 Factors affecting resistance:

(a) If the wire is long then the collision of electrons flowing through the wire will be
more and hence it will offer more resistance. But if the wire is thick the collisions
would be less and the resistance offer would be less. Hence, the resistance of the
wire depends on the thickness, length material and the temperature of the wire.
(b) If the wire is made up of same material and is thick the resistance will be less
as compared the long wire of
the same material at the constant temperature.
(c) This law is not valid for semiconductors like diode, thermistor, diode, filament
of lamp, light dependent resistor, LED etc. Therefore, all semiconductors are
called non-ohmic materials.
 Validity of Ohm’s Law: Ohm’s law is valid only under the condition when
temperature is kept constant. This is reasonable because when temperature is
constant only then resistance will be constant.
 Galvanometer: It is an instrument used to measure very less current.
 Ammeter: It is an instrument used for measuring the magnitude of current flowing
through a circuit. It is always connected in series, it offers very low resistance. It’s
unit is ampere (A).
 Voltmeter: It is an instrument used for measuring the potential difference between
any two points of a given conductor. It is always connected in parallel in the circuit.
The unit is volts (V).
 Rheostat: A component used to regulate the electric current flowing through a
circuit without changing the voltage is called Rheostat. It has variable resistance. It
is used to change the resistance in the circuit.

Science Lab Manual Class 10 Experiment – 1

Aim
To study the dependence of potential difference (V) across a resistor on the current (I)
passing through it and determine its resistance. Also plot a graph between V and I.
Theory

 Ohm’s Law: The potential difference, V across the ends of a given metallic wire in
an electric circuit is directly proportional to the current flowing through it, provided
its temperature is the same. This is Ohm’s law.
V∝I
.’. V = IR, (Here R = Constant for the given metallic wire)
 The SI unit of resistance is Ohm (Ω).

 One Ohm: If the potential difference across the ends of a conductor is 1 volt and
the current flowing through it is 1 ampere, then the resistance of the conductor R
is 1 ohm.
  Factors affecting resistance:
 The nature of resistor (a conductor having some resistance.)
 The length of the resistance. (R ∝ l)
(Resistance increases as the length of the wire is increased)
 The area of cross-section of the resistor.
(Resistance decreases with the increase in the cross-section area of the wire)
 Circuit Diagram:

 In a circuit ammeter is always connected in series and voltmeter is connected in

parallel across the points between which potential difference is to be measured.
 A straight line graph obtained between V and I verifies the Ohm’s law.
 Least Count: It is very important to find the least count of ammeter and voltmeter
before using them.

If in the ammeter, there are 10 divisions from 0 to 0.1 A then each division indicates
0.01 A.
A. To calculate the least count of ammeter.
Range of ammeter = AR…………………….
Number of divisions in ammeter = AN…………………………..
.’. Least count of ammeter = = …………….. ampere.
B. To calculate the least count of voltmeter.
Range of voltmeter = VR……………………
Number of divisions in voltmeter = VN
.’. Least count of voltmeter = = ………………. volt.

Materials Required
A battery, an insulated copper wire (cut into 10 pieces), a key, an ammeter, a voltmeter,
a rheostat, a resistor and a piece of sand paper.
Procedure

1. Keep the devices as shown in the circuit diagram.

2. Connect them with the connecting wires and keep the key open.
3. Positive terminal of the battery is connected to the positive terminal of the
ammeter.
4. Check the +ve and -ve terminals of voltmeter before connecting it in the circuit.
5. Once the circuit is connected, insert the key and check the rheostat, adjust its
slider and see whether the ammeter and voltmeter readings are shown.
6. By using the slider of rheostat take three different readings of current 1 and
voltmeter V.
7. Record your observations in the observation table.
8. Calculate resistance of a given resistor by formula .
9. Plot a graph of voltmeter reading and current reading. On x axis take V and on y
axis take I.
10. Resistance increases with increase in temperature of pure metals.

Observation Table
A. Least count of ammeter and voltmeter

S. No. Ammeter (A) Voltmeter (V)

1. Range 0 – 0.5 A 0-0.1 V

2. Least Count 0.01 A 0.01 V

3. Zero Error (e) 0 0

4. Zero Correction 0 0

B. For reading of ammeter and voltmeter

Current in Ampere (I) Potential difference in Volts (V)

(Ammeter Reading) (Voltmeter Reading)
S. No. Resistance in Ohms R = V/I(Ω)

Observed Corrected Observed Corrected

1. 0 0.02 0 0.04 R1 =2 Ω

2. 0 0.03 0 0.06 R2 = 2 Ω
3. 0 0.04 0 0.08 R3 = 2Ω

Conclusions

1. The value of R is found to be same and constant in all three readings.

2. The resistance of a resistor is ratio of potential difference V and current I.
3. The graph of V and I is a straight line. This shows that V∝I. This verifies Ohm’s
law.

Precautions

1. The connecting wires should be thick copper wires and the insulation of their ends
should be removed using the sand paper.
2. Connections should be tight otherwise some external resistance may introduce in
the circuit.
3. Connections should be made as per the circuit. Before closing the circuit show the
connections to the teacher to take the readings.
4. The ammeter should be connected in series with the resister such that the current
enters at the positive terminal and leaves at the negative terminal of the ammeter.
5. Voltmeter should always be connected in parallel to resistor.
6. Calculate the least count of voltmeter and ammeter correctly.
7. The pointers of the ammeter and voltmeter should be at zero mark when no
current flows through the circuit.
 8. Current should be passed through the circuit for a short time while taking
observations; otherwise current would cause unnecessary heating in the circuit.
Heating may change the resistance of resisters.

Science Lab Manual Viva Voce

Question 1:
Define electric current.
Аnswer:
The number of charges flowing through a given wire in unit time is called electric
current.
OR
The rate of flow of charge in a conductor is called electric current.

Question 2:
What is the value of charge in 1 electron?
Аnswer:
1 electron = 1.6 x 10-19C

Question 3:
What is coulomb?
Аnswer:
One coulomb is the amount of charge present on 6.25 x 1018 electrons.

Question 4:
Define potential difference.
Аnswer:
The work done in moving a unit charge from one point to the other is called potential
difference.

Question 5:
Define 1 volt.
Аnswer:
When 1 joule of work is done to move a charge of 1 coulomb from one point to the
other, then potential difference
is of 1 volt.

Question 6:
What is resistance? Give its SI unit.
Аnswer: