CONTENTS

SI NO TOPIC PAGE NO
1. INTRODUCTION
2. AIM
3. APPARATUS REQUIRED
4. PRINCIPLE
5. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
6. PROCEDURE
7. OBSERVATION
8. RESULT
9. PRECAUTIONS
10. SOURCES OF ERROE
11. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

Potentiometer
Consist of the uniform wire AB of low temperature
coefficient of resistance stretched over a uniform
wooden scale AB is often 100 cm but for better
accuracy it is also made of wire of length 400 or 1000
cm. Potentiometer wire is usually found on a wooden
board with a hundred centimetre scale fixed along side.
To keep the arrangements compact the wire is
sometimes folded

Electromotive force (Emf)of a cell

Electromotive force is the electrical energy per unit
charge that is imparted by a source of electrical energy
in the circuit. The work done on a unit of electric
charge, or the energy thereby gained per unit electric
charge, is the electromotive force. It is abbreviated E in
the international metric system but also,
popularly, as emf.
 AIM
To compare the emf of two given primary cells(Daniel
cell and lechlanche cell) using a potentiometer.
 APPARATUS REQUIRED
 Potentiometer
 Daniel Cell
 Leclanche Cell
 low resistance Rheostat
 Ammeter
 Voltmeter
 Galvanometer
 A one-way key
A two-way key
 Set Square
 Jockey
 Resistance Box
 Connecting wires
 Piece of sandpaper
 PRINCIPLE
With the help of a voltmeter we can measure only the
potential difference between the two terminals of a
cell, but using a potentiometer we can determine the
value of emf of a given cell. The two primary cells
whose emfs are to be compared, are so connected in
the circuit that their positive terminals are joined
together to the end A of the potentiometer wire AB
and their negative terminals are joined to a
galvanometer through a two-way key a, b, c. The other
terminal of the galvanometer is connected to a jockey
J. A resistance box, RBOX, shunted with a key across its
terminals, is also connected in the circuit between the
two way key and the galvanometer G as shown in Fig. E
4.2. The two primary cells with emfs E1 and E2 are
connected in turn to the sliding contact J through the
galvanometer G with the help of the two way key a,
b,c. A steady potential difference could be maintained
by using the battery E and rheostat Rh in series across
the ends of the wire AB; the end A being at higher
potential than the end B. Note that the emf E > emf E1
and also emf E > emf E2 . Close the gap ‘a c’ in the two
way key to bring the cell E1 in the circuit. Slide the
jockey on the potentiometer wire to obtain null
deflection in the galvanometer. Let it be at J. Note
down the length AJ as l 1 cm. Similarly, bring E2 into
circuit by closing the gap ‘b c’ and obtain the null point
J1 by sliding the jockey along the wire. Note the length
AJ1 as l 2 cm. Now, according to the principle of
potentiometer, when a steady current flows through a
wire of uniform thickness and material, potential
difference between any two points on it is directly
proportional to the length of the wire between the
points. Thus,
Where φ is potential gradient. The length of
potentiometer wire is increased to decrease φ. A lower
value of φ makes the potentiometer more sensitive
and accurate. In case of two cells we have

where E1 and E2 are emfs of two cells, l 1 and l 2 are

the balancing lengths when E1 and E2 are connected to
the circuit respectively and φ is the potential gradient
along the potentiometer wire.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
 PROCEDURE
1. Make the circuit connections according to Fig. E 4.2.
Connect positive terminals of the battery E and the two
cells E1 and E2 to zero at end A of the potentiometer
wire.
2. Connect negative terminal of E to the end B of the
potentiometer wire through a one way key K1 and a
rheostat.
3. Connect negative terminals of the cell E1 and E2 to
the terminals ‘a’ and ‘b’ of the two way key.
4. Shunt a resistance box RBOX through a key K2 .
Connect common terminal of the two way key to one
end of RBOX.
5. Connect other end of the resistance box to a
galvanometer whose other end is joined to a jockey.
Jockey can be slided on the potentiometer wire to
obtain null deflection in the galvanometer.
6. Bring the cell E1 in the circuit by inserting the plug
between the gaps ‘a’ and ‘c’ of the two way key.
7. Leave the key K2 open. Make rheostat resistance
minimum. Take out high resistance (of the order of
thousand ohm) from the resistance box. Make contact
of the jockey at the zero end of the potentiometer
wire. Note the direction of deflection in the
galvanometer.
8. Next, move the jockey to bring it in contact with the
other end of the wire. Note whether the direction of
deflection of the galvanometer needle is opposite to
that observed in step 7.
9. If the deflection of galvanometer needle is in
opposite direction in the above two situations,
connections are correct. If not, look out for the reason.
Connections might be loose or emf of the battery E
might be less than that of the cells E1 and E2 . Make
necessary changes as required.
10. Slide the jockey gently over the potentiometer wire
till you get null deflection in the galvanometer. Plug in
the key K2 to get the accurate position of the null (or
balance) point. The resistance in the resistance box
limits the current flowing through the galvanometer.
Near the balance point, the current flowing through
the galvanometer is small, insertion of the key K2 short
circuits the resistances and hence increases the
current. This improves the sensitivity of balance point
detection. Note the length of the wire AJ, and record it
as l 1 . Repeat detection of balance point while moving
the jockey in opposite direction and record the second
value of l 1 .
11. Next bring E2 in the circuit by inserting plug
between the gaps ‘b’ and ‘c’ of the two way key. Obtain
the balance point J1 in the same way as you did in
finding l 1 and note the length AJ1 as l 2 .
12. Repeat steps 6 to 11 three times by shifting the
contact point of the rheostat and calculate l 1 /l 2 for
each set of readings, for E1 and E2 .
13. Record your observations in tabular form.
 OBSERVATION
SI Balancing length of Balancing length of E1/E2
N leclanche cell(c1) of Daniel cell(c2) =
O cm cm L1/L2
L1 L2 Mea L1 L2 Mean
n L
L
1. 302.5 302.5 302.5 391.5 391.5 391.5 0.77
2. 427.5 427.5 427.5 525.5 525.5 525.5 0.81
3. 450.5 450.5 450.5 545.5 545.5 545.5 0.82
4. 490.5 490.5 490.5 594.5 594.5 594.5 0.82
5. 296 296 296 370 370 370 0.80

MEAN = 0.804
 RESULT
The ratio of the emf’s of the two cells using a
potentiometer is ;
E1:E2 = 0.804
 PRECAUTIONS OF THE EXPERIMENT
[Link] connections which we are making should be
neat, clean and tight.
[Link] plugs should be introduced in the keys only when
we are doing the experiment and taking the
observations.
[Link] poles which are the positive ones of the battery
that are E and cells E1 and E2 should all be connected
to the terminal at the zero of the wires.
[Link] key of the jockey should not be rubbed along the
wire. We need to take care that it touches the wire
gently.
[Link] reading of the ammeter should remain constant
for a particular set of observations. If necessary we can
adjust the rheostat for this purpose as well.
[Link] e.m.f. That is, the battery should be greater than
the e.m.f. 's which is either of the two cells.
[Link] are some high resistance plugs also which
should always be taken out from the resistance box
before the jockey is moved along the wire.
 SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The area of cross section of the potentiometer wire
may not be uniform throughout its length.
2. Avoid continuous discharge of the two cells whose
emf are to be compared by keeping the keys open
when E1 and E2 are not in use.
3. The length measurement may have error if the
potentiometer wire is not taut and along the scale on
the board.
4. Multiple key jockey may not have correct alignment
with the scale.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 [Link]
 [Link]