Experimental Physics

Ohm’s Law
Darren Lee Hua Ee
Module Code SP025
Sarawak Matriculation College
8 FEBRUARY 2023
Keywords: Series, parallel, resistor, ammeter, voltmeter

Abstract
This experiment is conducted to measure the effective resistance of the circuit. The
circuit is either in series or in parallel. Based on Ohm’s Law, resistance is the ratio of the voltage
to current.

Introduction
𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑉 𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝐼 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑅 𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

Based on the Ohm’s Law, voltage is directly proportional to the current that flows
through it. However, the rule only applies to the ohmic conductor at constant temperature.

For the resistors in series, the effective resistance is

𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝑅! + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + ⋯ + 𝑅𝑛
For the resistors in parallel, the effective resistance is
1 1 1 1 1
= + + +⋯+
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛

Methodology
Use the breadboard to connect the resistors in parallel. The three resistors are connected
to voltmeter in parallel. The circuit is then connected to rheostat, switch, milliammeter and dry
cell in series. The whole experiment is repeated but those three resistors where connected in
parallel and milliammeter is substituted with ammeter.

Data Analysis (In Series)

Theoretical Data (sensitivity and unit)
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 (𝛺) 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒2 (𝛺) 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒3 (𝛺) 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝛺)
27 27 27 81
Experimental Data (sensitivity and unit)

𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼 (±0.001𝐴)(ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑉 (±0.05𝑉)(ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑)

0.042 3.4
0.044 3.6
0.046 3.7
0.048 3.9
0.050 4.1
0.052 4.2
Graph
Hand-Drawn Graph (calculate and label centroid)
 To form the equation (compare linear with ohm’s law)
4.15 − 3.40
𝑚=
0.051 − 0.042
𝑚 = 83.3333𝛺

𝑉 = 83.3333𝐼 + 3.4

Computer-Generated Graph

Graph Voltage against Current

4.2

4.1
y = 83.571x - 0.1195
4

3.9
Voltage, V

3.8

3.7

3.6

3.5

3.4
0.042 0.044 0.046 0.048 0.05 0.052
Current, I

Table of Uncertainties (decimal places based on the apparatus and carry forwards)
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 0.047𝐴
𝐼 (𝑉
2 2
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼 − 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 (𝐼 − 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 ) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑉 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉 − 𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 − 𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 )
0.042 -0.005 2.5E-05 3.4
3.4 6.9 -3.50
0.044 -0.003 9.0E-06 3.6
3.6 7.1 -3.47
0.046 -0.001 1.0E-06 3.7
3.7 7.2 -3.53
0.048 0.001 1.0E-06 3.9
3.9 7.4 -3.50
0.050 0.003 9.0E-06 4.1
4.1 7.6 -3.47

∑=0.282 ∑=0.00007 ∑=73.50

∆𝑚 = 512.363𝛺

∆𝑐 = 5.64𝑉
 To calculate ∆R
𝑚=𝑅
𝑑𝑚
=1
𝑑𝑅
𝑑𝑚 = 𝑑𝑅
∆𝑚 = ∆𝑅
∆𝑅 = 512.363𝛺
To calculate effective resistance
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝑚
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 83.3333𝛺

To calculate percentage of error

|𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 − 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 |
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100
𝐶𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦
|81 − 83.333|
= × 100
81
= 2.88%

Data Analysis (In Parallel)

Theoretical Data
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒1 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒2 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒3 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
27 27 27 9

Experimental Data
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼(0.02𝐴) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑉(0.05𝑉)
0.10 1.00
0.12 1.25
0.14 1.50
0.16 1.70
0.18 1.90
Graph
Hand-Drawn Graph
 To form equation of graph
1.93 − 1.00
𝑚=
0.18 − 0.10
𝑚 = 11.625𝛺

𝑉 = 11.625𝐼 + 1.00

Computer-Generated Graph
Graph Voltage against Current
1.90

1.80

1.70

1.60
Voltage, V (V)

y = 10.929x - 0.0643
1.50

1.40

1.30

1.20

1.10

1.00
0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18
Current, I(A)

Table of Uncertainties
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 0.15𝐴
𝐼 𝑉 (𝑉
2 2
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼 − 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 (𝐼 − 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 ) 𝑉 𝑉𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 − 𝑉𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 − 𝑉𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 )
0.10 -0.05 0.0025 1.00 2.2 -1.163 1.3514
0.12 -0.03 0.0009 1.25 2.4 -1.145 1.3110
0.14 -0.01 0.0001 1.50 2.6 -1.128 1.2713
0.16 0.01 0.0001 1.70 2.9 -1.160 1.3456
0.18 0.03 0.0009 1.90 3.1 -1.193 1.4221

∑=0.70 ∑=0.0045 ∑= 6.7013

∆m=22.280 Ω
∆c=0.58 V
 To calculate ∆R
𝑚=𝑅
𝑑𝑚
=1
𝑑𝑅
𝑑𝑚 = 𝑑𝑅
∆𝑚 = ∆𝑅
∆𝑅 = 22.280𝛺

To calculate effective resistance

𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 𝑚
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 = 11.625𝛺
To calculate percentage of error
|𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 − 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 |
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦
|9.0 − 11.0|
= × 100
9.0
= 22.22%
To calculate percentage of error (the theoretical data is based on multimeter)
|𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 − 𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 |
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100
𝑅𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦
|11.01 − 11.00|
= × 100
11.01
= 0.09%
Discussion

The reasons of errors in this experiment is that the calculation based on the colour ring on
the resistors is not accurate. Besides, the current flow in the circuit is not stable.

The precautionary step is multimeter should be used to obtain accurate reading of the
resistors. Also, breadboard should be used to apply the circuit in order to have a stable current
flow.

Conclusion
In series circuit, the theoretical value of the effective resistance is 81Ω. The experimental
value of the effective resistance is 83.3333 ± 512.363𝛺. The percentage of error is 2.88%. The
experiment is considered as successful as the percentage of error does not exceed 10.0%. Also,
the theoretical value of capacitance falls in the range of experimental value (83.3333 ±
512.363𝛺).

In parallel circuit, the theoretical value of the effective resistance is 11.01Ω. The
experimental value of the effective resistance is 11.625 ± 4168.553𝛺. The percentage of error
is 0.09%. The experiment is considered as successful as the percentage of error does not exceed
10.0%. Also, the theoretical value of capacitance falls in the range of experimental value
(11.625 ± 4168.553𝛺).