Class Notes

Class: XII Topic:

(i) Activity 3
Subject: PHYSICS PRACTICAL (ii) Activity 4

ACTIVITY 3
➢ AIM OR OBJECTIVE: To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire for a steady current.
➢ APPARATUS: A Potentiometer.
➢ MATERIAL: A battery eliminator, a low resistance rheostat, a voltmeter of range (0 to 3 V) an ammeter of
range (0 to 3 A), one way key, a jockey, connecting wires, a Set Square, and a piece of Sandpaper
➢ THEORY: For a potentiometer with wire of uniform material density and thickness carrying a steady
current, potential drop is proportional to the length of the wire.
𝑉𝞪𝒍
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑙
𝑉
𝑘=
𝑙
Where K is the potential drop per unit length. It is called the potential gradient.
➢ DIAGRAM:

➢ PROCEDURE:
• All the connections are made as shown in diagram.
• The positive terminal of the battery eliminator is connected to the zero end P of the Potentiometer
and the negative terminal through a one way key, an ammeter and a low resistance rheostat is
connected to the other end Q of the potentiometer.
• The positive terminal of the voltmeter is connected to the end P of the Potentiometer and the
negative terminal to the Jockey.
• Now the jockey is touched to the end Q of the Potentiometer.
• The key is closed and the rheostat is adjusted such that the voltmeter gives full scale deflection.
• Jockey is touched at end P at 0 cm. The voltmeter will give zero deflection.
• The Jockey is touched at marks separated by 50 cm length of the wire.
• The voltmeter reading is recorded in each case.
• All the observations are recorded in the observation table.
➢ OBSERVATION:
• Range of voltmeter =………………………………..
• Least count of voltmeter = ……………………………….
• Range of ammeter = ………………………………
• Least count of ammeter = ……………………………..
• Study current shown by ammeter = …………………………………
TABLE FOR LENGTH AND POTENTIAL DROP
Serial Length of Voltmeter Reading Ratio
no. Potentiometer wire 𝑉 (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡) 𝑉
𝑘= (𝑉/𝑐𝑚)
𝑙 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑙

1. 0
2. 50
3. 100
4. 150
5. 200
6. 250
7. 300
8. 350

➢ CALCULATION FROM GRAPH:

(Plot a graph choosing a suitable scale potential drop v and length)
𝐵𝐶 𝑉2 − 𝑉1 𝑉
From graph tan θ = 𝐴𝐶 = =
𝑙2 − 𝑙1 𝑙
The slope of straight line OB gives the value of potential gradient.

➢ RESULT:
• The graph between V and 𝑙 is straight line. Therefore the potential drop along the length of wire is
directly proportional to its length
𝑉𝞪𝒍
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑙
• The potential drop per unit length of wire is k = ……………V cm-1
 ACTIVITY 4
➢ AIM OR OBJECTIVE: To observe refraction and lateral deviation, displacement of a beam of light incident
obliquely on a glass slab.
➢ APPARATUS: Glass slab, drawing board, white paper sheet, drawing pins, office pins, Protector.
➢ THEORY:
When a Ray of light PQ incident on the face AB of glass slab, then it bends towards normal since refraction
takes place from rarer to denser medium. The refracted ray QR travel along straight line an incident on
face DC of slab and bends away from the normal since refraction takes place from denser to rarer medium.
The ray RS out through face DC is called emergent Ray.
From the following diagram
• The incident ray is parallel to the emergent ray i.e. i = e
• The emergent ray is laterally deviated from its original path by a distance
𝑑 = 𝑡 sec 𝑟 sin(𝑖 − 𝑟)
➢ DIAGRAM:

➢ PROCEDURE:
• A white paper sheet is fixed by drawing pins on a drawing board.
• A glass slab is kept symmetrically in the middle of the paper and its boundaries are marked.
• A normal at point Q is drawn on face AB and a line PQ is drawn which makes an angle 𝑖 with the
normal. PQ will represent incident ray.
• Two pins are fixed on the line PQ at a distance 3 cm or more.
• Images of these pins are observed through face DC and two more pins are fixed so that it covers
the image of first two pins, all being along a straight line.
• The glass slab is removed and a straight line RS is drawn to represent emergent ray. QR is joint to
represent refracted ray.
• At point R normal is drawn and angle of emergence is measured.
 • PQ is extended forward and perpendicular distance is measured between PQ and RS.
• Similarly one more reading is taken.
➢ OBSERVATION:
S. No. Angle of incidence (𝑖) Angle of emergence (𝑒) Difference (𝑖 − 𝑒)
1. 30 0

2. 450
➢ CONCLUSIONS:
• Angle of incidence (𝑖) = Angle of emergence (𝑒)
• The lateral displacement increases with the increase in the thickness of the slab.
• The lateral displacement increases with the angle of incidence(𝑖).

(This sheet is prepared from home)