NOWROSJEE WADIA COLLEGE, PUNE-1

Practical Hand Book-2

PHYSICS
List of Experiments & Activities
Old Lab
❖ Sonometer-II
❖ Current sensitivity
❖ G by Kelvin’s method
❖ Seconds pendulum
❖ Household circuit

New Lab
❖ Resonance Tube
❖ Internal resistance of cell
❖ Variation of potential drop
❖ Study of Logic gates
❖ Use of Multimeter
 Experiment No: 5
Sonometer-II

AIM To verify the law of tension of a vibrating wire for a given tuning fork
and determine the unknown tension.

APPARATUS Sonometer, hanger, slotted weights, tuning forks, rubber pad, metre

scale and a light paper rider.

FORMULA Fundamental Frequency of Wire

𝟏 𝑻
𝒏= √
𝟐𝒍 𝒎

T
= constant; when n and m are constant
l2

Where, T = Tension in the wire,

m = mass per unit length (linear density) of the wire.

l = vibrating length of the wire.

DIAGRAM
OBSERVATION

1) Frequency of tuning fork = n = …… …………….Hz.

2) Mass of hanger = M0 = ……………g.

OBSERVATION TABLE

Total Tension Vibrating length of string

Mass on T
Obs mass T = M × (cm) l2
hanger l2
No. M = M0 980 cm2
M1 (g) l1 l2 Mean l dyne/cm2
+ M1 (g) dyne
1500
1
2000
2
2500
3
3000
4
Unknown
5
(MX)
T
Mean = ……………dyne/cm2
l2

T
CALCULATIONS Calculate by using logarithmic tables
l2

Unknown tension TX =  2 
T
 l X2 = …………dyne by using logs
 l  Mean

GRAPH Plot a graph of T versus l2

RESULT

1. The graph of of tension (T) against square of the vibrating length (l2) is a
straight line, which indicates that tension in the vibrating wire is directly
proportional to the square of the vibrating length.
2. Unknown tension (i) By calculations TX = ……………..dyne
(ii) By graph TX = ……………..dyne

PRECAUTIONS

1. Paper rider should be light.

2. Paper rider should always be kept at the centre of the two bridges.
 Experiment No: 6
Resonance Tube

AIM To determine the speed of sound in air by using Resonance tube.

APPARATUS A jar filled with water, Rubber pad, Resonance tube, Set of tuning

forks, Retort stand, Metre scale, Vernier calipers.

FORMULA Speed of sound V = 4nL

L = l + e = Corrected length of resonating air column

n = Frequency of tuning fork

DIAGRAM
OBSERVATIONS

i. Least count of Vernier calipers (L.C) = 0.01 cm

ii. Inner diameter of Resonance tube
d1 = ….………cm, d2 = ….………cm, d3 = ….………cm
Mean inner diameter d = (d1 + d2 + d3)/3 = ….………cm
iii. End correction (e) = 0.3 × d = ….………cm

OBSERVATION TABLE

Obs Frequency Resonating length Mean Corrected 1/L nL

No. of fork n(Hz) (cm) l (cm) length(cm) cm–1 Hz-cm
l1 l2 l3 L=l+e
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Unknown(nx)
Mean nL = …………… Hz-cm

CALCULATIONS

i. nL calculations by logs for each observation

ii. V = 4nL
iii. V = 4 × slope
iv. nxLx = Mean nL

GRAPH
RESULT

i. Speed of sound in air at room temperature by calculations V =………….. cm/s

ii. Speed of sound in air at room temperature by graph V =………….. cm/s
iii. Unknown frequency by calculations nx =………….. Hz
iv. Unknown frequency by graph nx =………….. Hz

PRECAUTIONS

i. Hold the tube vertically in the glass jar.

ii. Strike the tuning fork gently on the rubber pad.
iii. Vibrating tuning fork must be held close to the open end of the tube.
iv. For exact resonance hear the maximum sound.
 Experiment No: 7
Current Sensitivity

AIM To determine the current sensitivity of a moving coil table

galvanometer.

APPARATUS Galvanometer, battery, Key, Resistance box, Four way key,

Connecting wires.


FORMULA Current Sensitivity (S) =
I

Where, θ = Deflection in the galvanometer.

I = Current through the galvanometer

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

RB = Resistance Box, E = Battery, G = Galvanometer, K= key.

OBSERVATIONS EMF of cell E = 1.5 V

Resistance of galvanometer G =…..….. Ω

OBSERVATION TABLE

Deflection S = θ
Resistance Current Before After Mean I Mean
Obs. I= E reversing reversing (θ) S
No. R (Ω) R+G θ1 div θ2 div div div/A div/A
(A)
1
2
3
4
5

CALCULATIONS

➢ Calculate current (I) & sensitivity (S) by using log table for each observation
➢ Determine the mean value of current sensitivity (S)

GRAPH
RESULT

Current Sensitivity by calculation (S) = ………. div/A

Current Sensitivity by graph (S) = ………. div/A

PRECAUTIONS

1. Start with value of R so that the deflection in galvanometer just

within scale.

2. Make all the connections and the keys in the resistance box

tight.
 Experiment No: 9
G by Kelvin’s method

AIM To determine the resistance of a galvanometer by Kelvin’s

method using Wheatstone’s meter bridge.

APPARATUS Galvanometer, Meter bridge, Battery, Plug key, Rheostat,

Resistance box, Jockey, Connecting wires.

lg
FORMULA G=R
lR

Where, G = Resistance of the moving coil galvanometer.

R = Resistance in the resistance box.

lg = Length of bridge wire opposite to galvanometer.

lR = Length of bridge wire opposite to resistance box.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

AC = Metre wire, Rh = Rheostat, R = Resistance Box, G = Galvanometer.

OBSERVATION TABLE

Galvanometer Obs. G = R lg
R Ω lg cm lR cm
position No lR

2
Left
LeftGap
gap

Right Gap 2

Mean

G = ……Ω

CALCULATIONS

1. Calculate G for each observation by using log table.

2. Determine the mean value of G.
RESULT

Resistance of Galvanometer G = ………. Ω

PRECAUTIONS

i. R should never be zero.

ii. Balancing point must be between 40 cm and 60 cm to minimize
errors due to contact resistances.
iii. Make all the connections and the keys in the resistance box tight.
 Experiment No: 11
Internal Resistance of cell

AIM To determine the internal resistance of a cell by using potentiometer.

APPARATUS Potentiometer, D.C supply, A cell, Plug Key, Tap key, Rheostat,

Resistance box, Galvanometer, Jockey, Connecting wires.

FORMULA Internal resistance (r) of cell is given by

 l −l 
r = R 1 2 
 l2 
Where, R = Resistance in the box.
l1 = Balancing length on the potentiometer wire when the cell is in
open circuit.
l2 = Balancing length on the potentiometer wire when the cell is in
closed circuit.
DIAGRAM

AB = Potentiometer wire, Rh = Rheostat, K1 = Plug key, K2 = Tap key, S = D.C. Source, G =

Galvanometer , R = Resistance Box, E = Cell whose internal resistance is to be determined.
OBSERVATIONS

Balancing length on the potentiometer when the cell is in open circuit l1 =………cm

OBSERVATION TABLE
Obs No. Resistance Balancing l1 – l2 Internal Mean
R (Ω) length (cm) resistance r (Ω)
l2 (cm) r (Ω)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

CALCULATIONS
Calculate the value of ‘r’ for each observation using logs.
 l −l 
r = R 1 2 
 l2 
RESULT

The internal resistance of the given cell is r = …………….Ω

PRECAUTIONS
i. The current should remain constant.
ii. Don’t keep the key K2 pressed for too long, as this will discharge the cell
thereby increasing its internal resistance.
 Experiment No: 14
Study of logic gates

AIM To verify the truth tables of AND, OR, and NOT gates.

APPRATUS Logic gates panel board, connecting wires.

BASIC LOGIC GATES

1. AND gate:
➢ Pin Diagram:

➢ Boolean expression: y = A  B

➢ Symbol:

➢ Truth table:
Input Output

A B y = A B

0 0 0

0 1 0

1 0 0

1 1 1
2. OR gate:
➢ Pin Diagram:

➢ Boolean expression: y = A + B

➢ Symbol:

➢ Truth table:
Input Output

A B y = A+ B

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 1
3. NOT gate:
➢ Pin Diagram:
 ➢ Boolean expression: y = A

➢ Symbol:

➢ Truth table:

Input Output

A y=A

0 1

1 0

CONCLUSION

Following conclusions can be drawn from the truth tables:

1. AND gate gives high output, when both the inputs are high.

2. OR gate gives high output; when either of the inputs is high.

3. NOT gate gives an output, which is opposite of the input.

RESULTS

The truth table of AND, OR and NOT gates are verified:

 Activity No: 2
Seconds pendulum

AIM To determine length of a seconds pendulum..

APPRATUS Metal bob, Inextensible string, Retort stand, Meter scale, Stop watch,
Vernier calliper.

FORMULA For a seconds pendulum T = 2 sec

L T2
LS L  L 
 = S2 =  2 
TS (2)  T  Mean
2

 L 
LS = 4  2 
 T  Mean

DIAGRAM
OBSERVATION

1. Radius of metal bob r = 1.25 cm

2. Period of seconds pendulum T = 2 sec

Length of
Length of Time for 20 oscillations Period
Obs pendulum L/T2
string T = t/20
No. L = (l + r) Mean cm/s2
l (cm) t1 sec t2 sec sec
(cm) t sec
1 80

2 100
L
Mean = …………..cm/s2
T2

 L 
CALCULATIONS LS = 4  2 
 T  Mean

RESULT

The length of seconds pendulum LS = …………..cm

PRECAUTIONS

1. Amplitude of oscillation should be small.

2. String used in the experiment should be inextensible and light.
 Activity No: 6
Household circuit

AIM To design, build and demonstrate a simple house hold

electrical circuit.

APPARATUS Three bulbs, three switches, fuse wire, connecting wires,

DC source.

DIAGRAM
OBSERVATIONS

1. Bulbs B1, B2 & B3 are connected in series with switches S1, S2 &
S3 respectively.
2. Each set of bulbs & switches are connected in parallel with AC
supply.
3. A safety fuse wire of suitable value is connected in the circuit.
4. The bulbs glow when switch is turned ‘ON’ and stops glowing
when the switch is turned ‘OFF’.
5. Each bulb can be turned ON/OFF independent of others.

RESULT

The Household circuit is assembled, installed and tested.

CONCLUSION

1. Electrical appliances in a household circuit are connected in parallel

with the AC source.
2. A household electrical circuit contains a safety fuse wire.

PRECAUTIONS

1. Make all connections by disconnecting fuse.

2. Make proper connections of switches, bulbs and fuse wire.
3. All connections must be tight.
 Activity No: 7
Variation of Potential drop

AIM To study the variation in potential drop with length of a wire for a
steady current.

APPRATUS Potentiometer, DC supply, Voltmeter, Plug key, Rheostat, Connecting

wires.

FORMULA For a potentiometer wire of uniform cross-sectional area carrying

steady current, potential difference between any two points is directly
proportional to the length of the wire between those two points.
i.e. V  l
V
Potential gradient =
l

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

AB = Potentiometer wire, Rh = Rheostat, K1 = Plug key, S = DC source,

V = Voltmeter,
OBSERVATION TABLE

Length of potentiometer Reading of Potential gradient

Obs
wire voltmeter V
(V/cm)
No.
l (cm) V (volts) l
1 50
2 100
3 150
4 200
5 250

V
Mean = …………. V/cm
l

RESULT
V
Potential gradient along the wire = …………. V/cm
l
 Activity No: 8
Use of Multimeter

AIM To locate emitter, base and collector terminals of a given transistor and

identity its type (NPN/PNP) by using a digital multimeter.

APPRATUS Digital multimeter (DMM), Transistor NPN & PNP.

DIAGRAM

WRITE-UP Transistor-1

1. When the positive probe of DMM is connected to terminal 1 of transistor.

Positive probe Negative probe DMM reading (mV)

1 2

1 3

2. When the positive probe of DMM is connected to terminal 2 of transistor.

Positive probe Negative probe DMM reading (mV)

2 1

2 3
3. When the positive probe of DMM is connected to terminal 3 of transistor.

Positive probe Negative probe DMM reading (mV)

3 1

3 2

Transistor-2

1. When the positive probe of DMM is connected to terminal 1 of transistor.

Positive probe Negative probe DMM reading (mV)

1 2

1 3

2. When the positive probe of DMM is connected to terminal 2 of transistor.

Positive probe Negative probe DMM reading (mV)

2 1

2 3

3. When the positive probe of DMM is connected to terminal 3 of transistor.

Positive probe Negative probe DMM reading (mV)

3 1

3 2
OBSERVATIONS Transistor-1

1) Junction voltage between terminals………and……… = ………………mV

2) Junction voltage between terminals………and……… = ………………mV

Transistor-2

1) Junction voltage between terminals………and……… = ………………mV

2) Junction voltage between terminals………and……… = ………………mV

NOTE: 1) The common terminal across which output voltage is obtained is the BASE

of transistor.

2) The emitter-base junction shows a slightly higher junction voltage than

collector-base junction.

RESULT

Transistor Type
No. Terminal No. Terminal Name
(NPN/PNP)

Transistor-1 2

2
Transistor-2
Transistor-2
3