Ohm Law
Contents
What is ohm’s law
In the electrical field, Ohm’s law is a very important topic. This law is asked in almost all interviews and as basic fundamentals of electrical engineering for all who related to electrical engineering. This is a very important fundamental law that describes the Relation between Current, Voltage, and Resistance.
There are three main quantities present in Electricity. An electrical circuit is made by these three Quantities Current (I), Voltage(V), and Resistance(R). There is no imagine the electrical circuit without anyone thing of them. And one other essential quantity is Load. Because the current is flowing only if there is any load connected with the circuit.
Ohm’s law is given by a German mathematician George Simon Ohm, who formulated the law known after his name as Ohm’s law.
Ohm’s law definition
Ohm’ law states that if physical conditions (like- temperature, pressure, length, etc) are constant, then the voltage across the two terminals of conducting material is proportional to the current flowing through it.
Ohm’s law formula
Ohm’ law is expressed as V∝I
In the given fig when we connect a battery across the conductor then an electric field E is created and electrons move to the reverse direction of the electrical field.
If I consider a cross-sectional area in a conductor, Then the number of total charges passed across a cross-sectional area in one second, which is called Current in the conductor. Now if I increase the potential difference across the conductor, The electric field and magnitude are also increased and the forces of electrons are also increased and the magnitude of electrons is so increased. Now the all free electrons will move with more speed. That means the number of electrons that were crossed across the cross-sectional area will now be increased and a large number of electrons cross across the cross-sectional area of a conductor in one second. And we can say that the current is increased across that cross-sectional area.
If the potential difference increased by doubled then the current will also be doubled and the potential difference is increased 3 times then the current will also be increased by 3 times. so we can say that the Voltage (potential diff) is directly proportional to the current (I). V∝I if we replace the proportionality sign by = we need to place a constant. here R is the constant of proportionality that can be placed here. So V= I.R, R is resistance. Means R is in the circuit provided R is kept constant. Resistance is a fixed quantity of a particular conductor.
But if i change the conductor material then the Resistance will also be changed. Also when I changed the length or thickness of the conductor then Resistance will also be changed.
V is the s. I unit of potential difference and Ω is the s.I unit of resistance. And I is the si unit of current. Ohm’s law is used to find the current, Voltage, and Resistance in a circuit.
How we use the ohm’ law
For example, in the given diagram a 9v battery is directly connected with an LED. This Yellow LED works with the 3v (only for example actual voltage for the yellow LED may different) and 20ma current, But in the diagram, the applied voltage is higher than required. If I give more power than this the LED will burn as shown in fig. So I need to drop the voltage and current as suitable with LED.
Given
LED voltage = 3v
Supply voltage = 12v
LED current = 20ma
We need to drop the voltage for LED = 12-3 = 9v, It means we need to reduce 9v from 12v battery. So Take here V= 9v,
Then V = I.R
20ma = 0.02A (1A=1000ma)
9= 0.02 . R, and R = 450Ω, It means we need to add a minimum of 450 Ω resistor with the LED for Proper working.
This Relationship between current-voltage, Resistance is not applied to all non-metallic conductors. It does not apply to non-linear devices such as Zener diodes.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Ohm’s Law?
A: Ohm’s Law is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering and physics that relates the voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit. It states that the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it and inversely proportional to the resistance of the conductor.
Q: What is the mathematical equation for Ohm’s Law?
A: Ohm’s Law is expressed using the equation: V = I * R
Where: V represents the voltage across the conductor, I represents the current flowing through the conductor, and R represents the resistance of the conductor.
Q: What are the units of measurement for voltage, current, and resistance?
A: Voltage is measured in volts (V), current is measured in amperes (A), and resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
Q: How can Ohm’s Law be used to calculate different values in a circuit?
A: Ohm’s Law can be used to calculate any one of the three variables (voltage, current, or resistance) if the other two are known. Here are some examples:
- To calculate voltage (V): V = I * R If the current (I) and resistance (R) are known, you can calculate the voltage.
- To calculate current (I): I = V / R If the voltage (V) and resistance (R) are known, you can calculate the current.
- To calculate resistance (R): R = V / I If the voltage (V) and current (I) are known, you can calculate the resistance.
Q: How does Ohm’s Law apply to series and parallel circuits?
A: In a series circuit, the total resistance (RT) is the sum of the individual resistances, and the total current (IT) is the same across all components. Ohm’s Law can be applied to calculate the voltage drop across each resistor.
In a parallel circuit, the total resistance (RT) is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual resistances, and the total current (IT) is the sum of the currents through each branch. Ohm’s Law can be used to calculate the current flowing through each resistor.
Q: Are there any limitations or assumptions when using Ohm’s Law?
A: Ohm’s Law assumes that the conductor or component being analyzed follows Ohm’s Law linearly, meaning that its resistance remains constant with respect to voltage and current. In some cases, such as with non-linear elements like diodes or transistors, Ohm’s Law may not be applicable. Additionally, Ohm’s Law assumes ideal conditions and may not account for factors like temperature, non-ideal connections, or internal resistance of voltage sources.
Q: Can Ohm’s Law be applied to alternating current (AC) circuits?
A: Ohm’s Law can be applied to AC circuits; however, additional considerations must be taken into account due to the complex nature of AC voltage and current, including impedance (a combination of resistance and reactance) and the concept of phase angles. In AC circuits, Ohm’s Law is used in conjunction with other laws and formulas to analyze and calculate circuit behavior.
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