how would i test which materials conduct electricity the best?

A

Amy N

New member
im doing an 8th grtade science fair project on
"which materials conduct energy the best"
how would i test it?
what tools/instruments should i use that's affordable and cheap.
in your opinion what are some good
 
Obtain samples.
Calculate the cross sectional area (at the narrowest point).
Apply a controlled current.
Use a voltmeter applied across the sample (not the leads or contacts. Such a measurement is called four point test).

Conductance = (σ * A)/L
where A = cross section area
L = length
σ = electrical conductivity
 
difficult, you need special instrumentation.

Either stick with conductors, metals, which have a very low resistance to electric current, so low that is it difficult to measure, or non-conductors, which have a very high resistance, so high that it, again, is difficult to measure.

You can do some tests on metals with a good voltmeter, some power resistors, and a battery. The problem is getting samples of various metals that are in the form of long wires, and of identical dimensions for the various metals.

For non conductors, like plastics, glass, ceramics, the resistance is so high, again, that you would need a special high resistance ohmmeter to measure it.

sorry.

.
 
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