Electricity is a type of energy that consists of the movement of electrons between two points when there is a

potential difference between them, making it possible to generate what is known as an electric current.

Electric current

A simple electric circuit, where current is

represented by the letter i. The relationship between
the voltage (V), resistance (R), and current (i or I)
is V=IR; this is known as Ohm's law.

Electric Current is the rate of flow of electrons in a conductor. The SI Unit of electric current is the Ampere.

Conventional Current flow Vs Electron Flow

There is a lot of confusion around conventional current flow and electron flow. In this section, let us
understand their differences.

Conventional Current Flow vs Electron Flow

Conventional Current Flow

The conventional current flow is from the positive to the negative terminal and indicates the direction in
which positive charges would flow.

Electron Flow
The electron flow is from negative to positive terminal. Electrons are negatively charged and are therefore
attracted to the positive terminal as unlike charges attract.

Voltage is the pressure from an electrical circuit's power source that pushes charged electrons
(current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work such as illuminating a light.

In brief, voltage = pressure, and it is measured in volts (V).

In electricity's early days, voltage was known as electromotive force (emf). This is why in equations
such as Ohm's Law, voltage is represented by the symbol E.

1. In this dc circuit, the switch is closed (turned ON).

2. Voltage in the power source—the "potential difference" between the battery's two poles—is
activated, creating pressure that forces electrons to flow as current out the battery's negative terminal.

3. Current reaches the light, causing it to glow.

4. Current returns to the power source.

Voltage is either alternating current (ac) voltage or direct current (dc) voltage.

• The mathematical representation of voltage is as follows:

• V = IR

• V = Voltage in volts

• I = Current in amperes

• R = Resistance in ohms
The electrical resistance of a circuit is the ratio between the voltage applied to the current flowing through it.

Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit.

Resistance is measured in ohms, symbolized by the Greek letter omega (Ω). Ohms are named after
Georg Simon Ohm (1784-1854), a German physicist who studied the relationship
between voltage, current and resistance. He is credited for formulating Ohm's Law.

All materials resist current flow to some degree. They fall into one of two broad categories:

• Conductors: Materials that offer very little resistance where electrons can move easily. Examples:
silver, copper, gold and aluminum.

• Insulators: Materials that present high resistance and restrict the flow of electrons. Examples:
Rubber, paper, glass, wood and plastic.
 Resistance measurements are normally taken to indicate the condition of a component or a circuit.

• The higher the resistance, the lower the current flow. If abnormally high, one possible cause (among
many) could be damaged conductors due to burning or corrosion. All conductors give off some
degree of heat, so overheating is an issue often associated with resistance.

• The lower the resistance, the higher the current flow. Possible causes: insulators damaged by
moisture or overheating.
What's a circuit?
A circuit is a closed loop that electrons can travel in. A source of electricity, such as a battery,
provides electrical energy in the circuit. Unless the circuit is complete, that is, making a full
circle back to the electrical source, no electrons will move.
Direct Current

The current electricity whose direction remains the same is known as direct current. Direct current is defined
by the constant flow of electrons from a region of high electron density to a region of low electron density.
DC is used in many household appliances and applications that involve a battery.

Alternating Current

The current electricity that is bidirectional and keeps changing the direction of the charge flow is known as
alternating current. The bidirectionality is caused by a sinusoidally varying current and voltage that reverse
directions, creating a periodic back and forth motion for the current. The electrical outlets at our home and
industries are supplied with alternating current.

What is Electrical Resistance?

According to Ohm’s law, there is a relation between the current flowing through a conductor and the
potential difference across it. It is given by,

V ∝ I V = IR

Where,

V is the potential difference measured across the conductor (in volts)

I is the current through the conductor (in amperes)

R is the constant of proportionality called resistance (in ohms)

The electrical resistance of a circuit is the ratio between the voltage applied to the current flowing through
it.

Rearranging the above relation,

R=V/I

The unit of electrical resistance is ohms.

Electric charge flows easily through some materials than others. The electrical resistance measures how
much the flow of this electric charge is restricted within the circuit.

Factors Affecting Electrical Resistance

The electrical resistance of a conductor is dependent on the following factors:

• The cross-sectional area of the conductor

• Length of the conductor

• The material of the conductor

• The temperature of the conducting material

Electrical resistance is directly proportional to length (L) of the conductor and inversely proportional to the
cross-sectional area (A). It is given by the following relation.

R= ρL/A

where ρ is the resistivity of the material (measured in Ωm, ohm meter)

Resistivity is a qualitative measurement of a material’s ability to resist flowing electric current. Obviously,
insulators will have a higher value of resistivity than that of conductors. The resistivities of a few materials
are given below for comparison. Materials with a low value of resistivity conduct electricity very well.
What Is the Current Formula?

Ohm's Law states that the voltage (V) across a conductor is equal to the product of the current (I) flowing
through it and the resistance (R) of the conductor. According to Ohm's law, the current is the ratio of the
potential difference (voltage) and the resistance. Thus, the electric current formula is given by: I = V/R

where

• I represent current in Ampere (A),

• V is the potential difference in Volt (V)

• R is the resistance in Ohm (Ω).

This current equation can be used to calculate the current in a circuit if the voltage and resistance are known,
or to calculate the current or resistance if the other two values are known.

What is the Voltage and Total Current in a Parallel Circuit?

In a parallel circuit, all components share the same electrical nodes. Therefore, the voltage is the same across
all parallel components, and the total current is the sum of all the individual branch currents.

Parallel Circuit Fundamentals Review:

• The voltage is the same for all components in a parallel circuit: V1 = V2 = . . . Vn

• The total parallel circuit current is the sum of the individual branch currents: Itotal = I1 + I2 + . . . In

• The total resistance of a parallel circuit is less than any of the individual brand resistances:

R total=11R1+1R2+1R3
What is the Total Resistance and Voltage of a Series Circuit?

In a series circuit, all components are connected end-to-end to form a single path for current flow. The total
resistance in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual resistors, and the total voltage drop is equal
to the sum of the individual voltage drops across those resistors.

In this introduction to series resistance circuits, we will explain these three key principles you should
understand:

• Current: The current is the same through each component in a series circuit

• Resistance: The total resistance of a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual resistances.

• Voltage: The total voltage drop in a series circuit equals the sum of the individual voltage drops.

Series Circuit Fundamentals Review:

• All components in a series circuit conduct the same current: Itotal = I1 = I2 = . . . In

• The total equivalent resistance of a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual resistances:
Rtotal = R1 + R2 + . . . Rn
• The total voltage drop in a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual voltage drops Vtotal =
V1 + V2 + . . . Vn