CLASS XII

EXPERIMENT NO. 2
OHMS LAW
AIM: To determine the resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting the graph of potential
difference versus current.
APPARATUS: A battery eliminator, one way key, rheostat, ammeter, voltmeter, a resistance
wire, screw gauge etc.
THEORY: According to Ohms law, at constant temperature the current flowing through a
conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference between its ends provided the physical
conditions of the conductor remains the same. If I is the current flowing through the conductor and
is the potential difference across its ends, then according to ohms law,
I or !"I
#I ! "$%nit is &' where " is the constant of proportionality called the
resistance of the wire. " depends on the material, temperature and dimensions of the conductor.
A graph between, current I along ()a(is and *.+ $' along y)a(is comes out to be a straight line
and slope of this line, gives the value of resistance of the wire. "esistance per unit length! "#l!
&#cm
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM,
BATTERY

K RHEOSTAT
+
A
-
R

+ V -
PROCEDURE:
The connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram. A battery is connected in series with a
one way key a rheostat, an ammeter and a resistance wire. A voltmeter is connected in parallel
with the resistance.
The key - is closed and the rheostat is ad.usted till the ammeter reads
$connect the rheostat in such a way that one of its lower terminals and the upper terminals are
used'.The corresponding voltmeter reading #I is calculated. The e(periment is repeated and " is
found to be a constant verifying Ohms law.
The mean value of #I is calculated. This gives the resistance " of the
wire. A graph is plotted taking I along y) a(is and along () a(is. The graph will be a straight line.
This also verifies Ohms law. " can also be calculated from the graph. /easure the length of the
resistance wire by stretching it along meter scale. "ecord observation. 0ence, find the resistance
per unit length.
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
T"IA1 2O, Ammeter
reading I
$A'
oltmeter reading $' "atio, #I ! "
$&'
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1ength 1! 48cm or 8.4m /ean!

PRECAUTIONS:
a' The connection should be neat and tight.
b' Thick copper wire should be used for connections.
c' The 9ero error, if any in the voltmeter and ammeter has to be taken into
account.
SOURCES OF ERROR:
a' The resistance of the connecting wires may be included.
b' The resistance of the wire may change, when current is
passed through it for a long time.
c' "heostat may have high resistance.
RESULT: a' The graph between and I is a straight line.
"esistance from the graph ! ::
b' The resistance of the given wire! ::::...
c' The resistance per cm of wire ! ::::. #cm