EXPERIMENT NO: .

NAME: ..............................
DATE: ..............................

AIM: To determine the ratio of emf of two primary cells, namely Leclanche & Daniel cells, using a
potentiometer.

APPARATUS: Potentiometer, jockey, battery, rheostat, key, Leclanche cell, Daniel cell, two-way key and
connecting wires.

DIAGRAM:

PRINCIPLE OF POTENTIOMETER: Potential difference across a current carrying conductor is directly

proportional to the current flowing through it. V = i R = kl
E1 l1
FORMULA USED: =
E2 l2
PROCEDURE:

1. Arrange the circuit as shown in the diagram making neat and tight connections.
2. Connect two ends of the potentiometer wire to the auxiliary battery through a rheostat & a key.
3. Connect the positive terminals of the two cells to be compared, to the end A of the
potentiometer wire which is at a higher potential.
4. Connect the negative terminals of the cells E1 & E2 to the two side terminals of the two-way key.
5. Connect the centre terminal of the two-way key to the jockey through the galvanometer.
6. Plug in K1 (with K2 removed) so that the cell E1 is in circuit and check for a two-sided deflection in
the galvanometer by placing the jockey at the two ends of the potentiometer wire A & B in turn.
If the deflection is one sided, then check the connections and adjust the rheostat so that the
above condition is achieved.
 7. Repeat the above step by plugging in K2 (with K1 removed) so that the cell E2 is in the circuit.
8. With K1 plugged in, slide the jockey from the end A of the potentiometer wire and note its
position where the galvanometer gives zero deflection. This gives the balancing length l1 for the
cell of emf E1.
9. With K2 plugged in, repeat the previous step to find the balancing length l2 for the cell of emf E2.
10. Take 3 more sets of observations by varying the rheostat.

OBSERVATIONS:
Least Count of potentiometer scale = 0.1 cm.

Balancing length for Balancing length for Daniel E1 l1

=
S. No Leclanche cell l1 (cm) cell l2 (cm) E2 l2
1.
2.
3.
4.

Mean value of l1/l2 = _ _ _ _ _

RESULT: The ratio of emf of Leclanche cell to the emf of Daniel cell = _ _ _ _ _ _

PRECAUTIONS/SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. Driving cell should have higher potential than each of the primary cell.
2. The connections should be tight and positives of both the primary cells and the battery should be
connected at same end.
3. The current should not be passed for a long time to avoid change in resistance because of
heating effect.