Main content
High school physics
Course: High school physics > Unit 12
Lesson 5: Discovery of resistorsPencil resistor
A pencil causes a change in the deflection, similar to the effect of adding an electromagnet. Why? Created by Brit Cruise.
Want to join the conversation?
- If the pencil had an eraser would it have the same results?(3 votes)
- Rubber is an insulator. With the amount of power generated here, you wouldn't see any result at all. Some high voltage stuff can overcome the insulation properties of rubber (which is why people that work on power lines can't just use rubber gloves) but that's incredibly unsafe for experimentation.(2 votes)
- But if graphite is a conductor how can the pencil act as a resistor?(1 vote)
- why is salt or vinegar important??(2 votes)
- Perhaps ts because they are good conductors of Electricity.(0 votes)
- I'm not to sure I understand this but is a resister an insulator?(1 vote)
- What would happen if you used a pen?(1 vote)
- what does the pencil do so the compass can move ?(1 vote)
- What is the fluid he pours into the cup?(1 vote)
- Actually, you're both right: it's hot acid with added salt. The stuff he pours from the cooker is hot vinegar, and he adds a spoonful of salt. Both make the vinegar a better conductor.(2 votes)
- Won't the rubber band around the cells affect the outcome?(0 votes)
- But why a pencil, not a pen?(0 votes)
- Why did he mark1 at the exact point?Why didn't he just mark1 at a random point?(0 votes)
Video transcript
(coins clank on board) (hot water sizzling into cup) (teaspoon clanking on cup) (pencil scratching on pad)