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Kirchoff's law and Potentiometer

Ohm's law is applicable only for simple circuits. For complicated circuits, Kirchoff's laws can be used to find current or voltage. There are two generalised laws : (i) Kirchoff's current law (ii) Kirchoff's voltage law

Kirchoff’s law

 

Ohm’s law is applicable only for simple circuits. For complicated circuits, Kirchoff’s laws can be used to find current or voltage. There are two generalised laws : (i) Kirchoff’s current law (ii) Kirchoff’s voltage law

 

Kirchoff’s first law (current law)

Kirchoff’s current law states that the algebraic sum of the currents meeting at any junction in a circuit is zero.



The convention is that, the current flowing towards a junction is positive and the current flowing away from the junction is negative. Let 1,2,3,4 and 5 be the conductors meeting at a junction O in an electrical circuit (Fig 2.10). Let I1, I2, I3, I4 and I5 be the currents passing through the conductors respectively. According to Kirchoff’s first law.

 

I1 + (-'I2) + (-'I3) + I4 + I5 = 0 or I1 + I4 + I5 = I2 + I3.

The sum of the currents entering the junction is equal to the sum of the currents leaving the junction. This law is a consequence of conservation of charges.

 

Kirchoff’s second law (voltage law)

 

Kirchoff’s voltage law states that the algebraic sum of the products of resistance and current in each part of any closed circuit is equal to the algebraic sum of the emf’s in that closed circuit. This law is a consequence of conservation of energy.

 

In applying Kirchoff’s laws to electrical networks, the direction of current flow may be assumed either clockwise or anticlockwise. If the assumed direction of current is not the actual direction, then on solving the problems, the current will be found to have negative sign. If the result is positive, then the assumed direction is the same as actual direction.

 

It should be noted that, once the particular direction has been assumed, the same should be used throughout the problem. However, in the application of Kirchoff’s second law, we follow that the current in clockwise direction is taken as positive and the current in anticlockwise direction is taken as negative.

 



Both cells E1 and E3 send currents in clockwise direction.

For the closed loop ABEFA

I1R2 + I2R3 + I2r2 + I4R6 + I1r1 + I1R1 = E1 - E2

 

Negative sIgn in E2 indicates that it sends current in the anticlockwise direction.

 

As an illustration of application of Kirchoff’s second law, let us calculate the current in the following networks.

 

Illustration I

 

Applying first law to the Junction B, (FIg.2.11b)




Illustration 2

 

Taking the current in the clockwise direction along ABCDA as positive (FIg 2.11c)

 

10 I + 0.5 I + 5 I + 0.5 I + 8 Ι + 0.5 I + 5 I + 0.5 Ι + 10 I = 50 - 70 - 30 + 40 I ( 10 + 0.5 + 5 + 0.5 + 8 + 0.5 + 5 + 0.5 + 10) = -10

40 I = -10



The negative sign indicates that the current flows in the anticlockwise direction.

 

1. Wheatstone’s bridge

An important application of Kirchoff’s law is the Wheatstone’s bridge (FIg 2.12). Wheatstone’s network consists of resistances P, Q, R and S connected to form a closed path. A cell of emf E is connected between points A and C. The current I from the cell is divided into I1, I2, I3 and I4 across the four branches. The current through the galvanometer is Ig. The resistance of galvanometer is G.

Applying Kirchoff’s current law to junction B,




When the galvanometer shows zero deflection, the points B and D are at same potential and Ig = 0. Substituting Ig = 0 in equation (1), (2) and (3)




This is the condition for bridge balance. If P, Q and R are known, the resistance S can be calculated.

 

2. Metre bridge

 

 Metre bridge is one form of Wheatstone’s bridge. It consists of thick strips of copper, of negligible resistance, fixed to a wooden board.



There are two gaps G1 and G2 between these strips. A uniform manganin wire AC of length one metre whose temperature coefficient is low, is stretched along a metre scale and its ends are soldered to two copper strips. An unknown resistance P is connected in the gap G1 and a standard resistance Q is connected in the gap G2 (Fig 2.13). A metal jockey J is connected to B through a galvanometer (G) and a high resistance (HR) and it can make contact at any point on the wire AC. Across the two ends of the wire, a Leclanche cell and a key are connected.

 

Adjust the position of metal jockey on metre bridge wire so that the galvanometer shows zero deflection. Let the point be J. The portions AJ and JC of the wire now replace the resistances R and S of Wheatstone’s bridge. Then



Though the connections between the resistances are made by thick copper strips of negligible resistance, and the wire AC is also soldered to such strips a small error will occur in the value of l1/l2 to the end resistance. This error can be eliminated, if another set of readings are taken with P and Q interchanged and the average value of P is found, provided the balance point J is near the mid point of the wire AC.


3.  Determination of specific resistance

 

The specific resistance of the material of a wire is determined by knowing the resistance (P), radius (r) and length (L) of the wire using the expression



 

4.  Determination of temperature coefficient of resistance

 

If R1 and R2 are the resistances of a given coil of wire at the temperatures t1 and t2, then the temperature coefficient of resistance of the material of the coil is determined using the relation,




 

 Potentiometer

 

The Potentiometer is an instrument used for the measurement of potential difference (Fig 2.14). It consists of a ten metre long uniform wire of B manganin or constantan stretched in ten segments, each of one metre length. The segments are stretched parallel to each other on a horizontal wooden board. The ends of the wire are fixed to copper strips with binding screws. A metre scale is fixed on the board, parallel to the wire. Electrical contact with wires is established by pressing the jockey J.



 

1. Principle of potentiometer

A battery Bt is connected between the ends A and B of a potentio- meter wire through a key K. A steady current I flows through the potentiometer wire (Fig 2.15). This forms the primary circuit. A primary cell is connected in series with the positive terminal A of the potentiometer, a galvanometer, high resistance and jockey. This forms the secondary circuit.



If the potential difference between A and J is equal to the emf of the cell, no current flows through the galvanometer. It shows zero deflection. AJ is called the balancing length. If the balancing length is l, the potential difference across AJ = Irl where r is the resistance per unit length of the potentiometer wire and I the current in the primary circuit.

 

 E = Irl,

 

since I and r are constants, E α l

 

Hence emf of the cell is directly proportional to its balancing length. This is the principle of a potentiometer.

 

2.  Comparison of emfs of two given cells using potentiometer



The potentiometer wire AB is connected in series with a battery (Bt), Key (K), rheostat (Rh) as shown in Fig 2.16. This forms the primary circuit. The end A of potentiometer is connected to the terminal C of a DPDT the terminal C of a DPDT switch (six way key-double terminal D is connected to the jockey (J) through a galvanometer (G) and high resistance (HR). The cell of emf E1connected between terminals C1 and D1 and the cell of emf E2 connected between C2 and D2 of the DPDT switch.

Let I be the current flowing through the primary circuit and r be the resistance of the potentiometer wire per metre length.

The DPDT switch is pressed towards C1, D1 so that cell E1 is included in the secondary circuit. The jockey is moved on the wire and adjusted for zero deflection in galvanometer. The balancing length is l1. The potential difference across the balancing length l1 = Irll. Then, by the principle of potentiometer,



The DPDT switch is pressed towards E2. The balancing length l2 for zero deflection in galvanometer is determined. The potential difference across the balancing length is l2 = Irl2, then



If emf of one cell (E1) is known, the emf of the other cell (E2) can be calculated using the relation.



 

3. Comparison of emf and potential difference

 

1.     The difference of potentials between the two terminals of a cell in an open circuit is called the electromotive force (emf) of a cell. The difference in potentials between any two points in a closed circuit is called potential difference.

 

2.     The emf is independent of external resistance of the circuit, whereas potential difference is proportional to the resistance between any two points.


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