INTRODUCTION

MEASUREMENT OF RESISTIVITY

OHM’S LAW OF RESISTANCE

Statement of ohm’s law: Ohm’s law states that the electric voltage currents (I)
flowing through a given conductor is directly proportional difference (voltage)
V across its ends (provided the physical conditions such as temperature,
pressure, etc. of the conductor remains same)
Mathematically, V ∝ I, or V = RI
Graphically, Ohm’s law is represented by:

V-I graph
Where R is a constant of proportionality. It is called the resistance of the
conductor. The unit of resistance of the conductor. The unit of resistance, volt
per ampere, is given a special name ohm and a Greek symbol Ω (Omega)

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AIM
To determine resistivity of a given wire by plotting a graph of potential
difference versus current.

APPARATUS
A wire of unknown resistance (~10Ω), battery eliminator or an
accumulator (0 to 3V) or two dry cells (1.5 V each), voltmeter (0-5 V),
milliammeter (0– 500 mA), rheostat, plug key, connecting wires and a
piece of sand paper.

THEORY
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. If V is expressed in volts and I in amperes,
then R is expressed in ohms. The resistance R, depends upon the
material and dimensions of the conductor. For a wire of uniform cross-
section, the resistance depends on the length l and the area of cross-
section A. It also depends on the temperature of the conductor. At a
given temperature the resistance
R = ρ l /A
where ρ is the specific resistance or resistivity and is characteristic of the
material of wire.
Combining Eqs. and we have

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 V = ρ (L / A) I

A linear relationship is obtained between V and I, i.e. the graph between

V and I will be a straight line passing through the origin as shown in Fig. E
1.1. The slope of the graph is 1/R from Eq. (E 1.1) (Equation of straight
line passing through origin is y = mx where m is the slope of graph).
Slope = 1/R
⇒ R = 1 / slope
If l is the length of wire, then the resistance per unit length of the wire
= R/l

PROCEDURE
1. Clean the ends of the connecting wires with the help of sand paper in
order to remove any insulating coating on them.
2. Connect various components - resistance, rheostat, battery, key,
voltmeter and ammeter as shown in Fig. E 1.2.
3. Note whether pointers in milliammeter 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.
4. Note the range and least count of the given voltmeter and
milliammeter.
5. 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.
6. Note the milliammeter and voltmeter readings.
7. 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 milliammeter and voltmeter reading.
8. Repeat step 7 for four different settings of the rheostat. Record your
observations in a tabular form.

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OBSERVATIONS

Manganin
S No. Voltmeter Ammeter Resistance
Reading Reading
1 1.25 1.20 1.04
2 1.25 1.15 1.05
3 1.20 1.15 1.04

Copper
S No. Voltmeter Ammeter Resistance
Reading Reading
1 0.1 1 0.1
2 0.2 2 0.1
3 0.3 3 0.1

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 Nichrome
S No. Voltmeter Ammeter Resistance
Reading Reading
1 1.25 0.25 5
2 2.5 0.5 5
3 0.5 0.1 5

For Diameter
Wire Sl No Linear No of Value Observed Corrected
Scale Circular n x L.C Reading Reading
Reading Scale Do=L+C
Division
Nichrome 1 0 37 0.37 0.37 0.37
Nichrome 2 0 37 0.37 0.37 0.37
Manganin 3 0 48 0.48 0.48 0.48
Manganin 4 0 48 0.48 0.48 0.48
Copper 5 0 59 0.59 0.59 0.59
Copper 6 0 59 0.59 0.59 0.59

Graph for nichrome wire

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Graph for copper wire

Graph for manganin wire

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RESULT
i. Resistivity of Nichrome = 10-6 Ω m
ii. Resistivity of Manganin = 4.55 x 10-5 Ω m
iii. Resistivity of Copper = 1.72 x 10-8 Ω m
iv. The graph between V and I is straight line passing through the origin

PRECAUTIONS
• The connections should be neat, clean and tight
• Thick wires should be used for the connections after removing the
insulations neat the ends by rubbing with sandpaper
• Voltmeter and Ammeter should be of proper range
• A low resistance rheostat should be used
• The switch should be open when you are not taking readings

SOURCES OF ERROR
• The instrument screws may be loose
• Thick connecting wires may not be available
• Rheostat may have high resistance

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Byju's - "To Find Resistance of a Given Wire Using Metre Bridge". This
resource provides a detailed explanation of the experiment, including
the aim, materials required, theory, procedure, calculations, and
precautions.
• Chennai Mathematical Institute - "Measurement of unknown resistance
using Carey-Foster’s Bridge". This document discusses the Carey-
Foster bridge, a modified form of the meter bridge, and provides a detail
ed procedure for accurate measurements.
• University of British Columbia - "Resistivity and the van der Pauw Metho
d". This lab manual explains the van der Pauw method, a technique used
to measure resistivity in materials research and the semiconductor indus
try.
• East Tennessee State University - "General Physics II Lab (PHYS2021) Exp
eriment ELEC: Resistivity". This document covers the relationship betwee
n resistance, length, cross-sectional area, and resistivity of a material.
• World Scientific - "Electrical Resistivity Measurements: A Review". This r
view article provides an overview of various resistivity measurement tec
hniques used in research