Date:

Experiment Number:
Aim: To determine resistivity of two / three wires by plotting a
graph for potential difference versus current.

Apparatus Required: Battery eliminator, Ammeter, Voltmeter,

Resistance wire, Rheostat, One way key, Connecting wires.

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 like
temperature, dimensions etc. remain constant.”
V = IR
V
Or R=
I

Where R is resistance of given wire

V is potential difference across given wire
I is current flowing through given wire
Specific resistance can be calculated using
𝑹𝑨
ρ=
L
𝑹𝜋𝑑2
or ρ=
4L

where 𝜌 is specific resistance

d is diameter of cross section of given resistance wire
L is length of given resistance wire.
 Diagram:

Observations:
Range of ammeter = 0A to 3A
Least count of ammeter = 0.05A
Range of voltmeter = 0V to 3V
Least count of voltmeter = 0.05V
Length of resistance wire 1 (l1) = 50 cm = 0.5 m
Diameter of resistance wire 1 (d1) = 0.5 mm = 5 𝑋 10−4 m
Length of resistance wire 2 (l2) = 40 cm = 0.4 m
Diameter of resistance wire 2 (d2) = 0.5 mm = 5 𝑋 10−4 m

Observation Table:

Sr.No. Voltmeter Reading Ammeter Reading

V I
volts amperes
Wire 1 Wire 2 Wire 1 Wire 2
1. 0 X 0.05 = 0 0 X 0.05 = 0 0 X 0.05 = 0 0 X 0.05 = 0
2. 4 X 0.05 = 0.2 5 X 0.05 = 0.25 3 X 0.05 = 0.15 6 X 0.05 = 0.3
3. 8 X 0.05 = 0.4 10 X 0.05 = 0.5 7 X 0.05 = 0.35 12 X 0.05 = 0.6
4. 12 X 0.05 = 0.6 15 X 0.05 = 0.75 9 X 0.05 = 0.45 17 X 0.05 = 0.85
5. 16 X 0.05 = 0.8 20 X 0.05 = 1 11 X 0.05 = 0.55 23 X 0.05 = 1.15
6. 20 X 0.05 = 1 25 X 0.05 = 1.25 16 X 0.05 = 0.8 30 X 0.05 = 1.5
7. 24 X 0.05 = 1.2 30 X 0.05 = 1.5 18 X 0.05 = 0.9 37 X 0.05 = 1.85
Graph:
V-I Graph

Calculations
From V-I graph

For wire 1 For wire 2

𝐴𝐵 𝑃𝑄
R1 = R2 =
𝐵𝐶 𝑄𝑅
1.2−0.6 1.25−0.5
R1 = R2 =
0.9−0.45 1.5−0.6
0.6 0.75
R1 = R2 =
0.45 0.9
R1 = 1.34 Ω R2 = 0.84 Ω
For Wire 1 For Wire 1
R𝜋𝑑 2 R𝜋𝑑 2
ρ= ρ=
4L 4L
1.34 X 3.14 𝑋 5 𝑋 10−4 𝑋 5 𝑋 10−4 0.84 X 3.14 𝑋 5 𝑋 10−4 𝑋 5 𝑋 10−4
ρ= ρ=
4 X 0.5 4 X 0.4
105.19 𝑋 10−8 65.94 𝑋 10−8
ρ= ρ=
2 1.6
−8 −8
ρ = 52.595 𝑋 10 Ωm ρ = 41.2125 𝑋 10 Ωm

Result:
I. Resistance from V-I graph
For given wire 1 = 1.34 Ω
For given wire 2 = 0.84 Ω

II. Specific resistance

−8
For given wire 1 = 52.595 𝑋 10 Ωm
−8
For given wire 2 = 41.2125 𝑋 10 Ωm

Sources of errors:
1. Screws of the instruments may be loose.
2. There may be parallax error while taking reading from
instruments.
3. Instruments may have internal faults.

Precautions:
1. All connections must be tight.
2. Voltmeter must be connected in parallel.
3. Ammeter must be connected in series.