Skip to Content Skip to Header Navigation

Mission EC5 Voltage, Resistance and Current Calculations

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Hold down the T key for 3 seconds to activate the audio accessibility mode, at which point you can click the K key to pause and resume audio. Useful for the Check Your Understanding and See Answers.

 The Question

A simple circuit consists of a 12-volt battery, two ammeters and a 2-ohm resistor. Predict the current measured by each ammeter and enter in the two appropriate spaces. (Enter your answers to the second decimal place.)
 
(Note: Numerical values are randomly selected and may differ from those shown above.)

 Formula Fix

The current (I) in a circuit is dependent upon the electric potential difference (i.e., voltage orV) impressed across the circuit and the overall resistance (R) of the circuit. The equation which expresses this relationship is:

I = ∆V / R

 A Very Fine Detail

Minds on Physics calculates answers to the fourth decimal place. Your answers do not need to be that accurate. To be safe, enter your answers to the second decimal place (as requested in the question). Avoid the rounding of numerical values which are used in subsequent calculations.

 Think About It

When the requirements of an electric circuit are met, charge begins to flow through the battery, the wires and the bulb. Charges (electrons) everywhere begin to move once the final circuit connection is made. The charges march along together, everywhere at the same rate. Current - the rate of charge flow - is everywhere the same. An ammeter measures this current flow. And since the current is everywhere the same, each ammeter should have the same current reading.

Return to Screen Reader Navigation