MARKS:

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

CAWANGAN PAHANG KAMPUS JENGKA

PHY 150
ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE : POTENTIOMETER

EXP. NO. :3

GROUP : AS1203D

NO NAME STUDENT ID
1. AININ IZNI BINTI MOHD ZAINI 2021456136
2. NIK NUR INTAN SYAZLEEN BINTI MOHD 2021463082
IDHAM SHAHRING
3. NURUL ADIRA FAZIRA BINTI SALLEH 2021832634

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 28 DECEMBER 2022

LECTURER : MADAM JUNAIDAH BINTI MD SANI
 EXPERIMENT 3 : POTENTIOMETER

OBJECTIVES :
To determine the internal resistance of a dry cell using a potentiometer.

APPARATUS :

- A 2 V D.C power supply

- A 1.5 V dry cell
- A resistance boxes
- A galvanometer
- A jockey
- Connecting wires

THEORY :
D.C power supply provides the driving potential between A and B.
When switch S is opened, jockey slides and the galvanometer show zero reading, the
emf ɛ of the dry cell with internal resistance, r is

ɛ = 𝑘𝑙𝑜
Where 𝑙 is the balance length and k = constant.
𝑜
When switch S is closed, the balance length changes according to the resistance R.
The potential difference across dry cell terminals V is

V = 𝑘𝑙

Switch, S = open ɛ = 𝑘𝑙𝑜

Switch, S = close V = 𝑘𝑙

When, V = IR and 𝜀 = 𝐼(𝑅+𝑟) :

𝜀 𝐼(𝑅+𝑟)
𝑉
= 𝐼𝑅

𝜀 𝑅+𝑟
𝑉
= 𝑅

𝑘𝑙𝑜 𝑅+𝑟
𝑘𝑙
= 𝑅

𝑙𝑜 𝑅 𝑟
𝑙
= 𝑅
+ 𝑅

𝑙𝑜 1
𝑙
= 𝑟( 𝑅 ) + 1
PROCEDURE :

a) Resistor box R was connected in parallel with a dry cell (emf ɛ, internal
resistance, r) as in Figure 3.
b) The DC power supply was switched on.
c) Switch S was let open. Jockey J was slid on wire A B until the reading of
the galvanometer became zero. The balance length, 𝑙 was measured.
𝑜

d) The experiment was started with resistance R = 10Ω, switch S was closed
and the jockey was slid until zero reading was obtained in the
galvanometer. The new balance length, 𝑙𝑜 was measured.
e) The experiment was repeated with different R and the balance lengths
were recorded in Table 3.
𝑙𝑜 1
f) A graph of against was plotted. The internal resistance of the dry
𝑙 𝑅

cell was calculated from the graph.

RESULTS:

𝑙◦ = 1. 0𝑚

No. Resistance, R (Ω) Balance 𝑙◦ 1

(Ω-1)
𝑅
length, l (m) 𝑙

1. 10 0.481 2.08 0.1

2. 20 0.479 2.09 0.2
3. 30 0.477 2.10 0.3
4. 40 0.474 2.11 0.4
5. 50 0.468 2.14 0.5
6. 60 0.464 2.16 0.6
7. 70 0.460 2.17 0.7
DATA ANALYSIS :
Internal resistance of the dry cell

𝑙◦/𝑙 = 𝑟 ( 1/𝑅 ) + 1
y= mx + c

r = internal resistance
m=r
𝑦2− 𝑦1
𝑚= 𝑥2 − 𝑥1
2.11− 1.00
𝑚 = 0.4 − 0.0

m = 2.775Ω

Internal resistance = 2.775Ω

DISCUSSION :
From this experiment, the independent variable is the resistance, R whereas for the
balance length, l acts as the dependent variable. Additionally, the constant variable will
be the voltage used for the circuit. Furthermore, the main purpose of this experiment
being done is to determine the internal resistance of a dry cell using a potentiometer.
Potentiometer is known to be a three-terminal variable resistor where it can be used to
control the flow of the electric current by varying the resistance. It acts as an adjustable
𝑙𝑜
voltage divider. Thus, this objective can be fulfilled by plotting the graph of against
𝑙
1
where r is the slope of the graph. As being mentioned, r is the internal resistance
𝑅
where it can be calculated by applying the formula :

𝑙𝑜 1
𝑙
= 𝑟( 𝑅 ) + 1

Based on the data and the results collected from the experiment, a graph can be
plotted where the gradient can be found to determine the internal resistance. From the
graph, it can be observed that it is a linear graph where y is increasing linearly with x.
𝑙𝑜 1
Hence, it indicates that when increases, the will also increase. By plotting the
𝑙 𝑅
graph, the internal resistance can be found out using the formula given and the value
obtained is 2.775Ω. Therefore, it can be stated that the higher the resistance value, the
lower the balance length.

To add more, few errors and issues have been encountered during the experiment
such as parallax error and instrumental error. First and foremost, parallax error occurs
when the person in charge of taking the reading for the balance length has a few
inaccuracies while taking the reading because the eyes’ position is not parallel to the
ruler’s scale. Hence, to overcome this issue, the group member in charge needs to
make sure that the eyes’s position is accurate and parallel to the ruler scale while taking
the readings to avoid any errors. Next, other errors that happened could also be caused
by the apparatus that was being used while doing the experiment. For instance, there
might be a slight problem with the resistance box throughout the experiment that
caused the imprecise results at the end. This particular issue could affect the data
collected for the experiment. So, in order to solve this problem, each group has to make
sure all the apparatus being used for the experiment is in optimal and good conditions
so that any damages or inaccuracies could be totally avoided.
CONCLUSION :
In the nutshell, we can determine the internal resistance of a dry cell using the
potentiometer by using this experiment. Hence, we can clarify that the internal
resistance of a dry cell is r = 2.775 Ω. Moreover, we can also identify from the graph that
1 𝑙𝑜
𝑅
is increasing linearly with 𝑙
.
REFERENCES :
1. Potentiometer: Definition, Types, And Working Principle. (2019, January 31).

Electrical4U. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from

https://www.electrical4u.com/potentiometer/

2. Potentiometer - Functions, Types and Applications - Latest Open Tech From

Seeed. (2019, October 22). Seeed Studio. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from

https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/2019/10/22/potentiometer-functions-types-and

-applications/

3. Shamieh, C. (n.d.). What Is a Potentiometer? - dummies. Dummies.com.

Retrieved December 26, 2022, from

https://www.dummies.com/article/technology/electronics/general-electronics/what

-is-a-potentiometer-223724/

4. What is Potentiometer? Diagram, Symbols, Characteristics. (2020, November 9).

Linquip. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from

https://www.linquip.com/blog/what-is-potentiometer/

5. Potentiometer - Principle and Applications. (n.d.). Byju's. Retrieved December 26, 2022,

from https://byjus.com/jee/potentiometer/