Ohm's Law

We will be mostly talking about complete circuits because they are working circuits that allow for the flow of charges through a circuit. Any flow of charges through a circuit is known as electric current. We can actually measure how much electric current flows through a circuit using the unit amperes (or amps).

An imbalance of charges is measured by voltage, with the unit volts. This is difference in the amount of potential charge from one point to another point in a closed circuit. Voltage is directly proportional to current, meaning a higher voltage will lead to a higher current. For example, the 120V that comes from a wall outlet in the US provides 12 times as much current as a 12V battery.

Sometimes, different components along the circuit can resist the flow of charges. These components are known to have a resistance, which is measured in Ohms. All components along a circuit have some resistance and we will explore resistance more later on.

Current, voltage, and resistance are all related to each other. Their relationship is very helpful in constructing circuits on your own because, sometimes, not all components along a circuit can handle all of the current it is being offered. If you have ever burnt out a light bulb or an LED, you have experienced this. This relationship is called Ohm’s Law and the equation for Ohm’s Law is below:

Voltage = (Current) * (Resistance)

OR

V = IR

The next video will demonstrate how Ohm’s Law can be used when making circuits.

'Constructing a circuit using Ohm's Law' video coming soon!