ACTIITY 6

AIM
dray the diagram of a given open
oter and voltmeter. Mark the circuit comprising at least a battery, resistor/rheostat, key,
ibe circuit and also the circuit components
diagranm. that are not connected in proper
order and correct
WHAT YOU REQUIRE
, hattery or battery eliminator, a key, a rheostat, a dc
nesistance wire and connecting wires.
ammeter (range 0-2 A) and a dc voltmeter (0-3 V),
THEORY
Klectric circuit is a conducting path consisting of electric
of a cell. components connected between the two terminals
Circuit diagram is a diagram indicating the arrangement of various
the help of their symbols. components in an electric circuit with
Open circuit is a combìnation of primary components of electrical
is drawn from the cell.
circuit in such a manner that no current
Closed circuit: A circuit is said to be closed circuit if all the primary
connected in proper order and current is drawn from the cell. components in an electric circuit are

SYSTEMATIC STEPS TO PERFORM THE ACTIVITY

1. Suppose we are given a set up in which various components are connected as shown in Fig. 6.1.

Key Rheostat
Battery eliminator

Resistance Battery Key

Rheostat
Voaltmeter
R (Resistance)
ww

Voltmeter Ammeter Ammeter

Fig. 6.1. Given set of circuit components Fig. 6.2. Circuit diagram with wrong combination

2. Draw the circuit diagram and check whether all the connections are correct. The circuit is shown in
Fig. 6.2.
Here, we find twO major errors in the cireuit.
(G) Voltmeter 1S Connected in series and ammeter in parallel.
i ) Current enters rom negative terminals in meters.

Section A: Activities 93
 3. Redraw the circuit diagram correcting the errors as shown in Fig. 6.3.

Rheostat
Key
Batlery eliminator

Resistance
Battery IKey
Rheostat
Ammeter A)
R(Resistance)

Voltmeter Ammeter Voltmeter

Connected
Given set of circuit components
Fig. 6.3. Circuit diagranm with components connected Flg. 6.4. in proper order
properly in order

with the corrected circuit.

4. Rearrange the circuit components in accordance
voltmeter show reading.
5. Plug in the key and check that the ammeter and
ammeter and voltmeter change with the change
6. Move the sliding contact and check that the readings in
in circuit resistance.

OBSERVATIONS
6.1.
1. Ammeter and voltmeter are not connected properly as clearly seen in the circuit diagram of Fig.
2. When ammeter and voltmeter are connected in proper order they show reading when circuit is closed.

RESULT

1. Circuit diagram shown in Fig. 6.2 is not proper in which voltmeter and ammeter are wrongly
connected.

2. Circuit diagram shown in Fig. 6.3 is proper and correct.

PRECAUTIONS
1. All connections should be neat, clean and tight.
2. The insulated wires are to be used for connections.
3. A given circuit should not be checked by inserting plug into the key. This may damage any
of the circuit. component
Note: This is an open ended activity. The examiner may set the circuit in whatever way she/he likes. The
following points may be kept in mind while checking the circuit diagrams:
1. Ammeter is always connected in series with the battery and
device across which
voltmeter is connected in parallel to the
potential difference is to be measured.
2. Current always enters into the positive terminal of the meter and
comes out of its negative terminal.
3. When rheostat is used as variable resistor, its sliding terminal and one of its
base terminal is used.
4. One way plug key is connected in the circuit with one stud with terminal on
either side or the gap.
5. Normally, battery has series combination of cells. ie.. nositive of one cell connerted to the negative of
another cell and so on.
6. All connections should be clear and tight.

94 Together wtk° Physics Lab Manual-12

 VIVA VOCE

Q.1. What iN n open eireuit?

Ans. I some clectrical components are connected in To oloctrical circuit
such a way that n0 eurrent tlows through the www
circuit then cireuit is called an open eireuit. (b)
Q.2. How is an annneter eonected in the cireuit? In figuro (a), rosistance of the length AS' is
Ans. An ammeter is always connoctod in sories, includod in tho circuit.
).3. WIhy is it connected in serios? In figure (6), resistance of the length SB is
includod in the circuit.
Ans. Since ammeter has low rosistance and it willnot
afleet tlhe current. So it is connectod in sorios, Thus by sliding the sliding-contact on the metal
Q4. How is voltmeter connected in the circuit? rod CD the value of rosistance is included in the
circuit e.g., AS' or S'B.
Ans. It is always conneeted in parallel to the rosistor
across which the voltago has to be measured. D c To electrical circuit
Q.5. What is the funetion of rheostat?
Ans. To provide variable resistance.
Q.6. What is the main precaution in this activity?
Ans. Terminals of all clectrical components should (c)
be connected tightly and noatly. In figure (c), by sliding the contact point S' from
Q.7. How will you show that use ofa rheostat as a A to B any desired potential difference from 0
) variable resistor and as (ii) a potential to V can be maintained across the circuit.
divider?
Q.8. Draw symbols for rheostat used as a (i) variable
Ans. resistor and (üi) a potential divider.
Motal rode
D Ans. ww
(i) (iü)
Q.9. What will be the total resistance of rheostat
wire?
B
Ans. T'otal resistance of the rheostat wire is written
on the handle of the sliding contact.
To oloctrical circuit Q.10. What will be the maximum current which can
D
flow without overheating the wire?
Ans. The maximum permissible current is written on
(a) the handle of the sliding contact.

A.
Note: For more questions refer viva voce of Experiment No. 2 and Activity 4 of Section

Additional Questions Based on Issues Raised in NCERT Lab Manual

Q.11. Why is key to be kept OPEN' in a circuit? Key: It is used in the circuit to close/open the
circuit when desired.
Ans. In an electric circuit key is to be inserted only Rheostat: It is a device to increase or decrease
while taking observations, otherwise current flow
would cause unneceSsary heating in the circuit. the current strength in a circuit. In other words
be
it functions as a variable resistor. It can also
Q.12.Inerpret the function of each components in the used as a potential divider in a circuit.
circuit.
Voltmeter: It is an instrument which is used
Ans. CellVBattery: A coll (primary or secondary) to measure potential difference
between anv
Battery (numbur of cells in series) is the usual of the
source of emf in the laboratory. two points of a conductor or in any part
circuit.

Section A: Activities 95