What factors change the resistance of a wire?

Authors Avatar

Attiyyah Khan 10N                4/30/07

Exam No. 8094

Physics AT1:

What factors change the resistance of a wire?

Task

Investigate the factors which change the resistance of a wire.

Knowledge

Resistance is a measure of how well a resistor/ component allows current to flow through. Conductors have a low resistance because they allow current to flow through easily. On the other hand insulators have high resistance because they do not allow currents to flow through easily. Resistors can be used to change the current in a circuit; you can use a variable resistor or a rheostat.

A resistor is a device that is commonly used. Resistors are used to have specific values of resistance. Resistance opposes the flow of electrons. They can also limit the amount of currents flowing through a circuit for a particular applied voltage.

Something with a high resistance, it is harder for the current to go through. This is because more energy is needed to be used to force electrons through it. Therefore heat is given off. Something with a low resistance lets electricity pass through it easily.

Factors that change the resistance of a wire:

  • Long wires have more resistance than short wires.
  • Thin wires have more resistance than thick wires.
  • Nichrome wire has more resistance than copper wires of the same size.

The equation for resistance is:

                                  Voltage  

                                Resistance

Join now!

                        Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω)

Prediction

I predict that as I will increase the thickness of the wire, the current will increase, the reason being that  This is because thick wires have less resistance than thin wires. Also as I decrease the length of the wire the amount of current will increase. This is due to the fact that short wires have less resistance. Therefore the current will flow through more easily.

EXPALIN ABOOUT THE PARTICLES!

I predict that as I will increase the thickness of the wire the current will increase because thick wires have ...

This is a preview of the whole essay