Student 1 of 1

eter Practical 25 Temperature coefficient of resistance

Purpose Safety

The aim of this experiment is to measure the temperature Take care not to spill the water in the
coefficient of resistance of a sample of iron wire. beaker, it will be hot.

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Figure 1: Wheatstone bridge circuit

You will need:

• Wheatstone bridge • Standard resistor
• Jockey • Length of plastic covered iron wire (between 1 m and 2 m)
• Leads • An alternative to the Wheatstone bridge
• Battery or low voltage • Thermometer or temperature sensor
dc power supply • Beaker (400 ml)

Experimental instructions
Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram.
Place the coil of wire in the beaker of cold water and connect it into the Wheatstone bridge
circuit as shown. The standard resistor (S) will probably be between 1 and 10 Ω.
Measure the resistance of the coil by balancing the bridge (zero deflection on the
galvanometer).
Heat the water and rebalance the bridge for a series of temperatures about every 5º in the
range 20 ºC–80 ºC.
Using the ohmmeter simply record the resistance directly over the range over temperature
suggested.

Analysis and conclusions

Plot a graph of resistance against temperature and thence determine the temperature
coefficient of resistance (a) from the formula:
R – Ro
a= q
Roq
where R is the resistance at 0 ºC, Rq the resistance at q ºC, q the temperature difference
and a the temperature coefficient of resistance.
Comment on any sources of error in your experiment.

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