Ohm's Law Equation:
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Ohm's Law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance between them. It's a fundamental principle in electrical engineering and physics.
The calculator uses the Ohm's Law equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that current increases with higher voltage and decreases with higher resistance.
Details: Calculating current is essential for designing electrical circuits, selecting appropriate wire gauges, determining power requirements, and ensuring safety in electrical systems.
Tips: Enter voltage in volts and resistance in ohms. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the current flowing through the resistor.
Q1: What if my resistance is zero?
A: Resistance cannot be zero in this calculation as it would result in division by zero (infinite current), which represents a short circuit.
Q2: Does this work for AC circuits?
A: This simple form works for DC circuits. For AC circuits, you need to consider impedance which includes resistance, capacitance, and inductance.
Q3: What are typical current values in household circuits?
A: Typical household circuits in the US carry 15-20 amps at 120 volts for most outlets and lighting circuits.
Q4: How does temperature affect the calculation?
A: Resistance changes with temperature for most materials. For precise calculations, you may need to account for temperature coefficients.
Q5: Can I use this to calculate power?
A: Not directly, but power (P) can be calculated using P = V × I once you know the current.