Ohm’s Law Practice Worksheet With Answers

Students need to become comfortable with graphs, and creating their own simple graphs is an excellent way to develop this understanding. A graphical representation of the Ohm’s Law function allows students another “view” of the concept, allowing them to more easily understand more advanced concepts such as negative resistance.

If students have access to either a graphing calculator or computer software capable of drawing 2-dimensional graphs, encourage them to plot the functions using these technological resources.

I have found it a good habit to “sneak” mathematical concepts into physical science courses whenever possible. For so many people, math is an abstract and confusing subject, which may be understood only in the context of real-life application. The studies of electricity and electronics are rich in mathematical context, so exploit it whenever possible! Your students will greatly benefit.

Some students might not realize that in Europe, commas are used as decimal points and visa-versa. Thus, two thousand seven hundred would be written as 2,700 in America and 2.700 in Europe. Conversely, the number π would be written as 3.141593 in America but 3,141593 in Europe. Confusing? Yes!!

As an instructor, I was very surprised to hear many beginning students claim that all current would go through the lesser resistor, and none through the greater resistor! The proverb about “takes the path of least resistance” really should be understood as “proportionately taking paths of lesser resistance.” People new to the study of electricity often misunderstand such basic principles, their errors usually based on folk wisdom like this. It is imperative to break through these myths with hard fact. In this case, Ohm’s Law serves as a mathematical tool we can use to dispel false ideas.

Of course, a circuit as simple as this may be readily assembled and tested in class, so that all may see the truth for themselves.