ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES

Chapter 2 – Resistance
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this chapter, students are able to:

i. Identify the resistance value

ii. Calculate the total resistance value
iii. Differentiate series and parallel circuit
 Resistance
• Used to limit the current flow
• Even a wire which is the path for the current to
flow do have resistance.
R=ρℓ
A
where:
ρ – resistivity of material
ℓ - length of the wire in meter
A – cross sectional area in meter²
 Resistance
• A coil of copper wire 200 m long and of csa
0.8 mm² has a resistivity of 0.02 µm at
normal working temperature. Calculate the
resistance of the coil.
• A wire-wound resistor is made from a 250m
length of copper wire having a circular cross-
section of diameter 0.5 mm. Given that the
wire has a resistivity of 0.018 µΩ/m, calculate
its resistance value.
 Resistance
• Factor that influence the resistance value:
 resistivity – the higher the resistivity, the higher
the resistance
Length – the longer the length, the higher the
resistance
Area – the smaller the CSA, the higher the
resistance
 Temperature – the higher the temperature, the
higher the resistance
 Resistor
• An electrical device that is designed to have a
specified value of resistance is called a
resistor.
• It measured in ohm (Ω)
• It has wide range of value
• Divided to : fixed resistor & variable resistor
Fixed Resistor – resistor with a specific value and
certain tolorence
Variables Resistor – the value can be adjust from
minimum to maximum.
 Resistors
The resistor color code can be used to determine the resistor’s
ohmic value and tolerance.
It can be identify using Resistor Color Code Table
Resistors Color Coding
 Resistor
• Blue, Red, Yellow , Gold
• Orange, Violet, White, Silver
• Green, Black, Black, Gold
• 48 kΩ ± 5%
• 210 Ω ± 10%
 Resistors
Exceeding the power rating causes damage to a
resistor.
 Resistors
Variable resistors can change their value over a specific
range. A potentiometer is a variable resistor with three
terminals. A rheostat has only two terminals.

potentiometer rheostat
 Resistors
Schematic symbols are used to represent various types
of fixed resistors.
SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUIT IDENTIFICATION
1) Series Circuit

 Components that are connected in a chain so that the same

current flows through
Only one end of the lead of each resistor are connected together

All resistor connected together to create one

complete current path ( chain connection)
Only one current path .IT flow through the circuit
Only one lead is connected between each resistor.
SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUIT IDENTIFICATION
2) Parallel Circuit

 Components that are connected to the same pair of nodes and

create branch.
Both ends of the lead of each resistor are connected together
Few current path in one circuit that generates multiple current
flow in the circuit

All resistor connected to both lead

Multiple current path .IT and branch current (I1 I2 I3 )
 SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

1) Series Circuit
 Current
Since only one current path, current are SAME at all point
 Voltage
Voltage drop across each resistor are DIFFERENT depending on the resistance
value. The higher the resistance value, the higher the voltage drop

2) Parallel Circuit
 Current
Having multiple current flow, the value are DIFFERENT at different branch
 Voltage
Voltage drop across each resistor are SAME with supply voltage because it
connected horizontally to each other.
SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUIT DRAWING

Draw the circuit configuration for the following :

1. R1 = 10Ω; R2 = 10Ω; R3 = 10Ω; R4 = 10Ω is connected in series to 12V

supply.

2. R1 = 10Ω; R2 = 10Ω; R3 = 10Ω; R4 = 10Ω is connected in parallel to 5V

supply.
 TOTAL RESISTANCE

• Series Circuit
Total resistance (RT ) equal to sum of all resistor
R T = R1 + R2 + R3 + …… + RN

• Parallel Circuit
Total resistance (RT ) equal to reciprocal value of all resistor
1/R T = 1/R1 + 1/R2 +1/R3 + …… + 1/RN
Example 1

• Find the total resistance for R1 = 10Ω; R2 = 10Ω; R3 = 10Ω; is

connected in series

• Find the total resistance for R1 = 25Ω; R2 = 50Ω; R3 = 100Ω is

connected in parallel
Exercise 1

• Three resistance R1 = 150Ω, R2=330Ω and R3=470Ω in the circuit. Find the
total resistance if the resistor is connected in series and parallel.
 OHM’S LAW

• Define as the relationship between the resistance (R), supply voltage

(Vs),current (I) and power (P).

• When there is supply and resistance that create one complete circuit path,
the current is generated in the circuit and the power is delivered to the
circuit.
• The fundamentals of Ohm’s Law is:

V = IR
Where the value of supply voltage is the product of current and resistance
 Series Circuit
• Current are same at all point of the circuit (IT )
IT = VS / RT
• Voltage are different at any point of the circuit depending on
the value of the resistor (voltage drop across each resistor)

Ohm’s Law
VR1 = IT R1 ; VR2 = IT R2 ………….
 VOLTAGE DIVIDER RULES (VDR)

• Valid for SERIES circuit only

• Use to find the value of voltage drop across each resistor.
• Define as :
Amount of voltage drop across RX is equal to the ratio of RX to the total resistance
times with the supply voltage.

where R total = R1 + R2 + R3 + …… + RN

• The sum of voltage drop is equal to supply voltage Vs = VR1 + VR2 + VR3 +….+VRN
Example 3:

Find the value of voltage drop across each resistor (VR1 , VR2 , VR3 , VR4 ) in the
circuit in Figure 1 using Voltage Divider Rules (VDR)

Figure 1

1. Find the total resistance

2. Calculate the voltage drop across each resistor
3. Prove the sum of voltage drop is equal to supply voltage
 Kirchoff’s Voltage Law
• Sum of voltage drop in a closed loop circuit is
equal to the supply voltage
VS = VR1 + VR2 + VR3 + ………….+VRN
• Prove the Kirchoff’s Voltage Law for the circuit
below:
 Parallel Circuit
• Voltage are same at all point of the circuit
VS = VR1 = VR2 = VR3 =………VRN
• Current are different at any junction of the circuit depending
on the value of the resistor
 CURRENT DIVIDER RULES (CDR)

• Valid for PARALLEL circuit only

• Use to find the value of branch current.
• Junction current at R1 is equal to the ratio of inverse resistor with the total
resistance times with total current.

• Define as :
The branch current value is the fraction of a total current in the circuit.

• The sum of branch current is equal to total current

IT = I1 + I2 + I3 +….+IN
2 resistor in parallel RT = R1 // R2
1/RT = (1/R1 + 1/R2 )

IT = VS / RT

Branch Current 1 (I1 ) =

Branch Current 2 ( I2 ) =
Example 4
From the circuit in Figure 2, find the value of all the branch currents using current
divider rules.

Figure 2
3 resistor in parallel RT = R1 // R2 // R3
1/RT = (1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 )

IT = VS / RT

Branch Current 1 (I1 ) =

Branch Current 2 ( I2 ) =

Branch Current 3 ( I3 ) =
Example 5
From the circuit in Figure 3, find the value of all the branch currents using current
divider rules.

Figure 3
 Kirchoff’s Current Law
• Current entering the node is equal to current
leaving the node.
 Combination Circuit
• Series and parallel connection made available
in one circuit.
• It is crucial to identify the total resistance of
the circuit as it will effect the value of the
circuit total current.
 Example
From the circuit, calculate:
a) The current from the supply
b) The current through the 6Ω resistor
c) Power dissipated by 5.6Ω resistor
 Example
Calculate:
a) The supply current
b) Voltage drop across each
resistor
c) Current through each resistor
d) Power dissipated by the 5Ω
resistor
The Wheatstone Bridge Network
Find I1,I2,I3 and I
A Wheatstone Bridge type circuit is shown.Determine the
potential difference between terminals B and D