FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in ET 2 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND DEVICES Module No. 4

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 4

Ohm’s Law and Electrical Power and Energy

MODULE OVERVIEW

Knowledge of this module discusses the basic of circuit analysis. This module will present the relationship of
the basic electrical quantities such as the voltage, current and the resistance. The first topic presents the
Ohm’s law and its applications. The second topic will present the analysis involving power and energy.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to

1. state Ohm’s law
2. know how to apply Ohm’s law and perform some calculations involving this theory
3. calculate electrical power

4.1 OHM’S LAW

The main purpose of the analysis of electrical circuit is to determine the unknown quantities such as voltage,
current, resistance and power associated with one or more components in the circuit that will be used in
troubleshooting, design, and commissioning a system. One of the fundamental theories when it comes to
electric circuit is the Ohm’s law, named after the German physicist and mathematician Georg Simon Ohm.

Ohm’s law is a very important and useful equation in electric circuit theory. It precisely expresses the
relationship between current, voltage and resistance with a simple equation.

 Ohm’s law states that the current flowing through a conductor between two points is directly
proportional to the voltage across those two points.

Introducing the constant of proportionality which is the resistance, and in mathematical equations:

𝐼𝐼 = 𝑉𝑉�𝑅𝑅

where 𝐼𝐼 is the current flowing in a conductor in unit of ampere, 𝑉𝑉 is the voltage measured across the electrical
component with a unit of volt, and 𝑅𝑅 is the resistance of the component in units of ohms.

4.1.1 Memory aid for Ohm’s law

Using mathematics to manipulate equation of Ohm’s law, and solving for V and R, respectively, we can write
Ohm’s law in several different forms:

𝑉𝑉 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼; 𝐼𝐼 = 𝑉𝑉�𝑅𝑅 ; 𝑅𝑅 = 𝑉𝑉�𝐼𝐼

These three equations can be illustrated in figure 4.1.1 as a memory aid for Ohm’s law. By covering one of the
three variables from Ohm’s law in the diagram, we can get the right form of Ohm’s law to calculate the
unknown.

Figure 4.1. 1 Memory aid for Ohm's law (a) V= IR, (b) I = V/R, (c) R = V/I

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Study Guide in ET 2 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND DEVICES Module No. 4

4.1.2 Conductance form of Ohm’s law

The electrical quantity called conductance (G) is the measure of the degree to which a material conducts or
permits the current flow along a certain path through an electrical components, and the unit of electrical
conductance is Siemens (S), named after Ernst Werner von Siemens. Since electrical quantities are often
explained in terms of opposites, resistance is much more of used to compare conductance. Note that
conductance is the opposite of resistance with the following equation:

𝐺𝐺 = 1�𝑅𝑅

Ohm’s law can be written in terms of conductance as follows replacing the resistance:

𝐼𝐼 = 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺

4.1.3 Reference direction of current and voltage

When performing the circuit analysis, the actual current direction through a specific element may change, and
it is difficult to determine the actual current direction for an element.

First, assume an arbitrarily direction of the current as the reference direction of current. If the computed actual
current I > 0, then the direction is consistent with the reference current direction. If actual current I < 0, then
the direction is opposite to the reference current direction. As shown in figure 4.1.2, the solid arrowheads
indicate the reference direction of current and the dashed line arrows are the actual current direction.

Figure 4.1. 2 Reference direction of current

The voltage reference polarity is an assumption of choosing polarity which is similar to the current reference
direction, and with the resultant of voltage on a component is positive or greater than zero, the actual voltage
polarity is consistent with the assumed reference polarity. Other than that, then the voltage polarity is the
opposite sign or markings. Refer to figure 4.1.3.

Figure 4.1. 3 Reference polarity of voltage

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Study Guide in ET 2 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND DEVICES Module No. 4

Example Problem 1. An electric heating element has a resistance of 32 Ω and is connected to a

voltage of 240 V. How much current will flow in this circuit?

Solution to example problem 1.

Given:
R = 32 Ω, heating element resistance
V = 240 V, voltage source
Unknown I = ?

From the given, we can draw the schematic diagram of the circuit.

Using Ohm’s law with unknown I:

Substitute the values for V and R: 𝐼𝐼 = 𝑉𝑉�𝑅𝑅 = 240 𝑉𝑉�32 Ω

𝐼𝐼 = 7.5 𝐴𝐴

STUDY QUESTIONS 4.1

1. An EMF source of 120V is connected to a purely resistive lamp, and a current of 2 amperes flows in the
circuit. All the wires are resistance-free. What is the resistance of the lamp?

2. A 1.5 volt battery supplies power to a cordless curling iron with a resistance of 12 ohms. How much current
is flowing through the curling iron?

4.2 ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY

Ohm’s law can be used to calculate unknown electrical quantities such as resistance, voltage source and
current of a circuit. It can also be used to calculate voltage drop across a load or even wires in a circuit. Aside
from these applications of Ohm’s law, it can also be used to calculate circuit wattage or electric power.

The fundamental unit of measure for electrical power is watt (W) and is measured with an instrument called
wattmeter. Electrical power is the time rate at which a charge is moved by the voltage. And so, one watt is
equals the work accomplished in one second by one volt of potential difference in moving one coulomb of
charge. In mathematical form, electrical power (P) is

𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
𝑡𝑡
where Q is the electric charge in coulombs, t is for time in seconds, I is the flow of electric current in amperes
and V is for voltage or electric potential in volts.

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Study Guide in ET 2 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND DEVICES Module No. 4

Power is also dissipated in resistance in the form of heat and is made evident by a voltage drop across the
resistance. Electric power maybe calculated using the three basic formula derived from the Ohm’s law,
expressed as:

𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉

𝑃𝑃 = 𝐼𝐼 2 𝑅𝑅

2
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉 �𝑅𝑅
The electricity meter in houses records the number of kilowatt-hours used, thus, it is an energy meter.
Electrical energy means an energy form resulting from the flow of electric charge in a circuit. Energy is defined
as the ability to do work or apply force to move an object. Thus, it is expressed mathematically using:

𝑊𝑊 = 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝑙𝑙 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 = 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 × 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡

𝑊𝑊 = 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉

If the power is measured in watts and the time in seconds, then the unit of energy is a watt-seconds or joules.
The ‘unit of electricity’, which is kilowatt-hours, is the electric real power measured in kilowatts and the time in
hours.

Example Problem 2. In a simple circuit, suppose that the voltmeter reads 12 V across the
potentiometer and the ammeter shows 50 mA. What is the power dissipated by the potentiometer?

Solution to example problem 2:

Given:
V = 12 V, voltage drop across the potentiometer
I = 50 mA, ammeter reading
Unknown P = ?, power dissipated by the potentiometer

First, convert the current to amperes

𝐼𝐼 = 50 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 50 × 10−3 𝐴𝐴 = 0.05 𝐴𝐴

Use the formula

𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
Substitute the given values
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 = (12 𝑉𝑉)(0.05 𝐴𝐴)

𝑃𝑃 = 0.60 𝑊𝑊

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Study Guide in ET 2 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND DEVICES Module No. 4

STUDY QUESTIONS 4.2

Answer the following practice exercises. Show all work.

1. A simple circuit has a 12 V dc and a load of 120 ohms. Determine the power dissipated by the load.
2. What is the voltage drop across a given resistor if a wattmeter reads 20 watts on a 150 ohms resistor?
LEARNING ACTIVITY 4.2

Read Unit 2 of the resource Electrical Studies for Trades entitled “ Electrical Quantities, Ohm’s Law, and
Resistors”. As you read the text, answer Problem Set 2 and to be submitted on or before the agreed due date.
For other references, you may watch the multimedia resources as follows:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rSHqvjDksg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41-37Kv_ljw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cuNnN_Cop0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnsl-lIihdM

SUMMARY

Ohm’s law: It expresses the relationship between current I, voltage V and resistance R.

𝑉𝑉 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼; 𝐼𝐼 = 𝑉𝑉�𝑅𝑅 ; 𝑅𝑅 = 𝑉𝑉�𝐼𝐼

Conductance form of Ohm’s law: 𝐼𝐼 = 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺

2
Electrical Power: 𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 = 𝐼𝐼 2 𝑅𝑅 = 𝑉𝑉 �𝑅𝑅
Electrical Energy: 𝑊𝑊 = 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉

REFERENCES

Bird, J. (2017). Electrical and Electronic Principles and Technology, Sixth Edition. London and New York:
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. Retrieved June 21, 2020 from
https://www.pdfdrive.com/download.pdf?id=188035884&h=fa7d9aee189b0e07bbfebf40df074227&u=
cache&ext=pdf

Herman, S. L. (2010). Electrical Studies for Trades, Forth Edition. New York: Delmar, Cengage Learning.
Retrieved June 21, 2020 from
http://80.82.78.13/get.php?md5=9d7ae7c9f8c9be0b1450d84f45f04a89&key=F51VD48U6FCBO5SV&
mirr=1

Wang, M. (2010). Understandable Electric Circuits. London, United Kingdom : The Institution of Engineering
and Technology.

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