The Ohm (Ω) in Electrical Resistance

What is Ohm (Ω)

The ohm, represented by the symbol Ω, is the unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after the German physicist Georg Simon Ohm, who formulated Ohm's Law. This fundamental law states that the voltage (V) across a conductor is directly proportional to the current (I) flowing through it, with resistance (R) as the proportionality constant:

This means that if the resistance is higher, more voltage is needed to maintain the same current. The ohm can also be defined in terms of other units; specifically, one ohm is equivalent to one volt per ampere:

Electrical resistance is an essential property of materials, as it determines how easily electricity can flow through a substance. Conductors, like metals, have low resistance, while insulators, like rubber, have high resistance.

Common Conversion Values

When working with electrical circuits, it is often necessary to convert resistance values between different units. Here are some common conversions for the ohm (Ω):

• 1 (Ω) = 1000 (mΩ)
• 1 (Ω) = 1000000 (µΩ)
• 1 (Ω) = 1000000000 (nΩ)
• 1 (Ω) = 0.001 (kΩ)
• 1 (Ω) = 0.000001 (MΩ)
• 1 (Ω) = 0.000000001 (GΩ)
• 1 (Ω) = 1000000000 (abΩ)

Understanding these conversions can help in calculating resistance in various scenarios, from small electronic components to large industrial systems. For example, if you know the resistance of a circuit is 5 kΩ, you can easily convert that to ohms:

Or, if you have a resistance of 0.002 MΩ, you can convert it into ohms as follows:

Familiarity with these conversions allows engineers and technicians to better communicate and design electrical systems, ensuring precise calculations in their work.