Here is a diagram of my setup:
Range: 10cm – 100 cm
Number of readings: 3 times
Prediction: I predict that when I go higher up the wire and the wire gets longer the resistance will increase because the lower down the wire the hotter it is and when the wire heats up the atoms vibrate more vigorously. When like this it is harder for electrons to pass from atom to atom when they are vibrating more. Instead atoms collide with electrons to stop there flow. Therefore when higher up the wire the cooler it is therefore there is an increase in resistance.
Fair test: To ensure a fair test I will take 3 sets of information for all the measurements. I will also have a fair test by ensuring I use the same equipment for each test.
Safe test: To make sure I have a safe test I will not go under 10cm’s on the wire as it will become to hot and may break or burn away also I will keep a low voltage to make sure this doesn’t happen
Trial experiment: I have done a trial experiment. When I did this the power pack never worked I solved this by replacing it with another. With this problem solved I should have perfect experiments.
Obtaining results
I have done all experiments needed and here are my table of results:
With all my results now I have looked through them and so far all my results seem to agree with what I have written in my prediction as you can see here the higher the length the higher resistance.
Now I will average my resistance for all three sets of data to be able to get the average for each measurement.
Here in this table I have averaged my resistance results from all three sets of results. I have done this to find out the average of my resistance to give me a clear result on how length affects resistance. By doing this I can see that resistance goes up when I increase the length of the wire. This has proven that what I have put in my prediction therefore proving that length affects resistance.
Graphs
Graph 1
Here is a graph showing the results of resistance in all three sets of data for the 10 measurements I have taken 10 -100cm. The graph shows me that all three sets of data are increasing showing to me that when the length goes up the resistance goes up with it. All three sets of results on the graph seem to be fairly close if not fairly the same shape. Sets 1 and 2 of my results seem to be closer together than result 3 is not showing me that results 3 might not be as accurate as data than 2 and 1 are. This graph shows me that length does affect resistance proving that my prediction is accurate.
Graph 2
Here is my graph were I have averaged all three sets of data to find out the average data for each measurement from 10-100cm. from the graph I can see that the line showing the resistance average climbs the graph as the length of the wire increases. This line is also quite straight which is what I would expect from the line as from my prediction I wrote that the resistance will increase as length does. So from this graph I can see that I have proven myself right in my prediction as I have proven length affects resistance. Compared to my graph 1 all lines increase as that is what I would expect as graph 2 is the average of the three lines in graph 1.
From my graphs I can see that length affects resistance. Proving to me that the lower down the wire the hotter it had to be as I have a lower resistance for the shorter the wire this proves the atoms vibrate more vigorously and when like this it is harder for electrons to pass from atom to atom when they are vibrating more. Instead atoms collide with electrons to stop there flow. Therefore when higher up the wire the cooler it is therefore there is an increase in resistance.
Evaluation
The method I have collected my data with I am happy with as I have had successful experiments and all seem to be fine and fit in nicely with my prediction.
My results seem to be very accurate as I have proved that length affects resistance and there were no anomalous pieces of data that I have had a problem with except that my results of resistance set 3 in graph 1 doesn’t seem to take the same pattern as sets 1 and 2 do. But there is not much difference so I kept this piece of data because it hasn’t affected my prediction in anyway.
The method I used was a very good one and I think I could have got clearer results if I had used a new piece of wire as the wire I used was a bit old. But really I am happy with the method and the data it has given me.
My evidence I think is strong enough to make a definite conclusion that length affects resistance and that the lower down the wire the more hotter it is and the atoms vibrate more vigorously. When like this it is harder for electrons to pass from atom to atom when they are vibrating more. Instead atoms collide with electrons to stop there flow. Therefore when higher up the wire the cooler it is therefore there is an increase in resistance. I think I have proven this with my graphs as it climbs (increases) as the length increase proving my prediction that length affects resistance.
If I were to extend my inquiry I think I might have taken data not only from 10-100cm but from 10-1000cm which would give me much more evidence that length affects resistance I also might have used a newer wire may give have given me more accurate data for me to record and prove that length affects resistance.
From this inquiry I have proven my prediction that length affects resistance and I am happen with the evidence and results I have obtained.
