1 Answer
The equation **V = IR** is known as **Ohm's Law**, and it describes the relationship between **voltage (V)**, **current (I)**, and **resistance (R)** in a simple electrical circuit.
To understand why voltage equals current times resistance, let's break it down:
1. **Voltage (V)**: This is the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit. It’s like the "push" that moves electric charge through a conductor (like a wire). Think of it as the force that makes the electrons flow.
2. **Current (I)**: This is the flow of electric charge (usually electrons) through a conductor. It is measured in amperes (A) and tells you how much charge is moving per second.
3. **Resistance (R)**: This is the property of a material that resists the flow of electric current. Materials with high resistance make it harder for current to flow, while materials with low resistance allow current to flow more easily. Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
Now, why **V = IR**?
* Imagine you're pushing a cart (representing current) through a narrow path (representing resistance). The harder you push (more voltage), the more the cart moves (higher current). But if the path is narrower (higher resistance), you need to push harder to get the same amount of movement.
* So, voltage (V) is needed to "push" the current (I) through the resistance (R). If resistance increases, more voltage is required to keep the same current flowing.
This is why Ohm's Law works: **Voltage = Current × Resistance**. It’s the mathematical relationship that describes how voltage, current, and resistance interact in an electrical circuit.
To understand why voltage equals current times resistance, let's break it down:
1. **Voltage (V)**: This is the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit. It’s like the "push" that moves electric charge through a conductor (like a wire). Think of it as the force that makes the electrons flow.
2. **Current (I)**: This is the flow of electric charge (usually electrons) through a conductor. It is measured in amperes (A) and tells you how much charge is moving per second.
3. **Resistance (R)**: This is the property of a material that resists the flow of electric current. Materials with high resistance make it harder for current to flow, while materials with low resistance allow current to flow more easily. Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
Now, why **V = IR**?
* Imagine you're pushing a cart (representing current) through a narrow path (representing resistance). The harder you push (more voltage), the more the cart moves (higher current). But if the path is narrower (higher resistance), you need to push harder to get the same amount of movement.
* So, voltage (V) is needed to "push" the current (I) through the resistance (R). If resistance increases, more voltage is required to keep the same current flowing.
This is why Ohm's Law works: **Voltage = Current × Resistance**. It’s the mathematical relationship that describes how voltage, current, and resistance interact in an electrical circuit.