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Student Name: ________________________
Unit 3: Systems
Lesson 1: Core Technologies
File 3.1.5: Ohms Law and Basic Circuits Worksheet
Electrical and electronic technologies utilize Ohms law to explain the relationship between
voltage, current, and resistance. The formula for Ohms Law is represented below:
V = voltage (units=volts)
Ohms Law = V = I x R
I = current (units=amps)
R = resistance (units=ohms)
Practice
Using Ohms Law, solve the following problems. Be sure to show your work.
1. A nine-volt battery supplies power to a cordless blow dryer with a resistance of 18
ohms. How much current is flowing through the blow dryer?
V=I*R
R/V=I
I= .50 amps
2. A 110-volt wall outlet supplies power to a black light with a resistance of 4400 ohms.
How much current is flowing through the black light?
V=I*R
R/V=I
I=.025 amps
Designers and engineers use Ohms Law to determine the specific electrical and electronic
components needed in a circuit, depending on the desired purpose. Basic circuits contain
four parts (Figure 1): power source, conductor, control, and load (output).
Figure 1
Power Source
Conductor
Load (output)
Control
Series and parallel circuits are the common types of circuits. See Figure 2 for images of both
series and parallel circuits.
Figure 2
2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
Series Circuit
Parallel Circuit
3. Compare and contrast the images above using the Venn diagram below. What is similar,
what is different?
Series
Series: Connected Circuits
Switch
Larger battery
Parallel
Parallel: Multiple circuits
No switch; just connectors
Small battery
Application
4. What do you think would happen if a light burns out in a series circuit?
2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
3
The flow would stop and become backed up because they have nowhere to flow to. The
other lights wont work.
5. What do you think would happen if a light burns out in a parallel circuit?
The voltage would continue to flow through the multiple circuits.
Reflection on the Design Challenge
6. What might you use as a load (output) for your Rube Goldberg device? Include the
purpose of the output in your description.
Id probably use wires or a cup as an output device to catch any excess materials.
2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
