Potentiometer and Potential divider Principle

ABSTRACT
It was found out that the high-resistance multitester was more accurate than a
potentiometer. In the experiment conducted, the measure of the electromotive
force (emf) using potentiometer were as follows: trial 1: 1.413 V; trial 2: 1.415V;
trial 3: 1.411V; trial 4: 1.413V; and trial 5: 1.413V. While using the high-resistance
multitester, the measure of the emf was 1.452V. The resulting value was
consistent in all five trials. The percent difference between the two acquired
values is only 1.36%. From this, it can be seen that the two values are almost the
same. The values obtained using the VOM were more accurate. The average value
was closer to the theoretical value of the voltage of the test cell, which is 1.5V. In
using the potentiometer, more errors can be acquired. This means that in using
the VOM, there is a lower possibility of having errors. This is why the values
obtained using the VOM was more accurate.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Data:
Trial emf (V) using emf (V) using VOM
potentiometer
1 1.413 1.452
2 1.415 1.452
3 1.411 1.452
4 1.413 1.452
5 1.413 1.452
Average 1.413 1.452

Guide Questions:
1. The experimental set-up used was based on the potential divider principle. It
made use of the fact that the terminal potential difference is equal to the
electromotive force of the cell when there is no current. The voltage of the
working battery used was 2V. This is because the test cell used was theoretically
1.5V. The working battery should have a voltage greater than the test cell. With
the working battery having a greater voltage, the voltage on the rheostat and the
slide-wire can be manipulated so that it equals the voltage of the test cell.

The polarity of the ammeter was unimportant because the values it gives can
have positive or negative signs. The polarity affects only the sign and not the
magnitude. Because the only value of current that we were looking for was zero,
the polarity was not considered important.

2. The rheostat was used as an adjustable resistance. It was first used to calibrate
the slide-wire. It was adjusted until the resistance is enough so that the voltage
from the working battery is the same as that of the standard cell. The rheostat
was not moved since so that its resistance is constant.
The ammeter was used to measure the current passing through the test cell. The
slide-wire was adjusted until the ammeter read zero, that is, I = 0. Current equal
to zero means that there is no current passing through the test cell. This also
means that the voltage of the test cell is equal to the voltage on the slide-wire.
Thus, the reading in the slide-wire is equal to the emf of the test cell.

3. One limitation of this method of emf determination is that one should always
have a working battery that has greater voltage than the test cell. Another
limitation is that the ammeter itself has its own internal resistance. Thus, the
value of the current when there is an ammeter is slightly less than the value it
would have if the ammeter is absent.

4. The values obtained using the two methods are slightly different from each
other. The percent difference between the two acquired values is only 1.36%.
From this, it can be seen that the two values are almost the same.

Mean = 1.4325 V
Percent Differece = 1.36%

The values obtained using the VOM were more accurate. The average value was
closer to the theoretical value of the voltage of the test cell, which is 1.5V. In using
the potentiometer, more errors can be acquired. This means that in using the
VOM, there is a lower possibility of having errors. This is why the values obtained
using the VOM was more accurate.

5. Potentiometer can be used when measuring the emf of a source. Using a

potentiometer is more tedious so when potential difference under any condition
(not the emf) is needed to be measured, a voltmeter is more desirable.

6. Both exercises 5 and 6 aimed to measure the emf of the test cell. In exercise 5,
one must plot the TPD vs. I curve. Getting the y-intercept then gives the emf. On
the other hand, in exercise 6, slide-wire and rheostat was used. The resistance
was manipulated so that its voltage equals the test cell’s voltage. When they have
the same voltage, there is no current flowing in the circuit. Both of the methods
were based on the fact that when I = 0, TPD = emf.

7. The potentiometer measured the emf of the test cell. Using the equation TPD =
emf –Iri, and knowing that the current through the test cell is 0, then we know that
the voltage that we measured is equal to the emf (TPD = emf).

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

In the experiment conducted, the set-up used was based on the potential divider
principle. It made use of the fact that terminal potential difference (tpd) is equal
to the electromotive force (emf) of the cell when there is no current. The Polarity
of the ammeter was not considered important because, the value that was looked
for was zero. Thus, the polarity was not considered important.

The rheostat was used to adjust the resistance of the working battery so that the
voltage of the working battery us the same as that of the standard cell while
ammeter was used to measure the current passing through the test cell. The slide
wire was adjusted until the ammeter was zero so that the reading n the slide wire
is equal to the emf of the test cell. Potentiometer can be used when measuring
the emf of a source but a potentiometer is more tedious when potential difference
under any condition (not the emf) is needed to be measured, a voltmeter is more
desirable.

The values obtained using the high resistance multitester (VOM) was more
accurate. The average value was closer to the theoretical value of the voltage of
the test cell, which is 1.5V. In using the potentiometer, more errors can be
acquired. This means that in using the VOM, there is a lower possibility of having
errors. This is why the values obtained using the VOM was more accurate.

Both of the methods used on this and the previous exercise were based on the
fact that when current is zero, terminal potential difference is equal to
electromotive motive force. In exercise 5, one must plot the TPD vs. I curve.
Getting the y-intercept then gives the emf. On the other hand, in exercise 6, slide-
wire and rheostat was used. The resistance was manipulated so that its voltage
equals the test cell’s voltage.

The limitation of this method of emf determination is that the working battery
should always have a greater voltage than the test cell. In addition to that the
ammeter itself has its own internal resistance. Thus, the value of the current when
there is an ammeter is slightly less than the value it would have if the ammeter is
absent.