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Voltage, Current, Resistance Concepts and Units

← Builds on Electric Charge, Coulomb's Law, and Electric Fields

Terms you will need

  • powerPower represents a flow of energy in time. Its SI unit is the joule per second, which we name the watt (W): 1 W ≡1 J s−1.
  • energyEnergy is a measure for an abstract property that can take on multiple forms. It is primarily a concept that we use to describe the transformations we observe in the world.

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Voltage, current, and resistance are fundamental concepts in the study of electricity and electronics. Voltage is the potential difference that drives electric current through a circuit, measured in volts (V). Current is the flow of electric charge, measured in amperes (A), and resistance is the opposition to the flow of current, measured in ohms (Ω). Together, these three quantities form the basis for understanding how electrical circuits function and how energy is transferred within them. These concepts are essential for analyzing and designing electrical systems, from simple circuits to complex devices.

Voltage, current, and resistance are interconnected through Ohm's Law, which states that the current through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage across it and inversely proportional to its resistance. Voltage, measured in volts, is the driving force that causes current to flow. Current, measured in amperes, is the actual movement of electric charge through a circuit.

When voltage is applied to a circuit, it pushes electrons through the conductor, creating current. The amount of current depends on the resistance in the circuit: higher resistance reduces current, while lower resistance allows more current to flow. This relationship is fundamental to analyzing how electrical circuits behave and how energy is transferred within them.

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