resistive circuits

Conventional Current

The flow of positive charge through a wire, pointing from the positive side of the potential difference to the negative side.

Ohm’s Law

The relationship between potential difference (voltage), current, and resistance, typically expressed as V = IR.

Resistance

The opposition to the flow of electric current, defined as the potential difference needed to drive one unit of current.

Resistivity

A property of a material that quantifies how strongly it resists the flow of electricity, often denoted by the symbol ρ.

Drift Speed

The average speed that a charge carrier, such as an electron, attains due to an electric field.

Effective Resistance

The total resistance of a circuit or combination of resistors that determines the current flow.

Current

The amount of charge that passes a given point for each unit of time, measured in amperes (A).

Ampere (A)

The base unit of electric current, defined as one coulomb of charge passing through a point in one second.

Potential Difference (Voltage)

The difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit, which drives the flow of current.

Power Dissipation

The conversion of electrical energy into heat through a resistor or other circuit element.

Joule’s Law

Describes the rate of conversion of electrical energy to heat, which can be expressed as P = I^2R.

Coulomb (C)

The derived unit of electric charge, equivalent to the charge transported by a constant current of one ampere in one second.

Capacitance

The ability of a system to store an electric charge, typically measured in farads (F).

Series Circuit

A circuit where components are connected end-to-end, providing a single path for current to flow.

Parallel Circuit

A circuit where components are connected across common points, providing multiple paths for current to flow.

Internal Resistance

The resistance within a battery or power source that decreases the terminal voltage when current flows.

EMF (Electromotive Force)

The maximum potential difference of a battery when no current is flowing, representing the energy per unit charge.

Voltmeter

An instrument used to measure the voltage across two points in a circuit, typically connected in parallel.

Ammeter

An instrument used to measure the current flowing through a circuit, typically connected in series.

Kirchhoff's Junction Rule

The principle that the total current entering a junction must equal the total current leaving that junction.

Kirchhoff's Loop Rule

The principle that the total voltage around a closed loop in a circuit must equal zero.

Total Voltage

The cumulative voltage across a circuit, especially in a closed loop, which must equal the sum of the voltage drops.