The SI unit of resistance, known as the **ohm**, is represented by the symbol **Ω**. It is named after the German physicist Georg Simon Ohm, who is best known for formulating Ohm's Law, which relates voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit.
### Definition of the Ohm
One ohm is defined as the resistance between two points of a conductor when a constant potential difference of one volt (1 V) applied between these points produces a current of one ampere (1 A). Mathematically, this can be expressed using Ohm's Law:
\[
R = \frac{V}{I}
\]
Where:
- \( R \) is the resistance in ohms (Ω)
- \( V \) is the voltage in volts (V)
- \( I \) is the current in amperes (A)
### Deriving the Ohm
The ohm can also be expressed in terms of the base SI units. The relationship comes from the definitions of the volt and the ampere:
- **Volt (V)**: The SI unit of electric potential, defined as one joule per coulomb (1 V = 1 J/C).
- **Ampere (A)**: The SI unit of electric current, defined as the flow of one coulomb of charge per second (1 A = 1 C/s).
From these definitions, the ohm can be expressed in base SI units as follows:
\[
1 \, \text{Ω} = \frac{1 \, \text{V}}{1 \, \text{A}} = \frac{1 \, \text{J/C}}{1 \, \text{C/s}} = \frac{1 \, \text{J}}{1 \, \text{s} \cdot 1 \, \text{C}}
\]
Since 1 joule (J) is also equal to \( 1 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 \), we can further break it down to base units:
\[
1 \, \text{Ω} = \frac{1 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2}{\text{s}^3 \cdot \text{C}^2}
\]
Thus, the **ohm** can be expressed in terms of the base units of the International System of Units (SI) as:
\[
1 \, \text{Ω} = \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \cdot \text{s}^{-3} \cdot \text{C}^{-2}
\]
### Summary
In summary:
- The SI unit of resistance is the **ohm** (Ω).
- It is defined by the relationship of voltage, current, and resistance.
- It can be expressed in base SI units as \( \text{kg} \cdot \text{m}^2 \cdot \text{s}^{-3} \cdot \text{C}^{-2} \).
Understanding the ohm is crucial in electrical engineering and physics, as it forms the foundation for analyzing and designing electrical circuits.