Ohm's Law (R.

Bolton - 2012)

Ohm’s Law Example Solutions

Physics, 7th Edition, Cutnell & Johnson

Chapter 20.2
Pages 605-607

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 1

Important Formulae
V AB V AB
V AB = IR I= R=
R I

W VAB VAB
2
P= = V AB I P = IRI = I 2 R P = VAB =
Δt R R

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 2

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 1
Ohm's Law (R. Bolton - 2012)

Example 1
Phototube Circuit

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 3

Example 1
Solution:
 What can we say about this circuit??
 I is clockwise
 VAG = 10V
 VR1 = 6V
 VR2 = 4V
 R1 = (3/2)R2

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 4

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 2
Ohm's Law (R. Bolton - 2012)

Example 2
A Simple (but important) Circuit
 Consider the following circuit.
circuit

 What is the voltage across the resistor (VAB)?

 What current through the resistor?
 What is VA? VB?
(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 5

Example 2
Solution: (12V,1.2A,???)

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 6

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 3
Ohm's Law (R. Bolton - 2012)

Example 3
Ammeter Circuit
 Consider the following circuit containing
an ammeter (used to measure current)

 What is E??
 What is the resistance of the ammeter??
(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 7

Example 3
Solution: (12V)

 The resistance of the ammeter is

assumed to be 0Ω . But is it really??
(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 8

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 4
Ohm's Law (R. Bolton - 2012)

Example 4
Ammeter and Voltmeter Circuit
 Consider the following circuit containing a
voltmeter (used to measure voltage)

 The voltmeter reads 9

9.00
00 volts and the
ammeter reads 300mA.
 What is the resistance of the resistor R??
 What is the resistance of the voltmeter??

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 9

Example 4
Solution: (30Ω)

 The resistance of the voltmeter is

assumed to be ∞Ω. But is it really??
(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 10

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 5
Ohm's Law (R. Bolton - 2012)

Example 5
Electrical Energy Conversion
 Consider the following circuit

 At what rate is electrical energy converted

to heat by the resistor in the circuit?

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 11

Example 5
Solution: (2.25W)

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 12

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 6
Ohm's Law (R. Bolton - 2012)

Example 6
Chemical Energy
 Consider the following circuit with E=120 V
and R=144Ω.

 At what rate does the resistor convert electrical

energy to heat?
 At what rate does the battery convert chemical
energy to electrical energy?

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 13

Example 6
Solution: (100W)

(R. Bolton - 2012) Ohm's Law 14

Physics 155.3: Introduction to Electricity

and Magnetism 7