Ohms Law

Inference : Potential difference depends on

current.
Hypothesis: When the current that passes
through a conductor increases,
the potential difference across the
conductor increases.
Aim : To investigate the relationship
between current and potential
difference.
Variables :
Manipulated variable : Current, I
Responding variable: Potential difference, V
Fixed variable : Length and type of
metal wire.
Materials : 50.0 cm constantan wire (s.w.g. 24),
bulb, resistor, connecting wires.
Apparatus : Ammeter (0-1 A), voltmeter (0-5 V),
battery holder, three 1.5 V cells,
rheostat, switch.
 Ohms Law
Battery
I
+ -

rheostat
Ammeter A
Constantan wire

Voltmeter
 Ohms Law
Battery
I
+ -

rheostat
Ammeter A

resistant

Voltmeter
 Ohms Law
Battery
I
+ -

Rheostat
Ammeter A

bulb

Voltmeter
 Methods
1) The electrical circuit is set up as shown in Figure 1.
2) The switch is closed and the rheostat is adjusted
until the ammeter gives a reading, I = 0.2 A. The
reading of the voltmeter, which is potential
difference, V across the XY is recorded in a table.
3) Step 2 is repeated for ammeter reading of currents,
I = 0.3 A, 0.4 A, 0.5 A, 0.6 A and 0.7 A. The
corresponding values for potential difference, V
across XY are recorded.
4) Step 2 and 3 are repeated by replace the constantan
wire with a bulb.
 Be 4 , u start the experiment

activities that allow

students to be active
class participants,
 Results :
a) Constantan wire b) Bulb c) Resistor
I /A V/V I /A V/V I/A V/V

0.3 0.4 0.3 2.0 0.3 0.6

0.4 0.6 0.4 2.3 0.4 0.8
0.5 0.8 0.5 2.6 0.5 1.0
0.6 0.9 0.6 3.1 0.6 1.2
0.7 1.0 0.7 3.7 0.7 1.5
0.8 1.2 0.8 1.7
 POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE, V VERSUS CURRENT, I GRAPH
(CONSTANTAN WIRE)
V/V

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

 POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE AGAINTS CURRENT GRAPH
[ BULB ]
V/V

4.8

4.0

3.2

2.4

1.6

0.8

0 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 I/A

 POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE AGAINTS CURRENT GRAPH
V/V
[ RESISTOR ]

2.4

2.0

1.6

1.2

0.8

0.4

0 I/A
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
 Conclusions :
1) For constantan wire and resistor.
- from the straight line graph plotted, it shows that as
current, I increases, the potential difference, V
increases.
- the ratio between V / I is a constant.
- V is directly proportional to I.
2) For a bulb :
- the result of experiment shows that current, I
increases when the potential difference, V increases.
- the ratio between V / I is not a constant.