Chapter 4 Ohms Law,

Power and Energy

Introductory Circuit Analysis
Robert L. Boylestad

4.2 - Ohms Law

Cause
Effect
Opposition
Every conversion of energy from one form
to another can be related to this equation.
In electric circuits the effect we are trying
to establish is the flow of charge, or
current. The potential difference, or
voltage between two points is the cause
(pressure), and resistance is the
opposition encountered.

Ohms Law
Simple analogy: Water in a hose

Electrons in a copper wire are analogous to water

in a hose.
Consider the pressure valve as the applied voltage
and the size of the hose as the source of resistance.
The absence of pressure in the hose, or voltage across
the wire will result in a system without motion or
reaction.
A small diameter hose will limit the rate at which water
will flow, just as a small diameter copper wire limits the
flow of electrons.

Ohms Law
Developed in 1827 by Georg Simon
Ohm
For a fixed resistance, the greater the
voltage (or pressure) across a resistor, the
more the current.
The more the resistance for the same
voltage, the less the current.
Current is proportional to the applied
voltage and inversely proportional to the
resistance.

Ohms Law

E
I
R
Where: I = current (amperes,
A)
E = voltage (volts, V)
R = resistance (ohms, )

4.3 - Plotting Ohms Law

Plotting Ohms Law

Insert Fig 4.8

4.4 - Power
Power is an indication of how much
work (the conversion of energy from
one form to another) can be done in
a specific amount of time; that is, a
rate of doing work.

Power

W
P
t
1 Watt (W) 1 joule / second
Power can be delivered or absorbed as
defined by the polarity of the voltage
and the direction of the current.

4.5 - Energy
Energy (W) lost or gained by any
system is determined by:

W = Pt
Since power is measured in watts (or
joules per second) and time in
seconds, the unit of energy is the
wattsecond (Ws) or joule (J)

Energy
The watt-second is too small a quantity for
most practical purposes, so the watt-hour
(Wh) and kilowatt-hour (kWh) are defined
as follows:

Energy (Wh) power (W) time (h)

power (W) time (h)
Energy (kWh)
1000

The killowatt-hour meter is an

instrument used for measuring the energy
supplied to a residential or commercial
user of electricity.

4.6 - Efficiency
Efficiency () of a system is
determined by the following
equation:

= Po / P i
Where: = efficiency (decimal number)
Po = power output
Pi = power input

Efficiency

The basic components of a generating (voltage) system

are depicted below, each component has an associated
efficiency, resulting in a loss of power through each stage.

Insert Fig 4.19

Typical wattage ratings of some

common household items
Insert Table 4.1

4.7 - Circuit Breakers,

GFCIs, and Fuses
Power coming into any facility or item must be
limited to ensure that the current through the lines
or electrical equipment is not above the rated
value.
Fuses or circuit breakers are installed where the
power enters the installation.
Fuses have an internal metallic conductor which begins
to melt if the current exceeds the fuse rated value on the
case.
In recent years fuses have been replaced with circuit
breakers. Circuit breakers have an electromagnet that,
when the current exceeds the rated value, has sufficient
strength to draw the connecting metallic link out of the
circuit and open the path.

Circuit Breakers, GFCIs,

and Fuses
National Electrical Code requires that
outlets in the bathroom and other
sensitive areas be of the Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) variety.
GFCIs are designed to trip more quickly
than the standard circuit breaker.
GFCI senses differences in input and
output currents to the outlet, and trips if
they are not the same.

4.8 - Applications
Microwave ovens
Most microwaves are rated at 500 W to
1200 W at a frequency of 2.45 GHz.
Heating occurs because the water
molecules in the food vibrate at such a
high frequency that the friction with
neighboring molecules causes the heating
effect.
Most microwaves are between 50% and
60% efficient.

Applications
Household wiring
Most older homes, without electric
heating, have a 100 A service.
Power is broken down into different
circuits utilizing 15 A, 20 A, 30 A and 40
A protective breakers.
Maximum load on each breaker
should not exceed 80% of its rating
(12 A of a 15 A circuit breaker).

Applications
The correct gauge of wire must be used
with the right circuit breaker #14 wire up
to a 15 A breaker, #12 wire up to 20 A, #10
wire up to 30 A.
Grounding is a very important part of
safety.
The National Electric Code requires that the
neutral wire of a system be grounded to an
earth-driven rod, a metallic water piping system
of 10 ft or more, or a buried metal plate.