Effects of temperature towards conductivity

[wisdom32]

Ok, i am given this task by my physics group leader and is required to do an experiment based on the following research question:
To investigate the effect of temperature to the conductivity of a charcoal rod.

i. How do i heat a charcoal rod to a desired temperature and make it remain constant at that temperature ?

ii. When i am conducting the experiment as in letting electric current go through the rod, wouldn't it heat up due to its resistance ? Again, how do i keep the temperature constant ?

Thanks.

 

[Mentz114]

You don't need to keep the rod at a constant temperature. Can you measure 1)the temperature of the rod, 2)the current flowing through the rod and 3) the voltage across the rod, simultaneously ? If so, you only need to find these values for different currents/temperatures and plot a graph.

 

[m2003]

I am excited to hear about your experiment on the effects of temperature on conductivity. Conductivity is a very important property that can greatly affect the performance of materials in various applications.

To answer your first question, there are a few ways you could heat a charcoal rod to a desired temperature and maintain that temperature throughout the experiment. One option is to use a heating mantle or hot plate that can be set to a specific temperature and has a temperature control feature to maintain the desired temperature. You could also use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the rod and adjust the heat source accordingly.

As for your second question, it is true that passing an electric current through the rod will heat it up due to its resistance. To keep the temperature constant, you could use a thermocouple or infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature and adjust the heat source as needed. It is also important to keep the experiment in a controlled environment to minimize any external temperature changes.

Additionally, to ensure accurate results, it is important to have a control group in your experiment where the rod is not heated and the temperature is kept constant. This will allow you to compare the conductivity of the heated rod to the non-heated rod and determine the true effect of temperature on conductivity.

I wish you the best of luck with your experiment and look forward to hearing about your results. Remember to always follow proper safety protocols when conducting experiments involving heat and electricity.