ACTIVITIES

SECTION – A ACTIVITIES

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT

AIM
To assemble the components of a given electrical circuit

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED

A voltmeter and an ammeter, a battery, a rheostat, a resistance wire, key and connecting wires.

PRINCIPLE
Ohm’s law circuit is considered as a simple electrical circuit. Ammeter is a device of low resistance
and is connected in series in the circuit. Voltmeter has high resistance and is connected in parallel.
Rheostat is used to control the current in the circuit. The current in the circuit can be started or
stopped with the help of switch.
Circuit Diagram [Left Side]

K Rh
+ −

+
A + V−
−

PROCEDURE
Draw the electrical circuit comprising the given components. The components are arranged as in the
circuit diagram. The one way key is placed near to the -ve terminal of the battery followed by
rheostat, resistance wire and ammeter, whose +ve terminal is close to the +ve terminal of the
battery. The voltmeter is arranged in such way that it can be connected in parallel with résistance
wire.
Clean the ends of the connecting wires and remove the insulations if present. Make sure that the one
way key is open when the connections are made. The +ve terminal of the battery is connected to the
+ve terminal of the ammeter. The –ve terminal of the ammeter is connected to the resistance wire
and the other end of the resistance wire is connected to the one of the lower terminals of the
rheostat. The upper terminal of the rheostat is connected to the one way key whose other end is
connected to the –ve terminal of the battery. The voltmeter is connected parallel to the resistance
wire
The key is closed and the readings in the voltmeter and ammeter are observed. The sliding contact
in the rheostat is changed which changes the voltage and current in the circuit.

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RESULT:
The given components are arranged to form an electrical circuit.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. The connections must be made neat clean and tight.
2. Thick copper wires should be used as connection wires with clean ends.
3. The key should be connected in the circuit.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The connecting wires may not be connected properly.
2. The resistance may be too low.

POTENTIOMETER- POTENTIAL DROP

AIM
To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire for a study current
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
Potentiometer, battery, one way key, ammeter, connecting wires, rheostat and a voltmeter

PRINCIPLE
For a potentiometer with wire of uniform resistivity and area of cross-section carrying a steady
current, potential drop is directly proportional to the length of the wire.
V α l.

𝑙 J
A B

PROCEDURE
The least count of given voltmeter is noted.
The circuit diagram of the potentiometer for measuring potential drop is drawn as shown in figure.
The given apparatus are arranged as in the circuit diagram. The two ends P and Q of the
potentiometer are identified and the connections are made. The +ve of the battery is connected to
the end P and its –ve is connected to the one way key. The other end of the key is connected to the –
ve of the ammeter. The +ve of the ammeter is connected to the one of the lower ends of the rheostat
and its upper end is connected to Q. The +ve of the voltmeter is connected to the end P and its –ve
terminal is connected to jockey
The one way key is closed. Touch the jockey to the potentiometer end Q and adjust the rheostat in
such a way that the voltmeter shows full scale deflection. The jockey is made in contact with end P

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and the voltmeter shows zero reflection.
Touch the jockey at 100cm mark. The corresponding reading in the voltmeter is noted. Repeat the
observations for 200cm, 300cm, --------- and voltmeter reading in each case is tabulated.
Potential gradient can be calculated by dividing the voltage with corresponding length.

OBSERVATION:
Voltmeter Potential
Length 𝑙
S.No reading – V gradient – K
(𝑐𝑚)
(𝑉) (𝑉/𝑐𝑚)
5 Obs

RESULT:
The variation in potential drop with length of the potentiometer wire for a steady current is
observed and tabulated.
Potential gradient for the given current = Vcm-1.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. The connections must be made neat clean and tight.
2. Thick copper wires should be used as connection wires with clean ends.
3. The key should be connected in the circuit.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The connecting wires may not be connected properly.
2. The end resistances may be zero.

CORRECTION OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT

AIM
To draw the diagram of a given open circuit comprising at least a battery, rheostat, key, ammeter
and a voltmeter. Mark the components that are not in proper order and correct the circuit and also
the circuit diagram.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
A voltmeter and an ammeter, a battery, a rheostat, a resistance wire, key and connecting wires.

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PRINCIPLE
Ohm’s law circuit is considered as a simple electrical circuit. Ammeter is a device of low resistance
and is connected in series in the circuit. Voltmeter has high resistance and is connected in parallel.
Rheostat is used to control the current in the circuit. The current in the circuit can be started or
stopped with the help of switch and should be connected in series.

Wrong Circuit

+ −

−
+ − V
A
+

Correct Circuit

K Rh
+ −

+
A + V−
−

PROCEDURE
The given electric circuit is carefully observed and its circuit diagram is made. Observe the
arrangement of various components in the circuit. Verify the circuit as follows. The +ve terminal of
the battery is connected to the +ve terminal of the ammeter. The –ve terminal of the ammeter is
connected to the resistance wire and the other end of the resistance wire is connected to the one of
the lower terminals of the rheostat. The upper terminal of the rheostat is connected to the one way
key whose other end is connected to the –ve terminal of the battery. The voltmeter is connected
parallel to the resistance wire
Mark the components which are wrongly connected in the circuit and the mistakes are noted.
Draw the correct circuit diagram and rearrange the components of the given circuit. Make an
electrical circuit with components in proper order.

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OBSERVATION:
S.No Observation Correction
Ammeter is connected in parallel. Ammeter should be connected in
1
series.
Voltmeter is connected in series. Voltmeter should be connected in
2
parallel.
Both lower terminals of the Upper terminal and one of the lower
3 rheostat are used to vary the terminals should be used to vary the
current in the circuit. current in the circuit.
RESULT:
The mistakes in the given open electric circuit are identified and the proper circuit is made.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. The connections must be made neat clean and tight.
2. Thick copper wires should be used as connection wires with clean ends.
3. The key should be connected in the circuit.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The connecting wires may not be connected properly.
2. The resistance may be too low.

SECTION B- ACTIVITIES

IDENTIFICATION OF COMPONENTS

AIM
To identify a diode, an LED, a transistor, an IC, a resistor and a capacitor from a mixed collection of
such items a voltmeter. Mark the components that are not in proper order and correct the circuit
and also the circuit diagram.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
A diode, an LED, a transistor, an IC, a resistor and a capacitor and a multimeter.

PRINCIPLE
The identification of components can be done on the basis of number of terminals and their
conductivity. Diode is a two terminal device conducts only when it is forward biased. It is a
unidirectional device. LED is a two terminal device conducts only when it is forward biased. It is a
unidirectional device. It emits light when forward biased. Resistor is a two terminal device. It conducts
on either direction. Capacitor is two terminal device. It does not conduct d.c. Transistor is a three
terminal device. Integrated circuit (IC ) is a multi-terminal device in the form of a chip.

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PROCEDURE
The given collection of components is observed and the number of terminals for each is identified. The
component having four or more terminals in the form of a chip is an Integrated Circuit. The three
terminal device in the collection is a transistor. The remaining components have two terminal and they
may be a diode, an LED, a resistor and a capacitor. These can be identified as follows.
The conductivity of these components can be checked using a multimeter. The resistor conducts
equally in both the directions and the colour code is present Capacitor does not conduct d.c. in either
direction. The diode conducts only in one direction but it does not emit light. LED conducts only in one
direction but it emits light
The multimeter shows high resistance when the device is not in conduction and offers low
resistance in conduction mode.

OBSERVATION:
S.No Observation Device
Two terminal device that conducts current in both
1 Carbon resistor
direction with coloured rings
Two terminal device that shows change in voltage in
2 capacitor
multimeter
Two terminal device encapsulated in glass cover and
3 emits light when connected to cell or multimeter with L.E.D
positive terminal to longer terminal
4 Multi terminal device I.C
5 Three terminal device Transistor
RESULT:
The given components are identified and the results are tabulated
PRECAUTIONS:
Suitable terminals must be selected in multimeter.

GLASS SLAB

AIM
To observe refraction and lateral displacement of a beam of light incident obliquely on a glass slab.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
Glass slab, drawing board, white paper sheet, drawing pins and protractor

PRINCIPLE
When a ray of light becomes incident on a glass slab with parallel faces, it undergoes refraction on

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 ACTIVITIES
either faces. As a result the incident ray is parallel to the emergent ray. The displacement of the light ray
when it travels through a glass slab is called lateral displacement. It is given by
d = t sin (i – r)/ cos r
Where t is the thickness of glass slab, i- angle of incidence and r is the angle of refraction
PROCEDURE
A white paper is fixed on the drawing board using drawing pins. The given glass slab is placed
symmetrically on the paper and its boundary is marked. Draw a normal on one face of the rectangle and
angle of incidence is measured as 400. The incident ray is drawn. Place two pins on the line for a few cm
apart.
Place the glass slab in the drawn boundary and observe the images of the pins through the
opposite face. When the images of the two pins coincide place the third pin in such way that all three are
in the same straight line. Place the fourth pin behind the third pin so that only the last pin can be
observed.
Remove the glass slab and join the pin points that the emergent ray is obtained. Draw a normal
where the emergent ray touches the glass slab so that the angle of emergence can be measured. The
refracted ray is drawn and the and the angle of refraction is measured. Extend the direction of incident
ray and the lateral displacement is calculated.
Repeat the experiment for different values of angle of incidence and in each case angle of angle of
refraction and the lateral displacement are calculated.
The experiment is also repeated with a glass slab of different thickness.
OBSERVATION:
Angle of incidence Thickness of the slab Lateral Displacement
S.No
(0) (cm) (cm)
1 30
2 30
3 60
RESULT:
Refraction through glass slab is drawn
Lateral displacement increases with increase in angle of incidence and thickness of glass slab.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. A sharp pointed pencil should be used for drawing the boundary of the glass slab and for making pin
pricks.
2. The pins should be vertical.
3. The pins should be placed a few centimeters apart.
SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The pin pricks may be thick.
2. Measurement of angles may wrong

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