VOLTAGE,

CURRENT, AND
RESITANCE
The current of water
through the hose can be
likened to the electric
current flow in wires.
CURRENT: Flow of Electric Charges
Due to electric potential energy, electrons
move from one point to another. Thus, electric
potential energy can be transferred to
electrons through work done. This movement
is possible because of the electric field
around the negative charges. The velocity of
this motion is known as drift velocity.
 Normally, electrons move to any direction. If
this flow is regulated and made to move
continuously in one direction, then the flow
becomes an electric current. As a result, the
drift velocity of the moving charges all point to
a single direction along the conductor. Drift
theory and electric current are directly
proportional. This means that a higher
drift velocity results in 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. On the other
hand, there is lower current density and lower
drift velocity if there is no repulsion that will
push the charges away from each other.
Mathematically, electric current is computed
using the equation 𝐼 =𝑞 /𝑡

The symbol indicates the electric current,

and is the amount of charges that pass
through a conductor for every unit of time .
The unit for current is coulomb per second )
or ampere
 The mathematical expression essentially
shows that the electric current is directly
proportional to the amount of charges that
flows at a certain time. More charges flowing
through a conductor generate a higher
amount of current, whereas less charges
result in a lower amount of current.
RESISTANCE and RESISTIVITY
An electrical conductor is any material that
allows the free flow of electric current. The
limitation to current flow is referred to as
resistance. Electrical resistivity is an intrinsic
property of the material that describes how it
resists the electric current flowing through it.
 FACTORS EFFECT ON EFFECT ON
RESISTANCE CURRENT
FLOW
Electrical Increase Increase Decrease
Resistivity
Decrease Decrease Increase
Electrical Higher Decrease Increase
Conductivity
Lower Increase Decrease
Temperatur Higher Increase Decrease
e
Lower Decrease Increase
 FACTORS EFFECT ON EFFECT ON
RESISTANCE CURRENT
FLOW

Length of Longer Increase Decrease

conductor
Shorter Decrease Increase
Cross- Higher Decrease Increase
sectional
area of Lower Increase Decrease
conductor
The resistivity, length, and cross-sectional
area of a conductor can be related to an
equivalent resistance through the equation
𝜌𝐿
𝑅=
𝐴
In this equation, is the resistivity of the
conductor, is its length, is its cross-sectional
area, and is the equivalent
Resistance that it can provide. As the constant
value, the unit of is ohm-meter . The unit of
resistance is ohm
PROBLEMS:
1. Compute the resistance of a conductor
given a resistivity of length of 4m. And
cross-sectional area of
PROBLEMS:
2. A conductor has a diameter of 2.59 mm.
How many meters of this material are
needed to yield a resistance of The
resistivity of the conductor is
PROBLEMS:
3. Solve for the resistance of a conductor
given a resistivity of length of 6m, and
cross-sectional area of
4. A copper rod is 3m long and 4mm in diameter.
Compute its resistance if the resistivity of the
material is
ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE
Electromotive force or EMF is not a force.
Instead, it is the potential energy given to a
unit charge to make it flow through a
conductor or around a complete circuit. The
EMF acts like a charge pump that causes
charges to flow through a circuit. It is
measured using the unit volt
It is the “push” given to the electric charges for
them to flow from the source to the
components of the circuit. This push is
provided by the cell or battery connected to
the circuit. Without a battery, there would be
no EMF that will make the charges flow, and
therefore no current.
OHM’s LAW
In 1827, Georg Simon Ohm discovered the
relationship among voltage, current, and
resistance. He found out that electricity acts
similarly to water in a pipe. He was able to
summarize the relationship among EMF or
voltage , electric current and resistance
through the Ohm’s law.
In equation form, Ohm’s law is stated as
follows: 𝑉 =𝐼𝑅
PROBLEMS:
1. Using Ohm’s law, solve for the electric
current of a conductor given a voltage of
25V and a resistance of 10.
2. An electric water heater uses 15A of
current when plugged to a 220-V outlet.
What is the resistance provided by the
appliance?
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
The current flows along a conductor, where
it is brought from its source to where electrical
energy is needed such as appliances. The
pathway for the current to move to and from
the source and the appliance is called an
electric circuit.
A functional circuit has to
be “closed” or must form
closed loop. Closed
circuits allow the current
to flow from the source of
the current to the load
where the current is
needed.
An “open” circuit does not
form a closed loop; the
resulting circuit would be
nonfunctional. Open
circuits have gap(s) where
current cannot flow, thus,
electric current can’t be
delivered to the load.
ESSENTIAL PARTS OF A SIMPLE CIRCUIT
1. A source or supply to provide the voltage
needed to force current through the circuit.
(e.g. battery)
2. Conductors through which the current can
travel (e.g. copper wire, gold, silver)
3. A load is a device that converts electrical
energy into some other useful form. (e.g.
electric motor, light bulb)
4. A control device or switch which continues
or discontinues the flow of electric current
through the circuit. (e.g. push buttons, single-
pole switch)
Schematic Diagrams make it easy to draw
circuits. The following are the basic
components of schematic diagrams of electric
circuits:
A resistor is an electronic component used to
provide a specific amount of resistance.
Generally, it can be considered as a load
because loads provide resistance to current
flow.
SERIES CIRCUIT
In a series circuit. All components are
connected using a single pathway. In other
words, a series circuit is characterized by a
single loop for current to flow. The current is
the same for all the components along the
circuit. 𝐼 = 𝐼 = 𝐼 = 𝐼 =…=𝐼
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 1 2 3 𝑛
The total voltage is the sum of the individual
voltages across the circuit.
𝑉 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙=𝑉 1 +𝑉 2+ 𝑉 3 + …+𝑉 𝑛
The total resistance is the sum of the
individual resistances of each circuit load.
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 =𝑅 1+ 𝑅 2+ 𝑅3 +…+ 𝑅 𝑛
Compute the individual values and the total values
of the voltage, the current, and the resistance of the
series circuit.
Total resistance

Total current

Because the connection is series circuit, is

2.22 A and is also 2.22 A.
From those values
Compute the individual values and the total values
of the voltage, the current, and the resistance of the
series circuit.
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
Parallel circuit uses 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 are the same as the total
voltage. 𝑉 =𝑉 =𝑉 =𝑉 =…=𝑉
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 1 2 3 𝑛
The total current is the sum of the individual
currents across the resistors.
𝐼 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐼 1 + 𝐼 2 + 𝐼 3 +…+ 𝐼 𝑛
The reciprocal of the total resistance is equal
to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual
resistances.
Compute the individual values and the total values
of the voltage, the current, and the resistance of the
parallel circuit here.
Total resistance

Because the total voltage is 15V and the

resistors are connected in parallel, then and
are both 15 volts.
Then,

Finally,
Compute the individual values and the total values
of the voltage, the current, and the resistance of the
parallel circuit here.
SIMPLE NETWORK
Networks are complex circuits which are
combinations of series and parallel circuits.
Problem:
Find:
a. The combined resistance
b. The total current
POWER IN A CIRCUIT
Power is the rate of energy transfer. It is equal
to the product of the current and voltage. In
equation form, it is given as

and its unit is the watt (W) when voltage is in

volts and current is in amperes.
Since , then

Since then
Problem: What is the power input to an electric
heater that draws 3A from a 220-V outlet?
ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND ITS COST
Recall that energy is equal to power times time.

Power companies charge us for energy, not

power. The unit of energy used by these
companies to calculate our consumption is the
kilowatt-hour (kWh).This is the energy delivered
in one hour at the constant rate of 1kW.
An electric meter is used to determine how
much energy is consumed over a period of time.
While the power rating of most of the appliances
remain constant, the amount of energy used
depends on the number of hours these
appliances are actually operated.
Problem: How much does it cost to operate a
20” desk fan for 12 hours if electrical energy
costs Php 4.57/kWh? The power rating of the
desk fan is 79W.
 SAFETY FIRST
The amount of current that passes through the
body is the actual measure of shock intensity.
This intensity is also dependent on the path
taken by the current.
The current passing through a victim is usually
determined by the skin resistance, which ranges
from for wet skin to about
for dry skin.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD AT DIFFERENT VALUES
OF CURRENT
AMOUNT OF CURRENT IN EFFECT
AMPERES
More than 0.2 A No fibrillation, but severe burning
and no breathing
0.1 Death due to fibrillation
0.07 Breathing very difficult
0.03 Breathing disturbed
0.02 Painful and cannot let go
Less than 0.01 Tingling or imperceptible
 TIPS FOR USING ELECTRICITY SAFELY
1. Wire plugs properly and always fit the correct fuse.
2. Never use wet hands to switch appliances on and off.
3. Replace any worn or damaged flexes and plugs.
4. Never pull appliances by their flex or put flexes under
rugs and carpets where they may be stepped on.
5. Avoid octopus connections.
6. Never fill an airpot when it is plugged in
Grounding also prevents electrical accidents.
Grounding is an electrical connection between the
appliance and the earth or any conductor with zero
potential. Electrical appliances are provided with
ground wire or circuit protective conductor. It directs
the current to the ground instead of shocking you if
you touch the appliance to which it is attached.