AIM : To study the effect of

temperature and length of the

resistance of a conductor.
MADE BY :
DIVYA GUPTA
XII – B
12078/9053
I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to my physics mentors - Ms.
NASHI JAIN , MS PRIYA VIG and the lab
assistant MR JITENDER for giving me there
vital support and encouragement without
which this project would not come forth.
This is to certify that DIVA GUPTA of class XII – B
Lancer’s convent has completed the project in on effect
of temperature and length of resistance of conductor to
my total satisfaction.
Signature
AIM: To determine the resistance per cm of a given wire by
plotting a graph of potential difference versus current.

APPARATUS: About 100 cm long resistance wire of about 10 ohm

resistance in the from coil , a battery , voltmeter , a rheostat , one
plug key thick connecting wires sand paper.

THEORY: according to ohm’s law ,” the current flowing through a

conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it .
Ends provided the physical conditions of the conductor (temperature,
dimensions etc)”

Let ‘I’ be the current flowing through the conductor and ‘v’ be the
potential drop across its ends,

Then I proportional to V

V proportional to I

V/I =constant =R

R = V/I

Where R is a constant depending upon the dimensions (length and

radius ) and material of R called Electrical Resistance and it is
expressed in ohm where V is measured in Volt and current I in
ampere.

A study of current-voltage relationship would require an arrangement

in which potential drop V can be varied across resistance wire and
corresponding current I can be measured .
With the variation of potential drop V the variation of current I is
noted the actual I-V variation would be best depictedif a graph is
plotted by taking the values of V along the x-axis and corresponding
values of I along y- axis.

Since ohm’s law requiresrequires that for a given conduct or a drop of

potential V across its end is directly proportional to current I ,the (V-I)
graph is expected to be a straight line. The slope (V/I) of this line is a
measure of the resisitance of the conductor.

1) Arrange the components

2) 2) Rub the ends of connecting wire with a sand paper to remove
any oxidized insulating coating. Study the circuit carefully and
connect thick connecting wires tightly [Ensure that the ammeter
is connected in series with the resisitance wire with its positive
terminal towards positive of battery.]
3) 3) Connect the rheostat such that one of its lower and upper
terminals are used.
4) 4) Insert the plug key ‘K’ lide the rheostat ontact to its extreme
light such that the current passing is least.
5) 5) Shifthe rheostat contact again to increase the current and
take the readings .
AIM : To study the effect of length of wire on its resistance
when its diameter is kept constant
The diameter of the wire on its resistance when its length is kept
constant .
Apparatus : Different length of wire with varied cross sectional
area ,form of coil, battery, voltameter, a rheostat, one plug key,
sand paper.
1) Total length of the wire will affect the amount of resistance .
the longer the wire, the more resisrtance that will be there.
2) There is a direct relationship between the amount of
reistance encountered by the charge and the length of the
wire ,I it must transfer. After all if resistance occur as aresult
of the collisions between charge carriers and atoms of the
wire, then there is likely to be more collisions in a longer wire
more collision mean more resistance.
Second, the cross sectional area of the wire will affect the
amount of resistance. Wider wires have a greater cross
sectional area . Water will flow through a wide pipe at a
higher rate than it will flow through a narrow pipe. This can
be attributed to the lower amount of resisitance that is
opresent in the wier pipes. In the same manner wider the
wire the less resistance that there will be to the flow of
electric charge.
The third variable that is known to effect the resistance to
charge flow in the material that the wire is made up of.
 Silver is one of the best conductors but is never used in the
wires of household circuits due to its cost. Cu & Al are among
the least expensive materials with suitable conducting ability
to permit their use in wires of household circuits . The
conducting ability of the material is often indicated by its
resistivity. The resistivity of the material is dependant upon
the materials structure and ite temp. The resistivity increases
with increase in temp.

Total no. of div in ammeter = 20 division

Least count of ammeter =1/20=0.05A

Total no. of division in voltmeter = 20

Least count of voltmeter =1/50= 0.05
CURRENT POTENTIAL RESISTANCE
2*0.05 1* 0.02 5ohm
4*0.05 2*0.02 5ohm
8*0.05 4*0.02 5ohm

SILVER 1.59*10-8
COPPER 1.7*10-8
GOLD 2.4*10-8
ALUMINIUM 2.8*10-8
TUNGSTEN 5.6*10-8
IRON 10*10-8
PLATINUM 11*10-8
LEAD 22*10-8
CARBON 3.5* 10-5
 Theory :
1)CURRENT
A) The time rate of flow of charge through any cross
section of the conductor is called CURRENT.
B) Mathematically : Iavg =^q/^t
C) Cause : Existance of potential difference across
conductore & existence of electric field inside the
conductor.
D) S.I. unit : Ampere (A)
2)CURRENT DENSITY
It is defined as the charge transferred per unit cross sectional
area per unit time.
Mathematically :
J = i/A = (^q/^t*A )

3)DRIFT VELOCITY OF e-s IN A CONDUCTOR (Vd)

a) When no potential difference is applied, the eo that of field.
electrons move randomly in a conductor.
b) When ^V , hence electric field is applied , then electron drift
ina direction opposite to that of field.
c) The maximum velocity acquired by electrons in addition to
random motion during collision is called “DRIFT VELOCIT”.
4)RELAXATION TIME
a) Durinf grifting electrons undergo several collisions .
b) The average tiem between 2 successive collision is called
relaxation time.
 c) If T1, T2,T3………………Tn are tiem between 2 succesive collision , then
= ( T1,T2,T3,……………..T )/n
Where n= no. of collision
5)EXPRESSION FOR DRIFT VELOCITYNOF
ELECTRONS (Vd)
a = -eE/m
substituting the values ,
Vd = 0- e E/m

Vd = -eE/m
6)RELATION BETWEEN CURRENT AND DRIFT
VELOCITY
In ^ T times , all free electrons in the conductor cover a distance
Vd( ^T) when electric field is applied . If n= no. of free electron =
No. of free electrons / volume
Hence, N/V= n
N = no. of free electron within ( Vd) ^T = (Volume) * n
N= A ( Vd ^ T ) * n
Total charge =^q = eA (Vd) ^T n
Mathematically i= ^y/^t= [(e) (a) (Vd)(^T)n]/^T
i= nAVde
7)DEDUCTION OF OHM’S LAW
Current is related to drift velocity by the relation
I= nA Vde
Vd= eE /m( only magnitude)
; I = nAe (eE/m)
= nAe2E/m
I= nAe2E/m (^v/l) [length of conductor]
 I= ^Y/ml/ nAe2
Where: ml/ nAe2= R= Resistance
FACTORS AFFECTING RESISTANCE (R)
Mathematically :
R directly proportion to L (length of conductor)
R inversely proportion to A (Area of conductor)
R=rho L/A
Rho= resistivity
As temp increases , resistivity decreases & resistance increases
Let at temp. T1, R1=R1=R0
Let at temp. T2, R=R2
^T= T2 - T1
^R= R1- R2
Experimentally ^R directly proportional to ^T
^R directly proportional to R0
^R directly proportional to R0 ^T
R2-R1 = R0 (T2 - T1)
R2 = R1 [ 1 + (T2 - T1)]
R2= R1 [1+ ^ T ]
Ohmic Ohmic Resistance : follows a ohm’s law (^V
ditrectly proportion to I) & V-I curve is a straight line passing
through origin i.e. resistance must be constant
Non Ohmic : Any resistance whose values changes to any reason
is called non ohmic resistance eg: transistor , diode.
8)EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON RESISTANCE
Mathematically
ml/ nAe2= R
 1) As th temp. increases , the kinetic energy of electron
increases.therefore there velocity increases.
2) If temp. increases the internal energy of conductor inceases .
Hence the vibrational energy of electron increases.

TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF RESISTANCE

Mathematically k = rho *l/a = mla / ne2

OBSERVATION

Least count of ammeter = 0.05-0/10= 0.05 A

Least count of voltmeter= 2-0/0=0.2V

Range of ammeter= 0-2 A

Range of voltmeter= 0-2 V

Zero error of ammeter= nil

Zero error of voltmeter= nil

Variable R = 3.3ohm

EFFECT OF LENGTH ON RESISTANCE

When l= 50cm

VOLTS AMPERE OHM

0.4 O.25 O.1625
0.6 0.5 1.2
1 0.65 4.65
R= 1.49 OHM
WHEN l = 74cm

VOLTS AMPERE OHM

0.5 0.25 2
1 0.5 2
1.2 0.6 2

WHEN l =98 cm

VOLTS AMPERE OHM

1.4 0.5 2.8
1 0.3 3.3
0.6 0.2 3
R=3.03 ohm

EFFECT OF TEMP. ON RESISTANCE

Room temp.= -280C (T1)

Length of wire= 74 cm

T2= 450 C

VOLTS AMPERE OHM

0.3 0.1 3
0.6 0.25 2.4
1.2 0.30 4
R= 3.03 ohm
 T2= 620C

VOLTS AMPERE OHM

0.6 0.30 2
0.8 0.35 2.28
1.2 0.50 2.4
R=2.99 ohm

T2= 720C

VOLTS AMPERE OHM

0.4 0.10 4
0.6 0.20 3
1.2 0,55 2.579
1) Effect of length on R : The value of resistance increases with
rise /increase in length
2) Effect of temp. on R : Value of resistance increases with rise in
temp.

1) Excessive heating effect should be prevented.

2) All connection should be neat and tight.

1) Wire should be of unform cross sectional area.

2) The wire may be heated up.
1) NCERT –Physics Part -1
2) Dinesh Physics part 1
3) Cbse website