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Nanophysics
Atomic Force Microscopy
Resistance of Atomic Wires
Imaging Atoms (Demonstration)

Waves
Audio Crime Lab
Resonance in Transverse Waves
Diffraction of Light
Clearly Colorful Thin Films
Exploring Wave Phenomena

Arecibo's Giant Mirror

Doppler Effect

Resonance in Longitudinal Waves

Electricity and Magnetism
Water Analogy to Electric Circuits
Discovering Ohm's Law
Too Cool to Resist

Magnetic Force on a wire with current

Physics on a Guitar

Notebook Circuits

Biocircuits

Foutan Board

Snap, Crackle and Pop

Nature of Resistance

Power to the People

Quantum Physics
Bohr Model Game
The Phantastic Photon
Light Emitting Diodes

Mechanics
Double Pendulum
Mousetrap and Ping Pong Balls
The Physics of Rock Climbing
Vortex Rings

Stunt Car Challenge!

The Physics of Baseball

Particle Physics
Cloud Chamber and Cosmic Rays

Optics
Communicating with Light
Is the Light Bulb Too Good to be True?

Measuring the Speed of Light

Energy

Photovoltaic Cells

Energy Conversion in a Light Bulb

Other

Introduction to Graphing

Introduction to the Oscilloscope

DNA Diffraction and DNA Structure

 

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Resistance of Atomic Wires

Authors: Ethan Minot, Sean Garner, Michael Occhino, George Wolfe, Walt Peck, Monica Plisch
Lab Manual: PDF Download
Kit: Reserve
Former title: The Quantum of Resistance: Electrical current through a single atom

Abstract: This lab demonstrates the prediction that a chain of single atoms will have a resistance of 12.8kOhm. Students will monitor the resistance of a gold contact using a digital oscilloscope. As the gold contact is broken resistance changes can be interpreted as gold atoms pulling apart and forming a single chain. Students must work with Ohm’s law to compare their measurement to predictions. This hands-on measurement will provide students with evidence for the atomic structure of materials. Technological significance for the miniaturization of computer circuitry can be discussed.