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CBSE Class 12 Physics 2020 Outside Delhi Set 1 Paper

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Question : 29 of 37
Marks: +1, -0
(a) Explain the principle of working of a potentiometer.
(b) In a potentiometer, a standard source of emf 5 VV and negligible internal resistance maintain a steady current through the potentiometer wire of length 10m10\,\text{m}. Two primary cells of emf E1E_1 and E2E_2 are joined together in a series with (i) same polarity and (ii) opposite polarity. The combination is connected to the potentiometer circuit in each case. The balancing length of the wire in the two cases are found to be 700cm700\,\text{cm} and 100cm100\,\text{cm}, respectively.
Find the values of emf of the two cells.
Solution:  
(a) Working principle of potentiometer: The Potentiometer is an electric instrument that used to measure the potential difference of a given cell and the internal resistance of a cell. It is also used to compare EMFs of different cells.
The potentiometer consists of a long resistive wire LL having uniform cross-section and a battery of known emf VV. This voltage is called as driver cell voltage. Two ends of the resistive wire LL is connected to the battery terminals. This is a primary circuit arrangement. One terminal of another cell (whose emf EE is to be measured) is at one end of the primary circuit and another end of the cell terminal is connected to any point on the resistive wire using a jockey JJ and a galvanometer GG. This arrangement is a secondary circuit.
The basic working principle of this circuit is based on the fact that the potential drop across any portion of the wire is directly proportional to the length of the wire.
If the current through the potentiometer is I and RR is the total resistance of the potentiometer, then V=IRV=IR.
The resistivity ρ\rho and area of cross-section AA are constant. Also, the Current II is kept constant using the rheostat.
RLAR \propto \frac{L}{A}
V=ρLA=KL (where K= is a constant) V = \rho \frac{L}{A} = K L \text{ (where } K= \text{ is a constant) }
Now, the jockey is so adjusted that for length XX of the wire there is no current flow through the galvanometer.
So, E=KXE = K X
KK is known, XX is measurable by a scale. So, EE can be evaluated from the equation.
When EMF of two cells are to be considered, then in the above similar way
E1=(KX)1E_1 = (KX)_1
E2=(KX)2E_2 = (KX)_2
E1E2=L1L2\therefore \frac{E_1}{E_2} = \frac{L_1}{L_2}
(b) Potential gradient =k=5V10m=0.5V/m= k = \frac{5\,\text{V}}{10\,\text{m}} = 0.5\,\text{V}/\text{m}
When E1E_1 and E2E_2 are joined with same polarity, then
E1E2=k×700100=3.5VE_1 - E_2 = k \times \frac{700}{100} = 3.5\,\text{V} .......(1)
When E1E_1 and E2E_2 are joined with opposite polarity, then
E1+E2=k×100100=7VE_1 + E_2 = k \times \frac{100}{100} = 7\,\text{V} ......(2)
Adding eqns (1) and (2)
2E1=10.5V2 E_1 = 10.5\,\text{V}
E1=5.25V\therefore E_1 = 5.25\,\text{V}
Subtracting eqn (2) from eqn (1)
2E2=3.5V2 E_2 = 3.5\,\text{V}
E2=1.75V\therefore E_2 = 1.75\,\text{V}
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