Physics Help,

Stalin and rugby

In the experiment to investigate the variation of the resistance of a metallic conductor with tempreture, why is glycerol used instead of water? Cheers peeps

franksarms

The answer is simply, Glycerol is a better thermal conductor than water is!

Eathrin

franksarms wrote: »

The answer is simply, Glycerol is a better thermal conductor than water is!

Which in turn makes the experiment quicker in all I think. I don't think there'd be a problem with using water it just would take longer, if I'm not mistaken?

franksarms

Ah yea im sure that the overall reason but as far as the marking scheme is concerned all you need to say is thats it a better conductor of heat, or that there is better Thermal Contact!

Bears and Vodka

Also, glycerol is a poor conductor of electricity so there can be no short circuit between the turns of the coil of wire.

darol15

isn't glycerol used to maintain a steady temp during the experiment ??

Chuchoter

I thought it was that glycerol heats more evenly than water?

ride-the-spiral

Physics ∩ Chemistry ∩ Biology = { glycerol }

franksarms

To quote the 2010 Physics papar marking scheme " (Q) In this investigation, why is the thermistor usually immersed in oil rather than in water?
(A) oil is a better conductor of heat / water contains air / (impure) water conducts electricity / good thermal contact.
All problems solved!!