Calculating Voltage, Current, Resistance and Power

THEORIES/PRINCIPLES

Ohm’s Law

George Simon Ohm (1787-1854) discovered while experimenting with electrical circuits, that a
precisely definable relationship exists between voltage, current and resistance. Ohm’s law states that
current (I) is directly proportional to the voltage (E), and is inversely proportional to the resistance (R).
Ohm’s law also is shown as I= E/R, which states that I equals E divided by R. Two useful variations of
Ohm’s law are R= E/I and E= I x R which state that E equals I times R.

Calculations of current flow through resistors using Ohm’s law.

a) Use Ohm’s law to calculate the current flow through resistor using indicated value of the resistor and
a source voltage 24Vdc shown in Figure 1.

b) Now calculate the current through resistor R2 using the measured value of the resistor and a source
voltage of 24 Vdc.

Power

Power is the rate of doing work per unit of time. One watt of power is the work done in one
second by one volt of electrical pressure in moving one coulomb of charge. Since one coulomb per
second is one ampere, power in watts is the product of volts times amperes.

POWER (Watts)= VOLTAGE (Volts) x CURRENT (Amperes)

Or

P=E x I

Substitute the Ohm’s law equivalent for current Substitute the Ohm’s law equivalent for voltage
(E/R) for I in the basic equation. This results… (IR) for E in the basic equation. This results…

P= E x (E/R) P= (IR) x I

thus thus

P= E2 /R P= I2 x R

Kirchoff’s Law

Series Circuit

German Physicist, Gustav Kirchoff (1824-1887) left us two very powerful tools for calculating
unknown voltages, current and resistances. The first of these, his voltage law, applies series circuits and
maybe stated in either two ways:

The sum of all the applied voltage drops in series circuit is equal to the applied voltage.

The algebraic sum of the voltage source/s and the voltage drop is equal to zero in series circuit.
Voltage drops are considered to be negative (-) while voltage sources are considered to be positive (+).

Before calculating the voltage across resistor in series, the following conditions should be remembered:
 a. that the total current (IT ) of the circuit is equal to any current (In ) passing through any
resistors (Rn )

I T = I1 = I2 = I3 = In

b. that the total resistance (RT) is equal to the sum of the resistances of the resistors.

R t= R 1 + R 2 + R 3 + … Rn

Example 1

Calculate the unknown voltages and resistances in series using Kirchoff’s law and Ohm’s law of the
circuit shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, calculate the total resistance (RT) of the circuit

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4

RT=

Use Ohm’s law and a voltage source of 25 Vdc and calculate the current flow in the circuit

I= ______ mAdc

Your calculated value should be 5 mAdc.

Calculate the voltage (IxR) drop across each resistor.

ER1= _____Vdc

ER2= _____Vdc

ER3= _____Vdc

ER4= _____Vdc

Your calculated values should be 5 V for ER1 and ER2 and 7.5V for each ER3 and ER4.

Kirchoff’s Law (Parallel Circuits)

In finding unknown voltages and resistances in series using Kirchoff’s law, you were not
concerned with current because current is the same throughout a series circuit, in parallel circuit,
conditions reverse; the voltage is the same across all branches of the circuit, but the current varies from
branch to branch according to the branch resistances.

To calculate the currents in parallel circuits, you should also remember the following conditions:

a) that the total voltage (ET) is equal to any voltage drop across any resistor (Rn)

ET = ER1= ER2=ER3=… ERn

b) that the reciprocal of the total resistance is equal to the sum of the reciprocal of the resistors

1 1 1 1 1

--- = --- + --- + --- +… ---

RT R1 R2 R3 Rn

This equation is taken from Ohm’s law, E= IR or I = E/R. Kirchoff’s law for parallel circuit mathematically
states that
 IT= I1+I2+I3+…In

Since I= E/R and E is constant as stated in condition a, so we have

E E E E E

--- = --- + --- + --- +… ---

RT R1 R2 R3 Rn

Taking the common factors

E 1 1 1 1

--- = E --- + --- + --- +… ---

RT R1 R2 R3 Rn

Dividing both members of equation by E results to

1 1 1 1 1

--- = --- + --- + --- +… ---

RT R1 R2 R3 Rn

Don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of Kirchoff’s laws. As you advance in the field of Electronics,
these “simple” laws will prove to be powerful tools in working with complicated circuits.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Power source 0 – 12 Vdc 250 mA

Milliameter 0 – 100 mAdc

Multimeter – analog and/or digital

Resistors (1 W): 10, 20, 30, 200 (2) 240, 400, 600 ohms

Patch board and connecting wires

Longnose plier and side cutting plier

TASK STEPS AND KEYPOINTS

Measuring Voltage, Current and Resistance using Multimeter

Voltage Measurement

Voltage Measurements will generally be made with a multi-range meter such as a multimeter or
electronic multimeter, with insulated test prods and leads, so that measurements can be made while
the circuit is switched on.

The procedure for a voltage measurement is as follows:

1. The electrical circuit on which measurement are to be obtained is switched “ON”.

2. The selector switch on the multimeter is turned to a DC voltage range having a Full Scale
Deflection (FSD) value greater than the voltage to be measured. FSD applies only for analog.
 3. Zero the meter if necessary (analog).

4. Connect the meter test prods to the ends of the resistor or resistors across which the
potential difference is to be measured. The positive terminal on the meter to the positive end of
the resistor.

5. Read or interpret the meter scale.

6. If the meter indication is very low on the scale, change the selector switch to a smaller FSD
value.

Current Measurement

To measure the current at any point in an electrical circuit it is necessary to break the circuit at
that point to connect the meter.

The procedure for a current measurement is as follows.

1. Make certain the circuit or supply is switched “OFF”.

2. Set the selector switch on the multimeter to DC current. Ensure that the current range has a
FSD value greater than the current to be measured.

3. Determine the direction of electron movement (polarity) at the measuring point in the circuit.

4. Disconnect the wire and connect the ammeter so that electrons will enter the ammeter at the
“negative” terminal and leave the ammeter at the “positive” terminal.

5. This is series connection. Switch “ON” the circuit and obtain the current value (reading). For a
digital multimeter, numbers will be displayed. If you connect the meter test prods reversely a
negative reading will be displayed, meaning wrong connections of the test prods with regards to
polarity.

6. Switch “OFF” the circuit, disconnect the ammeter and reconnect the circuit.

Resistance Measurement

Before measuring the value of resistor that is connected in a circuit, ALL power MUST BE
removed. Low voltage applied to an ohmmeter will cause incorrect resistance readings and may damage
the meter movement. High voltage WILL damage the meter permanently.

The procedure for a resistance measurement is as follows:

1. Set the range switch to the appropriate setting.

2. Check that the needle rests on the infinity. If not, adjust the movement with a small screw
driver, or the set infinity control if provided (applies only for analog).

3. Connect the test leads together, short circuiting them. Check that the needle rests on 0, if not,
adjust the ‘ZERO OHM’ potentiometer.

4. Disconnect the leads and place them across the resistor to be measured (taking care to keep
your finger on the insulated part of the probe).

5. Observe the reading on the scale and multiple the answer by the setting on the ranges switch.
In digital, numbers will be displayed.
 Application of Kirchoff’s Law

Series Circuit

Three resistors 10, 20 and 30 ohms respectively are connected in series across a 3 Vdc supply.

Calculate and measure to find:

a) the current through each resistor;

b) the voltage drops across each resistor; and

c) the power dissipated by each resistor and the total power of the circuit.

Solution: First, draw the diagram and label all the parts.

a) current through each resistor

1. The current in the circuit depend on the total resistance; thus

RT= R1+R2+R3

= 10 + 20 + 30

= 60 ohms

ET 3

IT = --- = --- = 0.2 A

RT 60

Measured Value: IT = _______

2. The current passing through each resistor is 0.05 A.

b) voltage drops across each resistor

3. Apply the Ohm’s law to each resistor to find the individual voltage drop; thus

E1 = I1 x R1 = 0.05 x 10 = 0.5 V

E2 = I1 x R2 = 0.05 x 20 = 1.0 V

E3 = I3 x R3 = 0.05 x 30 = 1.5 V

Measured Values: E1 = _____ E2 = _____ E3 = _____

4. The applied voltage equals the same of the individual voltage drops; thus

ET= E1+E2+E3

= 0.5 + 1.0 + 1.5

=3V

c) power dissipated by each resistor and total power

 5. To find the power dissipated in each resistor, apply the power equation to each resistor; thus

P1 = E1 x I1 = 0.5 x 0.05 = 0.025 W

P2 = E2 x I2 = 1.0 x 0.05 = 0.050 W

P3 = E3 x I3 = 1.5 x 0.05 = 0.075 W

-----------

0.15 W

6. To check it, apply the equation to the entire circuit; thus

PT = ET x IT = 3 x 0.05 = 0.15 W

Parallel Circuit

A resistors of 240, 600 and 400 ohms respectively are connected in parallel across a 9 Vdc line.
Calculate and measure the current and the equivalent resistance.

Solution:

1. The voltage across each resistor is the same; thus

E1=E2=E3 = 9 V

2. The total current is the sum of the individual branch current; thus

E1 9

I1 = --- = --- = 0.0375 A

R1 240

E2 9

I2 = --- = --- = 0.015 A

R2 600

E3 9

I3 = --- = --- = 0.0225 A

R3 400

--------

IT = 0.075 A

Measured Values: I1 = _____ I2 = _____ I3 = _____

3. The equivalent resistance is less than the smallest branch resistance. In this case, it
must be less than 240 ohms. To find the exact value, the three branches are combined; thus

ET 9
 RT = --- = ------ = 120 ohms

IT 0.075

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Ampere- (abbreviated A) the practical unit of electric current. A voltage of 1V will send a current 1A
through a resistance of 1Ω

Electromotive Force- the force that tends to produce an electric current in a circuit

Current- the rate of transfer of electricity from one point to another

Potential Difference- the voltage that exist between two points; more often called voltage

Power- the rate at which electric energy is fed to or taken from a device, measured in watts

Watts- (abbreviated W) the SI unit of electric power. In a dc circuit, the power in watts is equal to volts
multiplied by amperes

Voltage- the term used to designate electric pressure that exists between two points and is capable of
producing a flow of current

Volts- (abbreviated V) the SI unit of voltage or potential difference. One volt will send a current of 1A
through a resistance of 1Ω

Activity:

Perform Project Plan no. 1