Find the relationship between the current through a resistor and the voltage across it.

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Gunjan Jain

11D

May 8, 2007

MYP Physics Practical – Current and Voltage

Aim:

To find the relationship between the current through a resistor and the voltage across it.

Apparatus:

Power pack, Leads, Ammeter, Voltmeter, Resistor (Nichrome Wire)

Method:

Assemble the circuit shown above. Vary the emf of the power pack from 0 to 12 Volts. Measure the current on the ammeter and voltage on the voltmeter for each value of emf.

Data Collection:

Data Processing:

Conclusion:

        From the three graphs above it can be seen in all of them that there is a firm relationship between the two factors, one being voltage and second one being current. Therefore I have accomplished my aim, as I have found what is the relationship between the current through a resistor and the voltage across it. The relationship as can be seen from the graph is positive, and thus directly proportional. This can be seen from the graph itself, because firstly, the best-fit line is a straight line going through all the points, in a positive direction. Secondly, it is proportional because the graph is going through the origin.

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        If we carefully look at the graph, and the results we can see that if the voltage divides the current in each specific wire, the number comes the same. In 1826, George Ohm had conducted several experiments with different metal wires to discover how the current through each depended on the voltage applied across its ends. Ohm’s law states, “The current flowing through a metal conductor is directly proportional to the p.d. across its ends provided the temperature and other physical conditions remain constant.” Through the help of Ohm’s law I have found that the number we get after dividing ...

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