STUDENTS WORKSHEET

VOLTAGE CURRENT AND RESISTANCE

Objectives
1. Measure current and voltage in SI
2. Describe the relationship between the resistance of a circuit and the total current
flowing through the circuit
3. Describe the relationship between voltage and the total current flowing through
circuit
4. Make and use graph to show the relationships between current and resistance and
between current and voltage

Materials
1. One 9 V battery
2. Four resistors with different resistance
3. One Ammeter
4. One Voltmeter
5. Five wires with alligator clips
6. One variable resistor

Procedure

Part
PartAA

1. Create a circuit containing battery, a resistor and an ammeter

2. Record the values of resistance and current in Data Table 1. For resistance, use
the value of the resistor. For current, read and record the value given by the
ammeter
3. Replace the resistor with other resistor
4. Record the resistance and the current in Data Table 1.

Physics is like the air you breathe everyday

 5. Repeat steps 3 – 4, but replace the resistor with other resistor that has different
resistance

Part
PartBB

1. Create a circuit as shown in diagram below:

2. Verify the current in the circuit and record the values for voltage and current in
Data Table 2.
3. Change the value of potentiometer (variable resistor) by sliding the knob to the
left or to the right, so that the value that is shown by the ammeter is changed.
Record the values for voltage and current in Data Table 2.
4. Repeat step 4 for three times

DATA TABLE 1
Voltage (V) Resistance (Ω) Current (A)

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DATA TABLE 2
Voltage (V) Resistance (Ω) Current (A)

Analyze
Analyze

1. Make and use graph. Based on data in Data Table 1, graph the current
versus the resistance. Place resistance on the x-axis and the current on the y-
axis
2. Make and use graph. Based on data in Data Table 2, graph the current
versus the voltage. Place voltage on the x-axis and the current on the y-axis
3. Error Analysis. Other than the value of the resistors, what factors could have
affected the current in part A? How might the effect of these factors be
reduced?
4. Error Analysis. Other than the value of the variable resistor, what factors
could have affected the current in part B? How might the effect of these
factors be reduced?

Conclude
Concludeand
andApply
Apply

1. Looking at the first graph that you made, describe the relationship between
resistance and the current
2. Why do you suppose this relationship between resistance and current exists?
3. Looking at the second graph that you made, how would you describe the relation
between voltage and current?
4. Why do you suppose this relationship between voltage and current exists?

Going
GoingFurther
Further

Physics is like the air you breathe everyday

 1. Could you derive a formula from your lab data to describe the relationship
between voltage, current, and resistance? Hint : Look at the graph of current
versus voltage. Assume it is a straight line that goes through the origin.
2. What would be the current in a circuit with voltage of 3.0 Volt and a resistance of
20 kΩ?

Physics is like the air you breathe everyday