Get Connected with Ohm's Law

Lesson Focus - Demonstrate Ohm's Law using digital multi-meters.

Lesson Synopsis - Fun hands-on activities are presented that demonstrate Ohm's Law (E = I x R).

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.

Lesson Activities - 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.

Anticipated Learner Outcomes - As a result of this activity, 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

Resources/Materials
Teacher Resource Documents (included in PDF)
Student Handouts (included in PDF)
Materials (described in detail in PDF)

Alignment to Curriculum Frameworks
Curriculum alignment sheet is included in PDF.

Internet Connections
IEEE Teacher In-Service Program
IEEE Virtual Museum
International Technology Education Association Standards for Technological Literacy
McREL Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks - a compilation of content
standards for K-12 curriculum in both searchable and browsable formats.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Principals and Standards
for School Mathematics
National Science Education Standards
Ohm's Law

Recommended Reading
Ohm's Law, Electrical Math and Voltage Drop Calculations by Tom Henry.
ISBN: 0945495269
A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. Publisher: Broadway.
ISBN: 0767908171

References
Ralph D. Painter, and other volunteers from
Florida West Coast USA Section of IEEE
URL: http://ewh.ieee.org/r3/floridawc