Question

How will the sensitivity of a potentiometer change with increase in current flowing through its wire?

Answer 1

A potentiometer is a physically flexible variable resistor with 3 terminals. Two terminals are associated with the two closures of a resistive component, and the third terminal interfaces with a sliding contact, called a wiper, moving over the resistive component.

The affectability of a potentiometer can be expanded by diminishing its potential angle. This should be possible:

- by expanding the length of potentiometer wire.

- if the potentiometer wire is of settled length, the potentiometer angle can be diminished by lessening the current in the potentiometer wire circuit with the assistance of rheostat and utilizing a solitary cell.

Answer 2

If a potentiometer can measure very small potential differences it is said to be sensitive. The sensitivity of a potentiometer is inversely proportional to the potential gradient. So sensitivity can be increased by decreasing is potential gradient.

This can be done by increasing the number of wires or by increasing the length of the wire.

If the length of the wire is fixed a rheostat or a single cell can be used to reduce the current in the potentiometer circuit in order to decrease the potentiometer gradient.