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Circuit diagram: Series combination COMBINATION OF RESISTANCES

Experiment No. :7A Date:
Aim: Verification of law of series combination of resistances using
metre bridge.
Apparatus required: Metre bridge, two resistors, plug key, resistance
box, jokey, battery and galvanometer etc.
Principle: 1. Wheatstone bridge is a balanced when current through
the galvanometer is zero.
2. If P,Q, R and S represent resistances of four arms of balanced
Wheatstone’s network then P/Q = R/S.
Ba – Battery, K – plug key, S – Standard resistance box 𝑺𝒍
Formulae: 1. RS =𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍 in Ω
R1 and R2 are resistances, G – Galvanometer
Where, S is resistance in right gap, 𝑙 is balancing length
2. Equivalent resistance (RS )of series combination
Observations: RS = R1 + R2
Resistance of the resistor, R1 = 10 .Ω R1 and R2 are individual resistances
Resistance of the resistor, R2 = 5.Ω Procedure: 1. Connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram.
Sl.No. Resistance S Balancing length 𝑙 (100- 𝑙) 𝑺𝒍
RS = 2. A suitable resistance S is unplugged in the standard resistance box.
𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍
in Ω in cm in cm
in Ω
3. The circuit is checked for opposite deflections by placing the Jockey
1 14 52 48 15.16 at the two ends of the metre bridge wire A and C alternatively.
2 16 49.5 50.5 15.68
3 18 46.5 53.5 15.64 4. The Jockey is moved on the wire from end A towards the end C till
the galvanometer shows zero deflection.

Mean RS = 15.49 Ω 5. The balancing length 𝑙 is measured. The equivalent resistance of the
𝑺𝒍
series combination is calculated using the formula. RS =𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍
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Calculation: 6. The experiment is repeated for different values of S and mean value
𝑺𝒍 𝟏𝟒×𝟓𝟐
of RS is calculated.
Trial1: RS = = =15.16 Ω
𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍 𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟓𝟐

Result: The theoretical value of equivalent resistance is equal to the

𝑺𝒍 𝟏𝟔×𝟒𝟗.𝟓 experimental value of equivalent resistance (RS). Hence the law of
Trial2: RS = = = 15.68 Ω
𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍 𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟒𝟗.𝟓 series combination of resistances in series is verified.

𝑺𝒍 𝟏𝟖×𝟒𝟔.𝟓
Trial3: RS = = = 15.64 Ω
𝟏−𝒍 𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟒𝟔.𝟓

𝟏𝟓.𝟏𝟔+𝟏𝟓.𝟔𝟖+𝟏𝟓.𝟔𝟒
Mean RS(Experimental)= = 15.49Ω
𝟑

Theoretical : RS(Theoretical) = R1 + R2
= 10 +5
= 15 Ω
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Circuit diagram: Parallel combination Experiment No. :7B Date:

Aim: Verification of law of parallel combination of resistances using
metre bridge.
Apparatus required: Metre bridge, two resistors, plug key, resistance
box, jokey, battery and galvanometer etc.
Principle: 1. Wheatstone bridge is a balanced when current through
the galvanometer is zero.
2. If P,Q, R and S represent resistances of four arms of balanced
Wheatstone’s network then P/Q = R/S.
𝑺𝒍
Ba – Battery, K – plug key, S – Standard resistance box Formulae: 1. RP = in Ω
𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍

R1 and R2 are resistances, G – Galvanometer Where, S is resistance in right gap, 𝑙 is balancing length
Observations: 2. Equivalent resistance (RS ) of parallel combination
𝐑𝟏 𝐑𝟐
Resistance of the resistor, R1 = 10 .Ω RP = 𝐑𝟏+ 𝐑𝟐

Resistance of the resistor, R2 = 5.Ω R1 and R2 are individual resistances

Sl.No. Resistance S Balancing length 𝑙 (1- 𝑙) RP =

𝑺𝒍 Procedure: 1. Connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram.
𝟏−𝒍
in Ω in cm in cm
in Ω 2. A suitable resistance S is unplugged in the standard resistance box.
1 4 44.5 55.5 3.21
2 6 38 62 3.68 3. The circuit is checked for opposite deflections by placing the Jockey
3 8 31 69 3.59 at the two ends of the metre bridge wire A and C alternatively.
4. The Jockey is moved on the wire from end A towards the end C till
Mean RP = .3.49 Ω the galvanometer shows zero deflection.
5. The balancing length 𝑙 is measured. The equivalent resistance of the
𝑺𝒍
series combination is calculated using the formula. RP =𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍
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Calculation: 6. The experiment is repeated for different values of S and mean value
𝑺𝒍 𝟒×𝟒𝟒.𝟓
of RP is calculated.
Trial1: RP =𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍 = 𝟓𝟓.𝟓
=3,21 Ω

Result: The theoretical value of equivalent resistance is equal to the

𝑺𝒍 𝟔×𝟑𝟖 experimental value of equivalent resistance (RP). Hence the law of
Trial2: RP = = = 3.68 Ω
𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍 𝟔𝟐 parallel combination of resistances in parallel is verified.

𝑺𝒍 𝟖×𝟑𝟏
Trial3: RP =𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝒍 = 𝟔𝟗
= 3.59 Ω

𝟑.𝟐𝟏+𝟑.𝟔𝟖+𝟑.𝟓𝟗
Mean RP (Experimental) = 𝟑
= 3.49 Ω

𝐑𝟏 𝐑𝟐
Theoretical: RP =
𝐑𝟏+ 𝐑𝟐

𝟏𝟎×𝟓
= 𝟏𝟎+𝟓

RP (Theoretical) = 3.33 Ω