Effect of Temperature and Cost on Pencil Resistivity
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemistry with Pre-Medical Emphasis
Research Advisor
Gerald, Rex
Advisor's Department
Chemistry
Funding Source
Self-Funded
Abstract
In this experiment resistivities of five different brands of pencils were measured using a circuit and a digital multimeter. These resistivities were obtained in order to assess whether or not the cost of a pencil can be used to estimate its resistivity and graphite composition. Experimental data suggests that there is little to no correlation between the cost of different brands of pencils and their resistivities even if resistivities did vary between brands. Temperature was also analyzed in order to assess whether or not it had an effect on the pencil’s resistivity. One pencil was kept at 294.26K, 334.15K, and 77.2K. Resistivity was calculated from resistance gathered through the direct use of a digital multimeter. Resistivity did weakly negatively correlate to the pencil’s resistivity.
Biography
Daniel Townzen is a Junior Chemistry Pre-Medical emphasis Student.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
15 Apr 2015, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Effect of Temperature and Cost on Pencil Resistivity
Upper Atrium/Hall
In this experiment resistivities of five different brands of pencils were measured using a circuit and a digital multimeter. These resistivities were obtained in order to assess whether or not the cost of a pencil can be used to estimate its resistivity and graphite composition. Experimental data suggests that there is little to no correlation between the cost of different brands of pencils and their resistivities even if resistivities did vary between brands. Temperature was also analyzed in order to assess whether or not it had an effect on the pencil’s resistivity. One pencil was kept at 294.26K, 334.15K, and 77.2K. Resistivity was calculated from resistance gathered through the direct use of a digital multimeter. Resistivity did weakly negatively correlate to the pencil’s resistivity.
