Path Resistance

The equation we tested is,

R = rho * length / area

where area = thickness * width.

a. In the first part, the relationship is already linear.

b. There are two ways of linearizing the data in the second part of the lab:

One is plot R vs 1/W,

The other is plot ln(R) vs ln(W).

0. Determining the resistivity

You have two ways to linearize the data

1. "Touching Resistance" can be determined from the intercept of the plots in the first part, it is a resistance between the clipper and the paper. So even though the distanced between the clippers is zero (but not touching), there is a non-zero resistance, and that's the intrinsic properties of the materials.

2. Decimal Places:

a. When doing addition/subtraction, the biggest decimal place remains.

For example, 1.0 + 1.01 = 2.0, rather than 2.01.

b. For reporting a physical quantity with its associated uncertainty, the decimal places of the uncertainty should be the same as that of the quantity.

For example, F = 4.1 ± 0.32 N is incorrect, you should report it as F = 4.1 ± 0.3 N.

3. Significant Figures:

The operations (excepts addition or subtraction) maintains the same least of significant figures.

For example, say an extreme case, 5.1 * 5 = 25.5 is incorrect, it should be 30.