Calculus relationship between current, resistance, and voltage

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The relationship between current, resistance, and voltage is defined by Ohm's Law, expressed as V = IR, which is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering. While the discussion draws parallels to calculus concepts of position, velocity, and acceleration, it clarifies that these electrical quantities do not share a similar calculus relationship. Instead, they are linked through proportionality. Advanced formulations include E = ρJ, where E is the electric field and J is the current density, which can be integrated to analyze circuit behavior in electromagnetism.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Ohm's Law (V = IR)
  • Familiarity with calculus concepts such as differentiation and integration
  • Knowledge of electric fields and current density in electromagnetism
  • Basic principles of electrical engineering and circuit design
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and applications of Ohm's Law in circuit design
  • Learn about Maxwell's equations and their relation to electromagnetism
  • Explore advanced calculus techniques in the context of electromagnetism
  • Investigate the physical meaning of line and surface integrals in electrical contexts
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in the mathematical foundations of electromagnetism and circuit analysis will benefit from this discussion.

partialfracti
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
I remember that Position, velocity, and acceleration are all related in calculus somehow. Perhaps if one differentiates position, the result is the velocity, and if one differentiates velocity, the result is the acceleration. And the process can be reversed by integration. In this case, perhaps it would be that if one integrates the acceleration, one gets the velocity. And if one integrates velocity, one gets position.

I know about Ohm's Law that Current equals voltage divided by resistance.

In the field of electromagnetism in calculus, are current, resistance, and voltage related in a way analagous to the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration in calculus? If so, what is the relationship of current, voltage, and resistance in terms of calculus?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to Physics Forums.

They are not related in terms of calculus. Instead, it is a simple proportionality relation as given by Ohm' Law:

V = I R
 
The V = RI relation is most useful in applied electrical engineering, such as when designing electrical circuits with ready-made components.

However, when studying the individual components of circuitry, i.e. when working the actual physics of the materials involved, Ohm's law is written in the alternative form E = rhoJ. In this form, you have the electric field E, and the current density J, which are vectors that can eventually be plugged into Maxwell's equations, and models of condensed matter, depending on the particular system studied.

And one can usually get as much calculus as their appetite can handle when they start using EM and condensed matter theory.
 
Last edited:
partialfracti said:
I remember that Position, velocity, and acceleration are all related in calculus somehow. Perhaps if one differentiates position, the result is the velocity, and if one differentiates velocity, the result is the acceleration. And the process can be reversed by integration. In this case, perhaps it would be that if one integrates the acceleration, one gets the velocity. And if one integrates velocity, one gets position.

I know about Ohm's Law that Current equals voltage divided by resistance.

In the field of electromagnetism in calculus, are current, resistance, and voltage related in a way analagous to the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration in calculus? If so, what is the relationship of current, voltage, and resistance in terms of calculus?

I= \int_S \vec J \cdot d\vec S ,\;\;\;\; V= -\int_C \vec E \cdot d\vec l

Resistor...well is resistor! If you don't like V=IR then resistor is:

R=\frac{-\int_C \vec E \cdot d\vec l }{\int_S \vec J \cdot d\vec S}

Which is a fancy way of saying

R=\frac V I

:smile: :smile:

Or if you still want more:

I= \int_S \vec J \cdot d\vec S \;=\; \int_S \sigma \vec E \cdot d\vec S \;=\; \int_S \mu\rho_v \vec E \cdot d\vec S

Where \sigma is conductance, \mu is mobility and \rho_v is volume charge density.
 
Last edited:
Thats so right, nice to see the information
 
yungman said:
I= \int_S \vec J \cdot d\vec S ,\;\;\;\; V= -\int_C \vec E \cdot d\vec l

Resistor...well is resistor! If you don't like V=IR then resistor is:

R=\frac{-\int_C \vec E \cdot d\vec l }{\int_S \vec J \cdot d\vec S}

What is dl with an arrow over the l? What is dS with an arrow over the S?

I don't think that the C next to the integration sign means current since I usually means current. What does the C mean next to the integration sign?
 
Last edited:
partialfracti said:
What is dl with an arrow over the l? What is dS with an arrow over the S?

I don't think that the C next to the integration sign means current since I usually means current. What does the C mean next to the integration sign?

C is for line integral, S is for surface integral.

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcIII/LineIntegralsPtI.aspx

I like Paul Dawnkins book/notes. Serve on that site and find surface integral. You can even download the whole book.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K