Empirical Practical Investigation Report Year 11 Physics

Virginia Talasinga 11 Elizabeth

Testing the Resistivity of Graphite Pencils

Partners: Ann Le & Minh Ngo

The graphite pencils are an instrument made of a mixture of graphite and clay, coated
with oil or wax for finer quality. There are arrays of graphite pencils categorised by
hardness, F, and blackness or softness, B, with each type of pencil giving different
textures and shades when used to draw or write.

9H 8H 7H 6H 5H 4H 3H 2H H F HB B 2B 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 9B
Hardest → Medium → Softest
Graphite or lead is a form of carbon, C, that’s a good conductor of electricity.
Whereas clay composed of minerals, is an insulator of electricity. It is right to state
that the quantity of clay, hence the hardness of graphite pencils, is the material within
graphite responsible for resisting the flow of electricity or electrons.
Length (l) and cross-sectional area of graphite pencils determine the amount of
electricity allowed to flow through it, affecting its conductivity. The greater the
length, the greater the resistance, however the greater the cross-sectional area, the
resistivity of the pencil will be smaller. Three different pencils will be tested within
six fifty minute periods, to help determine the effects of clay to the resistivity of a
graphite pencil.

Hypothesis
The resistivity of a light shade and hard graphite pencil, varying from 9H to F, will be
greater then that of a soft graphite pencil varying from HB to 9B due to the presence
of clay in the pencils

Aim
To determine the resistivity of graphite pencils; so that they may be differentiated
from hard to soft.

Method
Process description:
1. The required equipment was collected
2. The circuit was set up, as shown below, with the power supply off
3. One point of the circuit was detached and the power was switched on
4. The removed point was joined into the circuit to check that the circuit was
active, by readings from the multimeter’s, acting as a voltmeter and an
ammeter
5. The circuit was ready
6. The power supply was turned to 0W and recordings were made
7. The power supply was then increased by 0.5W, 29 times and recordings were
made
8. A graph was made on excel using the data collected
9. Steps 6 to 8 was repeated twice, this time the pencil was disconnected from
the circuit after every recording and allowed to cool while constructing the
graph
10. The wood of one end of the pencil was pealed off, so that the lead was
apparent

1 Mrs Coyle
Empirical Practical Investigation Report Year 11 Physics
Virginia Talasinga 11 Elizabeth

11. Using a micrometer, the lead was then placed between the anvil and the
spindle and was tightened
12. The measurement was read from the barrel and recorded.
13. The equipment was packed.

Materials
- 2 Multi Meter (one acted as a volt meter and the other ammeter)
- 16V Power Box
- 5 alligator/clip wires
- one 2H Pencil
- Laptop – Microsoft Excel (recording of results)

Procedure
1. The resistivity of 3 different pencils, H, 2H and was measured using an
ammeter. Alligator clips were clipped to the ends of the pencil and were then
clipped to the pair of alligator clips from the ammeter. Results were recorded.
2. The pencil was removed and the remaining two were connected as above.
3. The wire connected from the pencil to the ammeter wires, was removed and a
2H pencil was connected directly to both ends of the ammeter. Results were
recorded.
4. The above circuit, A, was made and power supplied to the circuit was
switched to different amounts from 0W to 16W and the readings on the
ammeter were observed.
5. The above circuit B was made, as in step 4, with the voltmeter and readings
were made and recorded.
6. Circuit C, above, was connected and readings and results were made as
depicted in the process description above.

2 Mrs Coyle
Empirical Practical Investigation Report Year 11 Physics
Virginia Talasinga 11 Elizabeth

Results

Observations: there were no real changes in the state of the pencil, nor were there any
scents given off by the pencil. The pencil did however increase its temperature after 4
minutes in the circuit as depicted in appendix 1a.

Observations: No changes were apparent, therefore no observations were made.

3 Mrs Coyle
Empirical Practical Investigation Report Year 11 Physics
Virginia Talasinga 11 Elizabeth

Observations: As evident in appendix 1b the pencil had an increase in temperature.

Analysis

Length Width Resistance Resistance Resistance

Average Variance
(cm) (mm) 1 (Ω) 2 (Ω) 3 (Ω)
HB 16.3 0.29 21.7 21.8 21.9 21.8 ± 0.1
B 17.6 0.7 15.4 15.0 14.9 15.4 ± 0.6
2H 16.9 2.61 32.9 33.4 35.3 33.9 ± 1.4

4 Mrs Coyle
Empirical Practical Investigation Report Year 11 Physics
Virginia Talasinga 11 Elizabeth

Discussion
A hard graphite pencil is a higher resistant then a soft graphite pencil. The data
analysed in this investigation support this statement on the basis of the three graphite
pencils, 2H, H and HB, which were tested.

- Links from graphs and analysis to investigation

- Analysis to prove hypothesis true
- Explain unexpected results
- How these errors effect the data?

Evaluation
Limitations
In the final experimental procedure the parameters which influenced minor errors
evident in the data or results collected was the insufficient period of time available to
conduct the experiment. As this was so other impacts were made such as the number
of pencils possible to test, temperature of the pencil, as it increased within the circuit,
as there was insufficient time to let it cool down to its original state (as done in the
first test-appendix 1a). Although this issue could have been addressed by having three
pencils of the same type, this was also an issue as the amount of pencils available was
limited.

Improvements
Amendments I would imply to conclude more accurate data would include;
- providing more pencils of a wider range and quantity that are exact in each
type, i.e. all H pencils are of the same brand, length and cross-sectional
- devote more time to construct a more thoughtful experimental design, by
predicting errors that could occur and create prior solutions to avoid these
errors, hence linking in to save more time for the experiment itself
- Test more pencils then three or assign a pencil to each group, evenly varying
in the type of graphite pencil to allow a more generalised understanding or
conclusion of the resistivity of graphite pencils. Also the brand of graphite
pencils could have varied.
- Make sure that the 3 pencils 2H, HB and B were of the same brand cross-
sectional area and length

Conclusion
After testing three graphite pencils typed 2H, HB and B, of different lengths, and
cross-sectional area, it is highly acceptable to believe that the resistivity of a hard
graphite pencil is higher then that of a soft graphite pencil. The quantity of clay in a
hard graphite pencil is its main property accountable for this theory and suggests the
association that its resistivity is dependent on the percentage composition of clay in
graphite pencils; the more clay composed within graphite pencil the higher its
resistivity.

5 Mrs Coyle
Empirical Practical Investigation Report Year 11 Physics
Virginia Talasinga 11 Elizabeth

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite

Appendix
1a.

1b.

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