Electrical Resistance

Unlocking Vocabularies
RESISTANCE – hindrance or difficulty in the flow of
current/charge.
POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE(p.d.)/VOLTAGE RESISTOR
–
“push” the
current through resistors and around a circuit.
VOLTS (V) – unit for voltage or potential difference (p.d.)
RESISTOR – makes the current smaller.
VOLTMETER – measures voltage. It can be analog or digital.
TRIP SWITCHES – protects power supplies by cutting out the
flow of a large current.
VOLTMETE
ELECTRO MOTIVE FORCE (e.m.f.) – it is the potential R

difference/voltage across the cell and other power supplies (also

Which do you
think is the
reason?
 RESISTOR prevents objects
from exploding
RESISTOR makes the current smaller
or controlled.

GREATER (more)
resistance,
SMALLER current.
Check your understanding!

What factor does the Amount of

amount of current in RESISTANCE (number

of resistors)

the circuit depend?

Defining Resistance
potential difference (V)
Resistance (Ω) = -----------------------------
Current (A)

R = V/I
1 Ω = V/A

p.d. or
voltage (V)
Ohm (Ω) – unit or
measurement of resistance
Resistance
Current (A) (Ω)
Devices in the Circuit – what do
they measure?

Voltmeter – measures
voltage or p.d. in volts (V)
Smaller voltages – millivolts (mV) Ammeter – measures
or microvolts (µV) current in Amps (A)
 How should they be connected in a
circuit?

Ammeter is connected
IN SERIES, so that
Voltmeter is connected IN current can flow through
them
PARALLEL across a
component, to measure its p.d.
Calculating
Resistance

Remember: It takes
10V to make 1A
flow through a 10
resistor. Ω
Changing Current
Current (flow of charge) travels from POSITIVE TERMINAL to
NEGATIVE TERMINAL of the CELL.

Along the way, it must pass through the different components. (like
an obstacle race)

The GREATER the resistance, the SMALLER

the current that flows

The GREATER the p.d. (voltage) in a circuit,

the GREATER the current that flows
Through THICK and THIN
Imagine yourself passing through these wires like in
an obstacle race…

 Resistance of wires in different shapes:

The LONGER a wire, the

GREATER its resistance
(Directly proportional)

The GREATER the DIAMETER

of a wire, the LESS is its resistance
(Inversely proportional)
 Length and Area
The resistance of wire is proportional to its length

Longer = greater resistance (doubling resistance)

Shorter = less resistance (halving resistance)

The resistance of a wire is inversely proportional to its cross-

Question:
Suppose that we have a 4.0m
sectional area length of wire. Its resistance is
100 Ω. What will be the
Wider area = less resistance (Halving resistance)
resistance of a 2.0m length of
Narrower area = greater resistance (Doubling resistance
wire with twice the cross-
sectional area?
Current – Voltage Characteristic
OHMIC RESISTOR (straight) – as current
increases, p.d. (voltage) also increases

Current and Voltage in an Ohmic resistor is

DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL

Examples: Wire, Electric Stove, Incandescent

light bulb

NON-OHMIC RESISTOR (curved) – as the

voltage increases, the current increases
more and more SLOWLY

Examples: bulb filaments and diodes

Rearranging formula
Example
Calculating Current: What is the amount of current that
flows through a 20Ω resistor when there is a p.d. (voltage)
of 6V across it.
V
I= R
p.d. or
voltage (V)

I = 6V / 20 Ω = 0.30A
Resistance
Current (A) (Ω)
Short Quiz (50 points)

Page 250 (18.10 and 18.11)

Page 251 (18.12 and 18.13)
Page 253 (18.14, 18.15 and 18.16)
Page 254 (18.17, 18.18 and 18.19)