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Harsh science IA4

This investigation explores how the length, thickness, and material of a wire affect resistance in an electrical circuit. The hypotheses suggest that longer wires increase resistance, thicker wires decrease it, and different materials have varying resistances. An experimental plan is outlined to test these factors while ensuring safety precautions are followed.

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3 views

Harsh science IA4

This investigation explores how the length, thickness, and material of a wire affect resistance in an electrical circuit. The hypotheses suggest that longer wires increase resistance, thicker wires decrease it, and different materials have varying resistances. An experimental plan is outlined to test these factors while ensuring safety precautions are followed.

Uploaded by

2023903560
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Investigation: Factors Affecting Resistance in an

Electrical Circuit
Statement of Inquiry: Organisms interact with the environment to meet their energy
needs and observe phenomena that explain how the world works. In this investigation,
we explore how resistance in an electrical circuit changes based on specific factors.

Task: Investigate Resistance in a Circuit


We will study how three factors affect resistance in an electrical circuit:

1.​ Length of the wire.


2.​ Thickness (cross-sectional area) of the wire.
3.​ Type of material the wire is made from.

Problem Statement
How do the length, thickness, and material of a wire affect the resistance in a circuit?

Hypotheses
1.​ Length: The longer the wire, the higher the resistance because electrons have to
travel further, causing more collisions with atoms.
2.​ Thickness: The thicker the wire, the lower the resistance because a larger
cross-sectional area allows more electrons to flow.
3.​ Material: Different materials have different resistances due to their atomic
structures. For example, copper has lower resistance than iron because it is a
better conductor.

Experimental Plan
Materials
●​ Wires of different lengths, thicknesses, and materials.
●​ Power source.
●​ Ammeter (to measure current).
●​ Voltmeter (to measure voltage).
●​ Ruler (to measure wire length).
●​ Circuit board.
●​ Method
1.​ Set up a simple circuit with a power source, ammeter, and voltmeter.
2.​ Test one factor at a time while keeping other factors constant:
○​ For length, use wires of varying lengths but with the same thickness and
material.
○​ For thickness, use wires of the same length and material but with
different thicknesses.
○​ For material, use wires of the same length and thickness but made from
different materials.
3.​ For each test:
○​ Record the voltage and current readings.
○​ Calculate resistance using the formula:​
​
(Resistance = Voltage ÷ Current).
4.​ Repeat each measurement three times for accuracy.
5.​ Record your data in a table.

Safety Precautions
●​ Keep the voltage low to avoid overheating wires.
●​ Disconnect the circuit when not in use.

Data Collection
Create a table to record results, for example:

Wire Length Wire Thickness Materia Voltage Current Resistance


(cm) (mm²) l (V) (A) (Ω)

10 1 Copper 2.0 0.4 5.0

20 1 Copper 2.0 0.2 10.0

10 2 Copper 2.0 0.8 2.5

10 1 Iron 2.0 0.2 10.0


Analysis and Results
1.​ Resistance vs. Length: Resistance increases as length increases.
2.​ Resistance vs. Thickness: Resistance decreases as thickness increases.
3.​ Resistance vs. Material: Copper wires have less resistance compared to iron
wires.

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