Matt Jenkins Regents Physics Resistance in Wires - Introduction

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Introduction/Resistance of a Straw Activity

Background:
In most circuit theory, we treat wires as “ideal wires,” which means that they provide no
resistance to the flow of electrons. Although wires are designed with conductive materials, the
wires will provide some resistance to electrical current. The three factors that determine the
resistance of a wire are resistivity, cross-sectional area, and length.

The resistivity of a wire is a characteristic of how well electrons travel through the material. The
unit is for resistivity is an ohm-meter (Ω-m) Copper has a low resistivity while rubber would
have a high resistivity. This means that copper and other metals would conduct electricity
better non-metallic materials, such as rubber. As a material, copper gives electrons less
resistance.

The length of a wire is how long the wire is measured in meters. Longer wires have more
resistance than shorter wires since the electrons have longer paths to travel through. The cross-
sectional area is the area of wire after it has been cut. Most wires are shaped as a cylinders, but
they will have a cross-sectional area shape of a circle. Wires with larger cross-sectional areas
will decrease resistance, since the electrons will have more room to travel through.

Mathematical Language:
Directly Proportional: Two variables are directly proportional if they increase or decrease at the
same time.
Example: The hours that you work and the amount of money you earn are directly proportional.
If you work more hours, then your earnings increase; If you work less hours, your earnings
decrease.

Inversely Proportional: Two variables are inversely proportional if one variable increases while
the other variable decreases.
Example: Let’s suppose you are comparing the time it takes to mow a lawn compared to the
number of workers mowing the lawn. If the number of workers increases, then the time it takes
to mow a lawn decreases.
Matt Jenkins Regents Physics Resistance in Wires - Introduction

Straw Activity:
For this activity, pretend that a straw is a wire with some resistance. When you exhale through
the straw, pretend that your breath is electrical current.

1. Exhale through a straw of normal length.

2. Exhale through a straw of half the length. Is it easier or more difficult to blow through a
shorter straw, or a longer straw? Write your observation below and explain.

3. Take four half-length straws and blow through them simultaneously. Is it easier to blow
through one straw or all four straws? Write your observation below and explain.