State the working principle of a potentiometer. With the help of the circuit diagram, explain how a potentiometer is used to compare

Question

(a) State the working principle of a potentiometer. With the help of the circuit diagram, explain how a potentiometer is used to compare the emfs of two primary cells. Obtain the required expression used for comparing the emfs.

(b) Write two possible causes for one sided deflection in a potentiometer experiment.

Answer 1

(a) Working principle of potentiometer:

When a constant current is passed through a wire of uniform area of cross-section, the potential drop across any portion of the wire is directly proportional to the length of that portion.

Application of Potentiometer for comparing emf's of two cells:

The following figure shows an application of the potentiometer to compare the emf of two cell of emf of two cells of emf E_1​ and E₂​ 
E₁​,E₂​ are the emf of the two cells 

1,2,3 form a two way key.

When 1 and 3 are connected E₁​ is connected to the galvanometer (G)
Jokey is moved to N₁​ which is at a distance l₁ from A to find the balancing length

Applying loop rule to AN₁​G₃₁A

ϕl₁ ​+ 0 − E₁ ​= 0
Similarly, for E₂​ balanced against l_2​(AN)₂​
ϕl₂​ + 0 − E₂ ​= 0
\(\frac{E_1}{E_2} = \frac{l_1}{l_2} ....(1)\)
thus we can compare the emf's of any two sources. Generally one of the cells is chosen as a standard cell whose emf is known to a high degree of accuracy. The emf of the other cell is then calculated from Equation (1)

(b) (i) The emf of the cell connected in main circuit may not be more than the emf of the primary cells whose emfs are to be compared.

(ii) The positive ends of all cells are not connected to the same end of the wire.