Lesson Focus

Demonstrate Ohm’s Law using digital multi-meters. Fun hands-on activities are presented that demonstrate Ohm’s Law. Teachers use digital multi-meters to collect data that are plotted to show that voltage and current are related by linear functions for ordinary resistors and by power functions for light bulbs.

Download:

Full Lesson Plan
Student Worksheets

Age Levels:

10 – 18

Objectives

Learn about Ohm’s Law. Be able to use a digital multi-meter to collect data. Explore the concepts of voltage and current.

Anticipated Learner Outcomes

As a result of the activities, students should develop an understanding of:

  • Ohm’s Law
  • Relationship between Voltage, Current, and Resistance in an electrical circuit
  • Measurement, plotting data, and graphing
  • Basic wiring and construction of a digital multi-meter for data collection

Lesson Activities

The activity consists of using a nominal six-volt battery (made up of four nominal 1.5 volt dry cells connected in series) to:

  • Drive current through a simple circuit element and measure and record the current through the element and the voltage across the element as the number of cells in the battery is varied from a single cell to four cells.
  • Plot points on the graph that represent the voltages and currents recorded.
  • Draw a “best fit” curve through the data points for the element tested.
  • Repeat the process for two or three different resistor circuit elements.
  • Compare the curves and make observations about the nature of the curves for each element.

Six teacher handouts are provided:

  • Ohm’s Law Information Sheet
  • Step By Step Lesson Plan Guidelines
  • Appendix 1: Materials Sourcing Suggestions
  • Appendix 2: Continuity Tester Assembly Instructions
  • Appendix 3: Alternate Single Cell Battery Holder Photos and Diagrams
  • Appendix 4: Optional Insulators and Conductors Activity

Two student handouts are provided for advance review:

  • Ohm’s Law Information Sheet
  • Step By Step Procedures

Resources/Materials

See attached student worksheets and teacher resource documents.

Alignment to Curriculum Frameworks

Curriculum alignment sheet is included in PDF.