Ohms Law

Objective:
TSW understand the concepts of Voltage,
Current, and Resistance by developing and
applying Ohms Law.
Circuit simulation
R
V
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
V = Voltage = A potential difference that motivates
charge to flow. The pump. (units: V = J/C)
I = current = The amount of charge that flows per
unit time. (units: C/s = Amps A)
R = Resistance = A property of the material that
resists the flow of current. (units: Ohms = V/A)
Lets learn how these three quantities are related
by imaging different Voltages with a constant
Resistance.
Predict the current with a large voltage and a small resistance:
V
and R
I
Predict the current with a small voltage and a large resistance:
R
and V I
Lets come up with an equation for the current (I)
that related to the Voltage (V) and Resistance (R):
A large voltage (V) with a small resistance (R) results in a large
current (I).
V
and R
I
A small voltage (V) with a large resistance (R) results in a small
current (I).
R
and V I
I =
V
R
= I
V
R
=I
V
R
This equation can be rearranged to form Ohms Law:
R
V
I =
IR V =
Here are some graphs that represent
the relationship:
V
I
R
IR V =
I
R
R
V
I =
When we talk about electricity we often refer to the
quantity power.
Lets define power as it relates to an electrical circuit.
The power is large when a large voltage (V) is used to
produce a large current flow (I).
IV P =
Power is the rate at which energy is used. Units: (J/s =Watt)
Check out the units:
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
C
J
s
C
) (W Watt
s
J
= =
The power equation can be combined with Ohms Law to
give several variations in order calculate the power.
IV P =
R I P
IR I P
2
) (
=
=
IR V =
IV P =
I
R
V
=
R
V
P
V
R
V
P
2
) (
=
=
Example 1: A 60W/120V light bulb is connected to a 120V power supply.
What is the resistance of the light bulb and the current flowing in the circuit?
A I
I
IV P
5 . 0
) 120 ( 60
=
=
=
O =
=
=
240
) 5 . 0 ( 120
R
R
IR V
The same 60W/120V light bulb is connected to a 240V power supply. What will
be different from the calculations above?
Since resistance is a property of the light bulb it will be the same as above,
but the current and power of the bulb will be greater.
A I
I
IR V
1
) 240 ( 240
=
=
=
W P
P
IV P
240
) 240 )( 1 (
=
=
=
Circuit Analysis

Objective: TSW will apply voltage, current and
resistance to predict the behavior of various
circuits by completing a VIP chart.
Series Circuit
Current is the same.
Voltage is split.
When one bulb goes out, all go out
Greatest resistance is the brightest.
R
s
=R
1
+R
2
+R
3
+...
i s
R R =




R
2

R
3

24V
R
1

I
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Series Circuit
R
1
=3
R
2
=
5

R
3
=4
24V
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Series Circuit
R
1
=2
R
2
=
3

R
3
=5
12V
Parallel Circuit
Voltage is the same.
Current is split.
When one bulb goes out, others stay the same.
Least resistance is the brightest
1/R
p
=1/R
1
+1/R
2
+1/R
3
+
i p
R R
1 1
=




R
1






R
3
12V





R
2

I
3

I
2

I
1

I
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Parallel Circuit
R
1
=
5

R
3
=
1
0

12V
R
2
=
2

12V
R
1
=
5

R
3
=
1
0

Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Parallel Circuit
R
1
=
3

R
3
=
4

24V
R
2
=
8

Combined Circuits
Map the currents. Currents divide at junctions
Find the total resistance. Start with resistors in series.
Resistors in series have the same current flowing
through them.
Resistors in parallel have the same voltage (potential
difference)
Use Ohms law to find the main current.
Use the loop rule to find the voltage (potential difference)
across individual resistors.
Use proportional thinking to find the current flowing
through individual resistors.
Complete the VIP chart.
Check: The power of individual resistors should always
add to the power of the battery.
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Parallel Circuit
R
2
=
4

R
1
=4
R
3
=
4

12V
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Parallel Circuit
R
2
=
2

R
1
=
4

R
3
=
3

12V
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Parallel Circuit
R
2
=
1

R
1
=
3

R
3
=
8

15V
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

Parallel Circuit
R
2
=
3

R
1
=2
R
3
=
5

24V
Each resister represents a light bulb. Complete the VIP chart
in order to rank the brightness of the bulbs.
V I P
Batt
R
1

R
2

R
3

R
4

Parallel Circuit
R
1
=2
R
3
=
1

28V
R
4
=
2

R
2
=
3