DR. A.N.

KHOSLA DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, ROURKELA

SESSION: 2023-24
PHYSICS PRACTICAL FOR STD. XII
EXPERIMENT – 01
AIM- To determine resistivity of two wires by plotting a graph for potential difference versus current.
APPARATUS REQUIRED
• Two wires of different materials
• Battery Eliminator
• Voltmeter
• Milliammeter
• Rheostat
• Plug Key
• Connecting Wires
• A piece of sand paper
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

THEORY
According to Ohm’s law, the electric current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across its
ends, provided the physical state (pressure, temperature and dimensions) of the conductor remains unchanged.
VαI
or , V= RI
or, R = 𝑉𝐼

Where R is termed as the electrical resistance of the conductor.

The relationship between the resistance of a material and its length and the area of the cross section is given by the formula,
𝑙
R = ρ𝐴
𝐴
Or, ρ = R𝑙

𝜋𝑑 2
Or, ρ=R 4𝑙

Where ρ is the resistivity of the material of the wire and d is the diameter of the wire.
PROCEDURE :
• The ends of the connecting wire is cleaned with the help of sand paper in order to remove any insulating coating on them.
• The given wire, rheostat,battery,key,voltmeter and milliammeter is connected as per the circuit diagram. All connections
must be neat and tight.
• One must make sure that the pointers in the voltmeter and milliammeter coincide with the zero mark on the measuring
scale. If not, then the pointer must be adjusted by using a screwdriver.
• The range is noted down and the least count is determined out of the given voltmeter and milliammeter.
• The key K is inserted and the rheostat is slid to the end where current flow is minimum.
• The rheostat is adjusted to get a small deflection in milliammeter and voltmeter and is recorded.
• At least six sets of readings are taken by adjusting the rheostat gradually.
• A graph is plotted with V along X-axis and I along Y-axis.
• The slope of the V-I graph is determined. The reciprocal of the slope gives the resistance of the wire.
• Diameter of the wire and length of the wire is determined by using a screw gauge and a meter scale respectively.
OBSERVATIONS
• Range of the given ammeter =
• Least Count of the given ammeter =
• Range of the given voltmeter =
• Least Count of the given voltmeter =
• Least Count of Screw gauge =
• Length of the Wire 1 (l1) =
• Length of the Wire 2 (l2) =
TABLE – 1 (Variation of Potential difference with Current for Wire 1 and wire 2)
Sl.No. Ammeter Reading (mA) Voltmeter Reading (V)

wire1 wire2 wire1 wire2

1
2
3
4
5
6
TABLE – 2 (Measurement of the diameter of Wire 1 and wire 2)
Sl.No. Main Scale Reading (x) Circular Scale division Diameter (cm) Mean Diameter
coinciding (y) d = x + (y X L.C)
wire1 wire2 wire1 wire2 d1 d2 wire1 wire2
1
2
3

CALCULATIONS
Resistance of the given wire 1 (R1) = Slope of V- I graph for wire
∆𝑉
= = ........ Ω
∆𝐼
Resistivity of the given wire 1

ρ1 = R1 d12 = .........Ω cm
4 l1
Resistance of the given wire 2 (R2) = Slope of V- I graph for wire 2
∆𝑉
= = ........ Ω
∆𝐼
Resistivity of the given wire 2

ρ1 = R2 d22 = .........Ω cm
4 l2
RESULT
• Ohm’s Law is verified as the V-I graph is a straight line.
• The resistivity of the given wire 1 =........... Ω cm.
• The resistivity of the given wire 2 =........... Ω cm.

PRECAUTIONS
• The connecting wires used should be thick copper wire and all the connections must be neat and tight.
• Voltmeter and milliammeter must be of proper range.
• The key should be inserted only while taking readings.

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