Orange Coast College

Physics 280

Experiment #3
Ohms Law
In most materials (but not all), the voltage V across the material is linearly related to the electric
current I through the material,
! = ! !
The constant R is called the resistance and its value depends on the geometry, temperature, and
intrinsic properties of the material. The unit of electrical resistance in the metric system is the
Ohm symbolized by . The equation above is known as Ohms law. In this experiment, we
measure the voltage V with a voltmeter (digital or oscilloscope), the current I with an ammeter,
and the resistance R with an ohmmeter, all to verify Ohms law.
When an electric current is established in a device, some of the electrical potential energy is
generally converted to thermal energy (heat). If the electrical power dissipated in a circuit is
excessive, the device will fail (usually by overheating and cracking). Accordingly, most circuit
elements and test equipment come with a power rating. If this rating is exceeded, the device
will usually fail.
The electrical power P dissipated in a resistor is ! = ! ! !. Since ! = ! !, this implies that
! = ! ! =

! !
!

Part I. Joule Heating

Goal: Observe heating of a resistor
Use the digital multi-meter (DMM) to measure the resistance (include uncertainty by using the
table from experiment #1) of the resistor provided. Calculate the maximum voltage Vmax you
can apply across the resistor without exceeding its power limit.

Rexp = _________________________

Vmax = _______________________
1

Connect the resistor as indicated in the diagram below to permit simultaneous measurement of
the current I through the resistor and the voltage V across it. Use the DMM to measure the
current (connected in series) and the oscilloscope (connected in parallel) to measure the voltage.

Use a DC power supply to apply a voltage slightly higher than Vmax while touching the resistor
lightly with your hand. Roughly how long does it take for the resistor to get hot? Observe the
ammeter while you heat the resistor. Does the current change? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
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Part II. Ohms Law, ! = ! !
Goal: To verify Ohms law
Using the same circuit above (same for Joule heating observation), simultaneously measure the
voltage and current for seven values of voltage between -Vmax and Vmax. (Measure the current
!
!
before the resistor heats up considerably). Do not use V = 0, since ! = ! = ! is indeterminate.

V (Volts)

I (mA)

R ()

Analysis:
One way:
(a) Calculate Ri using Ohms law for each of the entries in your table. Compute the mean
!
< ! > = ! !
!!! !! and also compute the uncertainty (error) in the mean Rs of this data.
The uncertainty in the mean is given by the standard deviation of the mean by

!! =

1
!(! 1)

!! < ! >

!!!

Report the result < ! > !! = ________________________

(b) Compare the mean resistance < ! > (think of this as the theoretical value of the
resistance) with the value of resistance measured Rexp directly using the DMM. Is the
resistance inferred from Ohms law < ! > within the experimental uncertainty?
Another way:
(c) Plot the voltage on the vertical axis and the current on the horizontal axis and do a linear
fit of the data. The slope of the best-fitted line equals the resistance R. Again, think of this
as the theoretical value of the resistance. How does this value compare to the measured
value Rexp?
R = ______________________________
% error = _________________________