AM resistances (series and parallel)

combination of
To verity the laws of
using a metre bridge.

APPARATUS AND MATERIAL REQUIRED

different resistances
bridge, sensitive galvanometer. two
A metre a
a resistance
jockey, a rheostat,
box, a
(carbon or wire-wound resistors), anda
thick connecting wires
aplug key, a cell or battery eliminator,
piece of sand paper.

P RINCIPLE in series, the resistance

When two resistances R, and R, are connected
of the combination R_is given by

(E 3.1) R R,+R,
When connected in parallel, the resistance R, of the combination is

given by

(E 3.2)
R
111
R R

PRO
ROCEDURE
1. Set up the circuit as shown in Fig. E 3.1.
and
2. Tighten all plugs in the resistance box (R by rotating a
pressing each plug to ensure that all plugs make good elecr
per
contacts. Clean the ends of connecting wires using a sand pap
before nmaking the connections.
table

33. Remove some plugls) from the resistance box to get s

value of resistance R. Obtain the null point D on the meuneil
done
wire by sliding the jockey between ends A and C as was
Experiment 2.
 ExPEMIMENT 3

i llllulnlduulhluniunlunuinhinun
Jou key

(1001Jm

Fig. E 3.1 ReststanCes R, and H, connecled in sertes to one urm ofa muta brlge

4. Note resistance R and lengths AD and DC n the oservation

table
5. Calculate the experimental value of the equivalent series
resistance (X) of comblnaton of res1stances 8s shown in
Table 3.1
6. Repeatthe experfmnent for four more values of res1stanes
Obtaln the mean value of unknown res1stance,

L A
alunluuluauaulul

Jonkeyd
nbuiunishuttumlinhunaiisuiithu

(100-1e

3,2 Reslstancen N, and N, conected n parallel lo e arm ofa metre bntdye

Fig, E
resistances M, arid , in parallel
7 Repeat steps2-6by connecting
as
calculale the
shown In Pig, E 3.2 and expernental value of
the equtvalent parallel ressstance K) of coanination of resistance,
37
LABORATORY MANUAL

UBSERVATIONS
Table E 3.1: Series and parallel combination of resistances

Si Resistance Length Length Unknowm AR or AR,

No. R AD Dc. r= 100 t resistance
RXT
XIR oR)
(ohm) (cm) (cm) fohm) ohm)
and
R in 2
series,
R

Mean R
R and
R, in

parallel,
R

Mean R

CALALCULATIONS
1. The theoretically expected value of the series
combination o
resistances is R=R,+ R
Note that R and R, are to be obtained
from colour code on carbon
resistors or are the given values in case of
wires of materials like nichrome, resistances made o
constantan etc.
2.
Theoretically expected value of the parallel combination
esistances is RpR+R2

Error
In
estimating errors, we have presumed that error in Ris zero R
expected to be the same as indicated on resistance
1.8.
box.
E 3.3 In such a case,
R Ir
where R, land l' values Tab
are to be taken from on
E3.1, AL, Al indicate the the Observau ont
least count of the
38
metre bridge. measuring sca
 EXPERIMENT 3

i.e. aR, -R 34

Similarly, AR,= E 3.52

Maximum of the five values of AR, and AR, should be reported as the
estimation in errors. It can be seen from equation (E 3.4) and
(E 3.5) that the error will be minimum if balancing lengths l= r.
Therefore the null points should be obtained in the central reglon of
the wire AC. For this reason, it is essential to plug out resistances
from resistance box such that resistances in the left and right gaps
are comparable.

RESULT
Table E 3.2: Theoretical and experimental values of resistance
Theoretically Experimentally
expected resistance(2) obtained resistance (2)

Series Combination R+R RtAR

Parallel Combination RR Rt AR
R+R

the values of equivalent resistance for the

R and R, are mean
combination of R, and R in series and in parallel respectively.

Pa
RECAUTIONS
1. All the connections plugs should be tight.
and
the metre bridge wire.
2. Jockey should be moved gently over
3. Plug keys of the resistance box should be made tight by rotating
it in clockwise direction.

4. Null points should be in the central reglon of the wire

(30 cm to 70 cm).

OURCES OF ERROR
too hard on the metre bridge
1. The jockey should not be pressed
become non-uniform during the
wire. Otherwise, the wire may
course of time.
39
 2. The
length mcasurement land l may have error
wire is not taut and if the metret
along the scale in the metre bridge, e brido
3. If large current is
passed for a sufficiently long time, the t .
may get heated and its resistance may change considerabl
the time of
experiment. bly durn.Ae
4. Galvanometer pointer is expectcd to be at zero when no
through it. However, many a time it is observed
currene
that it is noe
Such cases, pointer has to be adjusted to zero by gently mo
Screw below the scale with the help of a screw driver. Otheru
point must be obtained by sliding the jockey on wire A
observing the point, where tapping the galvanometer doe.
produce any deflection in it. oes n
5. Many a time, it is found that the offered
resistance
box is not the same as is indicated on it. Therefore,
by resista
the e
Trorn
In
will cause an additional error in the result.

D IsCUSSION
1. It may be noted that if carbon resistors are used, AR, and R
to be obtained from tolerance limits shown by band of
the col
codes* marked on them and error AR, and
AR, can also
calculated using these values as shown in Example 2.10
(p.27
PHYSICS Textbool for Class XI Part-I(NCERT, 2006). Maxinmume
values ofAR and AR, so obtained together with that from
equatio
(E 3.4) and (E 3.5) should be reported as estimation in errors.
2. The accuracy with which the null point can
be detected als
depends upon the sensitivity of the galvanometer. To investiga
sensitivity, find the distance through which the jockey has to
moved to cause ajust perceptible deflection of the
Make a note of the range of distance over which null
galvanometam
obtained at all points. Ideally, this range should not be
points
the least count of the measuring scale.
more tha
3. In some cases, it is possible that the
bridge wire is not exact
100 cm long. In such cases its exact
length should be used
the calculation.
4. If resistances
R, and R, are made of wires of materials i
constantan, nichrome etc., their values along with the correct
errors in their measurement should be
considered for calcula
equivalent resistance.

DELF ASSESSMENT
1. Comment onthe difference between
theoretically expectea a
experimentally obitained values of the effective resistances.
40 For details of colour codes, see
appendix 3.