1

(to be written on the ruled side of the record)

1. RESISTIVITY OF MATERIAL OF THE WIRE

AIM: To determine resistivity of the material of the given wires by plotting a graph of potential difference
versus current.

APPARATUS: Resistance wires, a battery, one-way key, a voltmeter and an ammeter of appropriate range,
connecting wires, a scale.

PRINCIPLE: Ohm's law states that the electric current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional
to the potential difference across its ends, provided the physical state of the conductor remains unchanged. If
I be the current flowing through the conductor and V the potential difference across its ends, then according
to Ohm's law, V ∝ I and hence V = RI where R is the constant of proportionality and is termed as the
electrical resistance of the conductor.
𝑅𝜋𝐷2
The resistivity of the material of the wire, 𝜌 =
, where D is the diameter of the wire and l, its length.
4𝑙

FORMULA:

From the I-V graph, 𝑆𝑙o𝑝e = 1, Therefore the resistance 𝑅 = 1

in Ω.
𝑅 𝑠𝑙o𝑝e
𝑅𝜋𝐷2
The resistivity of the material of the wire, 𝜌 = , in Ωm, where D is the diameter of the wire and l, its
4𝑙
length.

PROCEDURE:

1. Connect various components - resistance, rheostat, battery, key, voltmeter and ammeter as shown in the
circuit diagram.
2. Note whether pointers in ammeter and voltmeter coincide with the zero mark on the measuring scale. If it
is not so, adjust the pointer to coincide with the zero mark by adjusting the screw provided near the base
of the needle using a screw driver.
3. Note the range and least count of the given voltmeter and ammeter.
4. Insert the key K and slide the rheostat contact to one of its extreme ends, so that current passing through
the resistance wire is minimum. Note the ammeter and voltmeter readings.
5. Remove the key K and allow the wire to cool, if heated. Again insert the key. Shift the rheostat contact
slightly to increase the applied voltage. Note the ammeter and voltmeter reading.
6. Repeat step 5 for four different settings of the rheostat. Record your observations in a tabular form.
7. Plot a graph of current versus potential and find the slope of this linear graph. The resistance, R is
determined by calculating the reciprocal of this slope.
8. Measure the length, l of the wire used in the experiment (in m) using a scale.
𝑅
9. Find the resistance per unit length, .
𝑙
10. Repeat the above procedure for a wire of different length.
11. Using the calculated values of resistances, the resistivity of the wires can be determined by using the
formula.

RESULT:
1. The potential difference across the given wire varies linearly with the current.
2. The resistivity of the material of the wire 1 is...................Ωm.
3. The resistivity of the material of the wire 2 is...................Ωm.
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PRECAUTIONS:
1. The voltmeter should be connected in parallel and the ammeter in series with the circuit. It should be ensured
that current enters at the positive terminal and leaves at the negative terminal.
2. The key should be inserted only while taking observations, as excessive flow of current causes unnecessary
heating of the wire.

SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The wire used may not be of uniform area of cross-section.
2. The length of the resistance wire measured should be between one terminal of voltmeter and the other. The
lengths of ends wound around the terminals of voltmeter, if included, would give error in measured length.

(to be drawn and written on the plain side of the record)

DIAGRAM:

NA TURE OF GRAPH:

OBSERVATION:

1. Range of ammeter = 0 mA to ...mA

2. Least count of ammeter =.........mA

3. Range of voltmeter = 0 V to......V

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4. Least count of voltmeter =.......V

5. Least count of metre scale =.........m

6. Diameter of the given wire, D = ….......mm =.....................m

TABULAR COLUMN:

1) For wire 1

Length of the given wire, l = 30 cm

Potential difference, V
Sl. No. Current, I (mA)
(V)

2) For wire 2

Length of the given wire, l = 50 cm

Potential difference, V
Sl. No. Current, I (mA)
(V)

CALCULATIONS:
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(to be written on the ruled side of the record)

2. RESISTANCE OF THE WIRE USING METRE BRIDGE

AIM: To determine the resistance of a given wire using a metre bridge.

APPARATUS: A metre bridge, a wire, resistance box, rheostat, galvanometer, jockey, one-way key, battery
eliminator, thick connecting wires, screw gauge.

PRINCIPLE: A metre bridge works on the principle of Wheatstone’s bridge. It consists of four resistors P,
Q, R and S connected in the form of a network ABCD. The terminals A and C are connected to two terminals
of a cell through a key K1. Terminals B and D are connected to a sensitive galvanometer G through a key
K2. If there is no deflection in the galvanometer G, then balance condition for Wheatstone’s bridge is
𝑃
= 𝑅 . We use this relation to determine the unknown R, if P, Q and S, are known.
Q 𝑆
𝑆𝑙
FORMULA: 1. The resistance of the wire, 𝑅 = ,
100−𝑙
where R is the resistance in the left gap, S the standard resistance in the right gap and l is the balancing length.

PROCEDURE:

1. Clean the insulation at the ends of connecting wires with a piece of sand paper. Tighten all plugs of the
resistance box in the right gap by pressing each plug.
2. Set up the circuit as shown in figure with unknown resistance wire of known length in left gap.
3. Next, introduce a small resistance S in the circuit from the resistance box. Bring the jockey in contact with
terminal A first and then with terminal C. Note the direction in which pointer of the galvanometer gets
deflected in each case. Make sure that jockey remains in contact with the wire for a fraction of a second.
If the galvanometer shows deflection on both sides of its zero mark for these two points of contact of the
jockey, null point will be somewhere on the wire AC. If it is not so, adjust resistance R so that the null
point is somewhere in the middle of the wire AC, say, between 30 cm and 70 cm.
4. If there is one-sided deflection, check the circuit again, especially junctions, for their continuity.
5. Vary the value of resistance S in the box; bring the jockey in contact with the metre bridge wire to find
the length at which the galvanometer shows no deflection. That length, balancing length is noted down.
6. Calculate the value of unknown resistance, R by using the formula.

RESULT:

1. The resistance of the wire by using metre bridge is found to be ………Ω.

PRECAUTIONS:
1. The voltmeter should be connected in parallel and the ammeter in series with the circuit. It should be ensured
that current enters at the positive terminal and leaves at the negative terminal.
2. The key should be inserted only while taking observations, as excessive flow of current causes unnecessary
heating of the wire.

SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The wire used may not be of uniform area of cross-section.
2. The length of the resistance wire measured should be between one terminal of voltmeter and the other. The
lengths of ends wound around the terminals of voltmeter, if included, would give error in measured length.
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(to be drawn and written on the plain side of the record)

DIAGRAM:

OBSERVATION:

1. Length of the wire of unknown resistance, L =.......cm = ……m

TABULAR COLUMN:

To find the unknown resistance of the wire

Resistance, S Balancing Length ‘l’ 𝑆𝑙

Sl. No. (100-l) cm 𝑅= (Ω)
(Ω) (cm) 100−𝑙 Mean R (Ω)

CALCULATIONS: