Voltage is the Cause, Current is the Effect
Voltage attempts to make a current flow, and current will flow if the circuit iscomplete. Voltage is sometimes described as the 'push' or 'force' of the
electricity, it isn't really a force but this may help you to imagine what is
happening. It is possible to have voltage without current, but current cannot
flow without voltage.
Voltage and Current
The switch is closed making a complete circuit so current can flow.
Voltage but No Current
The switch is open so the circuit is broken and current cannot flow.
No Voltage and No Current
Without the cell there is no source of voltage so current cannot flow.
Voltage, V
Connecting a voltmeter in parallel
- Voltage is a measure of the energy carried by the charge.
Strictly: voltage is the "energy per unit charge". - The proper name for voltage is potential difference or p.d. for
short, but this term is rarely used in electronics. - Voltage is supplied by the battery (or power supply).
- Voltage is used up in components, but not in wires.
- We say voltage across a component.
- Voltage is measured in volts, V.
- Voltage is measured with a voltmeter, connected in parallel.
- The symbol V is used for voltage in equations.
Voltage at a point and 0V (zero volts)
Voltage is a difference between two points, but in electronics we often
refer to voltage at a point meaning the voltage difference between that
point and a reference point of 0V (zero volts).
Zero volts could be any point in the circuit, but to be consistent it is
normally the negative terminal of the battery or power supply. You will
often see circuit diagrams labelled with 0V as a reminder.
You may find it helpful to think of voltage like height in geography.
The reference point of zero height is the mean (average) sea level and all
heights are measured from that point. The zero volts in an electronic circuit is
like the mean sea level in geography.
Zero volts for circuits with a dual supply
Some circuits require a dual supply with three supply connections asshown in the diagram. For these circuits the zero volts reference point is the
middle terminal between the two parts of the supply.
On complex circuit diagrams using a dual supply the earth symbol is often
used to indicate a connection to 0V, this helps to reduce the number of wires
drawn on the diagram.
The diagram shows a ±9V dual supply, the positive terminal is +9V, the
negative terminal is -9V and the middle terminal is 0V.
Current, I
- Current is the rate of flow of charge.
- Current is not used up, what flows into a component must flow
out. - We say current through a component.
- Current is measured in amps (amperes), A.
- Current is measured with an ammeter, connected in series.
To connect in series you must break the circuit and put the ammeter
acoss the gap, as shown in the diagram.
- The symbol I is used for current in equations.
Why is the letter I used for current?
used. m (milli) means "thousandth":
1mA = 0.001A, or 1000mA = 1A
The need to break the circuit to connect in series means that ammeters
are difficult to use on soldered circuits. Most testing in electronics is done
with voltmeters which can be easily connected without disturbing circuits.
Connecting an ammeter in series
Voltage and Current for components in Series
Voltages add up for components connected inseries.
Currents are the same through all components
connected in series.
In this circuit the 4V across the resistor and the 2V across the LED add up
to the battery voltage: 2V + 4V = 6V.
The current through all parts (battery, resistor and LED) is 20mA.
Voltage and Current for components in Parallel
Voltages are the same across all componentsconnected in parallel.
Currents add up for components connected in
parallel.
In this circuit the battery, resistor and lamp all have 6V across them.
The 30mA current through the resistor and the 60mA current through the lamp
add up to the 90mA current through the battery.
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