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Physics Practical Class 12 Viva Questions with Answers

1)Define Ohm’s law.

Answer. The current that flows through most conductors is directly proportional to the
voltage applied. The voltage across a conductor is directly proportional to the current
flowing through it, provided all physical conditions and temperatures remain constant.

2)What is the formula of Ohm’s law?

Answer. Ohm’s law is given by the formula: V=IR

Where, I=current, V=voltage, and R=Resistance.

3)What is specific resistance?

Answer. The resistance offered per unit length and unit cross-sectional area when a
known amount of voltage is applied is known as the specific resistance.

4)What is the SI unit of the potential difference?

Answer. The SI unit of the potential difference is volt.

5)The current is measured in which unit?

Answer. The unit of electric current is Ampere.

6)What is the unit of resistance?

Answer. The unit of the electrical resistance is Ohms.

7)Does the resistance depend on the temperature?

Answer. Yes, the resistance depends on the temperature. As the temperature

increases, the resistance also increases.

8)What are the various sources of error while performing this experiment?

Answer: Various sources of error are:

 The instrument screws may be loose.

 Lack of thick connecting wires.
 Using rheostat of high resistance.

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9)What is electrical conductivity?

Answer. It is the measure of the ability of the material to allow the electric current to
pass through it.

10)Define a rheostat.

Answer. A rheostat is a two-terminal electrical device. The rheostat is a variable

resistor whose resistance can be changed to change the current flowing amount
through a circuit.

11)State true or false: The potential difference across the wire varies linearly
with the current.

Answer. TRUE. The potential difference across the wire varies linearly with the
current.

12)Does the resistance depend on the dimensions of the conductor?

Answer. Yes, the resistance depends on the dimensions of the conductor.

13) Give one example of a substance whose resistance lowers with an

increase in temperature.
Answer. A semiconductor is the best example.
14) How is a conductor’s resistance affected by an increase in temperature?
Answer. A conductor’s resistance increases when the temperature rises.
15) How is an ammeter connected to an electric circuit?
Answer. An ammeter is usually joined in series in the electric circuit.
16) What is the main procedure to convert a galvanometer into an ammeter?
Answer. A galvanometer is typically converted into an ammeter by linking a suitable
low resistance wire (shunt) in parallel orientation with it.
17) How are voltmeters attached to an electric circuit?
Answer. Voltmeters are always connected in parallel.
18) What is the main procedure to convert a galvanometer into a voltmeter?
Answer. A galvanometer is typically converted into a voltmeter by linking a high
resistance in series orientation with it.
19) What is a potentiometer?
Answer. A potentiometer is an electrical apparatus used for precise calculation of
minute potential differences and to analyse the e.m.f.s of the available primary cells.

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20) What is the principle of a potentiometer?

Answer. The principle of a potentiometer is stated as the potential dropped along a
section of a wire of uniform area carrying a stable electric current is directly
proportional to the wire’s length.

21) What is meant by a cell’s e.m.f?

Answer. It is the highest possible potential difference along with a cell’s terminals in
an open electric circuit.
22) What is meant by a potential gradient?
Answer. The potential gradient is the potential variation per unit length of the given
potentiometer wire.
23) Why is a potentiometer preferred over a voltmeter for the calculation of
e.m.f?
Answer. For the purpose of measuring e.m.f accurately, no electric current should
be taken from the cell. In the case of a potentiometer, the readings are noted when
the electric current is zero. So the potentiometer measures the e.m.f correctly.
24) What is meant by terminal voltage?
Answer. Terminal voltage is the potential difference along with a cell’s terminals
when the electric current is being taken from it.
25) Is a voltmeter used for measuring the e.m.f.?
Answer. No, the voltmeter takes electric current from the cell.
26) What is the reason behind the null point?
Answer. The null point is acquired because the cell’s e.m.f. is balanced by the
potential variation along a particular length of the connected potentiometer wire.
27 What is meant by a cell’s internal resistance?
Answer. The resistance applied by the cell’s electrolyte is known as the cell’s
internal resistance.
28) What is meant by a primary cell?
Answer. A primary cell is a type of cell which cannot be recharged.
29) What is meant by a secondary cell?
Answer. A secondary cell is a type of cell which can be recharged.
30) Why does a secondary cell give more electric current than a primary cell of
the identical e.m.f.?
Answer. A secondary cell gives more electric current than a primary cell because a
secondary cell possesses a very low internal resistance.

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31) Which type of cells (primary cells or secondary cells) is employed in

automobiles?
Answer. Secondary cells are typically used in automobiles because they provide the
needed large beginning current due to this cell’s relatively low internal resistance.
32) Is sensitivity impacted by potential gradients?
Answer. Yes, the lesser the potential gradients, the higher will be the sensitivity.
33) How is the potentiometer’s sensitivity affected by the length of the wire?
Answer. The sensitivity of the potentiometer rises with the increase in the wire’s
length.
34) On what constraints does the cell’s internal resistance depend?
Answer. In the case of a cell, internal resistance depends on:

 nature of the electrolyte

 the concentration of the electrolyte
 nature of the electrodes
 distance between the plates
 temperature
 area of the plates inside the electrolyte
35) Can a potentiometer be used to calculate the secondary cell’s internal
resistance?
Answer. No, a secondary cell possesses very little internal resistance. Due to the
low value, it has no considerable effect on the potential difference.
36) What will result if the cross-section area of the potentiometer wire is non-
uniform?
Answer. The potential difference across the wire will not be proportional to its length.
37) What can be the reason for one-sided deflection in galvanometers?
Answer. (a) The primary cell’s e.m.f. may surpass that of the main circuit cell.
(b) Circuit connections may be incorrect or loose.

38) What is a sonometer?

Answer: A sonometer is a device to showcase the relationship between the

frequency of the sound produced by the string when it is plucked and the length,
tension, and mass per unit length of the string.
39) What is Alternating Current (AC)?

Answer: Alternating Current is a current that changes its magnitude and polarity at
regular intervals of time.

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40) What is a Direct Current (DC)?

Answer: Direct current is the unidirectional flow of an electric charge. Example: The mobile
battery gives DC.

41) List two uses of a sonometer.

Answer: Sonometer is used to find the frequency of the tuning fork. It is also used to
find the tension in the string.

42) Can the frequency of the alternating current be found using the
sonometer?

Answer: Yes, the alternating current frequency can be found using the sonometer.

43) What is the unit of frequency of an alternating current?

Answer: The unit of frequency of the alternating current is hertz (Hz).

44) Define an electromagnet.

Answer: A magnet that can be magnetised through electric current is known as an

electromagnet.

45) Define a tuning fork.

Answer: A tuning fork is a U-shaped metallic bar where the middle of the bent
portion is attached to the heavy steps.

46) What is the formula to calculate the percentage of error?

Answer: The percentage of error is given by the formula:

47) How is a direct current different from an alternating current?

Answer: Alternating current changes its magnitude and direction, while the direct
current has the same magnitude and direction throughout.

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