Ohms Law
Ohms law states that the current passing through a conductor is proportionally related to the potential difference across its ends known as voltage. Mathematically, it can be written as:
I = V/R
Where I is the current in amperes, V is the voltage in volts and R is the resistance in ohms.
This law was postulated by German physicist Georg Ohm in his 1826 publication. In this paper, Ohm provided an empirical relationship between the potential difference applied across a conductor and the resultant current. He observed that the current passing through a conductor was directly proportional to the potential difference applied across its ends. This observation seemed to be generalized, in what became known as Ohms law.
In 1827, Ohm began to analyze the quantitative relationships between electrical current, potential difference, and resistance. By 1827, he had formulated the general equation of Ohms law, which linked resistance to voltage and current. He clarified that the resistance value of a conductor depends on the material it is made of, its length and its cross-sectional area.
Though Ohms discovery was revolutionary in the field of electrical science, it was not generally accepted at first. The accepted model at the time was the observation that current increased as the voltage increased. Experiments were made to test Ohms law, and it was then accepted as the general law of electrical circuits.
Ohms law is a fundamental law that forms the basis of many electrical calculations and can be used to calculate the power dissipated by an electrical component in a circuit. It is a powerful tool for predicting and analyzing circuits and systems.
In a practical sense, Ohms law can be used to measure the thermal power density of a material. When voltage is applied across a material, the current passing through it generates heat, which is dissipated into the surroundings. The rate of heat dissipation is proportional to the square of the current. Hence, knowing the voltage across a material, the current through it can be calculated using Ohms law, and the thermal power density can be calculated by multiplying the square of the current and the resistance of the material.
It can also be used in calculating the current and voltage through a resistor. According to Ohms law, the voltage and current can be calculated by dividing the voltage by the resistance. This is a useful tool for electricians and engineers when designing a circuit or analyzing a system for efficiency.
Overall, Ohms law is a profoundly useful equation for many engineering applications, and it is the foundation for understanding the behavior of electrical currents, voltages, and resistances.