Resistance of Wire - AQA Practical

Topic 2 - Electricity
Written By Atheridge Tuition

AQA GCSE Physics Electricity required practical: evaluating resistance of a wire with varying lengths.‍ ‍Combined & Triple Science.

Plan a valid method to investigate the effect of wire length on resistance in a circuit.

[6 marks]

Four-step visual summary of the AQA GCSE Physics resistance of a wire practical: prepare, record, calculate and change wire length.

1. Prepare

    • 1.5 V cell to power the circuit

    • Switch

    • 100cm resistance wire

Circuit diagram showing a 1.5 V cell and connecting wires for the resistance of a wire required practical.
Resistance wire positioned alongside a ruler, with crocodile clips connecting a measured length of wire to the circuit.

    • Ammeter in series

    • Voltmeter in parallel

Circuit diagram showing an ammeter connected in series with the resistance wire to measure current.
Circuit diagram showing a voltmeter connected in parallel across the measured length of resistance wire.

2. Take Readings

    • Current in Amps

    • Voltage (Potential Difference) in Volts

GCSE Physics resistance practical showing current and voltage measured across an 80 cm length of resistance wire and recorded in a results table.

3. Calculate

    • R = V / I

Formula triangle showing voltage, current and resistance, with a results table for calculating resistance using R = V ÷ I.

4. Change

    • Turn off the circuit!

    • Move the crocodile clip along the wire in 10cm intervals.

    • Turn it back on, record current and voltage and calculate resistance for each length

Resistance of a wire practical showing the crocodile clip moved to increase wire length from 80 cm to 90 cm, with current, voltage and resistance recorded for each length.

Challenge:

  • Keep the wire material and thickness the same, and minimise changes in temperature.

    • Directly proportional

    • As length increases, resistance increases (assuming temperature remains constant)

Graph showing direct proportionality between length of wire and resistance.
 
 

Continue Revising Paper 1

GCSE Physics Visuals
Resistance of Wire - AQA Practical
Resistance of Wire - AQA Practical

6-marker on AQA resistance and wire length required practical.

Read more →
Specific Heat Capacity Practical
Specific Heat Capacity Practical

6-marker practical on finding specific heat capacity.

Read more →
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fission

4-marker on the process of nuclear fission.

Read more →
 

Need help improving your GCSE Physics grade?

These visuals are created by our experienced GCSE tutors.

Book a Trial Session
Atheridge Tuition
Next

Velocity-Time Graph - Calculating Acceleration