How Does Resistance Change With Length Of Wire
Extracts from this document...
Introduction
How Does Resistance Change With Length Of Wire?
Plan:
In this experiment I plan to find out whether resistance changes with length, and if so by how much e.g. does doubling the length double the resistance? I plan to carry this experiment out with a simple method that will posse effective in gathering the information I require in order to access this hypothesis, this general layout below should give me the results I need to come up with a conclusion.
Once I have set the apparatus up described below, I can then begin to gather relevant information.
Power supply 0-12v
Ammeter
Voltmeter
200cm piece of wire
Crocodile clips
But like in all experiments there is a number of variables that should be taken in to account which could effect this experiment. For instance the length of wire, this is a variable as the length of wire increases the time taken for the electricity to pass through it resulting in a higher resistance, e.g.
Middle
Obtaining Evidence:
I plan to get evidence from this experiment by moving the wire with the crocodile clip on it up the wire that I am testing in stages of ten centimeters, at each stage I will read of the ammeter reading and the voltmeter reading for that particular voltage e.g. 2 then move on to the next 4 and so on, once I have collected all the information I will repeat this experiment again and then for a third so I have a wide range of results which I can cross match and analyze for any data matches or anomies.
Here is my first results table that I made as I did the experiment
Conclusion
This is how resistance occurs, as the free electrons move to the positively changed side of the power supply their move around and past the atoms of the metal occasionally the free electrons collide with the atoms thus producing resistance. But the longer the material is or the thicker the material is the longer it will take for the electrons to pass from one end of the metal to the other, this is what has taken place in this experiment as I increased the length the resistance all so increased meaning that resistance does have a fundamental link with length and or thickness, this is clearly proven with the graphs and charts above. A diagram of electron flow is below.
This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Electrical & Thermal Physics section.
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- 150,000+ documents available
- Just £6.99 a month
