ASVAB · Circuits and Ohm's Law

Using Ohm's Law, if a circuit has 12 volts and 4 ohms of resistance, what is the current?

Correct answer

3 A

  1. A 3 A
  2. B 48 A
  3. C 0.33 A
  4. D 16 A

Why this is the answer

Ohm's Law: V = IR (Voltage = Current × Resistance). Rearranged: I = V/R, or R = V/I. With V = 12, R = 4: I = 12/4 = 3 A. Master these three forms: (1) V = IR (find voltage given current and resistance); (2) I = V/R (find current given voltage and resistance); (3) R = V/I (find resistance given voltage and current). Power equations (often combined with Ohm's Law): P = VI; P = I²R (since V = IR); P = V²/R (since I = V/R). Choose based on what's known. Example: 12V circuit, 4Ω resistance. Current = 3 A (just calculated). Power = VI = 12 × 3 = 36 W; or I²R = 9 × 4 = 36 W; or V²/R = 144/4 = 36 W — all give the same answer. Common ASVAB EI calculations: (1) Find current in a circuit; (2) Find voltage across a resistor; (3) Find resistance needed for desired current; (4) Find power consumption; (5) Total resistance in series/parallel circuits. SERIES circuit: R_total = R₁ + R₂ + R₃ + ... (resistances add); same current through all; voltages add up to source. PARALLEL circuit: 1/R_total = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + 1/R₃ + ... (reciprocals add); same voltage across all branches; currents add up to source current. For two parallel resistors: R_total = (R₁ × R₂) / (R₁ + R₂). Parallel resistance is always LESS than the smallest individual resistance.
Source: ASVAB EI, Ohm's Law

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About this topic: Circuits and Ohm's Law

Circuits and Ohm's Law questions ask you to calculate voltage, current, resistance or power, and to understand series versus parallel circuits — how resistance adds in series and reduces in parallel, and what happens when one component fails. This is one of 17 Electronics Information questions on circuits and ohm's law, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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