Voltage:
Technical definition: Voltage (V) is the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit. It represents the energy per unit charge (Joules per Coulomb) that a source can impart to move electrons.
Analogy: Imagine a water pump (voltage source) creating pressure (voltage) in a pipe. This pressure pushes water molecules (electrons) through the pipe.
Units: Measured in Volts (V).
Impact on Circuits: Higher voltage signifies a greater push, causing more current to flow through a conductor (assuming constant resistance).
Current:
Technical definition: Current (I) is the rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor. It's measured by the amount of charge (Coulombs) that passes a specific point in a circuit every second.
Analogy: Continuing the water analogy, current is like the rate of water flows through the pipe. A wider pipe or higher pressure (voltage) can allow for more current flow.
Units: Measured in Amperes (A).
Impact on Circuits: A higher current signifies more electrons flowing past a specific point per second. This can have various effects depending on the circuit, like heating up wires due to resistance.
Relationship between Voltage and Current:
Ohm's Law: This fundamental law states that current (I) is directly proportional to voltage (V) and inversely proportional to resistance (R) in a circuit. It can be expressed as I = V / R.
Resistance: Resistance (R) is a material's property that opposes the flow of current. It's like the narrowness of the pipe in our analogy, restricting water flow (current) even with high pressure (voltage).
What is fundamental law states?