Ohm's Law

Ohm's Law Calculator

Ohm's Law Pyramid

Introduction

Ohm’s Law is a fundamental principle in the field of electrical engineering and physics. It describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit. This law is essential for understanding how electrical circuits operate and is widely used in both theoretical and practical applications.

What is Ohm’s Law?

Ohm’s Law states that the current (I) flowing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance (R) of the conductor. The mathematical representation of Ohm’s Law is:

Formula:

V = I * R

Formula Breakdown:

This equation allows you to calculate any one of the three variables if you know the values of the other two. Here's a breakdown of how the equation can be used in different scenarios:

Examples

Example 1: Calculating Current (I)

Problem: A circuit has a voltage of 12 volts (V) and a resistance of 6 ohms (Ω). What is the current flowing through the circuit?

Solution: Use the formula I = V / R

I = 12V / 6Ω

I = 2A

Answer: The current flowing through the circuit is 2 amperes (A).

Example 2: Calculating Voltage (V)

Problem: A circuit has a current of 3 amperes (A) and a resistance of 8 ohms (Ω). What is the voltage across the circuit?

Solution: Use the formula V = I × R

V = 3A × 8Ω

V = 24V

Answer: The voltage across the circuit is 24 volts (V).

Example 3: Calculating Resistance (R)

Problem: A circuit has a voltage of 15 volts (V) and a current of 5 amperes (A). What is the resistance in the circuit?

Solution: Use the formula R = V / I

R = 15V / 5A

R = 3Ω

Answer: The resistance in the circuit is 3 ohms (Ω).

Example 4: Series Circuit Calculation

Problem: In a series circuit with a total voltage of 18 volts (V) and resistances of 2 ohms (Ω), 3 ohms (Ω), and 4 ohms (Ω), what is the current flowing through the circuit?

Solution: First, find the total resistance Rtotal by summing the individual resistances:

Rtotal = 2Ω + 3Ω + 4Ω

Rtotal = 9Ω

Now, use Ohm's Law to calculate the current:

I = V / Rtotal

I = 18V / 9Ω

I = 2A

Answer: The current flowing through the series circuit is 2 amperes (A).

Example 5: Parallel Circuit Calculation

Problem: In a parallel circuit with a voltage of 10 volts (V) and resistances of 5 ohms (Ω) and 10 ohms (Ω), what is the total current flowing through the circuit?

Solution: First, find the total resistance Rtotal using the formula for parallel resistances:

1 / Rtotal = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2

1 / Rtotal = 1 / 5Ω + 1 / 10Ω

1 / Rtotal = 2 / 10Ω + 1 / 10Ω

1 / Rtotal = 3 / 10Ω

Rtotal = 10Ω / 3

Rtotal ≈ 3.33Ω

Now, use Ohm's Law to calculate the total current:

I = V / Rtotal

I = 10V / 3.33Ω

I ≈ 3A

Answer: The total current flowing through the parallel circuit is approximately 3 amperes (A).

Importance of Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s Law is crucial for designing and analyzing electrical and electronic circuits. It helps engineers and technicians to:

Limitations of Ohm’s Law

While Ohm’s Law is widely applicable, it has limitations. It is only valid for linear, ohmic materials where the resistance remains constant regardless of the voltage and current. Some materials and components, such as diodes and transistors, do not follow Ohm’s Law as their resistance changes with voltage and current.