Finding the resistance of a wire: Application Experiment

Aim

Find the resistance of the given length of wire using two independent methods.

Prior Knowledge

• Electric circuits
• Ohm's model

Description of the Experiment

Use the video to determinethe resistance of the wire first using the readings of the ammeter and the voltmeter and then using the geomtery data.

Addtional Information

The wire is nichrome and has a resistivity of 1.5x10^-6Ohm-meters at a temperature of 20 Celcius.

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Questions

1. Discuss the assumptions that you used to find the reistance of the wire using the first method.
2. Discuss the assumptions that you used to find the reistance of the wire using the second method.
3. Discuss the experimental uncertainties that affected you results in the first method.
4. Discuss the experimental uncertainties that affected you results in the second method.
5. Do your two results agree to within the experimental uncertainties? If not, can you explain why not?
6. Make a judement about which result you believe to be more reliable and justify by considering the uncertainties and assumptions.