Core Practical 2: Measuring Resistivity

Dan Kimberley
November 25, 2018

1 Preparation
1.1 Aim
To calculate the material of a wire using its resistivity.

1.2 Underlying Physics

Derivation of equation used to calculate acceleration. In this case, a will be g:

ρl
R=
A

πd2
A=
4

References - www.fluke.com

1.3 Diagram of Equipment

1.4 Method
• Setup equpiment as shown.
• Connect crocodile clips at a distance of 5cm.

1
 • Measure the resistance using the multimeter.
• Repeat in increasing intervals of 5cm up to 100cm.

1.5 Risk Assessment

Risk How to minimise

Contact with electrical current Ensure skin does not contact bare wires
Water touching live wire Keep water vessels well away from the equipment.

1.6 Uncertainties

Uncertainty Raw Uncertainty

Length of Wire ± 0.1cm
Resitance ± 0.1 Ω
Diameter of Wire ± 0.001mm

2 Results
2.1 Table

Length /cm Resistance /Ω

0.0 0.9
5.0 1.8
10.0 2.7
15.0 3.5
20.0 4.4
25.0 5.3
30.0 6.1
35.0 7.2
40.0 8.1
45.0 8.9
50.0 9.8
55.0 10.7
60.0 11.6
65.0 12.5
70.0 13.4
75.0 14.4
80.0 15.2
85.0 16.1
90.0 17

2
2.2 Graph

2.3 Analysis
These results gave us a gradient of 17.88. To calculate the resisitivity, we must
mulitply this by the area. The diameter of the wire was found to be 0.28mm =
0.00028m.

As the calipers had a precision of ±0.001mm, the percentage uncertainty of

the diameter = 0.001
0.28 = 0.36%.
As the ruler had a precision of 0.1cm, the average percentage uncertainty was
0.1
45 = 0.2%.
As the multimeter had a precision of 0.1 Ω, the percentage uncertainty of the
resistance = 0.1
9 = 1.1%.
∴ the total percentage uncertainty = 1.1 + 0.2 + 2 × 0.36 = ±2.02%.

Using this diameter in the equation to find CSA of the wire, the CSA was found
to be 6.158 × 10−8 m2 , with a percentage uncertainty of 2 × 0.36% = ±0.72%.
By multiplying this by the gradient of the graph, the resistivity of the wire was
calculated to be 1.10 × 10−6 ± 2.02%.

This suggests that the wire is made of Nichrome.