2022 – 24 NSS Physics SBA: Expt 15 Worksheet 1

ABERDEEN BAPTIST LUI MING CHOI COLLEGE

NSS PHYSICS SBA Practical Worksheet

Experiment 15
Effect of Length and Thickness on the Resistance of a Wire

Practical skills (10) Name ( )

Reporting (10) Class
Total Date

A. Objective
This experiment is to investigate the relation between the resistance, length and
cross-sectional area of a constantan wire. Constantan wire is used because its resistance
is insensitive to temperature.

B. Apparatus
Ammeter 1 Micrometer 1
Constantan wire (thin,
3 Voltmeter 1
medium, thick)
Dry cells 4

C. Theory
The resistance R of a uniform metal wire is directly proportional to its length L and
inversely proportional to its cross-sectional area A. Mathematically,
L
R = r
A
where r is the resistivity of the metal.

To measure the resistance of a wire, we can use an ammeter connected in series with the
wire to measure the current I passing through it and a voltmeter connected in parallel with
the wire to measure the potential difference V across it. The resistance R of the wire is
thus given by
V
R =
I

This method is known as the voltmeter-ammeter method.

D. Procedures
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure below. Three uniform constantan wires 1,
2 and 3 of the same length but different thicknesses are mounted on a plastic board.
Measure the thicknesses of the wires with a micrometer.
 2022 – 24 NSS Physics SBA: Expt 15 Worksheet 2

2. Use the lead from the voltmeter as a sliding contact to vary the length of wire 1
across which the potential difference is measured.

3. For each length L of the wire, record pairs of ammeter reading I and voltmeter
reading V and calculate the corresponding resistance R.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with other two wires.

E. Results
1. Tabulate the results:

Wire Diameter/ mm pd2 L/ mm V/ V I/ A R/ W

A= / mm2
4

d: thickness of the wire

A: cross-sectional area of the wire
L: length of the wire
V: voltmeter reading
I: ammeter reading
R: resistance of the wire

Precision of instrument
Diameter/ mm

L/mm
V/ V
I/ A
2022 – 24 NSS Physics SBA: Expt 15 Worksheet 3

2. Plot a graph of R against L for the three wires on the same graph.

1
3. Plot another graph of R against for the three wires of the same length of 20 cm
A
on the same graph.

F. Conclusion
The resistance of a uniform metal wire is (directly proportional

/ inversely proportional) to its length and (directly proportional

/ inversely proportional) to its cross-sectional area.

G. Discussion
1. What are the sources of error in this experiment?

2. Suggest another way to measure the resistance of a wire.