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5 October 2022

Criterion B
Research question
How does the change in the cross sectional area of the conductor, which is the wire, affect the
resistance in a series circuit while increasing the voltage and keeping the length the same?

Hypothesis and Explanation

The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the relationship between the change in resistance value
and the cross sectional area of a copper wire as the voltage power increases. This experiment will verify
the research that will be done and the stated hypothesis.

One of the most important and basic laws of physics in electricity is Ohm’s law. It establishes the
connection between three essential electrical quantities: current, voltage, and resistance. When a voltage
is applied to a resistive circuit, current flows in line with Ohm's Law. It claims that current in a wire is
proportional to voltage across it but inversely proportional to resistance.

Current (I) = refers to the number of charges that pass through any area of the conductor
in a certain time interval.

Voltage (V) = is a measurement for calculating the potential difference between two points.
It is used to connect two wires or an electric component. A voltage source, such as a
battery, is used to maintain a potential difference in the circuit but not to produce current.

Resistance (Ω) = is the measure of the opposition to the current in a circuit.

Resistance varies with length. If you take various

lengths of wire and apply a different potential
difference across their ends. The longer the wire,
the lower the voltage per cm. However in this
experiment the independent variable is the cross
sectional area of the wire. The resistance is
proportional to the cross-sectional area. The
higher the cross sectional area of the wire, the
more electrons encounter the 'electric slope'
caused by the potential difference. Because the
length of the wire remains constant, each
centimetre receives the same amount of volts - the potential gradient remains constant, and
therefore the average drift velocity of individual electrons remains constant. Although they do
not travel quicker, there are more of them moving, which increases overall charge movement
in a given time and current flow. This suggests that resistance is decreasing. Because cross
sectional area is inversely proportional to resistance rather than directly proportional to it, a
straight line graph is not produced.
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Other factors that can affect the resistance of the circuit are
temperature and the material of the conductor. Resistance also
depends on what material the wire is. The more tightly an atom
grips its outermost electrons, the more difficult it is to create a
current flow. An atom's electrical configuration influences how
ready the atom is to let an electron depart and wander across the
lattice. When an atom's shell is almost full, it is hesitant to let its
electrons roam, and the material it is in is an insulator. If the
outermost shell is less than half filled, the atom is ready to let
those electrons roam and the substance is a conductor.

The second factor is temperature. Resistance increases as the

wire's temperature rises. Because of the greater vibration of the
atomic lattice, the hotter wire has a higher resistance. When a
material heats up, the atoms in the lattice begin to vibrate more.
This makes electrons move more difficult without interacting
with an atom and increases resistance. Resistance and temperature have a complicated connection.

From the research it can be predicted that as the cross sectional area of the wire increases the
resistance will decrease because it is inversely proportional.

Independent Variations of How is the Independent Variable

Variable the Independent Changed?
Variable
(5-6 levels)
The cross sectional 2.00 mm2 To check the validity of the hypothesis, it is
area of the 1.60 mm2 important to examine how changes in the
conductor (wire) 0.71mm2 independent variable influence the dependent
0.45 mm2 variable. The cross sectional area of the wire is
0.007 mm2 the independent variable in our experiment, and
we will manipulate it to see how it affects the
resistance, which is the dependent variable.

Voltage (V) 0.01 V To calculate resistance voltage value should be

0.02 V used. Having a variation of values will help
0.03 V getting multiple results to later compare them
0.04 V and get a more accurate answer to be able to
0.05 V clearly identify if the experiment supports or
0.06 V contradicts the research.
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Dependent Variable How will the Dependent Variable be

Measured?
Current (I) As current is a dependent variable it is
dependent on the voltage-the independent
value. An ammeter, which produces a
reading in amperes, is used to measure the
electric current in one portion of a circuit.
To take the measurement, a gap is created in
the circuit and the ammeter is linked to that
gap, requiring the charged particles
travelling through the circuit to pass through
the metre.

Resistance (Ω) The amount of resistance given by the

various wires, as measured by variations in
current, is the dependent variable. It is
calculated through the formula R=V/I where
V is the independent variable and I, which is
the current, is a dependent variable.

Controlled How will it be Why is it important to control (impact on

Variable controlled? data)? What would be the consequences of
not keeping it the same?

The length of the The length of the This is important due to the fact that the
wire wire will always be difference in length of the wire can affect the
17 cm and measured resistance which will give unreliable results as the
with a ruler before independent variable will change.
being used in the
experiment.

The power I will make sure to Every power supply's input electricity can
supply use the same power fluctuate, and if the input power varies each time,
supply for every the voltage will likewise change. In fact, when the
trial. voltage varies, it might alter the dependent
variable, causing it to shift considerably.

Cable (leads) By using cable made Electricity flows more easily through highly
materials out of the same conductive components such as copper, silver, or
materials. gold; the less conductive the material, the bigger
the diameter required to transport the same
current load. As a result, if the material of the
cable changes every time it can impact the
dependent and independent variables.
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The temperature Keep the wire at the From the research that was done it is claimed that
of the wire same temperature the temperature of the conductor can affect the
and turn the power resistance of the current flow. This can influence
supply off after the data from the investigation.
every 5 trials to let
the wire cool down.
I can also use a wet
napkin and wipe the
wire.

Voltmeter and I will use the same The working principles and accuracies of
Ammeter voltmeter and ammeters differ. With accuracies ranging from 0.1
ammeter throughout to 2.0 percent, the D'Arsonval-movement
the whole ammeter monitors direct current flowing through
experiment. a coil hanging between the poles of a magnet.
Because real voltmeters have limited resistance,
they can interfere with the circuit to which they
are attached and provide false readings.

Material of the The same material of From the research we can say that the thicker the
wire the wire will be used wire, the lower the resistance. Varied materials
(independent for all the trials of have different resistivities, which refer to the
variable) the experiment. material's capacity to allow electrons to travel. It
is determined by the electrical structure and the
temperature.

The set up of the Always have the If the circuit varies every time the resistance flow
circuit same setup and can change so it is important to always keep the
placement for set up as a series circuit.
equipment.

The distance Measure 1 cm from If the crocodile clip is placed differently every
between the the endings of the time it technically changes the lech through
endings of the wire and attach the which the current flows and if there is a change in
wire where the crocodile clip. length, current flow can be affected.
crocodile clip is
placed
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Materials and equipment

The equipment Quantity and size What is it needed for?
A power supply 1 To input electricity to the
circuit

Cables 6 To run electricity flow

through the circuit

Crocodile clips 2 To connect the wire and the

cables

Voltmeter 1 To measure the voltage

Ammeter 1 To measure the current

Wires 6 wires each with a different Need for the experiment as

cross sectional area an independent variable

Filing paper 1 To file the ends of the wire

to make the process of the
current going through the
wire easier.

Wire cutter 1 To cut the wire

Ruler 1 To measure the wire and get

17 cm for each

A table (surface) 1 To set up the experiment

Computer 1 To get the calculations

Safety Considerations:
1) Risk: Be careful with the power supply as it supplies electricity which can be dangerous to
interact with. Don't increase the voltage more than allowed. It can cause electricity short
circuits.

Solution: Do not increase the voltage more than needed

2) Risk: Be careful to not spill water on any of the equipment as it can break stuff. In addition
to that as it is a conductor, if you come in contact with water that has been exposed to
electricity, you could become the channel that electricity takes to reach the ground. Electricity
would move from you to the ground through the water and through you.

Solution: Keep any liquids away from where the experiment is done
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3) Risk: Make sure that you are really careful when sitting the fire as the cutter may be
shaped and you can hurt yourself.

Solution: Do not hurry when cutting and take your time to not damage your fingers

Method:
1. Gather all the equipment needed on one table or any other surface where the
experiment is done
2. Cut a wire with a length of 17 cm using a wire cutter.
3. Plug the power supply into the socket
4. Connect two cables to the power supply and create a circuit shown on the diagram
using a voltmeter, ammeter, and a wire which is the conductor.
5. Attach the crocodile clips to the wire from both sides.
6. Before using the wire check if the power supply works by using a lightbulb as the
conductor.
7. Use the first wire ( 2.00 mm2 ) with
one of the cross sectional areas and
calculate the value increasing the
voltage 6 times.
8. For each trial make sure to turn off
the power supply to let the wire cool
down to get a more accurate result.
9. For every cross sectional area of a
wire (2.00 mm2, 1.60 mm2 ,0.71
mm2 ,0.45 mm2 ,0.007 mm2 ) do two
trials with the ammeter on the left
side and right side to later find the
average and get a more accurate
answer.
10. Calculate the current through the voltage and write it down on a table in google sheets
using the appropriate formulas
11. Now change the cross sectional area of the wire and redo the same method
12. Do it for all the cross sectional areas of the wires and make sure to take notes of the
results to discuss later in the evaluation.

Discussion of hypothesis (criterion C)

Restating the research question. “How does the change in the cross sectional area of
the conductor, which is the wire, affect the resistance
in a series circuit while increasing the voltage?”

Restating my hypothesis. “From the research it can be predicted that as the cross
sectional area of the wire increases the resistance will
decrease because it is inversely proportional.”
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Do the results support my hypothesis? What The resistance of the circuit decreased as the cross
evidence makes me say that? sectional area of the wire increased because they are
inversely proportional, therefore the results of my
experiment are reliable and can be considered right.

Works Cited

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https://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/topics/electricity/higher_electricity/resistance.htm.

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https://www.quora.com/How-does-the-resistance-of-a-conductor-decrease-when-the-c

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Accessed 6 October 2022.

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“17.1 What is resistance? | Resistance.” Siyavula,

https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-9/resistance/17-resistance. Accessed 6

October 2022.

“What happens to a circuit when the input current changes? For instance, if you increase

voltage, thus decreasing current, how does that affect the operation of the circuit?”

Quora,

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-to-a-circuit-when-the-input-current-changes-F

or-instance-if-you-increase-voltage-thus-decreasing-current-how-does-that-affect-the-

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