Voltage; Resistance - Honda Motorcycle Service Manual

ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
VOLTAGE
I
As illustrated in the figure t o the right, when t w o water tanks,
A and B, are connected, water flows from tank A t o tank B. .
-
. . . . .
- -
This flow is the result of a pressure difference between the
- PRESSURE DIFFERENCE
(HEIGHT DIFFERENCE1
t w o tanks.
FLOW OF WATE
This same concept applies to electricity. The pressure
difference, called the electrical potential difference, causes
current t o flow through a circuit.
The pressure of the current is measured as voltage (V).
RESISTANCE
AS everyone knows, water flows through a larger pipe easier
than a smaller pipe. This is because the smaller pipe provides
greater resistance. Similarly, ebectrical current flows through a
thicker wire lconductor~ more easily than a thinner wire. The
resistance limiting the flow of electricity through a wire is
measured in Ohms (01.
THIN WIRE THICK WIRE
(LARGE RESISTANCE) (SMALL RESISTANCE)
' :
T
:
Resistance increases as the size of wire become smaller and
longer. This resistance value can be measured with an ohm-
meter.
21-8
Date of Issue : March, 1995
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HONDA MOTOR CO.,LTD.
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