OHM’S LAW AND RESISTANCE

AIM:

To determine the resistance per unit cm of a given wire by plotting a graph of

potential difference versus current.

APPARATUS:

A resistance wire, voltmeter, ammeter, battery, rheostat, meter scale, plug key,
connecting wires.

FORMULA:

The resistance
of the given wire is obtained by Ohm’s law,



 ohm


CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
THEORY:

If  be the current flowing through a conductor and  be the potential difference

across its ends, then according to Ohm’s law

 or  


Where,
is the constant of proportionality. It is known as resistance of the

conductor.

PROCEDURE:

1. Arrange the apparatus in the same manner as shown in the circuit diagram.
2. Make neat, clean and tight connections according to the circuit diagram.
While making connections ensure that 
marked terminals of voltmeter
and ammeter are joined towards the 
terminal of the battery.
3. Adjust the rheostat so as to pass minimum current.
4. Insert the key , slide the rheostat contact and see that ammeter and
voltmeter are working properly.
5. Adjust the sliding contact of the rheostat such that a small current passes
through the resistance wire.
6. Note down the value of potential difference  from voltmeter and current 
from ammeter.
7. Shift the rheostat contact slightly so that both ammeter and voltmeter
show full divisions readings and not in fraction.
8. Record the readings of the voltmeter and ammeter.
9. Take at least six sets of independent observations.
10.Disconnect the resistance wire and stretch it.
11. Measure its length by a meter scale.
12.Record your observations in the table.

OBSERVATIONS:

Table for Ammeter and Voltmeter readings:

 Ammeter Voltmeter 
S.No. 
Ohm

reading ( ) reading (constant )
A ( V ) volt


Average value of 
 …………. ohm


V-I graph:

1. Plot a graph between potential difference V and current I, taking V along X-

axis and I along Y-axis. The graph comes to be a straight line as shown in
the figure.

I (A)

V (volts)
 2. The graph between potential difference and current is a straight line.

3. Constant ratio gives resistance of the wire.


4. Resistance of the wire per cm  ohm/cm

Where L is length of the wire.

PRECAUTIONS:

1. The connections should be neat, clean and tight.

2. Thick copper wires should be used for connections.
3. Voltmeter and Ammeter should be of proper range.
4. They should be connected properly.
5. A low resistance rheostat should be used.
6. The unknown resistance should not be too low (should not lower than
internal resistance of the battery).
7. The plug key should be inserted only while taking observations to avoid
heating of resistance.

RESULT:

1. The unknown resistance of given wire is,
 ………… ohm

2. Resistance per unit length of the wire,  ………. Ohm/cm