Current Electricity

Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, Wheatstone bridge

Key Concepts
  • Ohm's law: V = IR (valid for ohmic conductors at constant temperature)
  • Resistivity depends on material and temperature; ρ = ρ₀(1 + αΔT)
  • Kirchhoff's current law (KCL): sum of currents at junction = 0
  • Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL): sum of EMFs = sum of IR drops in a loop
  • Wheatstone bridge: balanced when R₁/R₂ = R₃/R₄
Important Formulae
Ohm's law V = IR
Resistance R = ρL/A
Power P = VI = I²R = V²/R
EMF with internal resistance V = E − Ir
Resistors in series R_s = R₁ + R₂ + ...
Resistors in parallel 1/R_p = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + ...
Quick Tips
  • Maximum power transferred to external resistance when R_ext = r (internal resistance).
  • Drift velocity: v_d = I/(nAe); typically very small (~mm/s) but electrons signal at ~c.
  • Colour code for resistors: BBROYGBVGW (0–9): Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Grey White.
Practice Questions

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