Electrician's Licensing Practice Exam

Which type of relationship exists between voltage and current in a resistive circuit?

1. Inversely proportional

2. Directly proportional

3. No relationship

4. Random relationship

The correct answer is: Directly proportional

In a resistive circuit, the relationship between voltage and current is described by Ohm's Law, which states that the current (I) flowing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across the two points. This is mathematically represented as V = I × R, where R is the resistance in ohms. Because resistance remains constant in a purely resistive circuit, if the voltage increases, the current also increases in a linear fashion, and vice versa. This means that as one variable increases, the other also increases, demonstrating a direct relationship. This principle is fundamental in electrical engineering and is critical for understanding how devices operate within resistive loads.