Ohm’s Law describes the relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) in a circuit: Voltage is directly proportional to current and directly proportional to resistance (V = IR). You can think of it as: “more voltage, more current, more resistance, less current
Here’s a breakdown:
- Voltage (V): The “push” or potential difference that drives the current through the circuit, measured in volts (V).
- Current (I): The flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A) or amps.
- Resistance (R): The opposition to the flow of current, measured in ohms (Ω).
Ohm’s Law Formula:
- V = IR: (Voltage equals Current times Resistance)
- I = V/R: (Current equals Voltage divided by Resistance)
- R = V/I: (Resistance equals Voltage divided by Current)
Think of it like water flowing through a pipe:
- Voltage: is like the water pressure.
- Current: is like the amount of water flowing per second.
- Resistance: is like the narrowness of the pipe or a kink in the hose.
How to use it:
- Identify what you know: Do you know the voltage and resistance, and need to find the current? Or, do you know the current and resistance, and need to find the voltage?
- Use the appropriate formula: Choose the formula that allows you to solve for the unknown variable.
- Plug in the values: Substitute the known values into the formula.
- Solve for the unknown: Perform the calculation to find the answer.
Example:
- If a circuit has 12 volts of voltage and 4 ohms of resistance, what is the current?
- Formula: I = V/R
- Plug in: I = 12V / 4Ω
- Solve: I = 3 Amps
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