Worksheet 18.

2
Resistance of a wire
The resistance of a wire depends on its length and crosssectional area. Interpret some data from an experiment to
investigate this.
Aamira is studying the electrical resistance of wires. Her teacher has
suggested that, if one wire is twice as long as another, it will have twice the
resistance.
Her teacher says, If the wire is twice as long, its twice as hard for the
current to get through, so the resistance is twice as much.
Aamira is testing this idea.
Aamira has a long piece of metal wire. She can connect on to it using clips.
By moving the clips she can vary the length of the wire whose resistance
she is measuring. She uses a digital meter to measure the resistance and a
ruler to measure the length of wire between the clips.

Cambridge University Press 2014

Worksheet 18.21

IGCSE Physics

The table shows Aamiras results.

Length of wire /
cm

Resistance /

5.7

22

15.4

62

23.9

97

33.0

131

45.6

185

77.0

315

1 Draw a graph using the data in the table.

2 From your graph, estimate the resistance of a 10cm length of wire.
3 Does the graph support the idea that double the length gives double the
resistance? Explain your answer.
4 Does the graph support the idea that the resistance of a wire is
proportional to its length? Explain your answer.
5 Aamiras teacher gives her a piece of thicker wire, made of the same
metal. Aamira repeats her experiment using this wire. Describe how you
would expect her results to change.
6 Explain why the second wire must be made of the same metal as the
first.

Cambridge University Press 2014

Worksheet 18.22

IGCSE Physics