When using a potentiometer to measure an unknown voltage, what is the condition for balance?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
When using a potentiometer to measure an unknown voltage, what is the condition for balance?
The current through the potentiometer must be maximum
The potential difference across the galvanometer must be zero
The resistance of the potentiometer must be zero
The length of the wire must be equal to the unknown voltage
The condition for balance in a potentiometer is that the potential difference across the galvanometer must be zero, indicating that the unknown voltage is equal to the voltage across the potentiometer wire.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: When using a potentiometer to measure an unknown voltage, what is the condition for balance?
Solution: The condition for balance in a potentiometer is that the potential difference across the galvanometer must be zero, indicating that the unknown voltage is equal to the voltage across the potentiometer wire.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand that a potentiometer is a device used to measure voltage.
Step 2: Know that the potentiometer has a wire with a known voltage across it.
Step 3: Connect the unknown voltage to one end of the potentiometer wire.
Step 4: Use a galvanometer to detect the current between the potentiometer wire and the unknown voltage.
Step 5: Adjust the position on the potentiometer wire until the galvanometer shows zero current.
Step 6: Recognize that when the galvanometer reads zero, the voltage across the potentiometer wire equals the unknown voltage.
