PHYSICS FOR ALLIED HEALTH

PROFESSIONALS
EXPERIMENT 8. OHM’S LAW
 THE LASALLIAN PRAYER

I will continue, O my God, to do all

my actions for the love of you.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for

us.

Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever.

7/2/2022 3
 EXPERIMENT 8: OHM’S LAW
OBJECTIVES:
1. Verify Ohm’s law.
2. Determine the relationship between current and voltage when the resistance
is constant.
3. Determine the relationship between current and resistance when the
voltage is constant.
4. Determine the relationship between resistance and voltage when the current
is constant.
THEORY:
George Simon Ohm investigated the increase in resistance or
in potential difference that affects the flow of current through
the wire. The results of his experimentation are summarized in
Ohm’s Law which states that:
“The current I flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to
the potential difference V and inversely proportional to the
resistance R of the circuit.”
EXPERIMENT SETUP:
PROCEDURE:
Part A Variation of Current with Voltage at constant Resistance
1. Fix the resistance of the Resistance Box to 7 ohms.
2. Slowly adjust the rheostat slider until the voltmeter indicates a reading of 0.5 V.
Record this voltage reading.
3. Measure the current corresponding to 0.5 V voltage reading. Record in Table A.
4. Vary the voltage in intervals of 0.5 V (0.5 V, 1.0 V, 1.5 V, 2.0 V, 2.5V) by moving
the rheostat slider and record the voltage reading. Record the corresponding
ammeter reading.
5. Turn the circuit off.
6. Graph the voltage V (y-axis) vs. current I (x-axis).
Constant resistance : 7 Ω
7. Draw the best-fit line among the data points in the graph.
8. Compute for the slope of the line. This is the experimental value of resistance.
9. Compare the experimental value with the theoretical value of the resistance by
computing for percent error.
Part A Variation of Current with Voltage at constant Resistance
Constant resistance : 7 Ω

Graph of voltage V (y-axis) vs. current I (x-axis)

Slope of the line : __________ ohms

Constant Resistance: __________ ohms
Percentage Error : __________
PROCEDURE:
Part B Variation of Current with Resistance at constant Voltage
1. Choose a constant voltage.
2. Read and record the Ammeter reading corresponding to 5 ohms after fixing the
voltage to 2.0 V by adjusting the rheostat slider.
3. Vary the resistance from 5 Ω, 6 Ω, 7 Ω, 8 Ω, and 9 Ω. As you vary the resistance, the
voltage reading may change as you go from one resistance to another. Adjust the
rheostat slider until the voltmeter reading goes back to 2.0 V before taking the
corresponding current reading from the ammeter.
4. Read and record the corresponding ammeter reading in Table B.
Constant voltage : 2 V
5. Turn the circuit off.
6. Graph the current I (y-axis) vs. reciprocal of resistance 1/R (x-axis).
7. Draw the best-fit line among the data points in the graph.
8. Compute for the slope of the line. This is the experimental value of voltage.
9. Compare the experimental value with the theoretical value of the voltage by
computing for percent error.
Part B Variation of Current with Resistance at constant Voltage
Constant voltage : 2 V

Graph of current I (y-axis) vs. reciprocal of resistance 1/R (x-axis)

Slope of the line : __________ V

Constant voltage : __________ V
Percentage Error : __________
PROCEDURE:
Part C Variation of Voltage with Resistance at constant Current
1. Choose a constant current.
2. Read and record the voltmeter reading corresponding to 5 ohms after fixing the
current to 0.2 A by adjusting the rheostat slider.
3. Vary the resistance from 5 Ω, 6 Ω, 7 Ω, 8 Ω, and 9 Ω. As you vary the resistance, the
ammeter reading may change as you go from one resistance to another. Adjust the
rheostat slider until the ammeter reading goes back to 0.2 A before taking the
corresponding voltage reading from the voltmeter.
4. Read and record the corresponding voltmeter reading in Table C.
5. Turn the circuit off.
Constant current : 0.2 A
6. Graph the voltage V (y-axis) vs. resistance R (x-axis).
7. Draw the best-fit line among the data points in the graph.
8. Compute for the slope of the line. This is the experimental value of current.
9. Compare the experimental value with the theoretical value of the current by
computing for percent error.
Part C Variation of Voltage with Resistance at constant Current
Constant current : 0.2 A

Graph of voltage V (y-axis) vs. resistance R (x-axis)

V/V

Slope of the line : __________ A

Constant current : __________ A
Percentage Error : __________
R/A
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. What happened to the voltage across the resistance box as the current
through it was increased? What is the relationship between voltage and
current when resistance is fixed?
2. What happened to current when resistance is increased? What is the
relationship between current and resistance when voltage is constant?
3. What happened to resistance when voltage is increased? What is the
relationship between voltage and resistance when current is constant?
4. What is the current in a 10 ohms resistor due to a potential difference of
40 V?