• EXPERIMENT 1 •

~ To determin e resistivity of twoA-laNe wires "1 plotting a grqla for 11otentlal

Penus current.

~TUS
A resistanc e wire (of different material such as copper, iron, constanta n, etc.), a
(0-3) V and an ammeter (0-3) A of appropriate range, a battery (battery eliminator), a rheostat, a
scale, one-way key, connectin g wires and a piece of sand paper.

According to the Ohm's law, the current flowing through a conductor ia dil'ectl)' pro1ooram
to the potential difference across its ends, provided the physical conditions (temperature, GJllleJIIIGI
pressure, etc.) of the conducto r remain the same. If I be the current flowing through a ~
Vbe the potential difference across its ends, then according to Ohm's Law,
I oc V
or V oc I or V = RI
where, R is the constant of proportionality. It is known as resistallce of t h e ~
V
or -=R
I
We know, R • p .!:. ,where p is reaistlvity 01• n--C h
A
L 4pL
•P._.....•------
ffD" ffD1

•••
OBSERVATIONS
1/ength
Length of the resistance wire 1 = ......
2. &fuge
/Range of the given ammeter = ..... .
Range of the given voltmeter = ..... .
y;astcount
Least count of ammeter= ..... .
Least count of voltmeter = ..... .
4. Zero error
Zero error in ammeter, e1 = ..... .
Zero error in voltmeter, e2 = ..... .
S. Zero correction
Zero correction for ammeter, c1 = - e1 = ..... .
Zero correction for voltmeter, c2 = - e = ..... .
2
 asurement of Resistance 49

6. Table for Ammeter and Voltmeter Readings

Ammeter Reading I (A) Voltmeter Reading V (V)

rial No. of V •R
Obs. Observed Corrected I
Observed Corrected
Io l=I0 +c1 r Vo V= V0 + c2
(Ohm)

~h
) [
(1[ (2b) (3a) (3b) (4)
1.
2.
3.
ean value of resistance, R = ...... ohms.

l Find the rat10 of V and I for each set of observations.

') Plot a graph between potential difference V (column 3b) and current I (column 2b), taking
V along X-axis and I along Y-axis. The graph comes to be a straight line.
From the graph, the resistance can be calculated.
AB 6I
In MBC, tan e = - =- ... (1)
CB 6V
llV
or cotO = - .. (2)
Af
6V
But, R= ... (3)
Af
R = cot 0 ... (4)
R= ...... n.
Graph between Potential Difference and Current
Scale
X-axis · 1 cm= 0.5 V of potenttal difference
Y-axis : 1 cm= 0.25 mA of current

1 :1
Cl)
(I)

&_ 10
~
,,
c...., __;8;_,1.--_...____.I B

0 ..
00
Potent al difference (V) in volts +

Fig. Graph between potential difference

and current. It is a stra.Ight line.
 50

V
ll l ,t l ti
l\ w1r
I
R nc of the wire n
Fmding the D1amet r of Wire 1
r diam t r (D) of th wtr 1
Serial Linear Scale
---~ ---,- ---
ObNr n4..,_ _
Circular Scale Reading
No . Reading N D, :::11 N + n x L.C.
No. of drcular Vala
o(Obs. (mm) (mm)
scale tliviflon on n >< (L.C.)
reference line (n) (mm)
(1) (2) (3a) (31,) (4)
1 (a) D1 (a)=
(b) Dl (b) =
2. (a) D 2 (a) =
(b) D2 (b) =
3 (a) D3 (a)=
(b) D (b) =
Mean D = ........ .
rtD2
Area (A) = =........ m 2
4
6. Finding the lengths of the wire 1.
Mean length, L = Ll + L2 + L3 , where L , L , L are Ieng thso f wire
. 1.
13 2 3

L= .......... m
Table for unknow n resistan ce (X)
Serial No. of Resista a fro,n die ,...,,.A B=l
Obs. reriffan a bo% (aa) BC=(J. N-1)
R {ca)
(omn)

(1)
1.
(2) (3) ,,,
2.
L___ 3.
_ _ _ _ _....J..._ _ _ _ _ _ _.....___ _ _

Rv u}.t ~
_ _____j__ _ _ _ _ _..J...__ __ : _ _ ~

. Resistivity of the wire is ...... Q m.

·, The graph between V and I is a straight line.
Note By noting the resiftivity (or spedfic rai8t'.lllla) (,o,n tM tale.,._...,,,.,_,._
P~AU TION S
The connections should be neat, demi and dpt.
Thick wires should be used for the connect ions aft« remcmng the imulatiODf _ .
ends by rubbing with sand paper.
3 Voltmeter and ammete r should be of pa ; a a r
4 A low resutan ce rheostat should be used.
 51

'The key should be inserted only while taking observations to avoid heating of re 1 tan e
(otherwise its resistance will increase).
The electric current through resistance wire should not be very high, so as to avoid heating
effect of current.
e switch should be open when you are not taking readings.

,~cES
11· OF ERROR
The instrument screws may be loose.
Thick connecting wires may not be available.
Rheostat may have high resistance.