to study the dependence of current on the potential differences across a resistor and to determine its resistance
Answers
Answer:
Aim
To study the dependence of potential difference (V) across a resistor on the current (I) passing through it and determine its resistance. Also, plot a graph between V and I.
Theory
What is Ohm’s law?
In an electric circuit, the potential difference V across the metallic wire is directly proportional to the current flowing through the circuit with a constant temperature. This is known as Ohm’s law.
V∝I. ∴ V=IR.
What are the factors affecting resistance?
Following are the factors affecting resistance:
The nature of the resistor.
With an increase in length, the resistance also increases. So length also affects the resistance.
With an increase in the cross-sectional area, the resistance decreases. So cross-sectional area of the wire affects the resistance.
Materials Required
Following is the list of materials required for this experiment:
- A battery
- An insulated copper wire
- A key
- An ammeter
- A voltmeter
- A rheostat
- A resistor
- A piece of sandpaper
Procedure
- Arrange the devices as shown in the circuit diagram.
- Connect the devices with the connecting wires keeping the key open.
- The positive terminal of the battery should be connected to the positive terminal of the ammeter.
- Before connecting the voltmeter in the circuit, check for +ve and -ve terminals.
- Check for ammeter and voltmeter reading once the circuit is connected and also adjust the slider of rheostat after inserting the key.
- For current I and voltmeter V, record three different readings using a slider.
- Record the observations in the observation table
- Using the formula R=V/I, calculate the resistance
- To plot the graph between V and I, take V on the x-axis and I on the y-axis.
- For pure metals, resistance increases with an increase in temperature.
Conclusions
- For all the three readings, the R-value is the same and constant.
- The ratio of potential difference V and current I is the resistance of a resistor.
- With the help of the graph between V and I, Ohm’s law is verified as the plot is a straight line.
Precautions
- Thick copper wires are used as connecting wires and using sandpaper, their insulation is removed.
- To avoid external resistance, the connections should be tight.
- The connections should be as per the circuit diagram and should be approved by the teacher before conducting the experiment.
- The current should enter from the positive terminal and exit from the negative terminal of the ammeter and should be connected in series with the resistor.
- Resistor and voltmeter should be connected in parallel.
- The least count of ammeter and voltmeter should be recorded properly.
- When there is no current flow, the pointers of ammeter and voltmeter should be at zero.
- To avoid unnecessary heating in the circuit, the current should be passed for a short time.