[CLASS XII PHYSICS PRACTICALS]

PHYSICS PRACTICAL
EXPERIMENT – 1
Aim: To determine resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting a graph of potential difference versus current.
Apparatus: A metallic conductor (coil or a resistance wire), a battery, one way key, a voltmeter and an ammeter of
appropriate range, connecting wires and a piece of sand paper, a scale.

V
Formulae Used: The resistance (R) of the given wire (resistance coil) is obtained by Ohm’s Law R
I
Where, V : Potential difference between the ends of the given resistance coil. (Conductor)
I: Current flowing through it.
R
If l is the length of resistance wire, then resistance per cm of the wire =
l
Observation:
(i) Range:
Range of given voltmeter = 3 v
Range of given ammeter = 500 mA

(ii) Least count:

Least count of voltmeter = 0.05v

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 Least count of ammeter = 10 mA
(iii) Zero error:
Zero error in ammeter, e1 = 0
Zero error in voltmeter, e2 = 0
Ammeter and Voltmeter Readings:
Ammeter Reading I (A) Voltmeter Reading, V (v) V
Sr. No. Observed R
Value Observed Value I
1 50 500 mA 16 16x0.05=0.8 1.6 
2 35 350 mA 11 0.55 1.57 
3 32 320 mA 10 0.50 1.56 
4 19 190 mA 6 0.30 1.58 
5 10 100 mA 3 0.15 1.5 
Mean R = 1.56
Length of resistance wire: 28 cm
Graph between potential difference & current:

Scale: X – axis : 1 cm = 0.1 V of potential difference

Y – axis: 1 cm = 0.1 A of current
The graph comes out to be a straight line.

Result: It is found that the ratio V/I is constant, hence current voltage relationship is established i.e. V  I or Ohm’s
Law is verified.
Unknown resistance per cm of given wire = 5.57 x 10-2  cm-1
Precautions: Voltmeter and ammeter should be of proper range.
 The connections should be neat, clean & tight.
Source of Error: Rheostat may have high resistance.
The instrument screws may be loose.

EXPERIMENT – 2
Aim: To find resistance of a given wire using Whetstone’s bridge (meter bridge) & hence determine the specific
resistance of the material.
Apparatus: A meter bridge (slide Wire Bridge), a galvanometer, a resistance box, a laclanche cell, a jockey, a one-
way key, a resistance wire, a screw gauge, meter scale, set square, connecting wires and sandpaper.

Formulae Used:
The unknown resistance X is given by:
(100  l )
X= R Where,
l
R = known resistance placed in left gap.
X = Unknown resistance in right gap of meter bridge.
l=length of meter bridge wire from zero and upto balance point (in cm)
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Where,
D: Diameter of given wire L: Length of given wire.
Observation Table for length (l) & unknown resistance, X:
Resistance from Unknown Resistance
Sr. Length Length (100  l)
resistance box
No. AB = l cm BC = (100-l) cm X = R. 
R (ohm) l
1 2 41 59 2.87
2 4 60 40 2.66
3 6 69 31 2.69
4 8 76 24 2.52
Table for diameter (D) of the wire:
Circular Scale Reading
Observed diameter
Sr. Linear Scale No. of circular
Value D = N + n x L.C.
No. Reading (N) mm scale divisions
n x (L.C.) mm mm
coinciding (n)
1 0 34 0.34 0.34
2 0 35 0.35 0.35
3 0 36 0.36 0.36
4 0 35 0.35 0.35
Observations:
 Least count of screw gauge: 0.001 cm
Pitch of screw gauge: 0.1 cm
Total no. of divisions on circular scale: 100
Pitch
Least Count =
No. of divisions on circular scale
 LC  0.001 cm
 Length of given wire, L = 25cm
Calculation:
 For unknown resistance, X:
X1 + X 2 + X 3 + X 4
Mean X =  2.68
4

Result: Value of unknown resistance = 2.68 

Precautions: All plugs in resistance box should be tight. Plug in key, K should be inserted only while taking
observations.
Sources of Error: Plugs may not be clean.
Instrument screws maybe loose.

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 EXPERIMENT – 3
Aim: To verify the laws of combination (series & parallel) of resistances using meter bridge (slide Wire Bridge)
Apparatus: A meter bridge, laclanche cell, a galvanometer, a resistance box, a jockey, two resistances wires, set
square, sand paper and connecting wires.

Observations: Table for length (l) & unknown resistance (r):

Resistance
Length Resistance
from Mean
Resistant Length BC = 100 – l 100  l
Obs. No. resistance Resistant
Coil AB = l (cm) (cm) r= .R
box, l (ohm)
R (ohm)
1 0.5 35 65 0.92
r1 only 2 1.0 43 57 1.32 1.24
3 1.5 50 50 1.5
1 0.5 30 70 1.16
r2 only 2 1.0 38 62 1.63 1.51
3 1.5 46 54 1.76
1 1.3 34 66 2.52
r1 & r2 in
2 2.2 45 55 2.68 2.72
series
3 3.5 54 46 2.97
1 2 75 25 0.67
r1 & r2 in
2 3 82 18 0.66 0.66
parallel
3 4 86 14 0.65
Calculations:
(i) In Series: Experimental value of RS = 2.72 
Theoretical value of RS = r1 + r2 = 2.75 
(ii) In parallel: Experimental value of RP = 0.66 
r1r2
Theoretical value of RP =  0.68
r1  r2

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Result: Within limits of experimental error, experimental & theoretical values of R S are same. Hence the law of
resistance in series i.e. RS = r1 + r2 is verified. (1) Within limits of experimental error, experimental & theoretical
r1r2
values of RP are same. Hence law of resistances in parallel i.e. RS = is verified.
r1  r2
Precautions:
(i) The connections should be neat, clean & tight.
(ii) Move the jockey gently over the wire & don’t rub it.
(iii) All plugs in resistant box should be tight.
Sources of Error:
(i) The plugs may not be clean.
(ii) The instrument screws maybe loose.

Page 5 (PHYSICS)
 EXPERIMENT – 4
Aim: To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method & to find its figure of merit.
Apparatus: A Weston type galvanometer, a voltmeter, a battery, a rheostat, two resistance boxes (10,000  and 500
 ), two one-way keys, a screw gauge, a meter scale, connecting wires and a piece of sandpaper.

Formulae Used:
(i) The resistant of the given galvanometer as found by half-deflection method:
R. S
G=
RS
Where R: resistance connected in series with the galvanometer
S: shunt resistance
E
(ii) Figure of merit: k =
( R  G) 
Where E : emf of the cell
 : deflection produced with resistance R.

Calculation: Mean G = 70.8 

(i) For G : Calculate G using formula.

Take mean of all values of G recorded in table.
(ii) For k: Calculate k using formula & record in table.
Take mean of values of k.
Result:
(i) Resistance of Galvanometer by half – deflection method:
G = 70.8 
(ii) Figure of merit, k = 2.19 x 10-5 A/div
Precautions:
(i) All the plugs in resistance boxes should be tight.
(ii) The emf of cell or battery should be constant.
(iii) Initially a high resistance from the resistance box (R) should be introduced in the circuit. Otherwise for small
resistance, an excessive current will flow through the galvanometer or ammeter & damage them.
Sources of error:
(i) Plug of the resistant boxes may not be clean.
(ii) The screws of the instruments maybe loose.
(iii) The emf of the battery may not be constant.

Page 7 (PHYSICS)
 EXPERIMENT – 5
Aim: To convert the given galvanometer (of known resistance & figure of merit) into an ammeter of desired range &
to verify the same.
Apparatus: A Weston type galvanometer whose resistance & figure of merit are given, a constantan or manganin
wire, a battery, one-way key, a rheostat, a milli-ammeter, connecting wires, sand paper etc.

Formulae Used:
To convert a galvanometer which gives full scale deflection for current IG into an ammeter of range O to IO amperes,
 IG 
the value of required shunt is given by: S =   G
 Io  IG 
Required shunt resistant S is made using a uniform wire whose, specific resistance is  (known) & its length:
r S2
l

Observations: Given resistance of galvanometer, G = 70.8 
Given value of figure of merit, k = 2.19 x 10-5 A div-1
Total no. of divisions on either side of zero, No = 30
Current for full scale deflection, IG = No x k = 6.57 x 10-4 A

a) Calculation of value of shunt resistance:

* Required range of converted ammeter, Io = 3A
* Value of shunt resistance,
 IG 
S =    G  0.0155 
 Io  IG 
* Computing the length of the wire to make resistance of 0.155 
b) Observations for diameter of the wire:
(i) Pitch of screw gauge, p = 1 mm
(ii) No. of division of circular scale = 100
(iii) Least count, a = 0.01 mm
(iv) Zero error, e = 0.0 mm
(v) Diameter of the wire = 0.98 mm, Radius = 0.049 cm
c) Specific resistance of material of wire,   1.92 10 6 cm
d) Required length of the wire,
r 2 0.0155  3.14  (0.049) 2
l S = cm = 60.8 cm
 1.72 10 6
Verification: Checking the performance of the converted ammeter:
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Current indicated by full scale deflection (No) of converted ammeter. Io = 3A
Io
Least count of converted ammeter, k’ =  0.1 A / div.
No
Result:
 Current IG for full scale deflection = 6.57 x 10-4 A
 Resistance of shunt required to convert the galvanometer into ammeter, S = 0.0155 
 Required length of wire, l = 60.8 cm
 As error l’ – l is very small, conversion is verified.
Precautions & Sources of Error:
(i) All connections should be neat & tight.
(ii) The diameter of the wire for making shunt resistance should be measured accurately for diameter is taken
in two mutually perpendicular directions.
(iii) The terminal of the ammeter marked positive should be connected to positive pole of the battery. Also
ammeter should be in series with circuit.

Page 9 (PHYSICS)
 EXPERIMENT – 6
Aim: To find the focal length of a convex lens by plotting a graph:
1 1
(i) between u and v (ii) between and
u v
Apparatus: An optical bench with three uprights, a convex lens, lens holder, two optical needles, a knitting needles &
a half-metre scale.

Formula Used:
The relation between u, v and f for convex lens is:
1 1 1
 
f v u
Where f: focal length of convex lens
u: distance of object needle from lens’ optical centre.
v: distance of image needle from lens’ optical centre.
Observations:
(i) Rough focal length of the lens = 10 cm
(ii) Actual length of knitting needle, x = 15 cm.
(iii) Observed distance between object needle & the lens when knitting needle is placed between them, y = 15.2 cm.
(iv) Observed distance between image needle & the lens when knitting needle is placed between them, z = 14.1 cm.
(v) Index correction for the object distance u, x – y = – 0.2 cm
(vi) Index correction for the image distance v, x – z = +0.9 cm
Observation Table:

Position of: (cm)

S. No. Object Image u (cm) v (cm) 1/v (cm-1) 1/u (cm-1)
Lens
needle needle
1 66 50 26 16 24 0.041 0.062
2 67 50 27 17 23 0.043 0.058
3 68 50 28 18 22 0.045 0.055
4 70 50 30 20 20 0.05 0.05
5 75 50 33 23 17 0.058 0.043
6 80 50 34 24 16 0.062 0.041

Calculation of focal length by graphical method:

(i) u – v graph: The graph is a rectangular hyperbola:
Scale: X’ axis: 1 cm = 5 cm of u
Y’ axis: 1 cm = 5 cm of v
AB = AC = 2f or OC = OB = 2f

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 OB OC
f = and also f 
2 2
 Mean value of f = 10.1 cm.
1 1
(ii)  graph : The graph is a straight line.
u v
1
Scale; X’ axis: 1 cm = 0.01 cm-1 of
u
1
Y’ axis: 1 cm = 0.01 cm-1 of
v
1 1
Focal length, f =   10.2cm.
OP OQ
Result:
(i) From u-v graph is, f = 10.1 cm

1 1
(ii) From  graph is, f = 10.2 cm
u v
Precautions:
(i) Tips of object & image needles should be at the same height as the centre of the lens.
(ii) Parallax should be removed from tip-to-tip by keeping eye at a distance at least 30 cm. away from the needle.
(iii) The image & the object needles should not be interchanged for different sets of observations.

Page 13 (PHYSICS)
Observation Table:
Position of (cm) uv
S. No. ’ u = IL2 v = I’L2 f=
0 (cm) L1 at O1 I L2 I u v
1 29 50 75 69 78 6.0 9.0 –18.0
2 27 50 71.5 65 77.5 6.5 12.5 –13.54
3 25 50 70.5 65 72.8 5.5 7.8 –18.64
4 28 50 71.3 63 71.2 8.3 8.2 –17.45

Calculations:

Mean f =
f1  f 2  f 3  f 4
4
= – 16.9 cm  - 17cm.
Result: The focal length of given concave lens = – 17 cm.
Precautions:
(i) The lenses must be clean.
(ii) A bright image should be formed by lens combination.
(iii) Focal length of the convex lens should be less than the focal length of the concave lens, so that the combination is
convex.

EXPERIMENT – 7
Aim: (i) To determine angle of minimum deviation for a given prism by plotting a graph between angle of incidence
& angle of deviation.

Apparatus: Drawing board, a white sheet of paper, prism, drawing pins, pencil, half metre scale, office pins, graph
paper & protector.

Calculations:
From graph between angle of incidence, i and angle of deviation, we get the value of Dm (angle of minimum
deviation): Dm = 37.8o

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Result:
(i) From i  D graph we see that as i increases, D first decreases, attains a minimum value (Dm) & then again
starts increasing for further increase in i .

Precautions:
(i) The angle of incidence should be between 30o – 60o.
(ii) The pins should be fixed vertical.
(iii) The distance between the two pins should not be less than 8 cm.
Sources of Error:
(i) Pin pricks may be thick.
(ii) Measurement of angles maybe wrong.

Page 15 (PHYSICS)
 EXPERIMENT – 8
Aim: To draw the I – V characteristics curve of p-n junction in forward bias & reverse bias.
Apparatus: A p-n junction semi-conductor diode, a three volt battery, a high resistance, a rheostat, a voltmeter (0-
3v), a milli ammeter (0-.30 mA), one – way key, connecting wires.

Observations:
Least count of voltmeter = 0.02 & 1 v/div Zero error = –
Least count of milli-ammeter = 0.2 mA/div Zero error = –
Least count of micro-ammeter = 2  A/div Zero error = –
Observation Table:
Forward Bias Voltage Forward Current Reverse bias Voltage Reverse Current
S. No.
(V) (mA) (V) (  A)
1 10 x 0.02 = 0.20 2 x 0.2 = 0.4 10 x 1 = 10 5 x 2 = 10
2 0.30 4 x 0.2 = 0.8 15 16
3 0.40 6 x 0.2 = 1.6 20 22
4 0.50 11 x 0.2 = 2.2 25 30
5 0.60 18 x 0.2 = 3.6 30 38
6 0.70 23 x 0.2 = 4.6 35 48
7 0.80 31 x 0.2 = 6.2 40 60
8 0.90 39 x 0.2 = 7.8 45 72

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Calculations:
Graph is plotted between forward – bias voltage (VF) (on x-axis) and forward current, IF (on y – axis)
Scale: X – axis: 1 cm = V of VF Y – axis: 1 cm = mA of IF
Graph is plotted between reverse bias voltage, VR (along X’ axis) and reverse current, IR (along Y’ axis).
Scale: X’ axis = 1 cm = V of VR Y’ axis = 1 cm = A of IF
Result: The obtained curves are the characteristics curves of the semi-conductor diode.
Precautions:
(i) All connections should be neat, clean & tight. (ii) Key should be used in circuit & opened when the circuit is not
being used. (iii) Forward bias voltage beyond breakdown should not be applied.
Sources of error: The junction diode supplied maybe faulty.

Page 17 (PHYSICS)