Current, Resistance and
Voltage. Ohm’s Law
Potential Difference =Voltage=EMF
In a battery, a series of chemical
reactions occur in which
electrons are transferred from
one terminal to another. There is
a potential difference (voltage)
between these poles.
The maximum potential difference
a power source can have is
called the electromotive force
or (EMF), e. The term isn't
actually a force, simply the
amount of energy per charge
(J/C or V)
A Basic Circuit
All electric circuits have three main parts
1. A source of energy
2. A closed path
3. A device which uses the energy
If ANY part of the circuit is open the device will not work!
Electricity can be symbolic of Fluids
Circuits are very similar to water flowing through a pipe
A pump basically works on TWO
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES concerning its
flow
• There is a PRESSURE DIFFERENCE
where the flow begins and ends
• A certain AMOUNT of flow passes each
SECOND.
A circuit basically works on TWO
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
• There is a "POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
aka VOLTAGE" from where the charge
begins to where it ends
• The AMOUNT of CHARGE that flows
PER SECOND is called CURRENT.
Current
Current is defined as the rate at which charge
flows through a surface.
The current is in the same direction as the flow
of positive charge (for this course)
Note: The “I” stands
for intensity
There are 2 types of Current
DC = Direct Current - current flows in one direction
Example: Battery
AC = Alternating Current- current reverses direction many times per second.
This suggests that AC devices turn OFF and
ON. Example: Wall outlet (progress energy)
Resistance
Resistance (R) – is defined as the restriction of electron
flow. It is due to interactions that occur at the atomic
scale. For example, as electron move through a
conductor they are attracted to the protons on the
nucleus of the conductor itself. This attraction doesn’t
stop the electrons, just slow them down a bit and cause
the system to waste energy.
The unit for resistance is
the OHM, W
Ohm’s Law
“The voltage (potential difference, emf) is directly
related to the current, when the resistance is
constant”
V I
Voltage vs. Current
10
R = constant of proportionality 9
R = Resistance 7
Voltage(V)
6
V = IR 5 Voltage(V)
e = IR 3
Since R=V/I, the resistance is the 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
SLOPE of a V vs. I graph Current(Amps)
Ohm’s Law – Sample Problem
If a lightbulb is
connected in a
240V circuit, and it
has a resistance
of 60 ohms.. Find
the current flowing
in the lightbulb.
