Activity – 1

Aim
To measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC), current (AC) and check continuity of a given circuit using
multimeter.

Apparatus and material

Apparatus. Three carbon resistors, one standard resistance coil, a battery eliminator with tapping
(2 V, 4 V and 6 V), a step down transformer (6-0-6 V) with two tapping (2 V and 4 V), a resistor of
100 ohm, a plug key and multimeter.

Theory
Multimeter. It is a single measuring device acting as an Ammeter, a Voltmeter and an Ohmmeter.
For this reason, it is also called AVO meter.
It can measure alternating as well as direct current and alternating as well as direct voltage in
addition to resistance. For this purpose its panel is divided into five different sections. There are
many ranges in each section so that it can measure from micro (10-6) to mega (106) units. Rotation
of a knob changes the section and the range in one section.

- Rotation of knob for change in ammeter range, brings shunt resistances of different values in
circuit in parallel with the coil.
— Rotation of knob for change in voltmeter range, brings series resistances of different values in
circuit in series with the coil.
— Rotation of knob for change in ohmmeter range, brings different resistances in circuit in series
with the multimeter cell.

1. Carbon resistors are frequently used in electrical and electronic circuits and their values vary
over a very wide range. A colour code is used to indicate the value of the resistance.

2. A carbon resistance has four different concentric coloured ringe or bands on its surface. The
first three bands a, b and c determine the value of the resistance and the fourth band d gives
the percentage of accuracy called tolerance. The resistance of carbon resistor R = (ab x
10c ± T %) Ω.
 3. To read the value of carbon resistance, the following sentence is found to be of much more
helpful.

4. The following table provides the colour code for the carbon resistors :

(b) D.C. Voltage

1. Select a D.C. source of potential difference, 6 V battery eliminator or a battery.

2. Plug the probes black in com and red in +.
3. Select D.C. volt, by turning the selector switch to range 10 V D.C. volts,
4. Touch and press other ends of probes such that red is on battery terminal marked + and
black on and not the reading.
5. Insert red probe in terminals marked 4 V, 2 V in succession and note readings.

(c) A.C. Volts

1. Turn the selector A.C. (200 Volt).

2. Touch and press the probes other ends to two terminals of A.C. source of potential
drop and note the reading.
3. Use red probe in terminals 4 V and 2 V in succession and record the reading.
Precautions

1. Instructions for handling the multimeter should be gone through thoroughly as it is a very
handy instrument and is likely to get damaged if carelessly or ignorantly used.
2. Select the appropriate parameter current, voltage or resistance to the measured and set it on
appropriate range.
3. If range of the parameter measured is not known, start with maximum. For measuring V,
never connect more than maximum 600 V.
 Activity – 2

Aim
To assemble a household circuit comprising three bulbs, three (on/off) switches,a fuse and a
power source.

Apparatus and material

Apparatus: No apparatus required in assembling a circuit.
Material: Three bulbs (6 V, 1W) each, fuse of 0.6 A, main switch a power supply (battery .
eliminator), three (on/off) switches flexible connecting wire with red and black plastic covering,a
fuse wire.
Supplementary: Main electric board with a two-pin socket and main switch.

Theory
Electricity supplied to us for domestic purposes is 220 V A.C. and 50 Hz. The household circuit, all
appliances are connected in “parallel” with mains. The switches are connected in series with each
appliances in live wire. 5 A switches are required for normal appliances like, bulbs, fluorescent
tubes fans etc. 15 A sockets and switches are required for heavy load appliances ‘ like,
refrigerator, air conditioner, geyser, hot plates etc. All appliances must have three wires called live,
neutral and the earth. Total power consumption ‘P’ at a time
P = P1 + P2 + P3 +………..
where P1, P2, P3 are the powers drawn by appliances.
To protect the appliances from damage when unduly high currents are drawn fuse of little higher
rating, 10 to 20% higher than the current normally drawn by all appliances. For further safety, a
suitable value MAINS FUSE like rating 32 A is connected in series with supply source.
Diagram

Procedure

1. Connect the bulbs B1, B2 and B3 in series with switches S1, S2 and S3 respectively and
connect each set of B-S in parallel with each other.
2. Connect main supply to a step-down transformer (battery eliminator) to get required voltage
from 0 to 10 V (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 V).
3. Connect the mains fuse M.S. in series with the power supply (battery eliminator).
4. Connect an A.C. ammeter in series with the B-S set.
5. Connect one end of power supply to one end of B-S set.
6. Check the circuit one again to ensure that household circuit is complete.
7. Gradually increase the current to 0.75 A, the fuse must bum off at about 0.6 A.
 Activity – 3
Aim
To assemble the components of a given electrical circuit.

Apparatus and material

Apparatus: A voltmeter and an ammeter of appropriate range, a battery, a rheostat, one way key.
Material: An unknown resistance or resistance coil, connecting wires, a piece of sand paper.

Diagram

Procedure

1. Connect the components (Resistors, inductors etc.) in series with each other as shown in
diagram and then in series with the battery.
2. Connect the ammeter in series with the circuit, to measure the current.
3. Connect the voltmeter in parallel to the resistor, to measure the potential difference.
4. Connect the switch in series with the battery.
5. Assembly of the electrical components in electric circuit is complete.
 Activity – 4

Aim
To identify a diode, an LED, a transistor, an IC, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection
of such items.

Apparatus and material

Apparatus: Multimeter.
Material: Above mixed collection of items.

Theory
For identification, appearance and working of each item will have to be considered.

1. A diode is a two terminal device. It conducts when forward biased and does not conduct
when reverse biased. It does not emit light while conducting. Hence, it does not glow.
2. A LED (light emitting diode) is also a two terminal device. It also conducts when forward
biased and does not conduct when reverse biased. It emits light while conducting. Hence, it
glow.
3. A transistor is a three terminal device. The terminals represent emitter (E), base (B) and
collector (C).
4. An IC (integrated circuit) is a multi-terminal device in form of a chip. [See figure (UM 3482 IC
Tone Generator)]
5. A resistor is a two terminal device. It conducts when either forward biased or reverse biased.
(Infact there is no forward or reverse bias for a resistor). It conducts even when operated
with A.C. voltage.
6. A capacitor is also a two terminal device. It does not conduct when either forward biased or
reverse biased. When a capacitor is connected to a D.C. source, then multimeter shows full
scale current initially but it decay to zero quickly. It is because that initially a capacitor draw a
charge.
 The components to be identified are shown in figure.

Procedure

1. If the item has four or more terminals and has form of a chip, it is an IC (integrated circuit).
2. If the item has three terminals, it is a transistor.
3. If the item has two terminals, it may be diode, a LED, a resistor or a capacitor.
To differentiate proceed as ahead.
4. Put the selector on resistance R of multimeter for checking the continuity. The probe metal
ends are inserted in terminal marked on the multimeter as common and P (or + ve).
 Activity – 5
Aim : To observe polarisation of light using two polaroids.

Apparatus
Thin glass sheet, a source giving monochromatic light beam with parallel rays, a polaroid.

Theory
When an unpolarised light is made incident on the interface of two transparent media at polarising
angle, the refracted and reflected rays depart from each other at an angle of 90°. The reflected ray
is completely plane polarised. It can be tested by a polaroid.

Diagram

Procedure
Keep the than glass sheet in a horizontal plane surface with a hole under the sheet. Take a beam
of monochromatic light having parallel rays and make it incident on the upper face of the glass
sheet.
Adjust the angle of incidence to 57.5°.
Observe the reflected rays and the refracted rays. They must make an angle of 90° with each
other.
Testing of Polarisation

1. Take a polaroid (P) and keep it in between incident light and your eyes. Rotate it about an
axis along incident ray. No change of intensity of light will be detected. It is so because the
incident light is unpolarised.
2. Take the second polaroid (A) and place it at a proper distance between polaroid (P) and eye
and parallel to it. Light is visible through them.
3. Now rotate the polaroid (A) ranging from 0° to 360°. Keeping the polaroid (P) fix and note the
intensity of transmitted light.
 4. When polaroid (A) and polaroid (P) at 90° than transmitted light through polaroid (A) will be
zero

Result
When the two polaroids are parallel to each other light transmitted through it. But when they are
perpendicular, there is no transmitted light. The light obtained through polaroid (P) is plane
polarised. The light has transverse nature.
 Activity – 6
Aim : To observe diffraction of light due to a thin slit.

Apparatus
Two razor blades, adhesive tapes, a screen a source of monochromatic light (laser pencil) black paper and
a glass plate.

Theory
Diffraction is a phenomenon of bending of light around the comers or edges of a fine opening or aperture.
Diffraction takes place when order of wavelength is comparable or small to the size of slit or aperture. The
diffraction effect is more pronounced if the size of the aperture or the obstacle is of the order of wavelength
of the waves. The diffraction pattern arises due to interference of light waves from different symmetrical
point of the same wavefront. The diffraction pattern due to a single slit consists of a central bright band
having alternate dark and weak bright bands of decreasing intensity on both sides.

Procedure

1. Fix the black paper on the glass plate by using adhesive.

2. Place two razor blades so that their sharp edges are parallel and extremely close to each
other to form a narrow slit in between.

3. Cut the small slit in between the sharp edges of blades and place at a suitable distance from
a wall or screen of a dark room.
4. Throw a beam of light on the slit by the laser pencil.
Conclusion
When light waves are incident on a slit or aperture then it bends away (spread) at the comers of
slit showing the phenomena of diffraction of light.

Precaution

1. Air gaps should not be left between glass plates and black paper.
2. The razor blades should be placed extremely closed as possible.
3. Diffraction pattern should be seen on a wall of a dark room.
4. A point source of monochromatic light like laser torch should be used
5. A diffraction pattern of alternate bright and dark bands is seen on the wall.