I.

Objective
To determine the effect of the wire’s material, length and cross-sectional area
on its electrical resistance.

II. Materials and Setup

Quantity Item
1 Layout plug-in board
2 Jumper plugs
1 Wire winding board
2 Clamping plugs
1 Crocodile clip
1 On/off switch (toggle switch)
1 Chrome nickel wire, 0.25 mm , 204 cm long
1 Chrome nickel wire, 0.35 mm , 204 cm long
1 Constantan wire, 0.35 mm , 204 cm long
3 Leads, red, 25 cm
3 Leads, blue, 25 cm
1 Leads, red, 50 cm
1 Leads, red, 50 cm
1 Voltage source, 12V
1 Ammeter
1 Voltmeter

Figure
1
Setup

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 III. Data and Results

Table 1 Resistance of a Wire

Material of Distanc Number Length Voltage Curren Resistanc
Ste Wire e of the of of the V tI eR
p Wire Windings Wire
4 chrome nickel 0.25mm 6 48cm 3V 0.18A 16.67
5 chrome nickel 0.25mm 12 96cm 3V 0.1A 30
6 chrome nickel 0.25mm 18 144cm 3V 0.06A 50
7 chrome nickel 0.25mm 25 200cm 3V 0.04A 75
10 chrome nickel 0.35mm 25 200cm 3V 0.14A -21.42
11 constantan 0.35mm 25 200cm 3V 0.2A -13.63

Table 2 Percent Error in Resistance

Material Measured Resistance Calculated Resistance % Error
chrome nickel 0.25mm 42.5 -3 3.72%
chrome nickel 0.35mm 21.42 2.08 9.3%
Constantan 0.35mm 3.63 -1.02 12.36%

IV. Analysis
We were able to learn how to get the current resistance of the materials used
though there are sudden increase and decrease. We were also able to analyzed
that the materials used and its diameter affects the current and resistance even with
a constant voltage.

V. Question and Answer

1. How does the resistance of a wire depend on its length? What measurements
will give you an answer to this question? Give the numbers of the relevant
steps.
The resistance of wire is directly proportional to the length and inversely
proportional to the diameter. The exact calculation will depend on the system of
measurement being conducted.

2. Illustrate the dependence R(s) for the 0.25mm chrome nickel wire in the form
of graph.

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 3. A wire diameter of 0.35mm means that the wire’s cross-sectional area is twice
as large as that of a wire with a diameter of 0.25m. How does the resistance of
a wire change if its cross-sectional area is doubled? Which two measurements
must you evaluate in order to obtain the answer to this question.
As a wire gets longer its resistance increases, and as it gets thinner its
resistance also increases because its cross sectional area decreases. Doubling the
length will double the resistance, but the wire also must get thinner as it is
stretched because it will contain the same amount of metal in twice the length.

4. Does the resistance of a wire depend on the material from which the wire is
made? Which two measurements will give you an answer to this question?
Yes, the resistance depends on 3 factors: type of alloy, size of wire and
length of wire. Use Ohm’s law to measure the resistance (R=E/I).

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