Hand-outs

Topic: Voltage, Current, and Resistance

Objectives
1. Distinguish between conventional current and electron flow.
2. Apply the relationship charge = current x time to new situations or to solve related
problems.
3. Describe the effect of temperature increase on the resistance of a metallic conductor.
4. Describe the ability of a material to conduct current in terms of resistivity and
conductivity.
5. Define electromotive force (EMF) as the work done by a source in driving a charge
unit around a complete circuit.
6. Use the relationship R = V/I.
7. Construct electric circuits using a schematic diagram.
8. Operate devices for measuring currents and voltage.
9. Differentiate ohmic and non-ohmic materials in terms of their I-V curves.

Current: Flow of Electrical Charges

Due to the electric potential energy, electrons move from one point to another. This
movement possible because of the electric field around the negative charge and this velocity
of motion is called as drift velocity. Electrons move to any direction, if this flow is regulated
and made to move continuously in one direction, then this becomes an electric current.
Thus, drift velocity and electric current are directly proportional. A higher drift velocity
results a higher amount of current, and vice versa. Increased repulsion among the electrons
that make up a current also causes higher current density and drift velocity. There is lower
current density and lower drift velocity if there is no repulsion that will push the charges
away from each other.

q
I=
t
Sample problem 1:
a. Compute the current produced by a +6.5 x 10−18 C charge flowing in 15 s.
−18
6.5 x 10 C −19
Solution: I = ≈ 4.33× 10 A
15 s

The amount of current is approximately 4.33 x 10-19 A.

b. A steady current of 0.6 A flows through a wire. How much charge passes through the
wire in 1 minute (min)?

Solution: q=It= (0.6 A) (60 s) = 36 C

In 1 min, a charge of 36 C will pass through the wire.

Exercise 4.1
1. Determine the amount of current produced by a charge of 4.55 x 10-17 C for 5 seconds
along a straight conductor.
2. Consider a current of 0.55 A flowing steadily through a conductor. How many charges
pass through the wire in a span of 2 minutes?
Resistance and Resistivity
An electric conductor is any material that allows the free flow of electric current. A
conductor possesses characteristics that either enhance or limit the flow of current passing
through it. The limitation to current flow is referred to as resistance. Resistance and electric
current are inversely proportional. A greater amount of resistance, a lower amount of current
passing through conductors, whereas a lower resistance, more current to flow through the
conductor.

Electrical resistivity is Electrical Temperature is another

an intrinsic property of conductivity is the factor or property of the
the material that counterpart of material that affects the
describes how it resists electrical resistivity. resistance and current
the electric current An increase in the flow. If conductors has a
flowing through it. electrical higher temperature, its
Higher electrical conductivity of the resistance increases and
resistivity means higher material results a the current decreases.
overall resistance of the lower resistance This happen because of
material, vice versa. offered by the the random movement of
Whereas, a decrease in material and a higher the molecules that affects
the resistivity allows current flow through the amount of current
more current to flow it, vice versa. flow.
through material.

Length of the conductor

Is another factor that affects the resistance offered by a material. Longer conductors
provide more resistance to the flow of current, which means less current can flow through it.
Shorter conductors provide less resistance, thus allowing more current to flow.

Cross-section area
Is the last factor to considered in conductors? “Fat” conductors allow more charges to
pass through them, which means more current can flow. More current flow also means lower
resistance offered by the conductors. While “thin” conductors have limited space to flow,
making resistance higher.

Table 4.1 Factors that affect resistance and current flow

Fig. 4.2 Electron drift velocity in a conductor

The resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of a conductor can be related to an equivalent
resistance through the equation

ρL
R=
A

Example Problem 2:
a. Compute the resistance of a conductor given a resistivity of 10.4 -m, length of 4 m,
and cross-sectional area of 7.85 ×10−3 m2.

( 10.4 Ω∙ m ) (4 m)
Solution: R= ≈ 5 299.36 Ω
7.85 ×10−3 m2

The resistance of the conductor is approximately 5 299.36 2.

b. A conductor has a diameter of 2.59 mm. How many meters of this material are needed
to yield a resistance of 1 Ω? The resistivity of the conductor is 1.77 ×10−8 Ω−m .

RA
Solution: L= =( 1 Ω ) (π )¿ ¿
ρ

To obtain a resistance of 1 Ω, approximately 297.66 m of the conductor is needed.

Exercise
1. Find the resistance of a 190-m titanium wire with a cross-sectional area of 0.55 mm2 (The
resistivity of titanium is 420 Ω -m.)
2. A piece of number 10 aluminum wire has a diameter of 2.59 mm. How many meters of
number 10 aluminum wire is needed to give a resistance of 1 Ω? (The resistivity of aluminum
2.8 ×10−8 Ω-m.)
Electromotive Force
Electromotive force or EMF is not a force. It is a potential energy given to a unit
charge to make it flow through a conductor or around a complete circuit. As a measurable
quantity, EMF is measured using the unit volts (V).

Potential Difference (PD)

It is similar to EMF. It is an actual consideration of the potentials of the circuit. PD
also identifies the flow of charges through the circuit and measured in terms of voltage (V).

Ohm’s Law
In 1827, He discovered the relationship among voltage, current, and
resistance. He found out that electricity acts similarly to water in a
pipe. Through this observation, he was able to summarize the
relationship among EMF or Voltage (V), electric current (I), and
resistance (R) through the Ohm’s Law. In the equation form, Ohm’s
Law is stated as follows:

V =IR

George Simon Ohm

(1789-1854)

Sample problem 3:
a. Using Ohm's law, solve for the electric current of a conductor given a voltage of 25 V
and a resistance of 10 Ω.

V 25 V
Solution: I = = ≈ 2.5 A
R 10 Ω
The current is approximately 2.5 A.

b. An electric water heater uses 15 A of current when plugged to a 220-V outlet. What is
the resistance provided by the appliance?

V 220 V
Solution: R= = ≈ 14.67 Ω
I 15 A

As it operates, the electric water heater provides a resistance of approximately 14.67

Ω.

Electric Circuits
It is a pathway for the current to move to and from the source and the appliances.
Closed circuit allows the current to flow from the source of the current to the load where
current is needed. All the components of the circuit are connected by a closed loop. On the
other hand, Open circuits does not form a close loop: resulting circuit will then be
nonfunctional. It has gap(s) where current cannot flow. Thus, the electric current cannot be
delivered to the load where it is needed. Notice the gap.
Schematic diagram makes it easy to draw circuits.

Table 4.3 Basic components of schematic diagrams of electric circuits

Resistor
It is an electronic component used to provide a specific amount of resistance.
Generally, it can be considered as a load provided resistance to flow. The components of a
circuit may be connected in series or in parallel.

The Series Circuit

Components are connected using a single pathway or characterized by a single loop
for current to flow. The current is the same for all the components along this circuit. The total
voltage is the sum of the individual voltages across the circuit, and the total resistance of the
circuit is the sum of the individual resistances of each circuit load. However, the PD of
voltage is not the same as the total voltage.
V total=V 1+V 2 +V 3 +. . .+V 11
I total =I 1=I 2 =I 3=.. .=I 11
Rtotal=R 1+ R 2+ R 3+ .. .+ R11

Sample problem 4:
Compute the individual values and the total values of the voltage, the current, and the
resistance of the series circuit here.
Solution: The total resistance in the circuit is computed as follows:

Rtotal =6 Ω+3 Ω=9 Ω

Because the total voltage is 20 V, you can compute the total current as follows:

V total 20 V
I total = = ≈ 2.22 A
Rtotal 9 Ω

Because the type of connection is a series circuit, I 1 is 2.22 A and I 2 is also 2.22 A. From
these values, you have
V 1=( 22.2 A ) ( 6 Ω ) ≈13.32 V
V 2=( 22.2 A ) ( 3 Ω ) ≈ 6.66 V

The Parallel Circuit

Parallel circuit use branches to allow current to pass through more than one path. The
voltage between two points in the circuit does not depend on the path taken; thus, the
individual voltages in a parallel circuit are the same as the total voltage. Always remember
that the total value resistance is always less than the individual resistances.

V total =V 1+V 2 +V 3 +. . .+V 11

I total=I 1=I 2 =I 3=.. .=I 11
1 1 1 1 1
= + + +. . .+
R total R1 R 2 R 3 R 11

Sample problem
Compute the individual values and the total values of the voltage, the current. and the
resistance of the parallel circuit here.

Solution: The total resistance of the circuit is computed as follows:

1 1 1 3
= + =
R total 2 Ω 4 Ω 4 Ω
4
Rtotal= Ω≈ 1.33 Ω
3
Because the total voltage is 15 V and the resistors are connected in parallel, then V 1 is 15 V
and V 2, is also 15 V. Then you have

15 V
I 1= ≈7.5 A
2Ω
15 V
I 2= ≈ 3.75 A
4Ω

Finally, you can compute the total current as follows:

V total 15 V
I total= ≈ ≈ 11.28 A
Rtotal 1.33 Ω

Ohmic and Non-Ohmic Materials

 Ohmic Components
It shows the relationship between and current as in Ohm’s Law. This means that the way
these components behave in a circuit can be predicted using the said law. Furthermore, the
important factors to consider for ohmic components as these placed in a circuit are voltage,
current, and resistance. Examples are resistors and ordinary conducting wires.
 Non-Ohmic Components
These components do not behave as ohmic components. Ohm’s law does not apply in the
way these components operate; thus, other factors are considered when these components are
placed in a circuit. Examples of non-ohmic components are bulb filaments and
semiconductors such as transistors and diodes.