PHYSICS LAB MANUAL

CLASS-XII
2023-24

CYCLE -I

EXPERIMENTS:
1. To determine resistivity of two / three wires by plotting a graph
between potential versus current.
2. To find resistance of a given wire/ standard resistor using metre
bridge.
3. To determine resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method
and to find its figure of merit.
4. To find the frequency of the ac mains using a sonometer and an
electromagnet.

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

MODEL GRAPH:

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 OHM’S LAW

EX: NO: 1
DATE:
AIM:
To determine resistivity of a two / three wires by plotting a graph between
potential difference versus current.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
A wire of unknown resistance, battery eliminator, voltmeter, ammeter,
rheostat, plug key, connecting wires

FORMULA APPLIED:
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.
V  I, V = RI
Where R is the constant of proportionality and is termed as the electrical
resistance of the conductor the graph between V and I will be a straight line
passing through the origin

Resistivity:

UNITS:
S.I.Unit for resistance is Ohms
S.I. Unit of resistivity is ohm meter.

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.
3. Note the range and least count of the given voltmeter and ammeter.
4. Insert the key and slide the rheostat contact to one of its extreme ends, so that
current passing through the resistance wire is minimum.
5. Note the ammeter and voltmeter readings.
6. Remove the key and allow the wire to cool, Shift the rheostat contact slightly
to increase the applied voltage.
7. Now, calculate the resistivity of the material of the wire using the formula,

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TABLE: 1 To find the Resistance of the Wire 1.

Voltmeter Reading Ammeter Reading R1=V/I

S.NO
V mA Ω
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mean = R1_________ Ω

TABLE: 2 To find the Resistance of the Wire 2.

Voltmeter Reading Ammeter Reading R2=V/I

S.NO
V mA Ω
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mean = R2 _________ Ω

Observation:
Radius of the wire 1, r1 = _______________ x10 -3 m
Radius of the wire 2, r2 = _______________ x10 -3 m
Length of the wire 1, l1 =_________________ x10 -2 m
Length of the wire 2, l2 =_________________ x10 -2 m

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CALCULATION:
Plot a graph between the potential difference across the wire (V) and the
current (I) flowing through it.
R = 1/Slope

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. Zero error in measuring instruments should be noted.

SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. The connections may be loose.

2. The ratio V/I may not be constant due to heating caused by continuous passage
of current.

RESULT:
1. Resistance of the wire 1(from graph) =_____________Ω
2. Resistance of the wire 1(from graph) =_____________Ω
3. Resistivity of wire 1 =_____________Ωm.
4. Resistivity of wire 2 =_____________Ωm.

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

METRE BRIDGE

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 METRE BRIDGE

EX: NO:2
DATE:
AIM:
To find the resistance of a given wire/standard resistor using a metre
bridge.
APPARATUS:
Metre bridge, a wire about 1m long, a resistance box, a rheostat,
galvanometer, a jockey, one-way key, a cell or battery eliminator, thick
connecting wires, screw gauge.
FORMULA APPLIED:
A metre bridge works on the principle of Wheatstone’s bridge.
𝑅 𝑙
=
𝑆 100−𝑙

The resistance of a given wire/standard resistor using a metre bridge is

found using the formula
(𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍)
S=R
𝒍

Where, l is the balancing length,

R is the standard resistance and
S is the Unknown resistance
PROCEDURE:
1. Set up the circuit as shown with unknown resistance wire of known length.
2. Introduce some resistance R in the circuit from the resistance box.
3. Bring the jockey J at the middle of the wire, adjust R to get null deflection in
the galvanometer i.e. l 1 = l 2 and x = R.
4. Choose R and find the balancing length.
5. Repeat for different values of resistance R.
6. Interchange the position of the resistances S and R and repeat the experiment.

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TABLE 1: To find the unknown resistance

Balancing length Mean

S.NO. R (𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍)
Length AB = l Length BC = (100-l) S=R
𝒍

Ω cm cm Ω

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mean (S) =______Ω

CALCULATION:

The resistance of a given wire/standard resistor using a metre bridge is

found using the formula
(𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍)
S=R
𝒍

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PRECAUTIONS:
1. All the connections and plugs should be tight.
2. Jockey should be moved gently over the metre bridge wire.
3. The plug in the key should be inserted only at the time of taking observations.
4. Null points should be in the middle of the wire (30 cm to 70 cm).

SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The metre bridge wire may not be of uniform area of cross-section.
2. The resistances of end pieces / metal strips may not be negligible.

Result:
Resistance of the wire using Metre Bridge =__________Ω

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

FIGURE OF MERIT OF GALVANOMETER

TABLE:1 To find the Galvanometer Resistance and to find the figure of

merit of the galvanometer.
Half
Deflection deflection 𝑹𝑺
R S G =
S.No. ‘θ’ 𝜽 𝑹−𝑺
𝟐
Ω div div Ω Ω

1.

2.

3.

4.

Mean=________Ω-div

CALCULATION:
𝑅𝑆
1. G = (Ω)
𝑅−𝑆

𝐸
2. k = (A/div) =
(𝑅+𝐺)θ

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 FIGURE OF MERIT OF GALVANOMETER
EX: NO: 3
DATE:

AIM:
To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by half-deflection method
and to find its figure of merit.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
A moving coil galvanometer, a battery or a battery eliminator, 4 dial High
Resistance box, Two Dial Low resistance box, Galvanometer, Key

FORMULA APPLIED:
𝑅𝑆
1. Galvanometer resistance G =
𝑅−𝑆
Where, R- high variable resistance, S- low variable resistance
𝐸
2. Figure of merit of the galvanometer k = ,
(𝑅+𝐺)θ
Where, E- emf of the supply

PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the components as per the circuit
2. Adjust the high resistance R so that the galvanometer shows even number
of deflections
3. Note down the R value and the deflection achieved θ.
4. Connect the shunt S and adjust to get the θ/2 deflections in the
galvanometer.
5. Repeat the experiment for various θ and calculate the mean value of k

PRECAUTIONS:
1. The battery must be of constant emf
2. All connections must be tight
SOURCE OF ERROR:
1. The emf of the battery may not be constant
2. Resistance box may not provide a accurate resistance to the circuit

RESULT:
1. Resistance of galvanometer by half deflection method, G = _______
2. Figure of merit of galvanometer, k = _____________ ampere/division

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