CURRENT AND VOLTAGE P 2

Charge is the thing that flows around electric circuits. In a deliberate attempt to be
confusing, physicists make a
Current is the rate at which it flows.
distinction between Conventional
Voltage is the “driving force” behind it. Current Flow and the actual direction
in which electrons flow around a
circuit.
Current and Voltage: an analogy
In other words, when we talk of the
Current flow around an electrical circuit is a little bit direction of current flow, this is
like water flow around a system of pipes, except that opposite to the direction in which the
actual electrons flow.
charge is flowing instead of water.

In the same way as water can only flow through a

pipe, charge can only flow through a conductor.

The power supply is like a water pump. The higher

the voltage, the more forcefully the charge flows
around the circuit. A higher voltage is like a more
powerful pump.
Current is said to flow from the
Charge takes the path of least resistance, just like positive terminal to the negative.
water does through pipes. More water flows through However, in reality the electrons flow
larger pipes, and not as much through smaller pipes. from the negative terminal to the
This happens with current too: more will flow positive.
through a wire with lower resistance than one with
higher resistance.
Current, I (A)
Current flows through components.
Voltage refers to the potential Current is the rate of flow of charge around a circuit.
difference between two points in the In other words, how fast the charge flows.
circuit.
The symbol for current is I.
Therefore, when you set up circuits,
It is measured in Ampères (or “Amps”, A).
make sure you put the ammeter in
series and the voltmeter in parallel.
Voltage, V (V)
Voltage (often called potential difference) is a bit like
the “driving force” of a circuit. The higher the
voltage, the more charge is able to flow around a
circuit, just like the more powerful a pump, the more
water flows around a system of pipes.

The ammeter will record how fast the The symbol for voltage is V.
charge flows through the circuit, and It is measured in Volts (V).
the voltmeter will measure the
difference between two points.
 CURRENT AND VOLTAGE P 2

Ohm’s Law

This can be expressed in words, although it is most useful when expressed as a formula.

The current (I) through a resistor (at a

constant temperature) is directly
proportional to the potential difference
(V) across the resistor.

In Ohm’s Law, R = Resistance (in Ohms, Ω)

V = Voltage (or “potential difference”, in Volts, V)
I = Current (in Amps, A)

4.

a)

b)

c)