Current Electricity CH3 Part 3

CHAPTER 3: CURRENT ELECTRICITY
1.Kirchhoff’s Rules
2.Wheatstone Bridge
3. Metre Bridge
4. Applications of Metre Bridge
5. Potentiometer
i) Principle
ii) Determination of value of unknown p.d
iii) Comparison of emf of primary cells
iv) Determination of internal resistance
KIRCHHOFF’S RULES
I Law or Current Law or Junction Rule:
The algebraic sum of electric currents at a junction in any electrical
network is always zero.
I1 I2
I3 I 1 - I 2 - I 3 + I 4 - I5 = 0
O
I5 ΣI = 0
I4
Sign Conventions:
1. The incoming currents towards the junction are taken positive.
2. The outgoing currents away from the junction are taken negative.
Note: Charges cannot accumulate at a junction. The number of charges

that arrive at a junction in a given time must leave the junction in the
same time in accordance with law of conservation of charges.
II Law or Voltage Law or Loop Rule:
The algebraic sum of all the potential drops and emfs along any closed
path in an electrical network is always zero.
I1 E1 R1 I1
A B Loop ABCA:
R2 - E1 + I1.R1 + (I1 + I2).R2 = 0

I2 I 1 + I2 I1
Loop ACDA:
D C
I2 R3 I2 - (I1 + I2).R2 - I2.R3 + E2 = 0
E2
Sign Conventions:
1. The emf is taken negative when we traverse from positive to negative terminal of
the cell through the electrolyte.
2. The emf is taken positive when we traverse from negative to positive terminal of
the cell through the electrolyte.
3. The potential (IR) falls along the direction of current in a current path and it rises
along the direction opposite to the current path.
(a) The potential fall is taken negative.
(b) The potential rise is taken positive.
Note: The path can be traversed in clockwise or anticlockwise direction of the loop.
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
An application of Kirchhoff’s rules is the circuit shown in figure, called the Wheatstone
bridge.
The bridge has four resistors R1, R2, R3 and R4.

Across one pair of diagonally opposite points (A and C in the figure) a source of emf is
connected. This (i.e., AC) is called the battery arm. The cell is assumed to have no
internal resistance.
Between the other two vertices, B and D, a galvanometer G is connected. This line,
shown as BD in the figure, is called the galvanometer arm.
Under balanced bridge condition, no current flows through G
i.e, Ig = 0
Applying Kirchhoff’s junction rule to junctions D and B, we get,
I1 = I3 and I2 = I4
Applying Kirchhoff’s loop rule to
(a) the closed loop ADBA
–I1 R1 + 0 + I2R2 = 0 ( ∵ Ig = 0) --------------(1)
(b) the closed loop CBDC

I 2 R 4 + 0 – I 1R 3 = 0 ( ∵ Ig = 0) -------------(2)
From Eq. (1), we obtain,
I1 = R2
---------------(3)
I2 R1
From Eq. (2), we obtain,
I1 = R4
I2 R3 ----------------(4)
This equation relating the four
From equations (3) & (4) we get,
R2 R4
= resistors is called the balance
R1 R3 condition for the galvanometer to
give zero or null deflection.
METRE BRIDGE
• The Wheatstone bridge and its balance condition provide a practical method for
determination of an unknown resistance.
• If an unknown resistance R4 is inserted into the fourth arm, then under
balanced condition we get the value of the unknown resistance R4 ,
R4 = R3 (R2 / R1 )
A practical device using this principle is called the meter bridge.
When the galvanometer current is

made zero by adjusting the position
of the jockey on the metre bridge wire
for the given values of known and
unknown resistances, then,
R RAJ R AJ R l
= = (Since, R α l)
X
X
Therefore, 100 - l
X – l) ∕ l (in ohm)
X = R (100
RJB JB
POTENTIOMETER
• This is a versatile instrument.

• It is basically a long piece of uniform wire, sometimes a few meters in length
across which a standard cell (B) is connected.
• In actual design, the wire is sometimes cut in several pieces placed side by
side and connected at the ends by thick metal strip.
PRINCIPLE OF WORKING OF POTENTIOMETER:
V=IR
= I ρl/A
V = Kl
where K = I ρ/A is called potential gradient.
If a constant current flows through the potentiometer wire of uniform cross
sectional area (A) and uniform composition of material (ρ), then potential
drop across any length of a wire is directly proportional to the length of the
wire.
i.e, Vαl
(or) V/l is a constant
V
Slope of the graph = dV/dl
0 = K ( Vm-1)
l
Note: The potentiometer has the advantage that it draws no current from the voltage
source being measured. As such it is unaffected by the internal resistance of the
source.
APPLICATIONS OF
POTENTIOMETER
1. To compare the emfs of two primary cells
2. To find the internal resistance of a primary

cell
3. To find the value of unknown e.m.f

E1
Comparison of emfs using
R.B
Potentiometer: I + G
The balance point is obtained for the
+
experimental cell (E1 or E2 )when the E2
E A
potential drop along a particular length 0 l2 J2 100
on the potentiometer wire is equal and
opposite to the emf of the experimental A 200 l1 J1
cell. +
300
Rh B 400
E1 = VAJ1 = I ρl1 /A
E2 = VAJ2 = I ρl2 /A
K
E1 / E2 = l1 /l2
Note:
The balance point will not be obtained on the potentiometer wire if the fall of potential
along the potentiometer wire is less than the emf of the cell to be measured.
The working of the potentiometer is based on null deflection method. So the
resistance of the wire becomes infinite. Thus potentiometer can be regarded as an
ideal voltmeter.
To find the internal resistance of a cell using
Potentiometer
CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT TO FIND ‘r’

OF A PRIMARY CELL
The cell (emf ε ) whose internal resistance (r) is to be determined is connected across a
resistance box through a key K2
With key K2 open, balance is obtained at length l1 (AN1).
Then, ε = k l1 ------------- (1)
When key K2 is closed, balance is obtained at length l 2 (AN2),
Then, V = k l2 ------------- (2) (V is the terminal potential difference of the cell)
But ε /V = l1/l2 ------------ (3)
Also ε /V = (r + R) / R --------- (4)
Substituting (3) in (4) we get,
r = R (l1 / l2 ) – 1
To find the value of unknown e.m.f using
Potentiometer
Let r1 be the resistance of the potentiometer wire AB, ‘E’ be the emf of the auxilliary battery, ‘R’ be
the resistance connected in series with the potentiometer wire, ‘ε1’ be the emf of the
experimental cell, ‘l’ be the balancing length and ‘L’ be the length of the wire AB.
Step 1: Find current ‘I’ through AB
I = E / ( R + r1 )
Step 2: Find ‘V’ across the wire AB

V = I r1
Step 3: Find potential gradient ‘k’

k = V/L
Step 4: Find the value of ε1
ε1 = kl
END OF CHAPTER 3
ON
CURRENT ELECTRICITY

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CHAPTER 3: CURRENT ELECTRICITY

Note: Charges cannot accumulate at a junction. The number of charges

R2 - E1 + I1.R1 + (I1 + I2).R2 = 0

The bridge has four resistors R1, R2, R3 and R4.

(b) the closed loop CBDC

When the galvanometer current is

• This is a versatile instrument.

2. To find the internal resistance of a primary

3. To find the value of unknown e.m.f

CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT TO FIND ‘r’

Step 2: Find ‘V’ across the wire AB

Step 3: Find potential gradient ‘k’

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