Investigation To Measure The Resistivity Of Graphite.

List Of Apparatus

Power pack – A range of 0V – 13V

Meter Rule

Micrometer – To measure cross section of Graphite.

Variable Resistor – This will Be used to keep Current constant

Ammeter – To measure the current

Voltmeter – To take readings of Voltage

Crocodile Clips – Used to place them on the graphite at the exact length.

Graphite- This is the conductor

Safety

This is of paramount importance during the experiment. To maintain safety in the lab, current passing through the graphite must not be over 1 amp, this is because the current will make the electrons flowing flow at a faster rate creating friction through the graphite which could make it burn. Also the experiment will be well away from any taps, and liquid. This is precautions, to prevent injury. But the risks from this experiment are not that great.

Implementation

1. Measure the cross section of the graphite.
2. Make sure the micrometer is calibrated to zero.
3. Set up apparatus.
4. Set crocodile clips at various lengths of 1cm to 10 cm
5. Set current to either 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3
6. Record Voltage.
7. Work out resistance.
8. Record results onto a graph

That’s a basic run of what the experiment entails.

results

Diameter of graphite = 1.97 mm →  1.97 x 10-3 m

Area = πr2 = 0.0000030 m →  3.0 x 10-6 m

Resistivity

ρ= A  R

       L

P                 R  

A        =      L        =  M

P

A         =     M

P=MA     so       MA=P

A=0.02 m

2. = 0.01 or 1*10 (power –3)m

πR”2”

3.14*0.01”2”   multipled by the gradient (0.32 for 0.1amps) which is :-

resitivity of graphite at 0.1amps is 100.53*10 ”-8”

Conclusion

As you vary the current to different constants you would expect the voltage to vary as it increased. The resistance however you would expect to stay generally the same. The resistance of the graphite shouldn’t change no matter what current. You can see that the resistances are to a certain degree within each other. Theses are because of errors. These can be cause by myself not reading the meters correctly, the temperature change due to current which can affect my results. But the errors associated to the experiment are not of a large scale, which will affect my findings. However saying that the errors are clear in the graph. So because of this a line of best fit is used to estimate as much as possible.

Evaluation

By look at this rough graph you can observe that the lines of best fit are not at the precise angle. The other immediate observation that you can make from the graph is that the points maybe slightly out, but overall are accurate. So the conditions of accuracy were held reasonably well. The reliability of the results are of a reasonable standard as the conditions were maintained throughout the whole experiment.

If I was to conduct the experiment again the factors that I would change are the length, I would use this variable, to extent greater than at present. I would also use more currents as a variable. I would also try on accuracy on lower currents more because I found the position of the line to be at a slightly more obtuse angle than I expected.

I would improve on my measuring of the graphite as it is relatively easy to break. As it is a fiddle getting the crocodile clips in the exact position is a challenge. I would also improve on the measuring instruments. I would use a micrometer to check the cross section out.

Another improvement of my results would by to allow greater cooling times for the graphite, to make it a fair test. e.g. At 5.4instead of 6cm, or the connections that sent the current through the wire may have been held on tighter on one of the distances resulting in a stronger current and less resistance, and loser on the next resulting in a lower current and more resistance.

So my experiment proves that if length is double then the resistance of the wire is doubled, Because of this the current is halved. And if the cross-sectional area is doubled then resistance is halved, as the electrons can flow more easily.