Ain Shams University Freshmen Year

Faculty of Engineering - CHEP EPHS-121 / Lab

Department of Eng. Phys. & Math. Spring / 2013
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experiment No. 1

Temperature Coefficient of resistance

Objective

 To determine the temperature coefficient of a conductor.

Equipment

 A conductor in the form of a long copper wire wound around a wooden cylinder
forming a coil that is immersed in a tube filled with oil.
 A Power supply connected to the coil through a 2-way KEY. The key is labeled H
for heating and M for measuring. You don't see the power supply; you only see the
key in a closed box.
 An ohmmeter.
 A Thermometer immersed in the oil.

Procedure

Supply

H
Inductor
Key
M


Ohmmeter

The coil is connected to a box having a 2-way key as shown in Fig. At one
position the key connects the coil to the power supply where current flows
through the coil heating it. This position is labeled H. At the second position
the coil will be connected to the ohmmeter to measure the value of its
resistance. This position is labeled M. All the connections are hidden in a
closed box so that you can only see the key.

1
1. With the key at the position M record the thermometer reading T and the
ohmmeter reading R, (room temperature reading).
2. Put the Key to the position H to heat the coil. (You might find the coil already
heated to save time, so you won't record a reading at room temperature)
3. Watch the temperature in the thermometer until it reaches just above 600C, now
put the key to the position M.
4. Record the thermometer reading T and the ohmmeter reading R.
5. As the temperature drops, record the thermometer reading T and the ohmmeter
reading R every 30C drop.
6. Repeat step 5 until the temperature reaches 400C
7. Plot a graph of R versus T.

Theory

The relation between temperature and resistance for metals in general is fairly linear
over a rather broad temperature range. We can write an empirical approximation that
is good enough for most engineering purposes; for a copper wire the relation would be

R  R0 1   T 

where:

R () Value of Resistance.

T(0C) Temperature in 0C
 (1/0C) Temperature coefficient of resistance
R0() Resistance at T = 0 0C

A plot of the equation will be a straight line. The straight line intercepts the y-axis at
R = R0.

Calculations

 Calculate the slope of the straight line which is equal to R0.

 Divide the slope by R0 obtained from the plot and find .

With Best Wishes

Physics Department
Dr. M El Banna