Ohm’s law and Ohmic conductors

Student worksheet

I-V graphs

The digital age is built with electrical components called semiconductors. These are very important in electrical devices as their

electrical properties can be changed. Silicon is the most popular material for a semiconductor, hence the naming of “Silicon Valley” where most of the world prominent technology companies operate in, in California.

Your task

1. Below is a graph of a wire, do you know what the axes should be?

2. What components are shown on the other four graphs?

You will need to explain your reasoning here, so be prepared!

http://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/content/soluble-semiconductors-revolution-printing-21st-century

COLD

HOT

DARK

LIGHT

Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s law is used to calculate resistance from current and voltage:

R=VI

R is resistance, measured in Ohms (Ω)

V is voltage, measured in Volts (V )

I is current, measured in Amps (A)

Your task

1. Draw a circuit diagram of the class demonstration and record the measurements below.

2. Calculate the resistance using Ohm’s law of every measurement from part 1.

3. EXTENSION: How would adding more components in series increases total resistance of a circuit?

Voltage, V Current, I Resistance, R

Semiconductors

Semiconductors are very important in electrical components, as their electrical properties can be changed.

Silicon is the most popular material for a semi-conductor, hence the naming of “Silicon Valley” where most of the world prominent technology companies operate in, in California.

Your task

The research group at Oxford looks into creating a different kind of semiconductor called a soluble semiconductors.

1. Working in pairs, judge the research and create a short speech to persuade others of your opinion.

2. Focus on answering the questions below in your speech.

Using the word insulator and conductor, what is a semiconductor?

What is an example of a semiconductor and what are they usually made of?

Why are semiconductors important? When did you last use a semiconductor? What new technologies could be achieved with better

semiconductors? Do you think the researchers will achieve their goal?

http://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/content/soluble-semiconductors-revolution-printing-21st-century