{"id":2248,"date":"2026-10-13T20:54:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/electricity-basics-current-voltage\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T21:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T15:48:33","slug":"electricity-basics-current-voltage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiwaripedia.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/13\/electricity-basics-current-voltage\/","title":{"rendered":"Electricity Basics: Current, Voltage, Resistance and Ohm’s Law Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: October 2026 \u00b7 3 min read<\/em><\/p>\n

Electricity powers fans, phones and trains, yet the basic ideas are simple. Think of electricity in a wire like water in a pipe: voltage<\/b> is the pressure, current<\/b> is the flow and resistance<\/b> is how narrow the pipe is.<\/p>\n

\"Infographic:
Electricity Basics: Current, Voltage, Resistance and Ohm’s Law Explained \u2013 infographic by Tiwaripedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The three key quantities<\/h2>\n
Quantity<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Unit<\/th>Symbol<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Voltage<\/td>Electrical “push” between two points<\/td>Volt (V)<\/td>V<\/td><\/tr>
Current<\/td>Rate of flow of electric charge<\/td>Ampere (A)<\/td>I<\/td><\/tr>
Resistance<\/td>Opposition to current<\/td>Ohm (\u03a9)<\/td>R<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n

Ohm’s law<\/h2>\nV = I \u00d7 R<\/b>, discovered by Georg Ohm in 1827. If a 230 V supply is connected across a 46 \u03a9 heater coil, current I = V \u00f7 R = 230 \u00f7 46 = 5 A.\n

Power and your electricity bill<\/h2>\nPower (watts) = Voltage \u00d7 Current.<\/b> Your bill counts energy in units<\/b>, where 1 unit = 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh). A 1,000 W geyser running for one hour uses 1 unit; a 50 W ceiling fan running for 20 hours also uses 1 unit.\n

AC vs DC<\/h2>\n
<\/th>AC (alternating current)<\/th>DC (direct current)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Direction<\/td>Changes back and forth<\/td>Flows one way<\/td><\/tr>
Where<\/td>Home sockets: 230 V, 50 Hz in India<\/td>Batteries, phones, solar panels<\/td><\/tr>
Why<\/td>Easy to transmit over long distances<\/td>Electronics need steady DC<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n

Conductors and insulators<\/h2>\n

Copper and aluminium conduct electricity well and are used in wires. Rubber, plastic and dry wood are insulators that protect us. Water with impurities conducts electricity, which is why wet hands and switches are dangerous.<\/p>\n

Electrical safety tips<\/h2>\n