (UET)

For the advancement of human science

Electric Current

What is Electric Current According to the Unified Energy Theory?

In the Unified Energy Theory (UET), electric current is the transfer of energy within the energy field \( E(r,t) \), where charged particles (such as electrons) move from regions of high potential energy to regions of low potential energy, following the principle of minimum energy. The force driving this energy transfer is described by:

\[ \vec{F} = q \cdot \frac{2\pi r^3}{q_1} \nabla E \]

where \( \nabla E \) is the energy gradient, driving the movement of charged particles, resulting in an electric current. This phenomenon is unified with other cosmic processes, such as planetary motion in gravitational energy wells, all stemming from the energy gradient in the field \( E(r,t) \).

Visualization: The energy field \( E(r,t) \) is like an energy river, with electrons as water droplets flowing from regions of high potential energy (high voltage) to regions of low potential energy (low voltage), similar to how planets move in the gravitational energy well of a star.

Natural Electric Current According to the Unified Energy Theory (UET)

In nature, electric current manifests in phenomena like lightning, where energy in the field \( E(r,t) \) is released powerfully. Lightning occurs when the potential energy difference (voltage) between clouds or between a cloud and the ground is sufficiently large, creating an energy gradient \( \nabla E \). This causes charged particles (mainly electrons) to move rapidly, releasing energy in the form of light, heat, and sound.

Example of lightning: During a thunderstorm, the voltage between a cloud and the ground can reach millions of volts (e.g., 100 MV). The energy gradient \( \nabla E \) in the field \( E(r,t) \) drives electrons to move at extremely high speeds, creating a powerful current (up to tens of kiloamperes). According to UET, this process is analogous to energy transfer in cosmic phenomena, such as supernova explosions, all adhering to the principle of minimum energy.

Mechanism: The accumulation of charge in clouds creates an energy field \( E(r,t) \) with a steep gradient. When this gradient exceeds a threshold, energy is released instantaneously, resulting in a natural electric current. This is described by the energy transfer force equation:

\[ \vec{F} = q \cdot \frac{2\pi r^3}{q_1} \nabla E \]

Visualization: Lightning is like a massive "energy river," where electrons flow from a high-energy region (cloud) to a low-energy region (ground), releasing tremendous energy in a short time.

Artificial Electric Current in Conductors According to the Unified Energy Theory (UET)

In artificial systems like conductors, electric current is generated when a power source (e.g., a battery or generator) creates an energy gradient \( \nabla E \) in the field \( E(r,t) \). Electrons in a metallic conductor move from a region of high potential energy (negative terminal) to a region of low potential energy (positive terminal), following the principle of minimum energy. This process is described by:

\[ \vec{\mathcal{E}} = -\nabla V \]

where \( V \) is the voltage, representing the difference in potential energy. According to UET, the artificial current in conductors is a specific case of energy transfer, similar to natural currents in lightning, but controlled and sustained in a closed circuit.

Example in a conductor: In a circuit with a 12 V battery and a copper wire with a resistance of 2 Ω, the energy gradient \( \nabla E \) is created by the 12 V voltage. The current is calculated using Ohm's law:

\[ I = \frac{V}{R} = \frac{12}{2} = 6 \, \text{A} \]

According to UET, electrons move in the conductor due to the force from the energy gradient:

\[ \vec{F} = q_e \cdot \vec{\mathcal{E}} \approx (1.602 \times 10^{-19}) \cdot \frac{12}{L} \]

If \( L = 1 \, \text{m} \), then \( \vec{\mathcal{E}} = 12 \, \text{V/m} \), and the force is:

\[ \vec{F} \approx 1.922 \times 10^{-18} \, \text{N} \]

Practical applications: Artificial electric current in conductors is used in all aspects of daily life, from powering household appliances (lights, fans, TVs) to operating industrial systems (motors, machinery). According to UET, all these applications rely on the principle of energy transfer from high to low energy regions.

Comparison of Natural and Artificial Electric Currents According to UET

According to the Unified Energy Theory, both natural (e.g., lightning) and artificial (in conductors) electric currents are manifestations of energy transfer in the field \( E(r,t) \), following the principle of minimum energy. The main differences are:

  • Natural current: Occurs spontaneously, uncontrollably, with a large energy gradient \( \nabla E \), resulting in a strong but short-lived current. For example, lightning can reach 100 kA but lasts only a few microseconds.
  • Artificial current: Controlled through devices like batteries, generators, or solar cells, with a stable energy gradient \( \nabla E \) in a closed circuit, producing a continuous current. For example, a 1 A current in a conductor powers a 220 W bulb continuously for hours.

Unification: Both types of currents are explained by the movement of electrons due to the energy gradient \( \nabla E \), analogous to planetary motion in gravitational energy wells. UET provides a unified theoretical framework, linking electric currents to other cosmic phenomena.

Electric Current in Modern Physics

In modern physics, electric current is the directed movement of charged particles (primarily electrons in metallic conductors) under the influence of an electric field \( \vec{E} \). The current intensity is defined as:

\[ I = \frac{dQ}{dt} \]

where \( Q \) is the charge passing through a conductor's cross-section in time \( t \). The unit of current is the ampere (A), where \( 1 \, \text{A} = 1 \, \text{C/s} \).

Methods of generating electric current:

  • Battery (Electrochemical source): Batteries generate current through chemical reactions. For example, in a zinc-copper battery, oxidation at the anode (zinc) and reduction at the cathode (copper) create a voltage difference, driving electrons from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit. Example: A 1.5 V battery generates an electric field that moves electrons.
  • Generator: Generators use electromagnetic induction (Faraday's law) to produce current, as detailed below.
  • Photovoltaic cell (Solar panel): Photovoltaic cells convert light energy into electric current. Photons excite electrons in a semiconductor (e.g., silicon), creating electron-hole pairs, and an electric field in the p-n junction drives electrons to the external circuit, generating current.
  • Thermoelectricity: The Seebeck effect generates current when there is a temperature difference between two junctions of different metals or semiconductors, causing electrons to move from the hot to the cold region.

Fundamental principles:

  • Ohm's Law: Voltage \( V \), current \( I \), and resistance \( R \) are related by \( V = IR \). Resistance reflects the obstruction of electron flow due to collisions in the material.
  • Kirchhoff's Laws:
    • Junction Law: The total current entering a junction equals the total current leaving, ensuring charge conservation: \( \sum I_{\text{in}} = \sum I_{\text{out}} \).
    • Loop Law: The total electromotive force in a closed loop equals the total voltage drop: \( \sum \mathcal{E} = \sum IR \).
  • Charge Conservation: Charge is neither created nor destroyed in a closed circuit, ensuring continuous current flow.
  • Lorentz Force: In the presence of a magnetic field, the force on an electron is \( \vec{F} = q(\vec{E} + \vec{v} \times \vec{B}) \), affecting electron motion in devices like electric motors.

Example: In a simple circuit with a 1.5 V battery and a 3 Ω resistor, the current is:

\[ I = \frac{V}{R} = \frac{1.5}{3} = 0.5 \, \text{A} \]

Electrons move from the negative terminal (high potential) to the positive terminal (low potential), creating a continuous current in the closed circuit.

Faraday's Law and Applications

Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction states that the electromotive force (EMF) \( \mathcal{E} \) induced in a closed circuit is proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux \( \Phi_B \) through the circuit:

\[ \mathcal{E} = -\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt} \]

where \( \Phi_B = \vec{B} \cdot \vec{A} \) is the magnetic flux, with \( \vec{B} \) as the magnetic field strength and \( \vec{A} \) as the circuit's area. The negative sign reflects Lenz's law, indicating that the induced current produces a magnetic field opposing the change in flux.

Example calculation: A 100-turn coil with an area of 0.01 m² in a magnetic field \( B = 0.1 \, \text{T} \) changes uniformly at a rate of \( \frac{dB}{dt} = 0.02 \, \text{T/s} \). The rate of change of magnetic flux is:

\[ \frac{d\Phi_B}{dt} = N \cdot A \cdot \frac{dB}{dt} = 100 \cdot 0.01 \cdot 0.02 = 0.02 \, \text{Wb/s} \]

The electromotive force is:

\[ \mathcal{E} = -\frac{d\Phi_B}{dt} = -0.02 \, \text{V} \]

If the coil is connected to a 10 Ω resistor, the induced current is:

\[ I = \frac{\mathcal{E}}{R} = \frac{0.02}{10} = 0.002 \, \text{A} = 2 \, \text{mA} \]

Modern applications:

  • Generators: Use Faraday's law to produce current in power plants (hydroelectric, thermal, wind). A rotating coil in a magnetic field induces an electromotive force, supplying electricity to the grid.
  • Transformers: Rely on changing magnetic flux through an iron core to step up or step down voltage. Example: A transformer reduces 220 kV to 220 V for household use.
  • Induction motors: Induced current in the rotor (via Faraday's law) creates a magnetic force to rotate the motor, used in fans, pumps, and electric vehicles.
  • Wireless charging: A primary coil generates a varying magnetic field, inducing current in a secondary coil in a device (e.g., a smartphone) via electromagnetic induction.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Strong, varying magnetic fields induce currents in the body to detect signals, aiding medical diagnostics.

Comparison with UET: In UET, the change in magnetic flux can be interpreted as a change in the energy gradient \( \nabla E \) in the field \( E(r,t) \), causing electrons to move to a lower energy state. Faraday's law is seen as a specific case of the principle of minimum energy, unified with phenomena like planetary motion.

1. Energy Density and Transfer Force (UET)

In the Unified Energy Theory, the electromagnetic energy density is described by:

\[ E(r) = \frac{k_e q_1^2}{8\pi r^4} \]

where:

  • \( k_e \approx 8.987 \times 10^9 \, \text{N·m}^2/\text{C}^2 \): Coulomb constant.
  • \( q_1 \): The charge creating the field (e.g., \( q_1 = e \approx 1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{C} \)).
  • \( r \): Distance from the charge.

The energy gradient is:

\[ \nabla E = -\frac{k_e q_1^2}{2\pi r^5} \hat{r} \]

The energy transfer force acting on a charge \( q_2 \):

\[ \vec{F} = q_2 \cdot \frac{2\pi r^3}{q_1} \nabla E = -\frac{k_e q_1 q_2}{r^2} \hat{r} \]

Example: An electron in a conductor experiences an electric field \( \vec{E} = 1 \, \text{V/m} \). The force is:

\[ \vec{F} = q_e \cdot \vec{E} = (1.602 \times 10^{-19}) \cdot 1 \approx 1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{N} \]

2. Electric Current and Drift Velocity (UET)

In the Unified Energy Theory, electric current is defined as:

\[ I = \frac{Q}{t} \]

Electrons move due to the energy transfer force from \( \nabla E \), created by the electric field \( \vec{E} = -\nabla V \).

Example calculation: Consider a copper wire 1 m long, with a voltage of 1 V, free electron density \( n \approx 8.5 \times 10^{28} \, \text{m}^{-3} \), and cross-sectional area \( A = 10^{-6} \, \text{m}^2 \).

\[ E = \frac{V}{L} = \frac{1}{1} = 1 \, \text{V/m} \]
\[ \vec{F} = q_e \cdot E = (1.602 \times 10^{-19}) \cdot 1 \approx 1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{N} \]
\[ a = \frac{F}{m_e} \approx \frac{1.602 \times 10^{-19}}{9.109 \times 10^{-31}} \approx 1.759 \times 10^{11} \, \text{m/s}^2 \]
\[ v_d = \frac{I}{n q_e A} \approx \frac{1}{(8.5 \times 10^{28}) \cdot (1.602 \times 10^{-19}) \cdot (10^{-6})} \approx 7.35 \times 10^{-5} \, \text{m/s} \]

3. Energy Conservation (UET)

In the Unified Energy Theory, electrical potential energy (\( E_p = qV \)) is converted into kinetic energy, heat, or work, adhering to the principle of energy conservation.

\[ P = V I \]

Example: A 60 W light bulb operating at 220 V:

\[ I = \frac{P}{V} = \frac{60}{220} \approx 0.273 \, \text{A} \]

4. Why Do Household Wires Have Two Conductors? (UET)

In the Unified Energy Theory, the live and neutral wires create an energy gradient \( \nabla E \) in the field \( E(r,t) \), allowing electrons to move from a high-energy region to a low-energy region.

\[ E(r) = \frac{\epsilon_0 \mathcal{E}^2}{2} \]

Example: In a 220 V system, the electric field in a conductor (assuming 1 m length):

\[ \mathcal{E} = \frac{220}{1} = 220 \, \text{V/m} \]
\[ E(r) = \frac{(8.854 \times 10^{-12}) \cdot (220)^2}{2} \approx 2.14 \times 10^{-7} \, \text{J/m}^3 \]

5. Nature and Voltage of Electric Current (UET)

In the Unified Energy Theory, electric current is the transfer of energy in the field \( E(r,t) \), with electrons moving due to the energy gradient \( \nabla E \). Voltage \( V \) represents the difference in potential energy.

\[ \vec{\mathcal{E}} = -\nabla V \]

Example: A 220 V voltage creates an electric field \( \mathcal{E} = 220 \, \text{V/m} \), and the force on an electron is:

\[ \vec{F} = q_e \cdot \mathcal{E} \approx (1.602 \times 10^{-19}) \cdot 220 \approx 3.52 \times 10^{-17} \, \text{N} \]

Simulation of Electric Current in Energy Field and Modern Physics

Simulation of electrons (purple particles: UET, blue particles: electric circuit, yellow particles: Faraday induction) moving in an energy field (UET), a closed electric circuit, and a rotating coil in a magnetic field, illustrating electric current from all three perspectives.

Conclusion: The Unified Energy Theory explains electric current as the transfer of energy in the field \( E(r,t) \), driven by the energy gradient \( \nabla E \). Natural currents (e.g., lightning) and artificial currents (in conductors) both follow the principle of minimum energy, differing in control and duration. Modern physics describes current as the movement of electrons in an electric field, with mechanisms like batteries, electromagnetic induction (Faraday's law), and photovoltaic cells. Faraday's law enables practical applications, from power generation to medical imaging, and is interpreted by UET as a specific case of the minimum energy principle, unifying electric current with cosmic phenomena.

Learn More: