SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

A Journal developed by children for scientific research purposes

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Title How Can Determine the Relationship between Potential difference and Current for a Resistor in
Order to Verify Ohms Law
Authors
Carlos Cortes 9D
Abstract:
The main goal of this experiment is to determine the relation between potential difference and current
resistor in order to verify Ohms law. The experiment is done to verify that whether or not the current is
directly proportional to the voltage supplied when the resistance is kept constant. When we increase the
supplied voltage, the current also increases simultaneously and vice versa. By increasing voltage at
different intervals, the current increased by exact proportions (e.g. if the voltage was doubled, the
current also doubled, keeping the resistance constant). After the experiment is carried out under
standard conditions, it is proved that the current is directly proportional to the voltage supplied when
the resistance is kept constant in the circuit, according to mi hypothesis was correct in my (Graph #1, #2
and #3) an all the graphs the current had increased proportionally with the voltage and also I had found
the resistance of my circuit in the slope of the line of the graphs. I had registered my results in the 3 data
tables (Table # 1, 2#, and 3#) and then I had expressed that data in three graphs (Graph # 1 # 2, and
#3), this in order to see the tendency of my data and also in order to fin the slope that in this case is the
resistance of the circuit and we take the average of the different trials.
Key words: Current, Circuit, Voltage, Resistor, Electricity
Problem Question: To investigate the relationship between potential difference and current for a
Resistor in order to verify Ohms Law.
Test the validity of Ohms law.
Determine that the voltage is directly proportional to the current in the circuit.
Purpose: To perform an experimental check of Ohm's Law by determining the relationship between
current, voltage, and resistance. We also are doing this lab to practice constructing electric circuits and
to understand voltmeters, ammeters, and real batteries/power supplies

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Objectives:

Become familiar with the use of a digital voltmeter and a digit voltmeter to measure DC voltage
and current.
Construct a circuit using resistors, wires and a breadboard from a circuit diagram like in the
image 1.
Construct series and parallel circuits.
Test the validity of Ohms law.
Determine the relationship between potential difference and current for a resistor in order to
verify Ohms Law.

Hypothesis: Ohms law states that voltage is directly proportional to current, provided that the
Temperature remains constant. The straight line graph that could be drawn from the data showed the
mathematical relationship (V =RXI) that exists between potential difference and current.
Therefore Ohms law was verified.
State that the voltage is directly proportional to the current in the circuit.
We expect that the Ohms law, it will be seen the voltage range and value of the resistance chosen will be
linear and the value of resistance will be perpendicular to the current.
Introduction:
The objective of this lab is for determine the relationship between potential difference and current for a
resistor in order to verify Ohms Law, have to state that the voltage is directly proportional to the current
in the circuit.
In the US, most of us use electricity every day. That electricity is handled in circuits: a closed loop of
conductors travelling from power plants to neighborhoods to households and back again.
Circuit that have to make in this lab
Image 1

Taken From:
Electronics Micros. (14 de Octubre de 2012). Recuperado el 3 de Agosto de 2016, de Electronics
Micros: http://www.electronics-micros.com/electrical/ohms-law/
That closed loop, with all of its many parts, forms one huge electrical circuit. Today well use the
3essential parts of a circuit power supply (or battery), wires, and resistors. Well learn how resistors
affect the current of electrons that flows through them, and how connecting resistors in different ways
changes their behavior.

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Ohm's law states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the
voltage across the two points. Introducing the constant of proportionality, the resistance,] one arrives at
the usual mathematical equation that describes this relationship:
Image 2

Taken From:
Electronics Micros. (14 de Octubre de 2012). Recuperado el 3 de Agosto de 2016, de
Electronics Micros: http://www.electronics-micros.com/electrical/ohms-law/

The law was named after the German physicist Georg Ohm, who, in a treatise published in 1827,
described measurements of applied voltage and current through simple electrical circuits containing
various lengths of wire. He presented a slightly more complex equation than the one above (see History
section below) to explain his experimental results. The above equation is the modern form of Ohm's law.
Image 3

Taken From:
Electronics Micros. (14 de Octubre de 2012). Recuperado el 3 de Agosto de 2016, de Electronics Micros:
http://www.electronics-micros.com/electrical/ohms-law/

Variables:

Independent: Resistance

Dependent: Current

Controlled: Electromotive Force

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Electric Current:
Electric current is the rate of charge flow past a given point in an electric circuit, measured in
Coulombs/second which is named Amperes.
In most DC electric circuits, it can be assumed that the
Resistance to current flow is a constant so that the current in the circuit is related to voltage and
resistance by Ohm's law. The standard abbreviations for the units are 1 A = 1C/s
Image 4

Taken From:
Electronics Micros. (14 de Octubre de 2012). Recuperado el 3 de Agosto de 2016, de Electronics Micros:
http://www.electronics-micros.com/electrical/ohms-law/

Below are the instrumentals we will be using for measurements:

A voltmeter is an instrument for measuring electric potential in volts. An ammeter is an instrument for
measuring electric current in amperes. Terminal Voltage is the sum of the individual battery cell
voltages.
Voltage:
Voltage is electric potential energy per unit charge, measured in joules per coulomb (= volts). It is often
referred to as "electric potential", which then must be distinguished from electric potential energy by
noting that the "potential" is a "per-unit-charge" quantity. Like mechanical potential energy, the zero of
potential can be chosen at any point, so the difference in voltage is the quantity which is physically
meaningful. The difference in voltage measured when moving from point A to point B is equal to the
work which would have to be done, per unit charge, against the electric field to move the charge from A
to B. When a voltage is generated, it is sometimes called an "electromotive force" or emf.
Resistance:
The electrical resistance of a circuit component or device is defined as the ratio of the voltage applied to
the electric current which flows through it.
Property
Current
Voltage
Resistance

S.I Units
Amperes (A)
Voltage (V)
Ohms ()

Device used to measure it

Ammeter
Voltmeter
Ohmmeter

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Types of Circuits
Image 5

Taken From:
Power Up. (Mayo de 2014). Recuperado el 5 de Agosto de 2016, de Powe
Up:http://powerup.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powerup/en/over-11/circuits/types-of-circuit/

Parallel Circuits:
In parallel circuits, the components don't have to be end to end because the circuit can have branches.
Simple Circuit:
A simple circuit contains the minimum things needed to have a functioning electric circuit. A simple
circuit requires three (3) things:
A source of electrical potential difference or voltage. (typically a battery or electrical outlet)
A conductive path which would allow for the movement of charges. (typically made of wire)
An electrical resistance (resistor) which is loosely defined as any object that uses electricity to
do work. (A light bulb, electric motor, heating element, speaker, etc.)
Taken From:
Power Up. (Mayo de 2014). Recuperado el 5 de Agosto de 2016, de Powe
Up:http://powerup.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powerup/en/over-11/circuits/types-of-circuit/
Electronics Micros. (14 de Octubre de 2012). Recuperado el 3 de Agosto de 2016, de Electronics
Micros: http://www.electronics-micros.com/electrical/ohms-law/
Physics Practical Scheme of Work, Micheal J. Dickinson
A text book of Practical Physics for Higher Secondary Course by Varghese, Antony, Sebastian.
Methods and Materials:
Materials:

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Connecting Wires
Lab quest 2/ Vernier/0.0001
Ammeter / Vernier/0.0001
Power supply/Extech/0.1
Cables x2
Resistance / 1000 spirals and 400 spirals / 1200 spiras
Variable DC Power Supply
Voltmeter
Procedure:
Ask for the materials you need for the lab.
Once you have the power supply connect it to the energy.
Connect the positive side of the power supply to the positive side of the ammeter.
Then, connect the negative side of the ammeter to the negative side of the first resistance.
Then, connect the resistance to the power supply.
Finally connect your ammeter to the lab quest in order to prepare taken of results.
Start your taking of data by varying the volts in the power supply.
Make 3 trials for each voltage and then, find the average, in order to have accurate data.
Change the resistance for compare the results.
Register you data in the tables.
Once you have your data, repeat the process but with you other resistance.
Verified the data in the tables with the different resistance.
Results:
As making the experiment with the two resistances, the data is registered in the following tables:
Table #1: Circuit with a resistance of 400 spirals
Voltage /
V
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,9
1,0

Trial 1
0,0798
0,1622
0,1848
0,2612
0,347
0,396
0,4856
0,589
0,6331
0,7653

Current / A
Trial 2
0,0632
0,2345
0,2243
0,3345
0,3387
0,3493
0,4632
0,5255
0,6238
0,7434

Trial 3
0,0659
0,1624
0,2441
0,2602
0,377
0,412
0,4236
0,5162
0,6045
0,6988

Average
0.0696
0.1863
0.3266
0.2853
0.3542
0.3857
0.4574
0.5435
0.6204
0.7358

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Graph #1: Voltage vs. Current Average

Table # 4 Resistance Calculated with the same voltage

Resistance
Calculated
1.431
1.073
1.098
1.402
1.411
1.693
1.530
1.471
1.450
1.359

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Graph # 4 Resistance Calculated

Table # 2: Circuit with a resistance of 1000 spirals

Voltage
V/
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,9
1,0

Trial 1
0,0134
0,0197
0,0418
0,0572
0,0621
0,0723
0,0899
0,1018
0,1161
0,1260

Current / A
Trial 2
0,0184
0,0245
0,0339
0,0542
0,0684
0,0761
0,0846
0,1042
0,1165
0,1250

Trial 3
0,0152
0,0254
0,0377
0,0468
0,0542
0,0743
0,0836
0,0982
0,1036
0,1268

Average
0.0156
0.0232
0.0378
0.0527
0.0615
0.0742
0.0860
0.1014
0.1120
0.1259

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Graph # 2: Voltage vs. Current average

Table # 5 Resistance Calculated with the same voltage

Resistance
Calculate
d
6.410
8.620
7.936
7.590
8.130
8.086
8.139
7.889
8.035
7.942

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Graph # 5 Resistance Calculated

Table # 3: Circuit with a resistance of 1200 spirals

Voltage
V/
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
0,7
0,8
0,9
1,0

Trial 1
0,0242
0,0296
0,0338
0,0566
0,0739
0,0813
0,0998
0,1023
0,1204
0,1270

Current / A
Trial 2
0,0273
0,0285
0,0359
0,0511
0,0752
0,0840
0,0981
0,1047
0,1235
0,1287

Trial 3
0,0231
0,0274
0,0372
0,0535
0,0766
0,0878
0,0970
0,1045
0,1281
0,1298

Average
0.0251
0.0285
0.0356
0.0537
0.0752
0.0843
0.0983
0.1038
0.1240
0.1285

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Graph # 3: Voltage vs. Current Average

Table # 6 Resistance Calculated with the same voltage

Resistance
Calculate
d
3.984
7.017
8.426
7.448
6.648
7.117
7.121
7.707
7.258
7.782

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Graph # 6 Resistance Calculated

Discussion:
In the experiment carried out, the results obtained are very close to as that what were expected to come,
though there were very small variations in the results in each trials with the different resistance in which
are negligible because when you change increase the voltage the current always increase in each trial
also a relationship that is proportional. The current readings recorded using the ammeter were directly
proportional to the voltage supplied. In the experiment it is to be noted that the resistance measured
using the ohmmeter of the resistor should be measured separately i.e. the resistor is to be connected to
the ohmmeter directly and not in the circuit since this will give you a false reading of the resistance (it
will give you the added up resistance of the wires and other components and not the resistance of the
particular resistor).
We take in account that in this lab we are trying to prove the ohms law, by observing the relation
between potential difference and current resistor.
In the graphs can also determine that the voltage is directly proportional to the current and both
increase exponentially. We also can notice that as the resistance is of 400 spiras it increase with each
trial and also in the graphs 2 and 3 is the same results in each trial increase the data.
In this lab I had calculated my two first variables, the voltage (V) and the current (A) in order to find the
third variable, the resistance(R), that was registered in the graphs 4, 5 and 6 with the respective tables.
Also the experiment wasnt carried out under a constant temperature (the temperature was changing due
to the rooms cooling system) which may have given us different values of current since the resistance is
directly proportional to the temperature changes.

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Such experiments involving resistors should be carried out under constant temperature. The wires used
in the experiment were thin therefore reducing the wire resistance to minimal however, the crocodile
clips used, should be sanded out using a sand paper to remove any rust or other particles which may
result in added resistance to the circuit. The results obtained from the experiment are of great
importance in our daily life.
They are the foundation stone of electronics and electrical principles. Some practical implementations
of this basic rule in our daily life are: Electric fry pans, Toasters, Irons and electric bulbs.
Conclusion:
Ohms law states that voltage is directly proportional to current, provided that the temperature remains
constant. The straight line graph that could be drawn from the data showed the mathematical
relationship (V =RxI) that exists between potential difference and current. Therefore Ohms law was
verified.
From the experiment carried out it is hence verified and accepted that the Voltage and current are
directly proportional to each other. Both increases with the same proportion, keeping in mind that the
resistance is constant.
Ohms law may be used in two basic circuit configurations: the series and parallel connection. In series,
all components are connected end-to-end to form only one path for electrons to flow through the circuit.
In parallel, all components are connected between the same sets of electrically common points creating
paths for electrons to flow from one end of the source to other. Also, part of our experiment is the seriesparallel connection, neither simple series nor simple parallel, rather it contain elements of both. They
exists more than one path or current to travel (not series) yet there are more than two sets of electrically
common points in the circuit (not parallel). Because the connection is the combination of both series
and parallel, so we cannot apply the rules for voltage, current, and resistance. Therefore, we conclude
that our experiment proved the theory of ohms law with the two basic circuit configurations. Even
though they come up with some error in their values but still they works following the ohms law.
We can determine in the experiment that the objective was to check if the voltage is directly proportional
to the current as the ohms law says. In the results we get data of three trials for three different
resistance, one of 400 spiras and another of 1000 spiras and the last one of 1200.As we can notice
independent of the resistance, in general the current increases exponentially to the voltage. The thing
that actually changes is that as more quantity of spiras the resistance if greater, that why theres
difference in the result respecting to current, in 1000 spiras the values are higher than the others trials
because when you increase the resistance the data increase too that is a relationship.
In the laboratory we could been committed some mistakes in terms of that we doesnt take into account
the resistance that could be provided by the wires, the loss of energy in the circuit, the uncertainty of the
dc power and the big variation of the data because as we usually measure somethings like the difference
in variation of the data and the uncertainty of the instruments that are provided to us.
The most important is that the results was very reliable source of information to comprise if the ohms
law is correct. But as it seems in this experiment we obtain an expect data that supports the hypothesis.

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Also we can see in the data a big variability on the resistances, that`s happens when the data is not very
accuracy. Also the person how is taking the data takes it too slow, so theres a loss of current in the
circuit that can affect the calculations.
When a thing if repeat this experiment we said before happens its important to observe the mistakes and
purpose solution so that wouldnt happen again. So some solutions and improvements to the lab are that
the person could measure first of all with a very low uncertainty, like the capacity of measuring the loss
of energy to have a very accurate result.
References:
Books:
Practical Physics for class XI bu J N Jaiswal and Dr. Rajendra Singh
A text book of Practical Physics for Higher Secondary Course by Varghese, Antony, Sebastian.
Pitambar Senior School Practical Physics Volume I for Class 11 by K. K. Mohindroo
Physics Practical Scheme of Work, Micheal J. Dickinson
Websites:
Amrita Online Labs . (Junio de 2014). Recuperado el 16 de Julio de 2016, de Amrita Online Labs :
http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=5&sim=159&cnt=2

School For Science . (Abril de 2014). Recuperado el 17 de Julio de 2016, de School For Science :
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/pendulum_equations.htm#.U9H15HbJYqM

Study Page.in. (21 de Septiembre de 2014). Recuperado el 15 de Julio de 2016, de Study Page.in:
http://www.studypage.in/physics/simple-pendulum

Electronics Micros. (14 de Octubre de 2012). Recuperado el 3 de Agosto de 2016, de Electronics

Micros: http://www.electronics-micros.com/electrical/ohms-law/
Power Up. (Mayo de 2014). Recuperado el 5 de Agosto de 2016, de Powe
Up:http://powerup.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powerup/en/over-11/circuits/types-of-circuit/
Topic 5.1 electric fields. Andres Morales (2016)

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Appendix:
Graphs with the 3 different trials with the resistance of 400 spirals

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Graphs with the 3 different trials with the resistance of 1000 spirals

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Graphs with the 3 different trials with the resistance of 1200 spirals

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