A student investigates how the resistance of a filament lamp changes with the potential difference (p.d.) across it.
He uses the circuit shown in Fig. 1.1.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the symbol for a voltmeter connected to measure the potential difference across the lamp.
The student connects the crocodile clip to a length = 20.0 cm of the slide wire. He measures the potential difference, V, and the current, , for the lamp.
(i) Record the voltmeter and ammeter readings shown in Fig. 1.2 for a value of = 20.0 cm.
V = ...............................................................
= ...............................................................
[1]
(ii) Calculate, and record in Table 1.1, the resistance R of the lamp at = 20.0 cm. Use your readings from (b)(i) and the equation
[1]
Table 1.1
/cm | R/Ω |
20.0 |
|
40.0 | 7.5 |
60.0 | 10 |
80.0 | 12 |
100.0 | 13 |
The student connects the crocodile clip to other lengths of the slide wire.
He measures the potential difference V and the current for the lamp and calculates the resistance each time. His results are shown in Table 1.1.
Plot a graph of R / Ω (y-axis) against / cm (x-axis).
Extended tier only
The student notices that the lamp is very dim when = 20.0 cm but becomes very bright when = 100.0 cm.
State what the shape of the graph tells you about how the resistance of the lamp changes with the temperature of the filament.
Justify your statement using your results from the graph.
In this type of experiment, it is possible to change the current in the lamp by using a variable resistor instead of a slide wire.
On Fig. 1.3, complete the circuit diagram to show a variable resistor used for this purpose.
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