OHM’S LAW

AIM:
To determine resistivity of two/ three wires by plotting a graph for potential difference versus
current.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Wires of unknown resistance, battery eliminator, voltmeter, ammeter, rheostat, screw gauge,
metre scale one- way key, connecting wires and piece of sand paper.
THEORY:
According to Ohm’s law, the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the
potential difference across its ends, provided the physical conditions ( temperature, dimensions,
pressure, etc. ) of the conductor remains the same.
If I be the current flowing through the conductor and V be the potential difference across its
ends, then according to Ohm’s law,
V ∝I
V =RI
Where R is the constant proportionality and is termed as the electrical resistance of the
conductor. The resistance R depends upon the material and dimensions of the conductor. For a
wire of uniform cross section, the resistance depends on the length l and the area of cross section
A. It also depends on the temperature of the conductor.
At a given temperature the resistance
ρl
R=
A
Or
RA
ρ=
l
Where ρ is resistivity . If r is the radius of the wire, then cross sectional area A = πr². Then
specific resistance or resistivity (ρ) of material of the wire is,
2
πr R
ρ=
l
PROCEDURE:
1. Clean the ends of the connecting wire with the help of sand paper in order to remove any
insulating coating on them.
 2. Connect various components- resistance, rheostat, battery, key, voltmeter and ammeter as
shown in figure.
3. Insert the key K and slide the rheostat contact to one of its extreme ends, so that the
current passing through the resistance wire is maximum.
4. Note the ammeter and voltmeter readings.
5. Remove the key K and allow the wire to cools if heated. Again insert the key, shift the
rheostat contact slightly to increase the applied voltage. Note the ammeter and voltmeter
reading.
6. Repeat step 5 for four different settings of the rheostat. Record your observations in a
tabular form.
7. After finding the resistance of wire, find the length of given wire using meter scale and
diameter of a wire using screw gauge and calculate the area of the given wire.
8. Calculate the resistivity of given wire using formula. Repeat the same steps for
calculating resistivity of another wire.
RESULT:
1. The potential difference across the given wire varies linearly with the current.
2. The resistivity of given wire (1) =
3. The resistivity of given wire (2) =
PRECAUTIONS:
1. The voltmeter should be connected in parallel and the ammeter in series with the circuit.
It should be ensured that current enters at the positive terminal and leaves at the negative
terminal.
2. The key should be inserted only while taking observations, as excessive flow of current
causes unnecessary heating of the wire.
SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The wire used may not be uniform area of cross section.
2. The length of the resistance wire measured should be between one terminal of voltmeter
and the other. The lengths of ends would around the terminals of voltmeter, if included,
would give error in measured length.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

GRAPH BETWEEN POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE AND CURRENT:

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

1. To find diameter of wire using screw gauge :
Number of rotations of the screw , n = 10
Distance moved for 10 rotations, S= 10 mm
 S 10
Pitch ,P = = =1
n 10
Number of divisions on the head scale N = 100
P 1
Least count LC = = =0.01mm
N 100
Zero correction =
Wire(1)

Sl. Pitch scale Observed head Corrected HSR CHSR × LC Total reading
No. reading. scale reading (PSR +
( PSR) (HSR) (CHSR = HSR (CHSR×LC))
+ zero
correction)

mm mm

Mean diameter of unknown resistance wire (1),d =

d
Radius of unknown resistance of wire (1), r = =¿
2
Wire (2)

Sl. Pitch scale Observed head Corrected HSR CHSR × LC Total reading
No reading. scale reading (CHSR = HSR + (PSR +
( PSR) (HSR) zero correction) (CHSR×LC))

mm mm
Mean diameter of unknown resistance wire (2), d =
d
Radius of unknown resistance wire (2) , r = =¿
2

2. To find unknown resistance :

Wire (1)

Sl. Voltmeter reading Ammeter reading Resistance

No. V
R=
I

V A Ω

Wire 2

Sl. Voltmeter reading Ammeter reading Resistance

No V
R=
I

V A Ω
CALCULATION:

Wire (1)

Length of wire (l) =

Area of given wire, A = πr² =
RA
Resistivity of wire, ρ¿ =¿
l
From graph, resistance R1 =

Wire (2)

Length of wire (l) =

Area of given wire, A = π r² =
RA
Resistivity of wire, ρ = =¿
l
From graph, resistance R2 =