Experiments

Section-A

Experiment A1

To determine resistance per cm of a given wire by plotting agraph of potential

difference versus current.

VAPPARATUS REQUIRED
. Unknown resistance
Battery eliminator
" Voltmeter
" Ammeter
" Plug key
" Rheostat
Connecting wires
" Sand paper

DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS X
A battery eliminator acts as a substitute for accumnulators, dry cells and batteries. It is a rectifier of low
voltage in which AC of 220 V is converted into DC of low voltages of the desired value.
A plug key is used to open or close a circuit.
An ammeter is an instrument used to measure current flowing in a circuit. It is always connected in series.
A voltmeter is an instrument used to measure potential difference between any two points of a conductor or
in any part of a circuit. It is always connected in parallel.

THEORY/PRINCIPLE/FORMULA
Ohm's Law states that if the temperature of a conductor is kept constant, the current flowing through
the conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its ends.
If Idenotes the current flowing through a conductor and Vbe the potential difference across its ends,
then according to Ohm's law,
Io V
Or

V
T= a constant =R
This constant is known as the resistance of the conductor. Its SI. unit is ohm (2).
PRACTICAL PHYSICS-CLASS XII | 1
 Exp eriments
upon the folloWing factors:
For a wire of uniform cross-section, the resistance of the wire depends
() Length of the wire
(ii) Area of cross-section of wire
(ii) Nature of the material
(iv) Temperature of the condutor.
of the graph is given bw
A graph plotted between I arnd Vfor a conductor will be a straight line. The solpe
Slope = R

DIAGRAM Voltmeter
V

Ammeter
A
W
Conductor
(Resistance
wire)

B K Rh
Battery Key Rheostat

PROCEDURE
1. Clean the ends of the connecting wires with a sandpaper. Assemble the circuit as shown in the figure
keeping the key Kopen. All the connections should be tight.
2. Note the zero error and least count of ammeter and voltmeter.
3. Adjust the rheostat such that its resistance is maximum.
4. Insert the key K.
5. Record the value of current from the
ammeter and the corresponding value of potential difference from
the voltmeter.
6. Adiust the sliding contact of the rheostat for
different values and obtain the corresponding values of
current and potential difference.
7. Plot a graph taking V along X-axis and I along Y-axis.

OBSERVATIONS X
1. Range of ammeter = A to A
2. Range of voltmeter = Vto V
3. Least count of ammeter = A
4. Least count of voltmeter = V
5. Least count of meter scale = m

6. Length of the given wire, I= Cm

2 PRACTICAL PHYSICS-CLASS XI
 Exp eriments
OBscRYATION
TABLE
Table for V and I
S.No. Voltmeter Reading, V(volt) Ammeter Reading, I(ampere)
1

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.

GRAPH n Guroph pape

The graph between V
(along X-axis) and I(along Y-axis) is as shown.
It is a straight line passing through the origin. -(esetue)
uetng C
P

A IB
CALCULATIONS Potential Difference (volt)

1 AB
1. From the graph, R= .. 2
slope CD
R
2. Resistance per unit length = ..... Q cm

RESULT
Resistance per unit length of the given wire =

PRECAUTIONS3)
1. Draw the circuit diagram before making the connections.
2. While making the connections, key should be open.
3. Clean the ends of the connecting wires with sandpaper before making the connections.
4. All the connections and the key should be tight.
and taken into account.
5. Zero error in ammeter and voltmeter should be carefully recorded
the circuit while the voltmeter should be
6. The ammeter should always be connected in series in
connected in parallel with the resistance wire.
7. Plug in the key only'while recording the observations.

PRACTICAL PHYSICS-CLASS XII| 3

 Exp eriments
SOURCESOF ERROR
uniform area of cross-section.
1. The wire used may not be of
2. The connections may be loose. caused by passing of current for longer time
constant due to heating
3. The ratio of V/I may not be
interval.

Viva-Voce
material whose
Q.1. What is a conductor? Q.9. Give example of a with rise in
resistance decreases
Ans. It is a substance which allows the flow of the
temperature.
electric charge through itself e.g., copper,
Ans. Semiconductor.
silver, etc.
into
Q.2. Give example of a good non-metallic Q.10: How can you convert a galvanometer
conductor. an ammeter?

Ans. Graphite Ans. A galvanometer can be converted into an

Q.3. What is SI unit of resistance? Define
it. ammeter by connecting an appropriate low
Ans. Ohm. One ohmn is the resistance
of a resistance wire (called shunt) in parallel
with it.
conductor which allows 1ampere current to
flow through itself when a potential 0.11. How is ammeter connected in a circuit?
difference of 1 volt is applied across its ends. Ans. An ammeter is always connected in series
in different in the circuit.
Q.4. Name an element which
allotropic form acts as a good conductor and Q.12. How can you convert a galvanometer into
a good insulator. a voltmeter?
insulator
Ans. Carbon (Conductor as graphite and Ans. A galvanometer can be converted into a
as diamond). voltmeter by connecting a high resistance
Q.5. What is an ohmic resistance? in series with i.
law is
Ans. The resistance which obeys Ohm's 0.13. How is a voltmeter
connected in a circuit?
called ohmic resistance.
Ans. A voltmeter is always
Q.6. What is the shape of V v/s Igraph for
an connected in parallel.
0.14. How would you achieve a net
flow of
electrons in a particular direction infreea
ohmic conductor?

Ans. The graph is a straight line. So the ohmic conductor?

linear device.
conductor is also called a
Give an
Ans. It can be achieved by
Q.7. What is a non-linear device? applying
difference across the ends of a
a potential
example.
Ans. A device is said to be non-linear
if V v/s I connecting it to a source of emf.conductor by
Q.15. What happens to
graph for it is a curve e.g, pn junction. the
Q.8. How is the resistance of a
conductor conductor is its length is resistance of a
doubled without
changing its cross-seç