PRACTICAL BASED QUESTIONS.

CLASS XII.
1. Why we prefer potentiometer over voltmeter?
The terminal voltage of a cell is the potential difference between its electrodes. A voltmeter cannot
be used to measure the emf of a cell because a voltmeter draws some current from the cell. To
measure a cell's emf a potentiometer is used since in a potentiometer measurement no
current is flowing.
2. How does the internal resistance of an electrolytic cell (a source of emf) depend on
I) the concentration of the electrolyte?
II) the temperature of the cell?
Q3. How internal resistance changes increase in concentration of electrolyte?
Internal resistance decreases with increase in concentration as we know that increase in
concentration causes increase in ions so conductivity increases resistance decreases
Q4. How internal resistance changes on increasing
As temperature increase mobility of ions increase inside electrolyte so resistance decreases
Q5. What is internal resistance?
The resistance offered by the electrodes and electrolyte of a cell is called internal resistance.
Q7. What are the factors affecting internal resistance?
The internal resistance of a cell depends on the nature of electrodes and electrolyte, the temperature
of electrolyte, the area of electrodes, the concentration of electrolyte and the distance between
electrodes.
Q8. How does the internal resistance change if we increase the area of electrodes?
the internal resistance will decrease if we increase the area of electrodes.
Q9. What will happen to internal resistance if we increase the temperature?
The internal resistance of the cell will decrease with increase in temperature.
Q10. How does the Resistance of a conductor vary with temperature?
For a conductor the resistance increases with increase in temperature due the decrease in relaxation
time.
Q11. What is relaxation time?
The average time interval between two successive collisions of electrons is called relaxation time.
Q12. Why does the relaxation time decrease with an increase in temperature?
as temperature increases, the collisions become more frequent and therefore the average time
interval between collisions decreases.
Q13. Define potential gradient of a potentiometer.
The potential drop per unit length of the potentiometer wire is called potential gradient.
Q14. How does the sensitivity of a potentiometer vary with potential gradient?
The sensitivity of the potentiometer decreases with an increase in potential gradient. As the potential
gradient increases, greater potential difference is obtained for a small change in length of the wire. Or
the length of the potentiometer for a given change in potential will be less. The potentiometer is
more sensitive if we get a considerably larger change in length for a given change in potential.
Therefore, with an increase in potential gradient, the sensitivity decreases.
Q15. Name the Physical quantities to be kept constant for Ohm’s law to be true.
length, area of cross section, temperature
Q16.State the Principle of a potentiometer.
The potential drop across any length of a conductor of uniform cross section and composition
carrying a constant current is directly proportional to the length. It is used to find internal resistance
of cell, potential difference across a resistor, compare the emf of two cells.
Q17. How can we increase the sensitivity of a potentiometer?
increasing the length of potentiometer wire, decreasing the current, decreasing the potential
gradient.
Q18. Define figure of merit of a galvanometer.
Current for unit deflection
Q19. Which has more resistance – a galvanometer or a milliammeter?
Galvanometer Because the galvanometer measure current in micro ampere. The best sensitivity of a
galvanometer is obtained when internal resistance is equal to external series load resistance.
Q20. How does an LED emit light?
The energy released during recombination of electrons and holes across the junction is responsible
for the release of light by LED . It works in forward biased because in forward biased diode behaves
like a short circuit and a reverse biased diode acts like an open circuit. An LED is a light emitting diode.
The LED emits light when it is forward biased and it emits no light when it is reverse biased.
Q21. What is the difference between an ordinary diode and an LED?
In ordinary diode the energy emitted during recombination of electrons and holes is in the invisible
region of the em spectrum but in the case of LED, the energy is in the visible region.
Q22. Define principal axis of a convex lens?
Straight line joining the centres of curvature of the lens..
Q23. What happens to the focal length of a concave mirror if it is immersed in water?
The focal length of mirror does not change by changing the medium. Their is a pure geometrical
relationship between the radius of curvature and focal length and the relation does not include any
term depending on refractive index.
Q24. What are the difference between primary and secondary cell?
Primary cell cannot be recharged, secondary cells can be recharged; secondary cells have less internal
resistance than primary cells.
Q25. Why can’t we use a dry cell for starting a car?
Due to the high internal resistance of a dry cell, it won’t be able to provide the current sufficient to
start the car
Q26. What do you mean by sensitivity of potentiometer?
Its means that smallest potential difference can be measured with the help of
Potentiometer. Sensitivity of Potentiometer can be increased by decreasing its potential gradient.
Thus it can also be increase by, 1. By increasing the length of potentiometer wire. We can increase
the by decreasing potential gradient and that can be done by using 10 wire potentiometer.
Q27. Name the factors on which angle of deviation depends?
Angle of incidence
Angle of refraction
Material of prism.
Color of the light used. (wavelength)
Q28. What is spherical aberration? How it can be removed?
The shape of a spherical lens causes a problem called spherical aberration. In spherical aberration,
parallel light rays that pass through the central region of the lens focus farther away than light rays
that pass through the edges of the lens. The result is many focal points, which produce a blurry
image.
The simplest method of reducing spherical aberration is to place an aperture, hole or "stop", in front
of or after the lens. The aperture blocks out rays that blur the image. The disadvantage is, however, a
greatly reduced light throughput of the lens.
Q29. What is chromatic aberration? How it can be removed?
occurs when a lens is either unable to bring all wavelengths of color to the same focal plane, and/or
when wavelengths of color are focused at different positions in the focal plane.
Chromatic aberration is caused by lens dispersion, with different colors of light travelling at different
speeds while passing through a lens. As a result, the image can look blurred or noticeable colored
edges (red, green, blue, yellow, purple, magenta) can appear around objects, especially in high-
contrast situations.
uneven refraction of light caused chromatic aberration. (leading Newton to build the first reflecting
telescope)
can be reduced by combination of lens.
Q30. What is angle of deviation?
The angle of deviation through a triangular prism is defined as the angle between the incident ray and
the emerging ray (angle δ). It can be shown that when the angle of incidence i is equal to the angle of
refraction r' for the emerging ray, the angle of deviation is at a minimum
Q31. What is angle of minimum deviation?
when the angle of incidence i is equal to the angle of refraction r' for the emerging ray, the angle of
deviation is at a minimum. (i=e).
Q32. What is refractive index?
measure of the bending of a ray of light when passing from one medium into another.
The refractive index depends on the material and the wavelength of the light. The larger the
refractive index, the larger the deviation angle.
Q33. What is absolute refractive index?
The absolute refractive index is defined as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum and in selected
medium.
Q34. What is the relation between angle of deviation and incidence angle?
Q35. How is refractive index and wavelength related to each other?
They are related inversely to each other. Hence red has smaller R.I
Q36. What is an EMF?
It is chemical force which makes the positive ions inside a cell to move from –ve to +ve terminal
inside the cell.
Q37. Differentiate between emf and potential difference of cell?

Q38. Why we use null deflection technique?

To measure a cell's emf a potentiometer is used since in a potentiometer measurement no current is
flowing. It employs a null method of measuring potential difference, so that when a balance is
reached and the reading is being taken, no current is drawn from the source to be measured.
Q39. Why we observe one sided deflection in galvanometer?
Positive terminal of all cell are not connected at one point.
Emf of driving cell is less than emf of each cell.
Potential between two ends of wire is less than the emf of the cell which is to be measured.
Q40.Why we use manganin and constantan (alloy not metal (copper)) for making potentiometer
wire?
Low temperature coefficient of resistance and high resistivity.
Q41. What is temperature coefficient of resistance?
The resistance-change factor per degree Celsius of temperature change is called the temperature
coefficient of resistance. This factor is represented by the Greek lower-case letter “alpha” (α). A
positive coefficient for a material means that its resistance increases with an increase in temperature.
For pure metals, this coefficient is a positive number, meaning that resistance increases with
increasing temperature. For the elements carbon, silicon, and germanium, this coefficient is a
negative number, meaning that resistance decreases with increasing temperature. For some metal
alloys, the temperature coefficient of resistance is very close to zero, meaning that the resistance
hardly changes at all with variations in temperature (a good property if you want to build a precision
resistor out of metal wire)

If there is approximately no change in resistance with temperature, we can consider the value of this
coefficient as zero. The alloy of constantan and manganin has the temperature coefficient of
resistance nearly zero.
Q42. Why we use ammeter in series?
Ammeter has ideal zero resistance. If connected in parallel it will draw all the current and change the
behavior of circuit (short circuit). Hence original current to be measured will change.
Q43. Why voltmeter connected in parallel?
Voltmeter measures the potential difference, and it has high internal resistance. As
the voltmeter is connected in parallel with a circuit component, the amount of current through
the voltmeter is very less. Therefore, the current through the circuit is not altered.
Q44. Different types of cell.

Daniel cell-It consists of a zinc electrode dipped in dilute and copper electrode immersed
in solution with a permeable membrane (fired clay or porcelain pot). At the zinc electrode,
zinc ions pass into the solution while at the positive terminal, copper ions are deposited.

Leclanche cell -It consists of glass vessel containing strong solution of ammonium chloride
as a electrolyte. An amalgamated zinc rod acts as a negative pole of the cell. The purpose of
amalgamated zinc rod is to avoid local action defect. A porous rod is placed in inside the
solution. Carbon rod kept in the porous pot acts as an electrode surrounded by a mixture of
and carbon powder. While (manganese dioxide) acts as a depolarizer, powdered carbon
reduces the internal resistance of the cell.
Primary cells
They provide electrical energy due to chemical energy. Primary cells are those cells in which the
chemical state changes occurred during energy production cannot be reversed by passage of
electrical energy through the cell. Thus they cannot be recharged. Voltaic
cell, Daniel cell, Leclanche cell and Dry cell are examples of primary cells.
Secondary cells
The cells that can be recharged by passing the required amount of charge through them are called
secondary cells. Secondary cells are also known as accumulators or storage cells. Lead- acid cell
and Edison alkali cell are examples of secondary cells.
A dry cell is a type of electric battery, commonly used for portable electrical devices.
leclanche cell is in fact the earlier version of dry cell.
Q45. Why we use a resistance in series with a galvanometer in potentiometer experiment?
To prevent it from damage from the flow of excessive current that exist when jockey is away from
balance point.
INSTRUMENTS USED IN LABORATORY.
Q46. Resistance Box
The simple resistance box has two copper terminals for connecting the positive and negative terminal
of the circuit. The cover of the box on which terminals and knobs are placed is made by ebonite
material. The knob is used for adding and removing the resistance from the circuit.
On the second side of the ebonite sheet, the resistances of different value are connected in series
with each other. For connecting the resistance across the circuit, the knobs of the resistance need to
be removed. When all the knob is placed on the air gap then the current pass through the copper
stud, no resistance is connected to the circuit.
Carbon resistor connected in series…

Q47. Rheostat.
Three terminal devices (two fixed one variable). Made of eureka wire (alloy)
effective length is changed using a sliding contact. A rheostat as already mentioned has a fixed and a
moving terminal. The effective length is that between the fixed terminal and the position of the
sliding terminal on the resistive path. As the slider moves, the effective length changes thereby
changing the resistance of the rheostat.
Since resistance is directly proportional to the length, as the effective length increases, the resistance
increases. Similarly, as the effective length decreases, resistance offered by the rheostat decreases.
this resistive path can be of any type of resistive material such as carbon composition resistor, wire-
wound resistor, conductive plastic resistor and ceramic resistor.
We use linear rheostat in laboratory.
Oxide coated manganin wire wrapped over porcelain tube (act as perfect insulator).
Q48. Galvanometer
Pointer type galvanometer (Weston Galvanometer)
The pointer galvanometer is a sensitive instrument for measuring current. It consists of a magnet coil
with an attached needle suspended between the poles of a magnet. When an electric current is
introduced into the magnet coil it induces a magnetic field, causing the coil to rotate in proportion to
the current.
Q49. How is galvanometer converted into ammeter?
When an electric current pass through the coil, it deflects. The deflection is proportional to the
current passed. ... Thus, to measure large currents it is converted into an ammeter. It can
be converted into an ammeter by connecting a low resistance called shunt resistance in parallel to
the galvanometer
Q50. What is the principle of meter bridge?
A Meter Bridge is also called as slide wire bridge and is an instrument that works on the principle of a
Wheatstone bridge. A meter bridge is used in finding the unknown resistance of a conductor as that
of in a Wheatstone bridge.
Here, four resistors P, Q, R, and S are connected to form the network ABCD. The terminals A and C
are connected to a battery, and the terminals C and D are connected to a galvanometer through keys
K1 and K2 respectively.
In the balancing condition, there is no deflection on the galvanometer. Then,

l is the length where null point is obtained. Where the bridge is balanced.