Course AC 6 – Basic Electrical Engineering

Sem/AY First Semester/2020-2021

Module No. 2
Lesson Title Ohm’s Law, Electrical Power and Electrical Energy.
Week
3
Duration
Date
Description This lesson is focused on the discussion on the first and perhaps the most important
of the law in the field of electrical engineering, the Ohm’s Law. Relationship between current,
Lesson voltage, and resistance and how this relationship affect the Electrical Power and
Energy. The factors that affect the resistance of a given medium will also give
emphasize on this lesson.

Learning Outcomes
Intended Students should be able to meet the following intended learning outcomes:
Learning ● To understand the relationship between voltage, current and resistance.
Outcomes ● know the importance and application of Ohm’s Law in solving basic electrical
circuit problem.
● To understand the difference between Electrical Power and Electrical Energy.
Targets/ At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Objectives ● apply Ohm’s Law in solving simple electrical circuits
● apply energy consumption in computing electricity bill.

Student Learning Strategies

Online Activities A. Online Discussion via Google Meet

(Synchronous/ You will be directed to attend in a two-hour class discussion on Ohm’s
Law, Electrical Power and Electrical Energy. To have access to the online
Asynchronous) discussion, refer to this link: ____________________.

The online discussion will happen on , from

(For further instructions, refer to your Google Classroom and see the
schedule of activities for this module)

Some useful links for YouTube lectures:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rSHqvjDksg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei3SMYW9tyw&t=102s
 B. Learning Guide Questions:
1. What is Ohm’s Law? Who formulated it and how does it help in solving
electrical circuits?
2. What is the relationship between current, voltage and resistance in a
given electrical circuit?
3. In what terms the electrical power and electrical energy differs?

Note: The insight that you will post on online discussion forum using Learning Management
System (LMS) will receive additional scores in class participation.

Offline Activities
(e-Learning/Self- Lecture Guide
Paced)
Introduced basic concepts such as current, voltage, and power in an electric
circuit. To actually determine the values of these variables in a given circuit
requires that we understand some fundamental law that govern electric
circuits. This law, known as Ohm’s law, form the foundation upon which
electric circuit analysis is built.

● OHM’S LAW
This law applies to electric conduction through good conductors and may be
stated as follows:
The ratio of potential difference (V) between any two points on a conductor to
the current (I) flowing between them, is constant, provided the temperature of
the conductor does not change.
In other words,

where R is the resistance of the conductor between the two points considered.
Put in another way, it simply means that provided R is kept constant, current is
directly proportional to the potential difference across the ends of a conductor.
However, this linear relationship between V and I do not apply to all non-
metallic conductors. For example, for silicon carbide, the relationship is given
by V = KIm where K and m are constants and m is less than unity. It also does
not apply to non-linear devices such as Zener diodes and voltage-regulator
(VR) tubes.

Georg Simon Ohm (1787–1854), a German physicist, is credited with finding

the relationship between current and voltage for a resistor. This relationship is
known as Ohm’s law.
Brief History…
Georg Simon Ohm (1787–1854), a German
physicist, in 1826 experimentally determined the
most basic law relating voltage and current for a
resistor. Ohm’s work was initially denied by
critics.
Born of humble beginnings in Erlangen, Bavaria,
Ohm threw himself into electrical research. His
efforts resulted in his famous law.
He was awarded the Copley Medal in 1841 by the
Royal Society of London. In 1849, he was given
the Professor of Physics chair by the University of
Munich. To honor him, the unit of resistance was
named the ohm.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Georg_Simon_Ohm3.jpg

Andre-Marie Ampere (1775–1836), a French mathematician and physicist,

laid the foundation of electrodynamics. He
defined the electric current and developed a way
to measure it in the 1820s. Born in Lyons,
France, Ampere at age 12 mastered Latin in a
few weeks, as he was intensely interested in
mathematics and many of the best mathematical
works were in Latin. He was a brilliant scientist
and a prolific writer. He formulated the laws of
electromagnetics. He invented the electromagnet
and the ammeter. The unit of electric current, the
ampere, was named after him.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Ampere_Andre_1825.jpg

Alessandro Antonio Volta (1745–1827), an Italian physicist, invented the

electric battery—which provided the first continuous flow of electricity—and
the capacitor. Born into a noble family in Como, Italy, Volta was performing
electrical experiments at age 18. His invention of the battery in 179
revolutionized the use of electricity. The publication of his work in 1800
marked the beginning of electric circuit theory. Volta received many honors
during his lifetime. The unit of voltage or potential difference, the volt, was
named in his honor.
 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Alessandro_Volta.jpeg

Units of Measurement: Volt, Amp, and Ohm

To be able to make meaningful statements about these quantities in circuits, we

need to be able to describe their quantities in the same way that we might
quantify mass, temperature, volume, length, or any other kind of physical
quantity. For mass we might use the units of “kilogram” or “gram.” For
temperature, we might use degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius. Here are the
standard units of measurement for electrical current, voltage, and resistance

The “symbol” given for each quantity is the standard alphabetical letter used to
represent that quantity in an algebraic equation. Standardized letters like these
are common in the disciplines of physics and engineering and are
internationally recognized. The “unit abbreviation” for each quantity
represents the alphabetical symbol used as a shorthand notation for its
particular unit of measurement. And, yes, that strange-looking “horseshoe”
symbol is the capital Greek letter Ω, just a character in a foreign alphabet
(apologies to any Greek readers here).
Each unit of measurement is named after a famous experimenter in electricity:
The amp after the Frenchman Andre M. Ampere, the volt after the Italian
Alessandro Volta, and the ohm after the German Georg Simon Ohm.
The mathematical symbol for each quantity is meaningful as well. The “R” for
resistance and the “V” for voltage are both self-explanatory, whereas “I” for
current seems a bit weird. The “I” is thought to have been meant to represent
“Intensity” (of charge flow), and the other symbol for voltage, “E,” stands for
“Electromotive force.” From what research I’ve been able to do, there seems to
be some dispute over the meaning of “I.” The symbols “E” and “V” are
interchangeable for the most part, although some texts reserve “E” to represent
voltage across a source (such as a battery or generator) and “V” to represent
voltage across anything else.
All of these symbols are expressed using capital letters, except in cases where a
quantity (especially voltage or current) is described in terms of a brief period
of time (called an “instantaneous” value). For example, the voltage of a battery,
which is stable over a long period of time, will be symbolized with a capital
letter “E,” while the voltage peak of a lightning strike at the very instant it hits a
power line would most likely be symbolized with a lower-case letter “e” (or
lower-case “v”) to designate that value as being at a single moment in time.
This same lower-case convention holds true for current as well, the lower-case
letter “i” representing current at some instant in time. Most direct-current (DC)
measurements, however, being stable over time, will be symbolized with
capital letters.

Analyzing Simple Circuits with Ohm’s Law

Let’s see how these equations might work to help us analyze simple circuits:

In the above circuit, there is only one source of voltage (the battery, on the left)
and only one source of resistance to current (the lamp, on the right). This
makes it very easy to apply Ohm’s Law. If we know the values of any two of the
three quantities (voltage, current, and resistance) in this circuit, we can use
Ohm’s Law to determine the third.
In this first example, we will calculate the amount of current (I) in a circuit,
given values of voltage (V) and resistance (R):

What is the amount of current (I) in this circuit?

In this second example, we will calculate the amount of resistance (R) in a

circuit, given values of voltage (V) and current (I):

What is the amount of resistance (R) offered by the lamp?

In the last example, we will calculate the amount of voltage supplied by a

battery, given values of current (I) and resistance (R):

What is the amount of voltage

provided by the battery?
Ohm’s Law Triangle Technique

Ohm’s Law is a very simple and useful tool for analyzing electric circuits. It is
used so often in the study of electricity and electronics that it needs to be
committed to memory by the serious student. For those who are not yet
comfortable with algebra, there’s a trick to remembering how to solve for
anyone quantity, given the other two. First, arrange the letters E, I, and R in a
triangle like this:

If you know V and I, and wish to determine R, just eliminate R from the picture
and see what’s left:

If you know V and R, and wish to determine I, eliminate I and see what’s left:

Lastly, if you know I and R, and wish to determine V, eliminate V and see what’s
left:

Eventually, you’ll have to be familiar with algebra to seriously study electricity

and electronics, but this tip can make your first calculations a little easier to
remember. If you are comfortable with algebra, all you need to do is commit
V=IR to memory and derive the other two formulae from that when you need
them! And by the way, you can use E instead of V in the formula of Ohm’s Law.
Both E and V can be use interchangeably. E stand for Electromotive force,
sometimes EMF.

Power and Energy

Although current and voltage are the two basic variables in an electric circuit,
they are not sufficient by themselves. For practical purposes, we need to know
how much power an electric device can handle. We all know from experience
that a 100-watt bulb gives more light than a 60-watt bulb. We also know that
when we pay our bills to the electric utility companies, we are paying for the
electric energy consumed over a certain period of time. Thus, power and energy
calculations are important in circuit analysis.

ELECTRIC POWER

The electric power P used in any part of a circuit is equal to the current I in that
part multiplied by the voltage V across that part of the circuit. Its formula is
P = VI
where P = power, Watt
V = voltage, Volt
I = current, Ampere

Let’s take a look at the PIE triangle!!

Just like in the Ohm’s Law Triangle, if you know any two of the variables, and
wish to determine one of them, just eliminate the one you wish to determine
from the picture and see what’s left. Other forms for P = VI are I = P/V and V =
P/I. By using Ohm’s law for voltage, so that substituting V = IR , if we know the
current I and the resistance R, we have P = IR x I =I2R.
In the same manner, if we know the voltage V and the resistance R but not the
current I, we can find the power P by using Ohm’s law for current, so that
substituting I = V/R into P= VI we have
P = V(V/R)
P = V2/R
For a quick reference consider the PIE(R)

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/dccircuits-dcp4.gif

Example
1. The current through a 100Ω resistor to be used in a circuit is 0.20 A.
Find the power rating of the resistor. Since I and R are known, use Eq. P
= I2R to find P.
P = I2R = (0.20)2(100) = 0.04(100) = 4 W

To prevent a resistor from burning out, the power rating of any resistor used in
a circuit should be twice the wattage calculated by the power equation. Hence,
the resistor used in this circuit should have a power rating of 8 W.

2. How many kilowatts of power are delivered to a circuit by a 240-V

generator that supplies 20 A to the circuit? Since V and I are given, use
Eq. P= VI to find P.
P = VI = 240(20) = 4800W = 4.8kW

3. If the voltage across a 25 0004 resistor is 500 V, what is the power

dissipated in the resistor? Since R and V are known, use Eq. P= V 2/R to
find P.
P = V2 /R = 5002/25000 = 250000/25000 = 10 W

HORSEPOWER
A motor is a device which converts electric power into the mechanical power of
a rotating shaft. The electric power supplied to a motor is measured in watts or
kilowatts; the mechanical power delivered by a motor is measured in
horsepower (hp). One horsepower is equivalent to 746 W of electric power.
The metric system will be used to express horsepower in watts. For most
calculations, it is sufficiently accurate (estimated) to consider 1 hp = 750 W or
1 hp = 3/4kW. To convert between horsepower and kilowatt ratings, use the
following equations.
Example

Change the following units of measurement: (a) 7.5 kW to horsepower, and (b)
3/4 hp to watts.

4 4
(a) hp= kW = 7.5=10 hp
3 3
3 33 9
(b) kW = hp= = kW ∨0.563 kW , can be converted ¿ 563W
4 4 4 16

ELECTRIC ENERGY

Energy and work are essentially the same and are expressed in identical units.
Power is different, however, because it is the time rate of doing work. With the
watt unit for power, one watt used during one second equals the work of one
joule, or one watt is one joule per second. The joule (J) is a basic practical unit
of work or energy. The kilowatt hour (kWh) is a unit commonly used for large
amounts of electric energy or work. The amount of kilowatt hours is calculated
as the product of the power in kilowatts (kW) and the time in hours (h) during
which the power is used.
kWh = kW x h

Example
1. How much energy is delivered in 2 h by a generator supplying 10 kW?
Write kWh = kW x h and substitute given values.
kWh = kW x h = l0 x 2 = 20
Energy delivered = 20 kWh

Electricity bill

Electric utility companies establish their rates at a given number of Pesos per
kilowatthour. Rates for electric energy in the Philippines depend upon the
method by which the electricity is generated, the type and complexity of the
transmission and distribution systems, the maintenance cost, and many other
factors. By knowing the amount of energy you use (from the meter readings)
and the cost per kilowatt hour of energy in your area, you can calculate your
own monthly electric bill.
Example
One residence used 400 kWh of electric energy in one month. If the utility rate
is 12 Pesos per kilowatt hour, what was the owner’s electrical bill for the
month?
Solution:
A convenient formula for calculating the total cost is:
Total cost = kWh x unit cost
= 400kWh x 12 Pesos/kWh
= 4800 Pesos

*Most utility rates are stepped according to blocks of kilowatt hour usage plus minimum
charges, not to mention full adjustment charges and taxes.
 Performance Tasks
PT 1
I. Solve the following problems. Show your complete solution. Encircle your final answer. Round up
your number to at least 2 decimal places.

1. In figure shown, the resistor limits the current in the circuit to 5 A when connected to a 10-V
battery. Find its resistance.

2. The bell has a resistance of 8 Ω and requires a 1.5 A current to operate. Find the voltage
required to ring the bell.
3. Find the current drawn by a 60-W incandescent lamp rated for 120-V operation. Also find the
current drawn by a 150-W, 120-V lamp and a 300-W, 120-V lamp. As the wattage increases,
what happens to the current? State your answer.
4. What is the power used by a soldering iron taking 3 A at 110 V?
5. A 12-V battery is connected to a lamp that has a 10-R resistance. How much power is delivered
to the load?
6. An electric oven uses 35.5 A at 118 V. Find the wattage generated by the oven.
7. A 12-R resistor in a power supply circuit carries 0.5 A. How many watts of power are dissipated
in the resistor? What must be the wattage rating of the resistor in order to dissipate this power
safely as heat?
8. How much power and energy is drawn from a 110-V line by a 22 Ω electric iron in 3 h?
9. Find the power used by a l0 kΩ resistor drawing 0.01 A.
10. A 4-hp lathe motor runs 8 h/day. Find the electric energy in kilowatt hours used in a day.

II. Use Ohm’s Law to fill the indicated quantity.

Voltage Current Resistance

? 2A 3Ω
120 V ? 2400Ω
120 V 24 A ?
? 8mA 5 kΩ
60 V ? 12 kΩ
110 V 2 mA ?
2400 V ? 1 MΩ

Learning Resources
References
Boylestad, R. (2015). Introductory Circuit Analysis, 13th Edition. Pearson.
Hayt, J. e. (n.d.). Engineering circuit Analysis, 7th Edition. 2007: McGraw-Hill Education.
Romeo A. Rojas, J. (n.d.). 1001 Solved Problems in Electrical Engineering.
Sadiku. (2007). Fundamentals of Electric Circuit, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
Theraja, B. L. (2005). A textbook of Electrical Technology Volume 1. S. Chand and Co. Ltd.
V. K. Mehta, R. M. (2008). Basic Electrical Engineering, Revised Edition. S. Chand and Co. Pvt. Ltd.

https://www.slideshare.net/ASMBadrudduza/circuit-variables-and-elements-73223510
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-electric-current-definition-unit-types.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_energy
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/20-4-electric-power-and-energy/
https://ppt-online.org/22777

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