What is the name of the device used to measure ohms?

[Geoffrey F. Miller]

What is the name of the device used to measure ohms?

 

[dextercioby]

With a multimeter,you can measure both tension & current,ergo determine resistance...

Daniel.


EDIT:I suspect a tool only for resistance would be called OHMMETER...

 

[Geoffrey F. Miller]

I need to be sure that it's called an ohmmeter though. I don't want to introduce to many calculations into my experiment, as it's only supposed to focus on how a wire's length, shape, mass, thickness, and material affect its resistance.

 

[dextercioby]

It's not too many calculations,just a division V/I.In case you lack the ohmmeter.

R=\rho\frac{l}{S}

Is this what you're looking for...?

Daniel.

 

[dextercioby]

Oh,and one more thing:I'm pretty sure that the ohmmeter used Ohm's law (!) to determine the resistance and doing that by performing the division,insted of you...

Daniel.

 

[Geoffrey F. Miller]

Ahhh...I found an ohmmeter, and yes, it does use Ohm's Law.

Thank you for your help!

Also, do you know how a wire's mass would affect its resistance? I'd assume more massive wires would be less resistant...

 

[dextercioby]

No,not directly.The ratio is (length/area) (times resistivity,see above).So mass is involved indirectly.

Daniel.

 

[Geoffrey F. Miller]

Okay. Also, why do electrons move faster and more effeciently through metals than nonmetals? What are the characteristics of a good conductor? Does it have something to do with the way the atoms or molecules of a substance are arranged?

 

[dextercioby]

Of course.Internal structure is the key...Quantum Mechanics and Transport Phenomena give all the answers/explanations.


Daniel.

 

[Geoffrey F. Miller]

One more thing before I go, does the ohmmeter require electricity to be running through a wire to take its measurements, or does it test the material directly?

 

[Integral]

Yes, an ohmmeter must be powered.