Electrical fundamentals · Free lesson

Ohm’s law: see the circuit, solve the question

Work through a 24 V circuit, change voltage and resistance, and check your answer with units.

By CodeSafe CanadaUpdated 6 min + practice
After this lesson: Calculate current in a simple resistive DC circuit and explain what changes when voltage or resistance changes.

Name the unknown

Write down what the question asks before looking at the answer choices. Current is I, measured in amperes (A). Voltage is V, measured in volts (V). Resistance is R, measured in ohms (Ω).

Given: V = 24 V, R = 48 Ω. Find: I in A.

Choose the relationship

For this ideal resistive DC example, use V = I × R. Rearrange to isolate the unknown. To find current, divide voltage by resistance.

I = V ÷ R = 24 V ÷ 48 Ω = 0.5 A

Check the scale

Hold resistance constant: doubling voltage doubles current. Hold voltage constant: doubling resistance halves current. Use the circuit below to try both changes.

24 V ÷ 96 Ω = 0.25 A. 48 V ÷ 48 Ω = 1 A.

Answer in the requested unit

Convert only after solving in consistent units. The prefix milli means one thousandth, so multiply amperes by 1,000 to express milliamperes.

0.5 A × 1,000 = 500 mA
Try the relationship

Change one thing.

Keep one slider fixed and move the other. Predict whether the current will rise or fall before reading the result.

A simple circuit: 24 volt source, 48 ohm resistor, 0.5 amperes of current.+R = 48 Ω24 VIIdeal DC source and resistor · schematic for study
0.5 AI = 24 V ÷ 48 Ω
That is 500 mA.

Take this into your next practice session

Write the known values and units, rearrange the formula, substitute, then check the size of the result. This example models an ideal resistor; it is not an AC impedance or appliance sizing calculation.

References and authorship

Original examples and study notes by CodeSafe Canada. Updated September 12, 2026.

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