J

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

ON
Variation Of Potential Drop with
Length of a Wire

NAME: Kevin Peter CLASS: XII A

EXAM NO:

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S.NO CONTENT PAGE NO

1. Introduction 3

2. Aim 5

3. Theory 5

4. Apparatus Required 5

5. Principle 6

6. Procedure 7

7. Observation 8

8. Result 11

9. Applications 12

10. Bibliography 13

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 INTRODUCTION

What is a Potentiometer?
A potentiometer (also known as a pot or pot meter) is
defined as a 3 terminal variable resistor in which the
resistance is manually varied to control the flow
of electric current. A potentiometer acts as an
adjustable voltage divider.

Working Of Potentiometer.
The principle of a potentiometer is that the potential
dropped across a segment of a wire of uniform
cross-section carrying a constant current is directly
proportional to its length. The potentiometer is a
simple device used to measure the electrical potentials
(or compare the e.m.f of a cell). One form of
potentiometer is a uniform high-resistance wire
attached to an insulating support, marked with a linear
measuring scale. In use, an adjustable regulated
voltage source E, of greater magnitude than the
potential to be measured, is connected across the wire
so as to pass a steady current through it.
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Between the end of the wire and any point along it
will be a potential proportional to the length of wire to
that point. By comparing the potential at points along
the wire with an unknown potential, the magnitude of
the unknown potential can be determined. The
instrument used for comparison must be sensitive, but
need not be particularly well-calibrated or accurate so
long as its deflection from zero position can be easily
detected.

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AIM
To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire
for a steady current.

THEORY
For a potentiometer with wire of uniform material density
and thickness (cross-sectional area) carrying a steady current,
potential drop is proportional to the length of the wire.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

REQUIRED
Potentiometer, battery eliminator of constant voltage, dc
power supply or lead accumulator, voltmeter and ammeter
of suitable range, plug key, jockey, rheostat, connecting
wires, etc.

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PRINCIPLE
If a steady current is flowing through a wire of uniform area
of cross section and having its resistance per unit length
constant, potential drop V across two points of the wire is
directly proportional to the length l between those two
points. Mathematically,
VαL
PROCEDURE
1. Set up the electrical circuit as shown in Fig.

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2.Connect positive terminal of the battery to point A (zero
length) of the potentiometer.
3.Connect negative end of the battery to the other end B
(point) of the potentiometer wire through an ammeter, plug
key and a rheostat. The ammeter should be connected in
such a way that its negative terminal is connected to the
negative terminal of the battery.
4.Connect positive end of the voltmeter to point A and other
end to a jockey J.
5.Now close the key K and press the jockey at point B.
Adjust the rheostat to get full scale deflection in voltmeter.
6.When jockey is pressed at point A, you will get zero
deflection in the voltmeter.
7.Now press the jockey at 40 cm and note the corresponding
voltmeter reading.
8.Repeat your observation by pressing the jockey at various
lengths like 80 cm, 120 cm etc. which may extend up to, say
400 cm of potentiometer wire. Record voltmeter reading in
each case as shown in Table.

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OBSERVATIONS
Range of the voltmeter = ….... V
Least count of the voltmeter = ….... V
Table: Variation in potential drop with length

SI. No. Length of Voltmeter φ = V/l

potential wire reading V (V cm-1 )
over which (V)
potential drop
is measured
l (cm)
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mean K= V cm-1

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CALCULATIONS

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GRAPH

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RESULT
The graph between V and L is straight line. Therefore, the
potential drop along the length of wire is directly
proportional to its length
� � L
� = �L
• The potential drop per unit length of wire is k = Vcm-1

PRECAUTIONS
1.Zero error in the voltmeter and ammeter (if there is any)
should be corrected by adjusting the screw provided at the
base of the needle.
2.The current in the wire should remain constant throughout
the experiment. To ensure this, current should be drawn
intermittently for short duration of time. It should be
monitored by an ammeter and readjusted whenever
necessary, with the help of a rheostat.

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3.Do not press the wire too hard with the jockey while
noting down the observations or else there is a possibility
that the wire will become non-uniform (diameter will
change) at these points during the course of time.
4.Check for uniformity of wire at its various points before
the start of the experiment. If wire is non-uniform, the
potential gradient will not be constant.

SOURCES OF ERROR
1.The wire must have a uniform cross section along its
entire length. This should be checked by measuring its
diameter at various points before the start of the experiment.
2.Voltmeter may not give accurate reading.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Activity 1-6.pmd (ncert.nic.in)

XII-PHY.pdf (opjsrgh.in)

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