Proposal : Electrical Resistance

Objectives :

To determine the different factors affecting the electrical resistance

of a conductors
To determine if these factors affects the electrical resistance of a
conductor positively or negatively

Materials needed :

Copper Wire 2m (must have the same diameter with aluminum wire
(1)
Aluminum wire (1) - 1m
Aluminum wire (2) 1m (must have a bigger difference in diameter
compared with aluminum (1)
4 Identical 1.5-volt light bulbs
4 identical light bulb holder (fit for 1.5-volt light bulbs)
4 Identical AA batteries
4 identical single (AA) battery holder
4 wooden base (ply wood)
Electrical tape
Wire stripper (optional)
Multimeter

Procedures :
1.
2.
3.
4.

Attach 1 light bulb holder on 1 of the plywood.

Attach 1 battery holder on the plywood.
Screw the light bulb into the light bulb holder.
Repeat steps 1-3 on the other 5 ply woods. Name these ply woods as
Set-up A, B, C, D, E and F.
5. In set-up A, cut 2 (4 in.) copper wire. Strip the ends of the insulated
wire, attach 1 of their ends on the batter pack and screw their other
ends on the light bulb holder. (Fig. 1)
6. In set-up B, cut 2 (8 in.) copper wire. Strip the ends of the insulated
wire, attach 1 of their ends on the batter pack and screw their other
ends on the light bulb holder. (Fig. 2)
7. In set-up C, cut 2 (4 in.) aluminum wire (1). Strip the ends of the
insulated wire, attach 1 of their ends on the batter pack and screw
their other ends on the light bulb holder. (Fig. 3)

8. In set-up D, cut 2 (4 in.) aluminum wire (2). Strip the ends of the
insulated wire, attach 1 of their ends on the batter pack and screw
their other ends on the light bulb holder. (Fig. 4)

9. Place the batteries in the battery holder.

10.
Use the multimeter to test the electrical resistance of the wires
of the different set-ups.
11.
Record your findings.
12.
Compare:
Set-up A with set-up B.
Set-up C with set-up D.
Set-up C with set-up A.
Explanation :

In set-up A and set-up B, the length of the wire is the

independent variable, the dependent variable is the electrical
resistance of the circuit and the controlled variables are the
material of which the wire is made of and the diameter of the
wire. In this set-ups, we can compare if the length of the wire can

be a factor of electrical resistance of the circuit and how this factor

affects the electrical resistance of the circuit.
In set-up C and set-up D, the diameter of the wire is the
independent variable, the dependent variable is the electrical
resistance of the circuit and the controlled variables are the
material of which the wire is made of and the length of the
wire. In this set-ups, we can compare if the diameter of the wire
can be a factor of electrical resistance of the circuit and how this
factor affects the electrical resistance of the circuit.
In set-up C and set-up A, the material of which the wire is made
of is the independent variable, the dependent variable is the
electrical resistance of the circuit and the controlled variables
are the length of the wire of and the diameter of the wire. In this
set-ups, we can compare if the material of which the wire is
made of can be a factor of electrical resistance of the circuit and
how this factor affects the electrical resistance of the circuit.