CIPHER COMPUTER CLUB

PHYSICS
PRACTICAL
ACTIVITIES

Compiled and distributed by:

CIPHER COMPUTER CLUB
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Special Thanks

Mrs. Pragya Nopany Maam

Contributed by:Aneesha Chandra

Published and edited by: Mukul Gupta

Introduction:

This publication provides you with the prescribed format of all the activities to be
performed during PHYSICS PRACTICALS as to be written in the PRACTICAL
FILE.

Note:It does not provide you with any experimental data whatsoever.
All the observation tables,calculations,Result etc. will have to be inputed as
performed during the practicals.

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ACTIVITY a1

Aim: To measure resistance, voltage (AC/DC) and check continuity of a given

circuit using multimeter.

Apparatus: three carbon resistors and one standard resistance coil, battery
eliminator, step down transformer, plug key, connecting wires and multimeter.

Theory:
RESISTORS
Carbon resistors are made from mixtures of carbon black, a conducting material
and clay and resin as binder which is a non conductor. The resistivity of the
mixtures is governed by the relative proportion of carbon black. The value of the
carbon resistors are indicated by coloured bands. The colour code and its accuracy
are given below.
(Write the colour code table on the blank page)

DC/AC voltage
DC voltage is the voltage of constant magnitude and sign. A battery eliminator is
an example of a source of DC voltage. AC voltage is the voltage which varies
continuously in magnitude and periodically in sign. Domestic power source is an
example of ac voltage .A step down transformer connected to the mains acts as a
source of alternating voltage.

CONTINITY OF A CIRCUIT
A circuit continuous when there is no break in the connecting wires so that current
can flow. A circuit is not continuous if there is break somewhere in the connecting
wires or some component of the circuit may not to be functioning or it may be
burnt out.

MULTIMETER
A millimeter is an instrument used for measuring the current, voltage (AC/DC) and
resistance.
Principal:-
(a) Voltmeter: A micro ammeter which makes a full scale defection for 250uA
current and with a coil of resistance 200 Ω can measure 50 mV p.d. directly. In
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order to measure higher p.d. different high resistances are connected in series with
the micrometer, which can be selected by a rotary knob.
(b) Ammeter: the given micrometer can be used for measuring the higher ranges
of current, if provided with suitable values of shunt in parallel with the coil of the
micrometer. Different values of shunts are provided which can be selected by
rotary knob.
(c) Resistance measurement: A variable resistance R, called the “zero adjust” is
connected in series with the coil of the micro ammeter. The probes when shorted
complete the circuit and R is adjusted to get the full scale deflection. When the
unknown resistance R is inserted in between the probes, the meter shows reduced
deflection due to decrease in current and value of R is directly read on the scale.
Caution: When using multimeter, plug in connector for right test lead [black
(negative) and red (positive)] use selector switch to right parameter and never
exceed the protection limit indicated in specifications for each range of
measurement.

Diagram:
(1) page 134 fig. 7.2
(2) page 138 fig. 7.5

OBSERVATIONS:
(a) for measurement of resistance

Resistor Colours and Value of Value of % difference

used codes of rings tolerance from multimeter
colour (ohm)
code(ohm)
1 2 3 4
R1

R2

R3

(b) For measurement of voltage

AC or S. No. Voltage between Voltage reading as Difference in

DC terminals measured by voltage read and
volts Vo multimeter voltage marked
(volts) V(volts) V – Vo(volts)
1

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AC 2

3
1

2
DC
3
Conclusion
1: The measured values by millimeter match with decoded values of resistors.
2: AC and DC voltages sources match with voltage measured by multimeter.

Precaution:
(Write precautions as given in the book)

ACTIVITYa2

Aim: To assemble the components of the given electrical circuit.

Apparatus: electrical components like resistor, battery, ammeter, voltmeter, plug

key, galvanometer, Meter Bridge, rheostat, connecting wires.

Diagram:

Ckt 1: Ohm’s law

Ckt 2: meter bridge to find unknown resistance

Ckt 3: potentiometer to compare emfs

Conclusion:
Assembly of all components in all the electrical circuits are complete.

Precaution:

1. All components are connected in series with each other.

2. Ammeter is always in series and voltmeter is always connected in parallel.

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3. Red terminals of ammeter and voltmeter, marked positive should be
connected in the circuit towards the positive terminal of the battery and their
black terminals, marked negative should be connected towards the negative
terminal of the battery.

ACTIVITY a3

Aim: To study the variation of potential drop with length of wire for a steady
current
Apparatus: A potentiometer, battery accumulator, plug key, dc voltmeter,
connecting wires
Theory:
Potentiometer: It is an instrument which is used for the measurement of potential
drop and emf of a cell
Principle: if a steady current is maintained by a battery e, through wire of
homogeneous composition and uniform cross section, then the potential drop V
along the wire is directly proportional to its length, i.e.
V l
V/l = k (constant)
where k is the drop of potential per unit length. It is called potential gradient

Diagram: page 144/fig. 7.9 (correction in the circuit i) the device in the lower
circuit is voltmeter and not galvanometer and ii) the polarity of the ammeter should
be opposite to that as given in the circuit.)

OBSERVATIONS
1. No. of wires on the potentiometer board = ……………………………
2. Range of the voltmeter = ………………………………
3. Range of ammeter = ………………………………
4. Least count of voltmeter = ………………………………
5. Least count of ammeter = ………………………………
6. Steady current shown by ammeter = ………………………………
S.No. Steady Length of wire Potential drop Potential drop per cm
Current L for steady V/L
I (cm) current I (volt/cm)
(A) V (volt)

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1 40
2 80
3 120
4 160
5 200

6 240

Graph: Choosing a suitable scale, plot a graph of potential drop V along y-axis
corresponding to values of length l, along x-axis.

Calculations:
From the graph, the slope = (V2 – V1)/ (L2 – L1)
Slope = potential gradient = ∆V/ ∆L = ………………… V/cm
Conclusion:
(i) For a steady current (…..A), the graph of V vs L is a straight line. This shows
that potential drop is directly proportional to the length for a steady flow of
current.
(ii) The potential gradient is ………… V/cm.

Precaution: (as given in the book)

ACTIVITY a4

Aim: To draw the diagram of the given open circuit comprising of various circuit
components. Mark the components that are not connected in proper order, and
draw the corrected circuit diagram.

Apparatus: battery eliminator, ammeter, voltmeter, rheostat, resistance box, one

way key and connecting wires.

Diagram:
1. The circuit diagram of the given wrong. In the circuit encircle the
components that are connected wrongly.
2. The correct circuit diagram.

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Observation:

S.No. Faults in the circuits

1.

2.

3.

4.
Conclusion:
The faults in the given circuit were corrected and the correct circuit diagram was
drawn.

Precautions:
1. Voltmeter and ammeter of suitable range should be chosen.
2. Ammeter should always be connected in series and voltmeter should always be
connected in parallel with proper polarities.
3. Rheostat should be connected carefully selecting the correct terminals only.

ACTIVITY b1

Aim: To identify a diode, a LED, a transistor, an IC(integrated circuit), a resistor

and a capacitor from a mixed collection of such items.

Apparatus: A mixed collection of such items as a diode, transistor, capacitor,

resistor and IC.

Theory:
Resistor, capacitor and diode are two terminal devices. A transistor has three
terminals and an IC has a minimum of eight legs. Most of the IC packages have
flat back. One can easily segregate an IC out of a mixture of the above mentioned
components. A transistor being a three terminal device can be identified by just
looking at the various components.
For identifying the two terminal devices, the following characteristics of the
components may be utilized.
Resistor: When connected in a dc circuit, it shows a constant current.

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Capacitor: When connected in a dc circuit, a multimeter set at R shows initially a
full scale current which decays to zero very quickly.
Diode: Only a diode shows unidirectional flow of current i.e., when connected
such that the terminal end marked P or + is at the higher potential i.e. the diode is
forward biased, it conducts. On reversing the directions, the diode becomes
reversed biased and it does not conduct.

Observation:

Sr. no. Number of legs (terminals) Device

1 More than three IC
2 Three Transistor
3 Two Capacitor, diode or
resistor
Possible current flow Device
4 Unidirectional; emits no light Diode
Unidirectional; emits light LED
5 Both directions (steady) Resistor
6 Initially high but decays to zero quickly Capacitor

Conclusion: The components were identified correctly from the given collection.

ACTIVITY b2

Aim: To observe refraction and lateral deviation of a beam of light incident

obliquely on a glass slab.

Apparatus: glass slab drawing board, white sheet of paper, board pins etc.

Theory:

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If a ray of light travelling from air enters a glass slab, its velocity changes; either in
speed or in direction or both. Since it is moving from rarer to denser medium, it
bends towards the normal. The angle of refraction ® will be less than the angle of
incidence (i). When it reaches the other face of the glass slab, it suffers another
refraction but from denser to rarer medium this time. So, it bends away from the
normal and emerges from the other face. The angle made by this emergent ray with
the normal is called angle of emergence. The emergent ray is found to be parallel
to the original ray, and there is a lateral deviation between the two rays. This
deviation depends upon the thickness of the glass slab among other factors.

Diagram: fig. 11.8 on page 249

Observation:
On the white sheet mark the deviations observed in the glass slab for three
different positions of the slab but for the same angle of incidence for all three.

Sr.No. Angle of Angle of Thickness of Lateral

incidence(i) refraction(r) slab(cm) displacement(cm)
1. 40
2. 40
3. 40

Conclusion:
1. Ray of light emerging from a glass slab is parallel to the incident ray and it is
laterally displaced.
2. The lateral displacement of the emergent ray increases with the increase in
thickness of slab.

ACTIVITY b3

Aim: To observe the polarization of light using two Polaroids.

Apparatus: Two Polaroid pieces, a source of light.

Theory:

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A Polaroid piece allows only that part of light which has vibrations along the axis
of polarization of the Polaroid. It means that unpolarised light after passing through
Polaroid piece becomes plane polarized.
If another Polaroid piece is placed in the path of the plane polarized light so that
the two Polaroid pieces are in cross position then no light will come out of the
second Polaroid piece. If the axes of the two Polaroids are parallel to each other
then the light produced by the first Polaroid is able to pass through the second
Polaroid as shown in the figure.

Diagram: Fig 11.10(a) and (b) of page 251.

Observations:
In one position of the two Polaroids, the source of light was found to have
maximum brightness, and in another position obtained by rotating one Polaroid
over the other at which no light or very dim light was obtained.

Conclusion:
The above activity shows that Polaroid pieces produce plane (linearly) polarized
light. The polarized light does not pass through another Polaroid when it is placed
crossed with respect to the first Polaroid.

ACTIVITY b4

Aim: To observe diffraction of light due to thin slit between sharp edges of razor
blades.

Apparatus required: A glass plate, two razor blades, adhesive tapes, a screen, a
source of monochromatic light (laser pencil), and black paper.

Theory:
When light is allowed to pass through fine openings or around sharp obstacles like
edge of razor blades such that size of opening or sharpness of edges is of the order
of wavelength of light ( ≈ 5 x 10 -7 m), it bends around corners and forms alternate
dark and light fringes. Bending of light around obstacles or corner is termed as
diffraction and the fringe pattern is called diffraction pattern. The angle of
diffraction for different orders (n) of diffraction is given as dsinθ=nλ

Diagram: Fig 11.11 on page 252

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Observation: A diffraction pattern was obtained in which secondary minimas
were obtained alongside the bright maxima.

Conclusion:
When light waves are incident on very fine openings they bend and spread
showing the phenomena of diffraction of light.

Precautions:
1. Black paper should be pasted such that there is no air gap between the glass
plate and paper.
2. The slit should be made as thin as possible.
3. Instead of using ordinary electric bulb, laser torch light will give better effect on
the screen.

END OF PAGE

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