Ohm’s law formula with examples and problems

Ohm’s law states that: “The current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its ends provided the physical state such as temperature etc. of the conductor remains constant.”

Ohm describes mathematically how voltage,current and resistance in a circuit are related.It is used in the equivalent form depending on which quantity you need to determine.In this section you will learn each of these forms.

Relationship between voltage and current

Ohm determined experimentally that if the voltage across a resistor is increased,the current through the resistor will also increase;and ,likewise if the voltage is decreased ,the current will decrease.For example ,if the voltage is doubled,the current will double.If the voltage is halved ,the current will also be halved.

  V ∝ I

Relationship between current and resistance

Ohm law also states that if the voltage is kept constant,less resistance results in more current ,and,also,more resistance in less current.For example,if the resistance is halved ,the current doubles.If the resistance is doubled,the current is halved.

I  ∝ 1/R

Ohm’s law formula

 

V=IR

Where R, the constant of proportionality is called the resistance of conductor .The value of the resistance depends upon the nature,dimensions and the physical state of the conductor.V is applied voltage in volts and I is current in amperes.

 equation

Equation (1) is the ohm law equation in which “V” is voltage “I” is the current and “R” is the resistance.

difference between ohmic and non ohmic conductors

Conductors which obey ohm’s law are called ohmic conductors in other words materials whose resistance is constant are called ohmic conductors.

Ohmic conductor examples

Metals mostly are ohmic conductors,their resistance remains constant by increasing voltage current and temperature.Current voltage graphs of these materials shows a straight line.Some of the examples of ohmic conductors are:

• Aluminium
• Copper
• Silver
• Iron

These are the examples of ohmic conductors.

Non ohmic conductors

Conductors or materials which do not obey ohm’s law of ohm are called non ohmic conductors or materials.or The conductors whose resistance increase or decrease by increasing voltage current and temperature.Their voltage current graph shows not a straight line.

Non ohmic conductors examples

• Electric bulb filament
• Thermister
• Semiconductor diodes
• LDR
• Transistors
• Lighting arrester
• Heater

 

Ohm law practice problems

In the following examples ,the formula I=V/R is used.In order to get current in amperes,you must express the value of voltage and the value of resistance in ohms.

Example: Calculate the current in following figure.

solution:In the above figure R=10 KΩ and V=50 V then from ohm’s law:

                                                                                 V=IR

                                                                                  I=V/R

                                                                                   I=50V/10 KΩ

                                                                                    I=5mA

Calculating voltage using ohmic law

We can find voltage by using relation of ohm’s law V=IR , if we know current and resistance of a circuit.

Example:Find voltage if current of 5mA is flowing through following circuit.

In the above figure R=10KΩ,I=5mA,by using ohm’s relation V=IR:

                                                                                                                                    V=(5mA)(10KΩ)

                                                                                                                                     V=50V