PHY1509 Assignment 5 2025 (Detailed Solutions) Due 2025

PHY1509
Assignment 5
Detailed Solutions
Due 2025

, Detailed Solution: Resistance vs Temperature
Experiment




Question 1

Problem Statement
A group of first-year students running an experiment for an electric oven’s resistance-
dependent on temperature collected the following data:

T (◦ C) 100 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220
R (Ω) 4.60 4.73 4.88 5.03 5.14 5.29 5.44 5.58 5.13

Tasks:

(a) Plot a graph of resistance R versus temperature T .

(b) Show the scale used on the right-hand side.

(c) Calculate the gradient of the graph.

(d) Write the coordinates of one point on the graph, the y-intercept, and one outlier.

(e) Extrapolate and give the coordinates of the next point on the best-fit line; write
down the x-intercept.




1

, Part (a): Plotting and Labelling the Graph of Resistance R vs
Temperature T

To investigate the relationship between resistance R (in ohms) and temperature T (in
degrees Celsius), the following data was collected:

T (◦ C) 100 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220
R (Ω) 4.60 4.73 4.88 5.03 5.14 5.29 5.44 5.58 5.13


Resistance vs Temperature
5.9 Extrapolated Point
5.8
5.7
5.6
5.5
Resistance R (Ω)




5.4
5.3
5.2
5.1 Outlier
5
4.9
4.8
4.7 Measured Data Points
4.6 Best-Fit Line
4.5
100 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220 235
◦
Temperature T ( C)



Conclusion: The graph shows a clear positive linear relationship between temperature
and resistance, up to around T = 205◦ C. The outlier at 220◦ C suggests a deviation
from the trend, potentially due to measurement error or material properties changing at
high temperatures.




2