Skip to content

Course home

Sign up

4.2 Electrical quantities

EasyMediumHard
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102
Question 93

A student investigates the relationship between the length and the resistance of a wire.

The following apparatus is available:

  • a long constantan wire of uniform diameter, taped to a metre ruler
  • ammeter
  • voltmeter
  • crocodile clips and connecting leads
  • power supply.

Other apparatus normally found in a school laboratory is also available.

Plan an experiment to investigate how the length of the wire affects its resistance.

Resistance RRR is given by the equation R=VIR = \frac{V}{I}R=IV​, where VVV is the potential difference (p.d.) across the wire and III is the current in the wire.

You do not need to write about safety precautions.

In your plan:

  • draw a circuit diagram to show the circuit you use
  • explain briefly how to do the investigation
  • state one key variable to keep constant (other than the material or diameter of the wire)
  • draw a table, or tables, with column headings, to display the readings (you are not required to enter any readings in the table)
  • explain how to use your results to reach a conclusion.
[6]
Markscheme

4.2 Electrical quantities Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /4.2 Electrical quantities

452 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 4.2 Electrical quantities, covering 4.2.1a Positive and negative charge, 4.2.1b Charging by friction and detecting charge, 4.2.1c Electrical conductors and insulators, 4.2.1d Electric fields and electric field patterns, 4.2.2a Electric current, charge and measuring current, 4.2.2b Conduction in metals and the direction of current, 4.2.2c Direct current and alternating current, 4.2.3a Electromotive force, 4.2.3b Potential difference and voltmeters, 4.2.4a Resistance, 4.2.4b Resistance of a metallic wire, 4.2.4c Current–voltage graphs, and 4.2.5 Electrical energy and electrical power. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

Question bank