Determination of ohmic relations between current, voltage, and

resistance by constant variable approach and classification of ohmic

properties of various conductors and wire resistance of wires of
various dimensions and material
Jessica T Cahoy1, Frederic James V Espiritu2*, and Jamie L Tomilloso1
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
*Corresponding author: james.espiritu04@gmail.com
1

Abstract
Voltage, current, and resistance make up the very foundation of how circuits
work. Thus, a good understanding of such concepts is crucial in the study of
electricity. This experiment aimed to explore relationships between these
quantities as well as the unique properties of each by means of proper methods
of measuring using long wires, bulbs, ohmmeters, ammeters, and voltmeters and
analysis of plots involving the three quantities. Focus was also given to
additional supplementary concepts such as resistivity and Ohmic properties.
Generally, it was proven from results that the voltage is indeed directly
proportional to current and resistance. Also it was concluded that resistance was
indirectly proportional to wire cross-sectional area but directly to wire length and
resistivity.
Keywords: ohm, voltage, current, resistance, resistivity

1. Introduction
The experiment was performed as partial fulfillment of the requirements for Physics 72.1. Complete instructions
and detailed procedures were already provided beforehand, leaving the authors with just the execution of the actual
experiment itself and post experiment analyses. Thus, it follows that no dedicated research and sourcing were
necessary from the authors prior to the experimentation proper.
With regards to similar works by other authors, it is greatly anticipated that this very experiment has had multiple
similar replications[2][3] and closely related variations[4], not to mention that it itself is more or less also a replication
of a previously done work. Unlike most investigatory projects and research papers, this particular experiment had
differently oriented objectives the most important being the exposure and education of student scientists for better
comprehension of scientific concepts.
The experiment did not require the heavy use of operational terms for the most part. Technical terms that were
utilized included voltage, current, resistance, and resistivity. Current is defined to be the amount of charge passing
through a given area at a given time. Simply put, it is the flow of electrical charge carriers and its unit of
measurement is Amperes (A). Voltage on the other hand is technically known as the electric potential difference
between to points in a circuit. It can be seen as the strength of the flow of electric charge carriers and has a unit
measurement of Volts (V). Resistance is known to be the property of certain materials to oppose or resist the
amount of charge carriers passing through it in a given time and it has a unit measurement of Ohms ( ). Resistance
is determined by the inherent resistive properties of conductors which is known as resistivity. The first three
concepts can easily be related and their basic functions explained by the water pipe analogy, where the flow of water
corresponds to current, the pressure to voltage, and the girth to the inverse of resistance.

2. Methodology
(complete description of experimental set-up)(include diagrams of apparatus)(steps employed)(mathematical and
statistical methods used)(PARAGRAPH FORM DAW LEL)

3. Results and discussion

(figures and graphs ONLY)(lahat ng data tables sa appendix I THINK)(discuss expected and actual results)(use
logical reasoning)(show how ovjectives are met)

Voltage (Volts)

f(x) = 3.13x + 0.08

Data
R = 0.97 Linear (Data)
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Current (milliAmperes)

Figure W1 Plot of voltage versus current for the wire as indicated by Table W2

0.95
Current (Amperes)
0.45
Data
0.3

f(x) = 1.03x + 0.12

R = 0.96
Linear (Data)
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7

0.8

1/resistance (1/Ohms)

Figure W2 Plot of current versus reciprocal of resistance of the wire as indicated by Table W3

3
Voltage (Volts)

2
1
Data
1.25

f(x) = 0.66x + 0.24

R = 0.96
Linear (Data)
1.75
2.25
2.75

3.25

Resistance (Ohms)

Figure W3 Plot of voltage versus resistance of the wire as indicated by Table W4

Resistance (Ohms)
Data

90

f(x) = 0.01x - 0.08

R = 1
Linear (Data)
110 130 150 170 190 210
Length (Meters)

Figure W4 Plot of wire resistance versus wire length as indicated by Table W4

9
Voltage (Volts)

4
-1
Data
-2

f(x) = 0.23x - 0.94

R = 0.97
Linear (Data)
3
8
13
18
23
Current (milliAmperes)

Figure W5 Plot of voltage versus current for the light bulb as indicated by Table W5

28

In measuring its resistance, the wire was connected to the ohmmeter using connectors made of copper wire. Do you
think this contributed to the deviation between the resistance computed from Equation (2) and the measured
resistance (Table W1)? Explain.
Although it cant certainly be said that this is the sole reason for the deviation, the use of copper connectors in
measuring reactance may have contributed to the said inconsistency due to the significantly lower resistivity
constant of copper at 20 degrees centigrade (1.78x10 -8) than that of the German nickel (3.30x10 -7) , which was later
found out to be the material composing the conductive wire subject to experimentation.
Comment on the linear fit obtained for each of the curves in Figures W1, W2, and W3. How well do these curves
conform to their respective best-fit lines? What does this imply?
It can be observed that the linear fit of each graph very closely estimates their corresponding curves. This
conformation between the curves and best fit lines suggest that there is little deviation between the measured values
and the expected linear relation given by the equation V=IR. This implies that form both calculations and
experimentation, it can be concluded that there is a linear relationship between voltage and current and resistance.
The slope and the y-intercept in Figures W1, W2, and W3 represent certain quantities in the experiment. In the
following table, write down the values of the slope and y-intercept, the quantities they represent, the expected values
of these quantities, and the percent deviation. Include all corresponding units.

Figure
W1
W2
W3

Table 1 Percent deviation of plot elements from experimentation and calculations

Corresponding quantity
Experimental value
Expected Value
% Dev
slope
y-int
slope
y-int
slope
y-int
slope
y-int
resistance
voltage @ 0A
3.1335
0.0754
2.8
0
11.91
0.75
emf/voltage
1.0349
0.1193
1.7
0
39.12
0.11
current @
current
voltage@ 0
0.6558
0.2447
0.6
0
9.3
0.24

In W1 (voltage vs. current), the equation of the graph is y=3.1335x+0.0754. The slope which is 3.1335 represents
the materials resistance, while the y-intercept, 0.0754 represents voltage when there current is not present. Having
an expected resistance of 2.8 , we can get a percent deviation of 11.91%.

2.83.1335
100=11.91
2.8

In W2 (current vs. reciprocal of the resistance), the equation of the graph is y=1.0349x+0.1193. The slope which is
1.0349 represents the Electromotive force of the circuit, while the y-intercept, 0.1193 represents current when there
is infinite resistance. Having an expected voltage of 1.7 V, we can get a percent deviation of 39.12%.

1.71.0349
100=39.12
1.7

In W3 (voltage vs. resistance), the equation of the graph is y=0.6558x+0.2447. The slope which is 0.6558
represents the current of the circuit, while the y-intercept, 0.2447 represents voltage when there is no resistance.
Having an expected voltage of 0.6A, we can get a percent deviation of 9.3%.

0.60.6558
100=9.3
0.6

Calculate the resistivity from Figure W4 and compute the percent deviation of this value from that obtained in
Table W1. Show all calculations below.

dy R
dyA
7
7
= = =
= ( 0.0143 ) ( 1.9634 10 )=2.807 10
dx l A
dx
3


100=2.1
2.749 107
%deviation=

|2.749 1072.807 107|

Describe the shape of the voltage versus current plot of the light bulb (a) before it starts to radiate and (b) after it
has begun to radiate. Compare this with the voltage versus current plot of the resistance wire. Does the light bulb
obey Ohms law? Explain.
The bulb started to radiate at 11.3A and 1.3V. Before this point, the data values were significantly far from the
linear best fit; voltage current ratio started high but eventually decreased upon reaching the voltage current ratio
where the bulb started to radiate. On the other hand, data values after this point were much less deviated from the
best fit and had a slope that was near to the slope of the best fit. Compared to the resistance wire though, the light
bulb behaved differently because its voltage-current slope is linear. That said, since the voltage does not vary
linearly with current, the light bulb does not follow Ohms law and can therefore not be classified as an ohmic
resistor.
(mas formal tignan yung R&D kung wala yung questions.. pwede naman yata na parang essay lang tapos in a way
i-incorporate na lang natin yung sagot sa questions dun) (Also try to use the graphs for this part)

4. Conclusions
(what was proven in the experiment)(highlight the most important contribution of this paper, lol)(recommendationssuggestions on how to reduce error and other basic concepts)

Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the National Institute of Physics for allowing us to utilize their laboratories
and equipment, without which the experiment would not have been possible. We would also like to recognize Sir
Denny Lane Sombillo for advising us throughout the experiment.

References
1. Freedman RA & Young HD (2012). University physics with modern physics 13 e.d. California:Pearson Education
Inc.
2. MSU Physics and Astronomy Department (2013). Experiment 2, Physics 252 Laboratory Manual. Michigan State
University E-resource. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from
http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/2013spring/PHY252/Lab2.pdf
3. UTC Physics Department (n.d.). Ohms Law Experiment. University of Tennessee Chattanooga E-resource.
Retrieved October 29, 2014, from http://web2.utc.edu/~pbs273/PHYS%20281/281%20Lab%202%20Ohms
%20law.pdf
4. CDAC Mumbair and Amrita University (n.d.). Verification of ohms law. Online Labs. Retrieved October 29,
2014, from http://cdac.olabs.co.in/?sub=74&brch=9&sim=75&cnt=2

APPENDIX
Table W1.1 Measured and calculated parameters for resistivity and resistance
Trial
Diameter of wire (m)
Temperature (Celsius)
1
5x10-4
28.8
2
5x10-4
29
3
5x10-4
28.9
Best Estimate
5x10-4
28.9
Table W1.2 Measured properties of the wire
Cross-sectional area (m2)
Length of wire (m)

1.9634x10-7
2

Resistivity (Ohm meter)

2.8

Table W1.3 Deviation of calculated from measured resistance

Resistancecalculated
Resitancemeasured
3.3734
2.8

R=

L
A

AR
L

% deviation

3.30 107 (1+0.0004 ( 28.920 ) )

(1.9634 10 )(2.8)
2

3.3117 107

2.749 107 (German nickel)

R=

( T )= 20 ( 1+ ( T 20 ) )

(3.3117 107 )(2)

1.9634 107
R=3.3734

Voltage
0.5
0.6
0.7
1.0
1.4
Length (cm)
200
180
160
140
120
100
Length (cm)
200
180
160
140
120
100
Voltage
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9

Table W2 Voltage versus current through the wire

Current
Parameters held constant
0.11
0.19
Resistance: 2.8 ohms
0.21
0.3
Length of wire: 2 meters
0.41
Table W3 Current versus resistance across the wire
Current
Resistance
1/Resistance
Parameters held constant
0.5
2.8
0.357
0.55
2.5
0.400
0.58
2.2
0.455
0.65
1.9
0.526
Voltage: 1.7 volts
0.72
1.6
0.625
0.9
1.4
0.714
Table W4 Voltage versus resistance across the wire
Voltage
Resistance
Parameters held constant
2.1
2.8
1.8
2.5
1.7
2.2
1.6
1.9
Current: 0.6 amperes
1.3
1.6
1.1
1.4
Table W5 Voltage versus resistance across the light bulb
Current
Voltage
0.29
1.0
3.38
1.5
4.70
2.0
5.75
2.5
6.29
3.0
6.90
3.5
7.91
4.0
8.11
4.5
8.66
5.0
9.11
*Light bulb radiates at 11.30 amperes and 1.3 volts

Current
9.64
11.93
14.10
15.85
17.55
19.20
21.60
23.00
24.30