15.

4 Potentiometer and Wheatstone Bridge

 Potentiometer
Consists of a resistance wire AB ( a slide wire normally 1 metre) with resistance, R AB, and driver
cell of e.m.f. ε, which supplies a potential difference, V AB, across the wire AB.

Let C be any point on wire AB, the voltage across AC be V AC and the resistance of wire AC be RAC.
Derive the of VAC, VAB and relationship with the length of the wire, l.

Let C be any point on wire AB, the voltage across AC be V AC and the resistance of wire AC be R AC.
R AB
Potential difference across AB, v AB = × ε …………………………………. (1)
RT

A potentiometer is a potential divider.

R AC
v AC = ×ε where RT = R + RAB …………………………(2)
RT

The potential difference across AC is directly proportional to the length l.

v AC R AC l
From (1) and (2) = = # The resistance R ∝l
v AB R AB 100

Uses of a potentiometer
 Working Principle of Potentiometer

 Figure above shows a potentiometer being used to measure a potential difference (V XY) of
another circuit called external circuit.
 X is joined to A, so that A and X have the same potential. Y is joined to a jockey, to locate
another point,C, which have same potential as Y.
 When C and Y have the same potential, no current flows between C and Y this called balance
point.
 At balance point ; VAC = VXY
 The balance length, l is used to calculate the potential difference.

Example 1

Figure below shows a potentiometer which has a one –metre slide wire of resistance 12Ω. It is used
to measure the e.m.f. of cell P.

If the balance length is 62.0 cm, find the e.m.f. of the cell P.
Example 2

The figure below shows an accumulator M with e.m.f. 3.0 V and negligible internal resistance
connected to a resistance wire AB of resistance 8.0 Ω and 100 cm long.

A cell, W , with e.m.f. 1.2 V and internal resistance 1.0 Ω and a galvanometer, G, are used to find the
balance point, C, on the potentiometer wire. Calculate the balance length AC,
(a) in the circuit as shown in the figure ,
(b) when a 4.0 Ω resistor is connected in series with M,
(c) when a 2.0 Ω resistor is connected in parallel with W.

 Thermocouple

A thermo couple consists of two different metals joined end to end to form two common
junctions.
When the junction of two different metal wires are at different temperatures, there is e.m.f
generated between the ends, X and Y. This e.m.f is very small. [ millivolts].