PRAC 7: RESISTANCE and OHMs LAW

Introduction
From modern electronics to raw power
generation, there is a fundamental
relationship between the voltage applied
to a circuitm the current flowing through a
circuit , and the resistance
present in a circuit.
George Simon Ohm (1787-1854) discovered that when the voltage (potential
difference) across a load changes, the current through the resistor changes, We
will measure voltage and current through a number of different circuits to
determine that relationship.

Glossary Terms
Resistance is a measure of how difficult it is for electrons to flow through part of a circuit.
The higher the resistance the harder it is for the electrons to flow. Resistance has the
symbol R, is measured using an Ohmeter and the units Ohms ( - the Greek letter omega)
Electrical resistance is caused by two main factors: shape and material. It is easier for
electrons to flow through a short, thick wire than a long thin wire. It is also easier for
electrons to flow through a copper wire than a steel wire of the same size and shape.
electrons bumping into each other and
A resistor is an electrical component that is designed to introduce resistance into an
electric circuit this allows the voltage and current to be controlled.

Aim
To determine the relationship between current and voltage and derive
Ohms law

Materials
Variable power supply
20 resistor
50 resistor
6 connecting leads with alligator clips or banana plugs
Voltmeters
Ammeter
Laptop
Wireless current meter
Wireless voltage meter
USB wireless connector

Procedure
Connect an electrical circuit that will allow you to measure the electrical current flowing
through a resistor and the voltage across the resistor. Remember the ammeter must be
connected in series and the voltmeter in parallel.
You are going to record data for the 20 and 50 resistor using the data loggers and the
50 resistor using the analogue voltmeter and ammeter.
Copy the results table into your book before starting the experiment

ANALOGUE DATA COLLECTION

Circuit 1
1. Set the Voltage on the power supply to 2 Volts
2. Plug a wire with a banana clip into each of the DC outputs
(red and black) on the power supply) DO NOT USE THE
YELLOW AC PLUGS
3. Connect the 50 resistor, ammeter and voltmeter according to the
picture to the right. You should be able to follow one
continuous circuit from the red DC output through the
resistor and ammeter, then back into the black DC output. The
voltmeter should be connected across the resistor
4. Switch on the power supply
5. Write down the current and voltage in the results table
6. Change the voltage to 4 V on the power supply and record the current and
voltage
7. Repeat for 6V
8. Switch off the power supply and replace the analogue ammeter and voltmeter
with the wireless current and voltage meters.

DIGITAL DATA COLLECTION (data loggers)

1. Open the SPARKvue software by clicking on the icon
on the desktop
2. Insert the USB wireless connector into your computer
3. Turn on the wireless current and voltage meters
4. Click on the Bluetooth icon on the top right of the screen
5. A list of Available Devices should appear. Select the
probe that matches the number on the front of the probe. (It
should move to the Connected Devices)
6. Select the correct current and voltage meters
7. Click on the Build option on the left-hand side
8. On the right-hand side click on the first template of a full page

9. Select the table icon

10.Click on Select Measurement at the top of the first column. Click on the box beside
measurement (it should highlight blue) and select Current from the right-hand side.
Click OK
11.In the second column, click Select Measurement. Click on the box beside
measurement (it should highlight blue) and select Voltage from the right-hand side.
Click OK.
12.Change the collection rate by clicking on the blue icon on the right of this button

13.Beside Sampling Mode: click on the Manual button it should highlight blue. Click
OK
14. Set up your circuit so that the current meter is connected in series and the
voltage meter is in parallel. Set the voltage to 2V on the power supply before turning
it on.
15. When you are ready to start collecting data, click on the green play button
in the bottom left corner of the screen to start collecting your data. Allow the values
to stop changing then click on the green tick beside the readings. A new row of
values should appear.
16. Change the voltage to 4V, allow the values in the table to settle then click the
green tick again
17. Repeat for 6V
18. Stop recording by clicking on the red stop button.
19. Turn off the power supply
 20. Copy the results into your table
21. Change the resistor for the 20 resistor and repeat steps 15-16 (e.g. do not
turn the Voltage above 4V for the 20 resistor)

Results
Record your results in the following tables.

Collection type Analogue Voltmeter and Ammeter

Resistor = 50
Input Voltage V = Voltage (V) I = Current (A) IxR
2 =
4 =
6 =

Collection type Data loggers Voltmeter and Current meter (Ammeter)

Resistor = 50
Input Voltage V = Voltage (V) I = Current (A) IxR
2 =
4 =
6 =

Collection type (Data logger)

Resistor = 20
Input Voltage V = Voltage (V) I = Current (A) IxR
2 =
4 =

1. Complete the final column of your table by multiplying the current (I) by
the resistance. What is this value equal to?
Ohms Law shows that the Voltage across a component of a circuit should be
equal to the current flowing through it multiplied by the resistance or
V=IR
2. Using the same graph, plot your reults (from the three tables above) with Voltage on the
y-axis and current on the x-axis. The relationship between Voltage and Current is
proportional which means it should form a straight line that goes through the origin (0,0).
3. Looking at the two results you collected for the 50 resistor, which gave the better line,
the data loggers or the analogue meters?
4. Give some reasons why you think this is