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Topics > Physics > Electricity

Effect of temperature on conductivity and resistance

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This experiment was conducted to find out how temperature affects the conductivity and resistance of a wire. The experiment was done using copper wire of diameter 0.5 mm.

Hypothesis

When the temperature of a wire increases, the resistance value of the wire will also increase and therefore the conductivity of the wire will reduce.

Overview

The resistance of a conductor is a measurement of the opposition to the current flowing in it. The value of the resistance will increase as the length of the conductor is made longer and the resistance will reduce when the diameter of the conductor is increased. The value of resistance is measured in ohms.

Electrical conductivity measures the ability of a conductor to allow current to flow in it. Therefore conductivity is the inverse of resistance. The higher the resistance of the wire, the lower the conductivity will be.

Resistance = 1 / Conductivity

Ohm’s Law states that when a current I ampere flows inside a conductor of resistance R ohms, the voltage V volt across the wire will be the product of the current and the resistance.

Voltage V = Current I x Resistance R

Scientific Terms

Conductivity, resistance, current, ampere, voltage, volt, ohm

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Complexity level:

Project cost ($):

Time required:

1 hour to prepare, 1 hour for observation

Material availability:

May be obtained from hobby stores, hardware supply shops, home depot etc.

Safety concerns:

Be careful when handling electric cables and knives. Adult supervision recommended.