Ohm's Law | Onondaga - Cortland - Madison Counties BOCES

Ohm's Law Reference Page

A) Ohm's Law Circle

   Ohm's Law:

   V = A x R

  Ohm's law is a mathematical relationship that exists among circuit voltage (V), current (A), and resistance (R).

Terms:

  V - Voltage is measured in "volts"

  A - Current is measured in "amps"

  R - resistance is measured in "ohms"

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Water Analogy:

  V is the "pressure" or "push" behind the circuit.

  A is the "flow" of electrons through the circuit.

  R is the "opposition" to the flow of electrons.

B. Series Circuits

Series Circuit Rules:

1. Current has ONE path to flow.

2. Rt = R1 + R2 + R3 +....
(Resistance add up.)

3. Circuit current is CONSTANT throughout the circuit.

4. There are voltage DROPS over each resistor.

5. If the current path is BROKEN, all current flow stops. (one light goes out, they all go out).

C. Parallel Circuit

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Parallel Circuit Rules

1. Has 2 or more paths for current to flow.

2. The current total is equal to the sum of each current path.
At = A1 = A2 + A3 +......

3. Voltage is CONSTANT over each load in the circuit.

4. Rt is 1 divided by the sum of the reciprocal of each resistor.
Rt = 1
1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3....

5. If one current path is broken, the current flows into the remaining paths. (if one light goes out, the others stay lit).

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