What is an electrical circuit

A system of conductors and components forms a complete path current for flow.

Properties of an electrical circuit including

• Voltage (Volts/V)
• Current (Amps/A)
• Resistance (Ohms/Ω)

Current Flow

The conventional current that assumes current flows out of the positive side of the battery, through the circuit & back to the negative side of the battery. This was the convention established when electricity was first discovered, but it is incorrect.

Voltage (V) – the force (pressure) that causes current flow.

Resistance (Ω ) – material’s tendency to resist the current.

Ohm’s Law

Current in a resistor varies directly proportional to the voltage applied to it and inversely proportional to the resistor’s value.

Current

Current is a rate of flow of charges.

Why does the current flow?

A voltage source provides the energy (or work) required to produce a current.

A source takes charge particles (usually electrons) and raises their potential. So they flow out in one terminal into and through a transducer (light bulb or motor) on their way back to the source of the other terminal.