Assignment:
Before you begin the lab simulation, answer the first two questions. No ‘cheating'! Try to answer based off your understanding of the reading.
• As you change the value of the battery voltage, how does this change the current through the circuit and the resistance of the resistor? If the current or resistance remains constant, why do you think?
• As you change the value of the resistance of the resistor, how does this change the current through the circuit and the battery voltage? If the current or voltage remains constant, why do you think?
Now, visit the PhET Ohm's Law Simulation and begin an experiment.
• Select a value of resistance. Now, increase the potential across the resistor. How does the current change? How does this match what you predicted above?
• Select a value of potential. Now, increase the resistance. How does the current change? How does this match what you predicted above?
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Voltage
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Current
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Resistance
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0.5V
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600 Ohms
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1.0V
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2.0V
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3.0V
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4.5V
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6.0V
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8.0V
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0.5V
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300 Ohms
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1.0V
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2.0V
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3.0V
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4.5V
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6.0V
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8.0V
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0.5V
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60 Ohms
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1.0V
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2.0V
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3.0V
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4.5V
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6.0V
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8.0V
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• Graph your data. Plot the voltage V as the ordinate (y-axis) and the current I as the abscissa (x-axis). Insert a screenshot of your graph.
• What kind of relationship did you obtain?
• One of the best ways to test your understanding of the concepts of electricity and magnetism is to describe a device that works on the principles we learned. One such device is an electric motor. Narrate a short description of how an electric motor works. Be sure to include the concepts of a magnetic field, relative motion, and current.