PD and resistance

Aiming for a 4 Aiming for a 6 Aiming for a 8

I can state identify a I can describe the I can explain the resistance
resistor and filament bulb resistance characteristics of characteristics of a filament
from their descriptions. a filament lamp. lamp in terms of electrons
and ion collisions.
I can identify components I can describe the I can determine the
from simple I–V graphs. characteristics of a diode resistance of a component
and light-emitting diode. based on information
extracted from a I–V graph.

I can state how a diode I can describe the I can compare the
works in simple terms resistance characteristics of characteristics of a variety
a thermistor and a LDR. of electrical components,
describing how the
components can be used
Title: I-V characterisitcs DO NOW
Find your graph of length of
wire and resistance.
Answer these questions.
1. As the length increases the
resistance_________.
2. The graph produces a
_________line
3. The line goes through the y
axis at _________
4. If I double the length, the
resistance doubles, this is
called d_________
p_________.
 Last lesson we did a required practical
Length Current Resistance
PD(v)
(cm) (A) (Ohms) • You changed the length of
10cm 4.58 3.46 1.3 the wire and measured
20cm 4.99 2.22 2.3 the resistance.
30cm 5.23 1.58 3.3
40cm 5.4 1.23 4.4
50cm 5.53 1.02 5.4
60cm 5.59 0.86 6.5
70cm 5.61 0.74 7.6
80cm 5.63 0.65 8.7
90cm 5.68 0.60 9.5
100cm 5.81 0.53 10.9

• On a graph it would show that

resistance is directly
proportional to length. It
produces a straight line that
goes through zero
 Remember this?

Potential difference
Resistance V (Volts, V)
R (Ohms, Ω) = ÷
Current, I
(Amps, A)

Ohm’s law -The potential difference (voltage) across an

ideal conductor is directly proportional to the current
through it when the temperature is constant.
Or V=IR
 What other graph could we draw?
Ohm’s law -The potential difference (voltage) across an ideal conductor is
directly proportional to the current through it when the temperature is
constant.
Or V=IR

This means, if you double the current

flowing through a circuit, you will also
double the resistance.

Components that follow this law are

called Ohmic conductors.

They produce a straight line that goes

through zero.
 What about if we reverse the PD (turn the
cell around)
If you reverse the PD you cause the
current to move in the opposite direction.
This does not affect the resistance. It just
changes direction on the graph.

What can we learn from this graph?

1. There is a straight line- The current

flowing through a resistor at a
constant temperature is directly
proportional to the potential
difference across it.

2. A component that gives a graph like

Do all components
the one to the right is said to follow
Ohm's Law.
follow Ohm’s law?
 Do all components follow Ohm’s law?
• Required Practical-
Investigating different
components.

• Build a test circuit to find the

current and PD for a resistor,
filament bulb and a diode.

• You will plot a graph and

explain whether or not they
obey Ohm’s law.
 Do all components follow Ohm’s law?
• With the power supply switched off, set up the
circuit.

• Adjust the variable resistor and measure the

current and PD for your component. Do not
allow the current to go above 1.0 A.

• Set the variable resistor at its highest

resistance (so that the current is at its lowest ),
measure the current and PD for your
component.

• Switch off the power supply.

• Increase the resistance of the variable resistor

in about six steps and record the current and
the PD
So what did we find out?
 Resistor
P.d. (V)
0.00
Current (A)
0.00
Fixed Resistor
0.16 0.02
1.10 0.10
1.95 0.18
2.09 0.20
3.90 0.37
4.88 0.46
–0.21 –0.02
–0.94 –0.09
–2.26 –0.22
–3.28 –0.30
–4.31 –0.41
–4.90 –0.47
What about if we reverse the PD (turn
the cell around)
If you reverse the PD you cause the
current to move in the opposite
direction. This does not affect the
resistance. It just changes direction on
the graph.

What can we learn from this graph?

1. There is a straight line- The current

flowing through a resistor at a
constant temperature is directly
proportional to the potential
difference across it.

2. A component that gives a graph like

the one to the right is said to follow
Do all components
Ohm's Law.
3. The steeper the line, the lower the
follow Ohm’s law?
resistance
 Filament lamp
P.d. (V)
0.00
Current (A)
0.00
Filament Lamp
0.16 0.05
1.10 0.11
1.95 0.15
2.09 0.20
3.90 0.22
4.88 0.25
–0.21 –0.06
–0.94 –0.10
–2.26 –0.16
–3.28 –0.20
–4.31 –0.24
–4.90 –0.26
 Filament Bulbs
The resistance increases as the
current increases. So the resistance of
a filament lamp increases as the
filament temperature increase.

What can we learn from this graph?

1. The line curves away from the y-axis.

So the current is not directly
proportional to the PD.
2. A filament lamp is not an Ohmic
conductor.
3. Reversing the PD reverse the current
and makes no difference to the shape
of the curve.
The atoms in the metal filament
vibrate more as the temperature
increases. They resist the passage of
the electrons through the filament
more. The resistance increases as its
temperature increases.
 Diode
P.d. (V)
0.00
Current (A)
0.00
Diode
0.21 0.00
0.39 0.00
0.50 0.00
0.63 0.02
0.72 0.10
0.78 0.30
0.81 0.52
0.84 0.65
–0.18 0.00
–0.43 0.00
–0.60 0.00
–0.81 0.00
 Diode
The resistance of a diode changes at
the current changes.

The current will only flow in one

direction, called the forward direction.

What can we learn from this graph?

1. The line curves towards the y-axis. So

the current is not directly proportional
to the PD.
Diodes are used in circuits to
2. A diode is not an Ohmic conductor. protect components as they
only allow current through in
3. In the reverse direction, the current is one direction
virtually zero. The resistance in the
reverse direction is a lot higher than in
the forward direction.
What about other types or resistors?

Thermistors is a
temperature dependent
resistor- its resistance
will decrease if its
temperature increases.

The resistance of an LDR

(light dependent
resistor) will decreases if
the light intensity
increases.
 Aiming for a 4
I can state identify the key
characteristics of electrical
devices.
I can identify components
from simple I–V graphs.
I can state how a diode
works in simple terms
Aiming for a 6 Aiming for a 8
I can describe the I can explain the resistance
resistance characteristics of characteristics of a filament
a filament lamp. lamp in terms of electrons
and ion collisions.
I can describe the I can determine the
characteristics of a diode resistance of a component
and light-emitting diode. based on information
extracted from a I–V graph.
I can describe the I can compare the
resistance characteristics of characteristics of a variety
a thermistor and a LDR. of electrical components,
describing how the
components can be used