Physics Coursework Essay Example

Physics Coursework Essay My aim is to see how the resistance of a wire changes when you change the length. Method Diagram of set-up: Apparatus needed: Power Pack, We will write a custom essay sample on Physics Coursework specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Physics Coursework specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Physics Coursework specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Voltmeter, Ammeter, Leads, Constantan Wire, 2 Crocodile Clips, A metre ruler, Sellotape. Set-up a circuit as in the diagram above. Sellotape the wire to the metre ruler. Set the Power Pack on to 2V. Change the length of the constantan wire each time and record the ammeter and voltmeter readings. I will then calculate the resistance by dividing the voltage by the current. Fair Test I will not keep the power pack on for too long at one time because the wire will get hot and the particles may start to move around. I will keep the power pack at the same voltage all the time. I will use the same ammeter and voltmeter for the experiment and any repeats. Range To collect my results I have decided to take an ammeter and voltage reading. I am going to increase the length of the wire by 10cm each time going from 10 to a 100 cm. Prediction I predict that the longer the wire the more resistance it will have. I think this because the longer the wire the more particles there are for the electrons to bang into. When the electrons bang into the particles they lose energy. Preliminary Checking that I can get a reading from the two ends of my range. I can get a reading for a 100cm, I got 0.44 amps and 1.4 volts. For 10cm though I can only get a voltmeter reading of 0.6 volts. The current is too high for the meter to measure. So I have decided to change my ammeter to one that goes up to 5 amps instead of 1. On the new ammeter I still get the same readings for a 100cm as before. But I now get a reading for 10cm of being 0.6 amps. Detailed Theory Resistivity gives a constant value for a material, so that you can compare different materials. The resistance of 2 different wires is not necessarily the same. Resistance depends on: Its length (l) Its cross-sectional area (A) The material of which it is made ? is the resistivity of the material from which the wire is made of. It says that for the constantan wire that I am using ? should equal 4.9 X 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ m. When I get my results I will check them against this figure to tell how accurate they are. So to my results tables I have added the column length divided by area which is the other part that I need to work this out as well as the resistance. RESULTS Ist time Length of Wire (cm) Voltage (volts) Current (Amps) Resistance (ohms) 10 0.8 2.0 0.4 20 1.0 1.5 0.7 30 1.2 1.2 1.0 40 1.3 1.0 1.3 50 1.4 0.8 1.8 60 1.4 0.8 1.8 70 1.5 0.7 2.1 80 1.5 0.6 2.5 90 1.5 0.5 3.0 100 1.6 0.4 4.0 Ist Repeats Length of Wire (cm) Voltage (volts) Current (Amps) Resistance (ohms) 10 0.8 2.0 0.4 20 1.0 1.4 0.7 30 1.2 1.1 1.1 40 1.3 1.0 1.3 50 1.3 0.8 1.6 60 1.4 0.7 2.0 70 1.5 0.6 2.5 80 1.5 0.6 2.5 90 1.6 0.5 3.2 100 1.6 0.5 3.2 Comparing my two lots of results I still think that there are some which dont quite look right so I have decided to do one more set of repeats. 2nd Repeats Length of Wire (cm) Voltage (volts) Current (Amps) Resistance (ohms) 10 0.7 1.9 0.4 20 1.0 1.4 0.7 30 1.1 1.1 1.0 40 1.2 0.9 1.3 50 1.3 0.8 1.6 60 1.4 0.7 2.0 70 1.4 0.6 2.3 80 1.5 0.6 2.5 90 1.5 0.5 3.0 100 1.5 0.3 5.0 In working out my averages for resistance I decided to leave out the result I got for 100cms of wire on my 2nd repeats (5.0 ohms) because from comparing my results I think it is an anomaly. Averages Length of Wire (cm) Resistance (ohms) Length divided by Area (metres) 10 0.4 628760.269 20 0.7 1257520.538 30 1.0 1886280.807 40 1.3 2515041.076 50 1.7 3143801.345 60 1.9 3772561.614 70 2.3 4401321.883 80 2.5 5030082.152 90 3.1 5658842.421 100 3.6 6287602.690 I have now worked out the average resistance and the average length divided by area. So I now have everything I need to compare my results to the figures I got from the book. Graphs CONCLUSION My results show me that the longer the piece of wire is, the more resistance there will be. This is what I predicted would happen in my prediction. I think this happened because the more wire there is the more particles there are to bang into, which slows down the electrons. I also found that Resistance and Length are proportional, I could tell this by the straight line of best fit that I got on my first graph. From my 2nd graph I took the gradient of the line of best fit this represented the Resistivity of a constantan wire. I got 0.00000052m the book says for a constantan wire the resistivity should be 0.00000049 metres. Comparing these figures I would say that my results were quite accurate as the difference is 0.0000003m. EVALUATION From my method I was able to easily achieve a set of results. I think that the method I chose to use was quite reliable. If I were to do this investigation again I would come up with a better way of doing it though to get more accurate results because the wire kept bending so I am not sure that the distances we measured at were very precise. As I mentioned before I think that I only had one anomaly and did not use this in working out my averages. I think we got this anomaly because near to the end of the investigation we started to rush becoming a bit more careless, maybe living the power pack on which would of increased the resistance because the wire would have been hotter. Firm conclusions that I can make are: * The longer the wire the more resistance there will be. * Resistance and Length are proportional. * Resistivity of a constantan wire is about 4.9 X 10 metres.

Homosexuality and Single-Sex Schools

Homosexuality and Single-Sex Schools Unfortunately, for many American students, insults and accusations are part of everyday life. All to often, students, as young as elementary school, are faced with criticism and judgment from their peers, and despite great efforts by many, there are still people in our country who are not the diverse, tolerant people wed like to surround ourselves with on a daily basis. This unfortunate truth means that some students look elsewhere to find supportive and welcoming environments for their middle and high school educations. This is where private school comes into play, as many private schools embrace the many facets of diversity that exist within students, creating vibrant communities unlike what most high school students embrace. However, there is debate among many about the role of single-sex schools when it comes to homosexuality. While some believe that schools that cater to just one gender provide a supportive place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, others believe that these schools  have a hidden side effect: they promote homosexuality. Scientific Studies Surprisingly, there are few scientific studies available to provide conclusive evidence, but no limit to personal opinions. The debate topics include whether or not single-sex schools promote gender stereotypes, if homosexuality is learned or genetic and, particularly, how single-sex schools may impact students if it homosexuality is, in fact, learned. Debate.com has a page dedicated to whether or not single-sex schools promote homosexuality. The outcome of those who have contributed to date shows a majority of debaters (59 percent) feel that single-sex schools do not promote homosexuality. Many single-sex school graduates claim that their experiences, be it high school or even college, were empowering and helped them grow as individuals. Others agree, but say that they discovered their gender identity in that environment because it was the first time they were allowed to experience something different than the stereotypes they grew up with of only male-female couples being acceptable. Unfortunately, for many children stereotypes are all they see in their daily lives and become what they understand simply because they are not exposed to diverse views. Most certainly, no child wants to be intimidated or ostracized simply because they are different. These difference sometimes mean that students are subject to bullying by peers who dont understand or accept them, and these actions can be especially harsh when adults look the other way or are not present. While some claim that single-sex schools promote gender stereotypes, others adamantly disagree, stating that the single-sex school breaks down the stereotypes and better educates students on a more diverse set of viewpoints. The Value of an Open and Affirming Culture What many people dont know is that boys and girls schools often  play to the strengths of students. These open and affirming cultures can provide better support, counseling, and education, empowering students to embrace who they are more than ever. When students can walk around their school community openly without fear of discrimination or bullying, they are able to grow as individuals and achieve more success. Both boys and girls have to deal with their sexuality, understanding their feelings and inclinations mean and how to handle them. If they havent thought of it themselves, the American entertainment industry will certainly put all those gender debates and discussions right under their noses. What any good private school is able to do is to provide some serious mentoring and discussion of issues like teenage sexuality. The tightly wrapped sense of community which most of these schools have makes young people feel comfortable discussing these and other issues. Teens are under enormous stress under normal conditions. Add to the mix worries about sexuality and grades and you potentially have a recipe for extreme measures of dealing with the stress. For some, this can lead to eating disorders, cutting, or even suicide. Heed the warning signs, no matter how insignificant you think they may be, and talk to someone if there are concerns about the physical, mental, or emotional health of a child. If students feel as though they cannot confront their classmates, they should alert an adult and make sure she follows through. Supporting a peer struggling with an issue often means going against their wishes to deal with issues privately in favor of getting help from a qualified individual.   Edited by Stacy Jagodowski