14

AIM
TO STUDY THE VARIATION IN POTENTIAL
DROP WITH LENGTH OF A WIRE FOR A
STEADY CURRENT.

APPARATUS
SR.NO.

MATERIALS

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Potentiometer
2.2 volt battery
Low resistance rheostat

Ammeter
One way key

Jockey
Connecting Wires

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INTRODUCTION
Potentiometer
A potentiometer is a device to measure the
potential difference between two points in
electric circuit.
It is better device as compared to voltmeter
because it is based on null deflection.

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Principle:- The principle of potentiometer
states that when a constant current is
passed through a wire of uniform area of
cross-section , the potential drop across any
portion of the wire is directly proportional to
the length of that proportion.

Construction:- It consists of a number of

segments of wire of uniform area of crosssection stretched over a wooden board
between two thick copper strips.
Each segment of wire is 100cm long.The wire
is usually of constentum or manganin.
A meter rod is fixed parallel to its length.An
auxiliary or driver battery connected across
the two end terminals sends current through
the wire,which is kept constant by using a
rheostat.

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Applications:- 1)To compare emf of

two cells.
E1=L1I (1)
E2=L2I (2)
Dividing equation (1) by equation (2)

2)To measure internal resistance of

a cell
E = L1 ............ (1)

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V = L2

(2)

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Dividing equation (1) by equation (2) we
get ,
E/V = L1/L2
Internal resistance is given by
r = (E/V - 1)S

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or r = (L1/L2 -1)S

THEORY
Let V be the potential difference across
certain portion of wire whose resistance
R. If I is the current through wire, then
V=IR
We know that
R = p l/A
Therefore ,
V = I p l/A
Or

V = Costant x I

Or

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PROCEDURE
1. Remove the insulation from the ends of the
connecting wire.
2. Connect the positive pole of the battery to
the zero ends(p) of the potentiometer and the
negative pole through a one-way key,an
ammeter and a low resistance rheostat to
other end (q)of the potentiometer.
3. Connect the positive terminal of the
voltmeter to the end(p)of the potentiometer
and negative terminal to the jockey.
4. Touch the end of the jockey to end (q)of
potentiometer.
5. Close the key and set rheostat such that
voltmeter gives full scale deflection.

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6. Touch the jockey to P.The voltmeter will give
zero deflection.
7. Touch the jockey at marks separated by
50cm of wire . Note reading in each case.

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OBSERVATIONS
Sr.No Length of
Potential drop Potential
potentiometer for steady
.
drop per
wire
current (in v) cm k=v/l
(l) (in cm)
(in v/cm)
1
20
0.1
0.005
2
180
0.6
0.0033
3
220
0.75
0.0034
4
380
1.25
0.0032
5
420
1.4
0.0033
6
580
1.9
0.0032
7
620
2.15
0.0034
8
780
2.6
0.0033

9
10

820
980

2.75
3.3

0.0033
0.0033

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RESULT
The ratio V/L is constant . This quantity
is called potential gradient .

The potential

drop

is

directly

proportional to its length of wire.

V

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Or

V = constant x I
PRECAUTIONS

1. The connections should be neat/clean and

tight.
2. The plugs should be introduced in the
keys only when the observation.
3. The positive poles of the battery E and
cells E1 and E2 should all be connected at
the zero of the wires.

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SOURCES OF ERROR

The instrument screws may be loose.

The plugs may not be clean.
The wire may not have uniform thickness.
End resistance may not be zero.
The auxiliary battery may not be fully
charged .

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

NCERT PHYSICS TEXT

COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICAL
PHYSICS