- #1
kwah
- 17
- 0
Hey... After recently doing a practical in an English A2 Physics lesson, my lab partner and I noticed various odd results happening.
The basic setup was a mains joulemeter (set to flash every 100j) in series with a bulb holder/socket type thingy...
Next to it, a GLX Explorer (an electronic data logger) with a light intesity measuring attatchment taking readings whenever a key was manually pressed...
Anyways, we noticed that the values for light intensity appeared to be fluctuating sinusoidally, with both the positive and negative peaks remaining fairly constant but the wavelength varying irregularly.
According to the teachers, they had not seen this kind of fluctuation occur before and could not explain it - the possibility of natural heating & cooling causing the resistance to be increasing & decreasing was suggested - and the experiment is due to be repeated on Thursday / Friday as part of our school's "Energy Week" but otherwise came up stumps.
I've since searched Google and have found no reasoning for this or any other examples of this occurring (admittedly, my research has not been particularly thorough) but have been unable to do so, so I'm just wondering whether anybody here would be able to explain this occurence?
regards,
Kwah =]
P.S. I do not have any data available to hand but will try to get some if possible, and more detailed explanations will be on the way if needed.
Oh, by the way, apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but since it is not actual homework I figured that there would not have been the best place for this topic ..
If Moderators / Admin decide it would be better placed elsewhere, feel free to move it (though I'm sure you will do anyway =] lol)
The basic setup was a mains joulemeter (set to flash every 100j) in series with a bulb holder/socket type thingy...
Next to it, a GLX Explorer (an electronic data logger) with a light intesity measuring attatchment taking readings whenever a key was manually pressed...
Anyways, we noticed that the values for light intensity appeared to be fluctuating sinusoidally, with both the positive and negative peaks remaining fairly constant but the wavelength varying irregularly.
According to the teachers, they had not seen this kind of fluctuation occur before and could not explain it - the possibility of natural heating & cooling causing the resistance to be increasing & decreasing was suggested - and the experiment is due to be repeated on Thursday / Friday as part of our school's "Energy Week" but otherwise came up stumps.
I've since searched Google and have found no reasoning for this or any other examples of this occurring (admittedly, my research has not been particularly thorough) but have been unable to do so, so I'm just wondering whether anybody here would be able to explain this occurence?
regards,
Kwah =]
P.S. I do not have any data available to hand but will try to get some if possible, and more detailed explanations will be on the way if needed.
Oh, by the way, apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but since it is not actual homework I figured that there would not have been the best place for this topic ..
If Moderators / Admin decide it would be better placed elsewhere, feel free to move it (though I'm sure you will do anyway =] lol)
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