POTENTIOMETER- COMPARISON OF EMF OF

TWO PRIMARY CELLS:

EMF OF A CELL:
Electromotive force or EMF of a cell is the maximum Potential difference between two
Electrodes of a cell. The electromotive force of a cell can also be defined as the net voltage
between the oxidation and reduction half-reactions.

PRINCIPLES OF POTENTIOMETER:
The basic principle of the potentiometer is that the potential drop across any section of the wire
will be directly proportional to the length of the wire, provided the wire is of cross-sectional area
and a uniform current flow through the wire.

WHY WE ARE COMPARING EMF OF TWO CELL USING POTENTIOMETER:

It is also referred to as voltage. Although, it is not a true force. A potentiometer is an apparatus
used to compute the difference between the e.m.f. (electromotive force) of two cells and measure
the internal resistance and potential difference across the resistor.

HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE THE EMF OF THE CELL USING POTENTIOMETER:
Using a potentiometer, we can determine the emf of a cell by obtaining the balancing length l.
Here, the fall of potential along the length l of the potentiometer wire is equal to the emf of the
cell, as no current is being drawn from the cell.

WHAT IS POTENTIOMETER EXPERIMENT:

Potentiometer experiment is conducted through a device that is used for measuring the potential
differences within a circuit.
The potentiometer is mostly used for measuring the potential difference that brings charge from
one specific point to another (Palomino-Ruiz et al. 2021).
In general, two types of potentiometers can be traced, the faders potentiometer and the rotary
potentiometer for comparing the EMF within two given primary cells.

AIM:
To compare the EMF of two given primary cells (Daniel and Leclanché cells) with the help of a
potentiometer.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Potentiometer
Daniel Cell
Leclanché Cell
low resistance Rheostat
Ammeter
Voltmeter
Galvanometer
A one-way key
A two-way key
Set Square
Jockey
Resistance Box
Connecting wires
Piece of sandpaper
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS:

POTENTIOMETER:

A potentiometer consists of a uniform wire AB of low temperature coefficient of resistance

stretched over a uniform wooden scale Fig .1, A B is often 100 cm, but for better accuracy it is
also made of wire of length 400 cm or 1000 cm. Potentiometer wire is usually fixed on some
wood with a 100 cm scale fixed alongside. To keep the arrangement, compact, the wire is
sometimes folded as shown Below in Fig 2 and Fig 3.
DANIEL CELL: A Daniel cell is the best example of a galvanic cell which converts chemical
energy into electrical energy. The Daniel cell consists of two electrodes of dissimilar metals, Zn
and Cu; each electrode is in contact with a solution of its own ion; Zinc sulphate and copper
sulphate respectively.

LECLANCHÉ CELL: A Leclanché cell consists of a glass vessel which is filled with ammonium
chloride solution. Ammonium chloride solution acts as an electrolyte. In it, there stands a zinc
rod and porous pot containing a carbon rod, which is packed around with a mixture of
manganese dioxide and powdered carbon.

LOW RESISTANCE RHEOSTAT: A variable resistor which is used for controlling the flow of
electric current either by increasing or decreasing the resistance.

AMMETER: An AQ ammeter is used to measure an electric current. An ammeter is a device or

instrument that can measure either direct or alternating electric current in amperes that flow in an
electric circuit.

VOLTMETER: A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring electric potential difference

between two points in an electric.

GALVANOMETER: A galvanometer is one of the instruments for measuring electrical current

par excellence. This device is used on electrical circuits to know and measure the intensity and
direction of electrical current.

ONE WAY KEY: One way key has two contacts and one key. It acts as a conductor when the
key is plugged. And as an open switch when the key is removed.

TWO WAY KEY: It is a basic electric switch with two terminals for circuit to use in physics lab
experiment. Strong base of PVC with rust resistance terminals and two plug keys for making or
breaking the circuit. Plug key completes the circuit for current to flow and when it is removed
circuit breaks.

SET SQUARE: An instrument for drawing straight lines and angles, made from a flat piece of
plastic or metal in the shape of a triangle with one angle of 90°.
JOCKEY: A jockey or a sliding contact is used to move along the wire until the galvanometer
shows zero deflection. The jockey used in a meter bridge is a thin, pointed rod or wire, usually
made of brass or steel, mounted on a wooden handle.

RESISTANCE BOX: The box which contains the resistors of different values for estimating and
comparing the resistance is known as the resistance box. The accuracy of the resistance box is
very high. The main application of the resistance box is to control the specific value of current to
flow through the circuit.

CONNECTING WIRES: A connecting wire allows travels the electric current from one point to
another point without resistivity. Resistance of connecting wire should always be near zero.
Copper wires have low resistance and are therefore suitable for low resistance.

A PIECE OF SANDPAPER: Sandpaper, also known as glass paper or as coated abrasive, is a

type of material that consists of sheets of paper or cloth with an abrasive substance glued to one
face.

PRINCIPLE:
With the help of a voltmeter, we can measure only the potential difference between the two
terminals of a cell, but using a potentiometer we can determine the value of emf of a given cell.
The two primary cells whose emfs are to be compared, are so connected in the circuit that their
positive terminals are joined. together to the end A of the potentiometer wire AB and their
negative terminals are joined to a galvanometer through a two- way key a, b and c. The other
terminal of the galvanometer is connected to a jockey J. A resistance box, R_{5o} shunted with a
key across its terminals, is also connected in the circuit the two-way key and the galvanometer G
as shown in Fig.
The two primary cells with emf E1, and E2 are connected in turn to the sliding contact J through
the galvanometer G with the help of the two-way key a, b, c.
A steady potential difference could be maintained by using the battery E and rheostat Rh in
series across the ends of the wire AB; the end A being at potential than the end B. Note that the
emf E > emf E1 and also emf E > emf E2

Close the gap 'a c' in the two-way key to bring the cell E1, in the circuit. Slide the jockey on the
potentiometer wire to obtain null deflection in the galvanometer. Let it be at J. Note down the
length AJ as l1 cm. Similarly, bring E2, into circuit by closing the gap 'b c' and obtain the null
point J1, by sliding the jockey along the wire. Note the length AJ1, as l1, cm.
Now, according to the principle of potentiometer, when a steady current flows through a wire of
uniform thickness and material, potential
difference between any two points on it is directly proportional to the length of the wire between
the points thus,

V ∝ l= ϕ l

where ϕ is potential gradient.

The length of potentiometer wire is increased to decrease φ. A lower value of makes the
potentiometer more sensitive and accurate. In case of two cells, we have
E1 = ϕ l1
E2 = ϕ l2
where E1 and E2, are emfs of two cells, l2 and l2 are the balancing lengths when E1 and E2 are
connected to the circuit respectively and ϕ is the potential gradient along the potentiometer wire.
E1 ϕ l 1 l 1
= =
E2 ϕ l 2 l 2

THEORY:
Using a voltmeter, it is possible to measure only the potential difference between the two
terminals of a cell, but using a potentiometer, we can determine the value of emf of a given cell.
Where E1 and E2 are EMFs of two cells, l1 and l2 are
the balancing lengths when E1 and E2 are connected to the circuit respectively, and φ is the
potential gradient along the potentiometer wire.

PROCEDURE:
1.Make the circuit connections according to Fig. Connect positive terminals of the battery E and
the two cells E, and E₂ to zero at end A of the potentiometer wire.
2. Connect negative terminal of E to the end B of the potentiometer wire through a one-way key
K, and a rheostat.
3. Connect negative terminals of the cell E, and E, to the terminals 'a' and 'b' of the two-way key.
4. Shunt a resistance box RBox through a key K. Connect common terminal I of the two-way
key to one end of RBOX
5.Connect other end of the resistance box to a galvanometer whose other end is joined to a
jockey. Jockey can be slided on the potentiometer wire to obtain null deflection in
thegalvanometer.5. other end of the resistance box to a galvanometer whose other end is joined
to a jockey. Jockey can be slided on the potentiometer wire to obtain null deflection in the
galvanometer.
6. Bring the cell E, in the circuit by inserting the plug between the gaps 'a' and 'c' of the two-way
key.
7. Leave the key K, open. Make rheostat resistance minimum. Take out high resistance (of the
order of thousand ohm) from the resistance box. Make contact of the jockey at the zero end of
the potentiometer wire. Note the direction of deflection in the galvanometer.
8. Next, move the jockey to bring it in contact with the other end of the wire. Note whether the
direction of deflection of the galvanometer needle is opposite to that observed in step 7.
9. If the deflection of galvanometer needle is in opposite direction in the above two situations,
connections are correct. If not, look out for the reason. Connections might be loose or emf of the
battery E might be less than that of the cells E, and E. Make necessary changes as required.
10. Slide the jockey gently over the potentiometer wire till you get null deflection in the
galvanometer. Plug in the key K, to accurate position of the null (or balance) point. The
resistance in the resistance box limits the current lowing through the galvanometer. Near the
balance point. the current flowing through the galvanometer is small. Insertion of the key K,
short circuits the resistances and hence increases the current. This improves the sensitivity of
balance point detection.
Note the length of the wire AJ and record it as 1. Repeat detection of balance point while moving
the jockey in opposite record the second value of 1
11. Next bring E, in the circuit by inserting plug between the gaps 'b'and 'c' of the two-way key.
Obtain the balance point J, in the same way as you did in finding I, and note the length Ad, as
12. Repeat steps 6 to 11 three times by shifting the contact point of the rheostat and calculate 1/1,
for each set of readings, for E, and E.
13. Record your observation in tabular form.
OBSERVATION TABLE:

CALCULATION:
For each observation, find mean l1 and mean l2 and record it as mean value in the table
respectively.
Find E1/E2, by dividing l1/l2
Find the mean of E1/E2.

RESULT:
The ratio of EMFs, E1/E2 ≅ _____.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
* http://www.shaalaah.com
*http://study.com
*http://www.doubtnut.com
*http://www.quora.com
*http://www.geeksforgeeks.org