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3rd Year · Science
Energy · Electrical circuits

Ohm's law

You already know that potential difference (voltage) pushes, resistance holds back and current is what flows. Picture a torch in the dark on a camping trip near Killarney: why does its bulb get dimmer when the cell is weak? The three quantities are linked by a formula so useful that it has a name of its own: Ohm's law. We will come back to the torch at the end.

The formula: V = I·R

In a school practical we connect a metal wire to several cells, vary the potential difference, measure the current and record the results: at $1.5\ \text{V}$ a current of $0.25\ \text{A}$ flows; at $3\ \text{V}$, $0.50\ \text{A}$ passes; at $4.5\ \text{V}$, $0.75\ \text{A}$ is measured. When we divide each voltage by its current, the result is always $6$. What universal mathematical law links the push of the cell to the current that manages to flow?

The laboratory measurements from the start: voltage against current. The three points lie on a straight line through the origin and V / I is always 6 Ω. I (A) V (V) 0.250.50.75 1.534.5 1.5 / 0.25 = 3 / 0.50 = 4.5 / 0.75 = 6 slope of the line: R = 6 Ω

From that same equation we can rearrange to find the other two quantities:

$$I = \frac{V}{R} \qquad\qquad R = \frac{V}{I}$$
Practice★☆☆Not started
Write down the formula for Ohm's law and state what quantity each letter represents, specifying the unit in which each is measured.

Write down the formula for Ohm's law and state what quantity each letter represents, specifying the unit in which each is measured.

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A current of $2\ \text{A}$ flows through a resistor of $5\ \Omega$. What is the voltage across its ends?

A current of $2\ \text{A}$ flows through a resistor of $5\ \Omega$. What is the voltage across its ends?

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A light bulb of $6\ \Omega$ is connected to a $12\ \text{V}$ battery. What current passes through it?

A light bulb of $6\ \Omega$ is connected to a $12\ \text{V}$ battery. What current passes through it?

Solve

Calculating voltage, current or resistance

Depending on which quantity is missing, we use one of the three forms of the formula. Play with the interactive and notice how the ammeter and voltmeter readings change as you move the sliders.

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When connecting the motor of a toy boat to a $9\ \text{V}$ battery, a current of $3\ \text{A}$ passes through it. What is the resistance of the motor?

When connecting the motor of a toy boat to a $9\ \text{V}$ battery, a current of $3\ \text{A}$ passes through it. What is the resistance of the motor?

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A light bulb of $300\ \Omega$ is connected to a $9\ \text{V}$ battery. Calculate the current passing through it and express the result in amperes and in milliamperes.

A light bulb of $300\ \Omega$ is connected to a $9\ \text{V}$ battery. Calculate the current passing through it and express the result in amperes and in milliamperes.

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A current of $300\ \text{mA}$ flows through the buzzer of a doorbell connected to $4.5\ \text{V}$. a) Express this current in amperes. b) Calculate the resistance of the…

A current of $300\ \text{mA}$ flows through the buzzer of a doorbell connected to $4.5\ \text{V}$.

  1. a) Express this current in amperes.
  2. b) Calculate the resistance of the buzzer.
Solve
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We want a current of $1.2\ \text{A}$ to flow through a light bulb of $10\ \Omega$. a) What voltage needs to be applied to it? b) If we only have a $6\ \text{V}$ battery,…

We want a current of $1.2\ \text{A}$ to flow through a light bulb of $10\ \Omega$.

  1. a) What voltage needs to be applied to it?
  2. b) If we only have a $6\ \text{V}$ battery, what resistance should the bulb have for the same current to flow?
Solve

What happens if I change the voltage or the resistance

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A circuit has a $6\ \text{V}$ battery and a resistor of $3\ \Omega$. a) Calculate the current that flows. b) If we replace the resistor with one of $6\ \Omega$, what is…

A circuit has a $6\ \text{V}$ battery and a resistor of $3\ \Omega$.

  1. a) Calculate the current that flows.
  2. b) If we replace the resistor with one of $6\ \Omega$, what is the current now?
  3. c) Explain what happens to the current when the resistance is doubled while keeping the same battery.
Solve
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A certain current flows when a $5\ \text{V}$ battery is connected to a resistor of $10\ \Omega$. a) Calculate it. b) What current would flow with a $10\ \text{V}$…

A certain current flows when a $5\ \text{V}$ battery is connected to a resistor of $10\ \Omega$.

  1. a) Calculate it.
  2. b) What current would flow with a $10\ \text{V}$ battery and the same resistance?
  3. c) How does the current change when the voltage is doubled? Relate this to Ohm's law.
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Two light bulbs, one of $45\ \Omega$ and another of $90\ \Omega$, are connected separately to the same $9\ \text{V}$ battery. a) Calculate the current passing through…

Two light bulbs, one of $45\ \Omega$ and another of $90\ \Omega$, are connected separately to the same $9\ \text{V}$ battery.

  1. a) Calculate the current passing through each one.
  2. b) Which one shines brighter? Reason your answer by relating resistance and current.
Solve
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Andrea says: "If we double the voltage, the current also doubles." Bruno replies: "No, it is halved." a) Who is right if the resistance does not change? b) Verify it by…

Andrea says: "If we double the voltage, the current also doubles." Bruno replies: "No, it is halved."

  1. a) Who is right if the resistance does not change?
  2. b) Verify it by calculating the current passing through a resistor of $8\ \Omega$ with $8\ \text{V}$ and with $16\ \text{V}$.
  3. c) Write a sentence summarizing the relationship between voltage and current according to Ohm's law.
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Using a $9\ \text{V}$ battery, we measure the current for several resistors: with $3\ \Omega$, $3\ \text{A}$ flows; with $9\ \Omega$, $1\ \text{A}$; and with…

Using a $9\ \text{V}$ battery, we measure the current for several resistors: with $3\ \Omega$, $3\ \text{A}$ flows; with $9\ \Omega$, $1\ \text{A}$; and with $18\ \Omega$, $0.5\ \text{A}$.

  1. a) Verify that the three measurements satisfy Ohm's law.
  2. b) Predict the current for a resistance of $45\ \Omega$.
  3. c) What resistance would need to be connected for $0.1\ \text{A}$ to flow?
Solve
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Use the hydraulic analogy (height of the tank = voltage, flow rate = current, narrowness of the pipe = resistance): a) Explain why increasing the resistance of a circuit…

Use the hydraulic analogy (height of the tank = voltage, flow rate = current, narrowness of the pipe = resistance):

  1. a) Explain why increasing the resistance of a circuit decreases the current if the voltage does not change.
  2. b) Check this with numbers: calculate the current for a $12\ \text{V}$ battery with resistances of $6\ \Omega$ and $12\ \Omega$.
  3. c) After "narrowing the pipe", what could you do to the "tank" to recover the initial flow rate? What does this correspond to in the circuit?
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Resistors that do not obey Ohm's law

If we repeat the previous practical but connect the filament of a traditional bulb, we find that when we double the voltage from $3\ \text{V}$ to $6\ \text{V}$ the current does not double, but rises much less than expected. Why does the relationship between voltage and current stop being constant in some devices?

Graph of current against voltage comparing the straight line of an ohmic resistor with the curve of an incandescent bulb, which flattens as the voltage rises current I (A) voltage V (V) 0 resistor: straight line I proportional to V bulb: curves resistance increases

Take care with the axes: in the first graph of this page V is on the vertical axis, so the slope is $R$. In the graph above, I is on the vertical axis, so for an ohmic resistor the slope is $1/R$ and a steeper line means a smaller resistance. The bulb's curve has no single slope: it gets flatter as the voltage rises, so its resistance increases. If a point does not fit the pattern, it may be an anomalous reading.

Other components are not ohmic either. A diode or LED lets current flow easily in one direction only, and the resistance of an LDR (light-dependent resistor) falls as more light shines on it. We only describe these here, with no calculations.

Practice★★★Not started
We measure the current passing through a resistor by applying different voltages, as shown in the graph: with $2\ \text{V}$, $0.5\ \text{A}$ flows; with $4\ \text{V}$,…

We measure the current passing through a resistor by applying different voltages, as shown in the graph: with $2\ \text{V}$, $0.5\ \text{A}$ flows; with $4\ \text{V}$, $1\ \text{A}$; and with $6\ \text{V}$, $1.5\ \text{A}$.

2468 0.511.5 Voltage (V)Current (A) R = ?
  1. a) Calculate the value of the resistance in each measurement.
  2. b) What do you conclude?
  3. c) Predict the current we will measure if we apply $12\ \text{V}$.
Solve
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In an experiment with a filament light bulb, you obtain the following results, as shown in the graph: with $2\ \text{V}$, $0.5\ \text{A}$ flows; with $4\ \text{V}$,…

In an experiment with a filament light bulb, you obtain the following results, as shown in the graph: with $2\ \text{V}$, $0.5\ \text{A}$ flows; with $4\ \text{V}$, $0.8\ \text{A}$; and with $6\ \text{V}$, $1\ \text{A}$.

Current versus voltage graph for a filament light bulb 2 4 6 8 0.5 1 1.5 Voltage (V) Current (A)
  1. a) Calculate the apparent resistance of the light bulb in each case.
  2. b) Does the light bulb obey Ohm's law, that is, does it keep its resistance constant?
  3. c) Knowing that the filament glows red-hot when lit, propose an explanation for what was observed.
Solve

Protecting a circuit with a resistor

Diagram of a series circuit with a cell, a protective resistor and an LED, showing the direction of the current protective R R cell + − LED conventional direction of current I
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The wire of a scale model melts if more than $2\ \text{A}$ flows through it, and we power it with a $12\ \text{V}$ battery. a) What is the minimum resistance the circuit…

The wire of a scale model melts if more than $2\ \text{A}$ flows through it, and we power it with a $12\ \text{V}$ battery.

  1. a) What is the minimum resistance the circuit must have so that the wire does not melt?
  2. b) What happens if we use a resistor of $4\ \Omega$? Justify your answer with calculations.
Solve
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A toy LED can take a maximum of $0.02\ \text{A}$; if more current passes through it, it burns out. We connect it to a $9\ \text{V}$ battery with a protective resistor in…

A toy LED can take a maximum of $0.02\ \text{A}$; if more current passes through it, it burns out. We connect it to a $9\ \text{V}$ battery with a protective resistor in the same path, as shown in the figure.

9 VR = ?LED
  1. a) What is the minimum value this resistor must have?
  2. b) What would happen if we connected the LED directly to the battery without a resistor? Explain using Ohm's law.
Solve
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An unknown resistor is connected to a $24\ \text{V}$ battery, and the ammeter reads $1.5\ \text{A}$, as shown in the figure. a) Calculate the value of the resistance. b)…

An unknown resistor is connected to a $24\ \text{V}$ battery, and the ammeter reads $1.5\ \text{A}$, as shown in the figure.

A 24 VR = ?1.5 A
  1. a) Calculate the value of the resistance.
  2. b) What would the ammeter read if we changed to a $8\ \text{V}$ battery?
  3. c) Returning to the $24\ \text{V}$ battery, we place a second identical resistor after the first one along the same path. Reason what happens to the total resistance and calculate the new current.
Solve

Summary

See all the exercises in this section