Ohm's Law (Resistor)

Electrical Engineering

How It Works

Ohm's law describes the fundamental linear relationship between electric potential difference, electrical current, and resistance in an ohmic conductor. When an electric potential difference V is applied across a conductor, the induced macroscopic electric field drives mobile conduction electrons through the crystal lattice against repeated collisions with vibrating metallic cations. The resulting steady drift current I is directly proportional to the applied voltage and inversely proportional to the total electrical resistance R, with microscopic dissipated power manifesting as Joule heating.

Governing Equation
V = I · R  ⇔  I = V / R   |   J = σ · E   |   P = I² · R