Electrical circuits Relationship between V & I

To use & study electrical circuits, we need to

If the temperature is kept constant, we
understand the relationship between I, V, R, can study the relationship between V & I.
resistors in series & parallel, as well as the
internal resistance of the current source. We use the following circuit to study this relationship:
By changing the number of cells or
Current, I & is measured in Ampere (A) by using a rheostat, the potential
A difference across the resistor will
Potential difference, V & is measured change & the current in the resistor
changes accordingly.
in volt (V) V
Take the ammeter readings for different voltmeter
Resistance, R and is measured in ohm (Ω)
readings and then draw a graph of V vs I for the
Potential difference, current & resistance Virtual Ohm's law
resistor.

Relationship between V & I Ohm’s Law

V in volts I in amperes A graph of V vs I can now Since V ∝ I at constant temperature, we can see that
1,2 0,160 be drawn for these sets of the resistance is thus staying constant.
readings.
2,3 0,307 From this we can state Ohm’s Law:
3,5 0,467 The current in a metallic conductor is directly
4,6 0,610 From this graph we see proportional to the potential difference across its ends,
that the gradient or slope is provided the temperature remains constant.
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constant and V ∝I and the
gradient gives us the The unit of resistance is the V.m-1 also called the ohm
V 3 (Ω).
V resistance of the resistor
1
I Gradient = V = R A conductor has a resistance of 1Ω if the current in it is
0 I 1A when the potential difference across the ends is
0 0,1 0,3 0,5
= 7,5 Ω 1V.
I Ohm's law Click here

Factors affecting the resistance Temperature & resistance

of a resistor The resistance of a resistor is determined by:
The following determine the resistance of a
R = V The resistance of a conductor usually
resistor: I
remains constant – unless it becomes hot
Kind of metal used – & then its resistance increases.
Length of conductor However, at very low temperatures – certain
substances become ‘superconductors’ – where they
Thickness of conductor
have virtually no resistance at all.
Temperature of conductor
Discuss how these factors affect the resistance
of the resistor.
Factors affecting resistance of wires

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 Special concepts about circuits Special concepts about meters
General: Connecting ammeters & voltmeters Voltmeters have a very high resistance and are such
that only a minute current flows through
Cells in series – add voltages – higher voltage them. They are connected in parallel &
Cells in parallel – same voltage as 1 cell measure the potential difference across
a resistor.
V = IR
Voltmeters connected in parallel & Ammeters have a very low resistance
measure potential difference in volts and allow the complete current in the
section to flow through them – without
Ammeters connected in series & adding to the resistance of the circuit.
measure current strength in ampere. They are connected in series in the
A
section through which they measure
V Cells in series & parallel the current.

Special concepts about circuits Special concepts about circuits

Resistors in series:
Resistors in parallel:
Current same at all points
V across each is the same Combinations of resistors Click here
V for whole circuit = sum of V across each resistor
Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only) - I = i1 + i2 + i3
Vtot = V1 + V2 + V3 Electricity, Circuits, Current - PhET
Identical resistors carry same current
Same V across identical resistors
Unequal resistors carry unequal currents with the
Unequal resistors split Vtot unequally – with higher smaller resistor carrying larger current.
resistance having the higher V.
Resisters in parallel are called ‘current dividers’.
Resisters in series are said to Series and parallel circuits

be ‘potential dividers’.
IxR Now try as many electrical
i1 =
r circuit problems as you can find.
Current in parallel branch

Emf & internal resistanceEMF & internal resistance

Emf & internal resistance
ē This simple electrochemical cell If we remove the wire from the previous circuit, the
_ reactions at the respective electrodes will continue for
+ consists of a copper rod and a zinc
a while & then stop.
Cu Zn rod standing in a sulphuric acid
solution. H2SO4 → 2H+ + SO42- Once they have stopped we now find that there is a
potential difference between the 2 electrodes in the
H+ At the Zn rod, Zn atoms change
cell – called the emf of the cell.
into Zn ions and release 2ç as the
Zn2+ 2ē This means that if the cell is connected into a circuit, it
Zn2+ ions move away from the rod.
Emf of Zn/Cu cell
will produce a current flow in the circuit.
At the Cu rod the ions from the acid receive ç and form
H+
hydrogen atoms which combine to form H2 molecules. Def: The emf of a cell is the total energy supplied, per
coulomb of charge, by the chemical reaction occurring
There is thus a flow of ç from the Zn through the wire to the Cu
rod – a potential difference thus exists between them. in the cell.
The flow of ç actually keeps the the 2 plates neutral. The emf can be measured with a voltmeter – in volt.

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 Internal resistance of cells Emf & internal resistance
All batteries and cells have an internal resistance and Set up a circuit with the switch open.
thus require an internal potential difference within the V There is no current flow & the voltmeter
cell in order to make a current flow within the cell. measures the emf of the cell – say 3V.
Internal resistance of a cell

Batteries are made up of two or more cells and their total When we close the switch, the voltmeter reading drops to say
internal resistance is the sum of the internal resistance 2V – it is now measuring the external potential difference of the
of each cell, if connected in series. circuit & no longer the emf.
The difference between 3V - 2V = 1V is called the internal
potential difference or ‘lost volts’ of the cell.
This is the p.d. required to move the current within the cell as
the cell has an internal resistance between the plates where the
chemical reactions take place.
Emf = IRext + Irint = I(Rext + rint)

Different equations for finding I Derived electricity equations:

The following equations may be used to find the
current in a circuit:
V Vext V
I = Remf I= Rext I = Rint
int
tot

Be careful not to ‘mix & match’ these variables.

Sometimes the symbol used for emf is ε.

Equations become: ε = I·Rtot

Vemf = ε = Vload + Vinternal resistance
ε = I·Rext + I·rint