Mathematics and Physical Sciences Department

LABORATORY REPORT
GED0083L
COLLEGE PHYSICS 2 (LAB)

Experiment No. 9
Resistance of a Wire

Submitted by:
B22
Bajo, Marc Daniel
Calaguian, Justine Neil C.
Carmona, Ivan
Francisco, Patrick David Lucio
Ganiron, Thom Ashley
Ouabed, Ahmad M.

October 25, 2019

Submitted to:
Ms. Coleen M. Amado

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
 I. INTRODUCTION
Resistance wire is wire intended for making electrical resistors (which are
used to control the amount of current in a circuit).[1] It is better if the alloy used
has a high resistivity, since a shorter wire can then be used. In many situations,
the stability of the resistor is of primary importance, and thus the
alloy's temperature coefficient of resistivity and corrosion resistance play a large
part in material selection. When resistance wire is used for heating
elements (in electric heaters, toasters, and the like), high resistivity
and oxidation resistance is important. Sometimes resistance wire is insulated by
ceramic powder and sheathed in a tube of another alloy. Such heating elements
are used in electric ovens and water heaters, and in specialized forms
for cooktops.

II. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the activity, you should be able:
a. To determine the effect of the wire’s material, length and
cross-sectional area on its electrical resistance

b. To determine the resistivity of the wire

III. MATERIALS AND SET-UP

a. List of Materials / Equipment used

 1 Layout plug-in board

 2 Jumper plugs

 1 Wire winding board

 2 Clamping plugs

 1 Crocodile clip

 1 Toggle switch

 1 Chrome nickel wire, 0.25mmϕ, 204 cm long

 1 Chrome nickel wire, 0.35mmϕ, 204 cm long

 1 Constantan wire, 0.35mmϕ, 204 cm long

 3 Leads, red, 25 cm

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
  3 Leads, blue, 25 cm

 1 Leads, red, 50 cm

 1 Leads, blue, 50 cm

 1 Voltage source, 12 V

 1 Ammeter

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Wind the 0.25mm chrome nickel wire onto the winding board.
Set the winding board using the clamping plugs. Use the screws
to clamp each end firmly.
2. Build the circuit shown in Figure 9.1. Make sure to connect the
positive and negative terminals correctly and set the measuring
ranges on the measuring instruments properly. The switch should
only be closed when measurement is being made.
3. Select the voltage level 1 (ca, 3V). Close the switch.
4. Tap the 6th winding using an alligator clip while by passing the
remaining 19 windings. The length of the wire in each winding
8cm.
5. Measure the voltage V and current I and record the
measurements in Table 9.1.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for 12th and 18th windings.
7. Remove the bypass lead from the circuit. Measure the voltage
V and current I for 2m (25 windings). Using Ohm’s Law,
compute the resistance of the wire.
8. Plot the Resistance versus Length points.
9. Switch off the power supply and open the toggle switch.
10. Wind the 0.35mm chrome nickel wire onto the winding
board, clamp the ends firmly using the screws and fit the board
back into the circuit.
11. Measure the voltage V and current I for 0.20m (25 windings).
12. Replace the 0.35 mm chrome nickel wire onto the winding
board with the 0.35 mm constantan and measure the voltage V
and current I for 0.20m (25 windings). Record in Table 9.3.

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
 V. DATA AND RESULTS

TABLE 9.1 Resistance of 0.25mm Chrome Nickel Wire

Number of Length of the
Voltage V Current I Resistance R
WindingTABLE 9.2Wire
Resistance of 200 cm
Diameter6 Wire0.48 cm Voltage V 6 Current I 0.50 Resistance R
10. 9
0.25 mm12 Chrome - cm
0.96 6 6 0.55 0.3 10.9 20
Nickel
18 1.44 cm 6 0.2 30
0.35 mm Chrome - 6 0.3 20
25 Nickel2.0 cm 6 0.1 60

TABLE 9.3 Resistance and Resistivity of Different Wires of 200 cm Length

Theoretical Experimental
Voltage Current Resistance %
Material Resistivity Resistivity
V I R Error
ρtheo ρexp
Chrome
150 x 10-8Ω 3.85 x 10-8 Ω 3.85 x
Nickel 6 0.3 20
ϕ0.35mm m m 10-4
Constantan 49 x 10-8Ω 3.85 x
6 0.52 11.54 49 x 10-8 Ω m
ϕ0.35mm m 108

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
 VI. GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS AND
DISCUSSION

1. How does the resistance of a wire depend on its length?

-As we conducted the experiment, we test the resistivity of

the wire with its varying length having a constant power
supply. When the length of the wire is at 48 cm and the
number of windings is 6, it yielded to a 0.24A, hence, giving
a resistivity of 10.8Ω. When the length of the wire is at 96 cm
and the number of windings is 12, it yielded to a 0.14A,
hence, giving a resistivity of 18.6Ω. When the length of the
wire is at 144 cm and the number of windings is 18, it yielded
to a 0.10A hence giving a resistivity of 26Ω.When the length
of the wire is at 200 cm and the number of windings is 25, it
yielded to a 0.08A, hence, giving a resistivity of 32.5Ω.
While we increase the length of the wire, the resistivity of the
wire also increases, therefore, we can conclude that the
length of the wire and its resistivity are directly proportional
to each other.

2. How does the resistance of a wire depend on its diameter?

-As we conducted the experiment, when a 200 cm long

chrome-nickel wire and 0.25 mm in diameter is subjected to a
2.6V power supply, it produces a 0.08A, hence, resulting to a
32.5Ω resistivity. While, a 200 cm long chrome-nickel wire
and 0.35 mm in diameter is subjected to a 2.9V power
supply, it produces a 0.14A, hence, resulting to a 20.7Ω
resistivity. Therefore, we can conclude that as the diameter of
the wire increases, the resistivity of it decreases, giving us an
inversely proportional relationship.

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
 3. Does the resistance of a wire depend on the material from
which it made?

-The resistivity of a wire also depends on the material it is

made of. Based on the experiment done, a 0.35 mm in diameter
chrome-nickel wire when subjected to a 2.9V power supply will
produce a 0.14A, hence, resulting to a 20.7Ω resistivity. On the
other hand, a constantan wire with the same diameter when
subjected to the same voltage power supply will produce a
0.24A, hence, resulting to 10.83Ω resistivity. Therefore, we can
conclude that a chrome-nickel wire has a higher resistivity than a
constantan wire.

4. A wire diameter of 0.35 mm means that the wire’s cross-

sectional area is twice as large as that of a wire with a diameter
0.25 mm. How does the resistance of the wire change if the
cross-sectional area doubles?

-The resistance of the wire changes as its cross-sectional area

changes. During the experiment using a chrome nickel wire with
diameter of 0.25 mm, it produces a resistivity of 32.5Ω but when its
cross-sectional area doubles it produces a resistivity of 20.7Ω.
Therefore, we can conclude that cross-sectional area just like the
diameter, when it increases the resistivity of the wire decreases
giving us an inversely proportional relationship. This is because as
the cross-sectional area of the wire increases, it means that there
will be wider path for the electric current making the flow faster
and the resistivity lower.

VII. CONLUSION
Our team was able to conduct the experiment and calculate. As a
final note, Kirchhoff’s laws depend on certain conditions. The
voltage law is a simplification of Faraday’s law of induction and
is based on the assumption that there is no fluctuating magnetic
field within the closed loop. Thus, although this law can be
applied to circuits containing resistors and capacitors (as well as
other circuit elements), it can only be used as an approximation

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
 to the behavior of the circuit when a changing current and
therefore magnetic field are involved.

VIII. CREDITS
Created by: MPS Laboratory Committee
Version1.0
Modified: October 2018

IX. REFERENCES
Brauers, W. (1992, August). STM Physics, Electricity, Basic
Electrical Circuits, Germany: Leybold Didactic GmbH,

Committee on Physica Laboratory, Physics 2 Laboratory Manual.

Young Hugh D. and Freedman, Roger A. (2010). Sear’s and
Zenmansky’s University Physics12th Edition. United States of
America; Wesley Longman Inc.

This study source was downloaded by 100000862371511 from CourseHero.com on 02-19-2023 18:42:51 GMT -06:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/56413008/Lab-9-Resistance-of-a-Wire-College-Physics-2docx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)