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Energy · Electrical circuits

Ohm's Law

Before you start, make sure you know: Basic electric circuits (Secondary Year 2)

You plug in your cell phone charger and it works without a problem, but if you connected a tiny light bulb directly to a strong battery, it would burn out. How is what the battery "pushes" with related to what the bulb "holds back" and to the current that actually flows? There is a formula so useful that it has its own name: Ohm's law.

The formula: V = I R

In the lab, we connected a metal wire to several batteries and recorded the results: with $1.5\ \text{V}$, $0.25\ \text{A}$ flow; with $3\ \text{V}$, $0.50\ \text{A}$ pass through; with $4.5\ \text{V}$, $0.75\ \text{A}$ are measured. When we divide each voltage by its current, the result is always $6$. What law relates the push of the battery to the current that manages to flow?

From that same equation, the other two quantities can be solved for:

$$I = \frac{V}{R} \qquad\qquad R = \frac{V}{I}$$
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.

Solve
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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?

Solve
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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 current and the brightness of the bulb 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?

Solve
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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.

Solve
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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

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.
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.
Solve

The water analogy

Imagine an elevated tank that feeds a pipe, like a water tank on a rooftop. The height of the tank is the voltage, the flow rate is the current, and how narrow the pipe is represents the resistance.

Circuit Water
Voltage $V$ Height of the tank
Current $I$ Flow rate
Resistance $R$ Narrowness of the pipe

With the same height, a narrower pipe lets less water flow through. To get the flow rate back, you raise the tank: in the circuit, you increase the voltage.

Practice★★☆Not started
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
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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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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?
Solve

Resistors that do not obey Ohm's law

If we repeat the measurements with the filament of an incandescent light bulb, when we raise the voltage from $4\ \text{V}$ to $6\ \text{V}$ the current does not grow in the same proportion: it rises less than expected. Why does the relationship between voltage and current stop being constant in some devices?

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

Resistors one after another

When two resistors are placed on the same path, one after the other (in series), the current has to go through both. It is like narrowing the pipe in two sections: the total difficulty adds up.

Later, in the section on series and parallel circuits, you will see this in more detail.

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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

Protecting a circuit with a resistor

Diagram of a series circuit with a battery, a protective resistor, and an LED, showing the direction of conventional current protective R R battery + − LED direction of conventional current I
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A USB charger provides $5\ \text{V}$ and powers an accessory of $250\ \Omega$. Calculate the current it supplies and express it in amperes and in milliamperes.

A USB charger provides $5\ \text{V}$ and powers an accessory of $250\ \Omega$. Calculate the current it supplies and express it in amperes and in milliamperes.

Solve
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A resistor of $9\ \Omega$ requires $0.5\ \text{A}$ passing through it to operate correctly. a) What voltage needs to be applied to it? b) Will a $4.5\ \text{V}$ lantern…

A resistor of $9\ \Omega$ requires $0.5\ \text{A}$ passing through it to operate correctly.

  1. a) What voltage needs to be applied to it?
  2. b) Will a $4.5\ \text{V}$ lantern battery be suitable? Justify your answer with calculations.
Solve
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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

Go back to the beginning: the tiny light bulb would burn out with a strong battery because, with more voltage and the same resistance, the current grows in proportion ($I = V/R$) until it exceeds what the filament can withstand.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section