P R a

EXPERIMENT NO. Al
Aim
To determine resistivity of twolthree wires by plotting a graph of potential difference
versus current.

Apparatus
About 100 cm long resistance wire of about 10 ohm; 20 ohm or 30 ohm resistance in the
form of coil., a battery eliminator or an accumulator or two dry cells (0 to 3V), d.c. voltmeter
(range 3V), d.e. ammeter (range about 500 mA), a rheostat, one plug key, thick connecting
wires, sand paper etc.
Theory
(a) Working formula:
Ohm's law states that when a steady current flows through a conductor the ratio
of potential difference between the ends of the conductor and the current flowing
through it is constant provided that the physical condition of the conductors such as
pressure, temperature etc. does not change. If V is the potential difference and I is
the current, then
( i ) Ic VV
or constant (R), R is the resistance of the conductor.

(i) p =A
where p = specific resistance/resistivity
A Area of wire
I = length of wire ( = 10 cm, l, = 20 cm, l, = 30 cm)
R Resistance of wire
(b) Circuit Diagram: Fig. 2.11
K Battery

Ammeter Rh

Resistance wire
w
R

Voltmeter
Fig. 2.1.circuit to find the resistance of a wire.
Observations and Calculations
1. Ranges of instruments: Ammeter : A, Voltmeter = . V
2. Least counts of: Ammeter scalee = . . . . . .
A, Voltmeter scale = ..

Least count of metre scale = . cm

3. Zero errors and zero corrections

(If possible, adjust the pointer of the instrument to zero when no current is passed,
or record zero errors with proper sign plus or minus).
Zero error of the ammeter, e = A
..

Zero correction of the ammeter, (-e)= A

Zero error of the voltmeter, e2 = V
Zero correction of the voltmeter, (- e) = . V
4. Length of the given wires 1 = . cm, l, = . ... cm, 3 = . cm.

5. Radius of wire (using screw gauge, as referred in APC Laboratory Manual

Physics-XI) = cm or m.

6. Area of wire: tré = ... . . Cm or .... m.

 Observation Table
Table 2.1. Variation
of Potential
Drop with Current for , =
10 cm
Ammeter reading I
S.No.
Observed (ampere) Voltmeter reading V (volt)
Corrected Observed Corrected
I I
1
=
+e) V=V,+ee)

4.

**

9.
10.

4. Redraw similar
observation table for resistance wire of
I, (30 cm). length l, (20 cm) or

Graph Graph of V vs. I

Choose appropriate
scales and plot Scale : r axis : 1 cm = 0.100 A
a graph between the values of V : y axis :1 cm = 1.0 V

5.0
corresponding to various values of ,
taking / along the x-axis and V along 4.5
the y-axis as shown in Fig. 2.3.
4.0
Draw a straight line best fitting
3.5
through all the points on the graph.
Select two points A and B on the graph. 3.0

Draw the line AC perpendicular to the

2.5
x-axis and the line BC perpendicular
to the y-axis through B. 2.0

You will plot 3 graphs for different

lengths of wire say 10 cm, 20 cm or
X
30 cm. 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50

Slope of graph will give the value I (amperes)-

of resistance corresponding to each
length I. lh or
l Fig. 2.3. ariation of potential drop V' with change
in the current T'.
Calculations
1. Calculate the value of slope of V-I graph.

AV AC Reading (in volt) at A Reading (in volt) at C

-

Slope A BC Reading (in amperes) at C -

Reading (in amperes) at B

R = . . . . ohm
V
The graph between V and / is a straight line, hence constant.

2. Resistivity of wire
RA . 2cm or .. Qm.
) for length l,: P

MEASUREMENT OF RESISTANCE 35
 where, A = t r = .... CIm Or ..... . m

= 10 cm (say)
R, = . as calculated from slope of graph 1.

for
R,A .... 2 cm or ....
i) length l,: P2 =
2m.
where, 1, = 20 cm (say)

A = nr2
R, = . dS calculated from slope of graph 2.

(iii) for length /: P RA .. S2 cm or .....

F ********
2 m.
where, = 30 cm (say)
R, = as calculated from slope of graph 3.
Mean resistivity: p = P* P2 * Pa 2cm or .. .... S2 m.
3
Precautions
1. The ends of the wire should be neat and clean.
2. The connections should be tight.
3. The current passed should not be high and it should be passed for a short interval
of time.
4. A low resistance rheostat must be used.
5. The voltmeter should be connected in parallel and the ammeter in series and
these
should be so connected that the current enters at the
positive terminal and leaves at
the negative terminal.
6. The connecting wires used should be thick copper wires and the insulation of their
ends should be removed by rubbing them with a sand
paper.
7, Before plugging in the key, it should be ensured that circuit and connections are
right.
8, The plug should be inserted only while taking observations, otherwise current would
cause
unnecessary heating in this circuit.
9. Measuring instruments of appropriate ranges should be used and zero error in them
if any must be taken into account.
Sources of Error
1. The connections may be loose.
2. The ratio of VI may not be constant due to heating caused by passage of curent
for longer interval of time.
3. High resistance rheostat may be used.
4. The wire may not have uniform thickness.
5. The serew gauge may have faults like backlash and wrong
error
pitch.
Result
i) Graph between potential drop 'V and the current through the conductor 'T is a
straight line.
ii) The resistance of the given wire, is... ohm, wire, is ... ohm, wire, is ... ohm.
(ii) The
resistivity of three wires is obtained to be . ohm cm,..... ohm cm, ...

ohm cm (or resistivity of wire can be calculated in

...
(iv) The mean resistivity is obtained to be o h m ohm cm or
Ohm m).
Ohm m.