20.
3 Potentiometer – Potential Divider
A potentiometer consists of a one metre length wire AB of uniform cross-section, usually secured on a
metre rule as shown in Figure 20- 7.
The resistance of a particular section of the wire is directly proportional to the length between two
given points and inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area of the wire.
𝐿
𝑅𝐴𝐵 𝜌 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑
𝐴
Figure 20- 7
Point C is a movable contact, called a jockey, along the resistance wire.
𝑙
𝑅𝐴𝐶 𝜌 (variable)
𝐴
Since V = IR and R l; 𝑉𝐴𝐶 l
Potential divider: E = 𝑉𝐴𝐶 + 𝑉𝐶𝐵 + Ir
VAB = E – Ir
𝑅𝐴𝐶 𝑅𝐶𝐵
𝑉𝐴𝐶 𝑉𝐴𝐵 and 𝑉𝐶𝐵 𝑉𝐴𝐵
𝑅𝐴𝐶 𝑅𝐶𝐵 𝑅𝐴𝐶 𝑅𝐶𝐵
20.3.1 Potentiometer to measure potential difference or emf
A test cell of emf Et is connected to a potentiometer as shown in Figure 20- 8. Point A on the
resistance wire is at a potential of 12 V. Point C is at a potential of, say, 9 V. therefore, potential
difference, VAC = 12 – 9 = 3 V at a length Lt of the resistance wire. If the emf Et of the test cell is
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greater than the potential difference VAC, a current is forced by the test cell into the resistance wire,
through the galvanometer and back to the cell.
Figure 20- 8
The galvanometer shows a deflection (to the left).
The sliding contact is moved along the wire; increasing Lt. A point is reached when the galvanometer
does not show any deflection.
This is known as the balance point as shown in Figure 20- 9. The potential difference across the
potentiometer, VAC = Et.
Figure 20- 9
This method enables us to find the value of Et precisely.
If the contact C is moved further from point A, the potential difference VAC becomes greater than the
emf Et. A current is forced through the cell and the galvanometer deflects in the other direction (to the
right).
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Figure 20- 10
Example: 9702/12/M/J/14 no. 35
A power supply and a solar cell are compared using the potentiometer circuit shown.
The e.m.f. produced by the solar cell is measured on the potentiometer.
The potentiometer wire PQ is 100.0 cm long and has a resistance of 5.00 Ω. The power supply has an
e.m.f. of 2.000 V and the solar cell has an e.m.f. of 5.00 mV.
Calculate the resistance R must be used so that the galvanometer to read zero when PS = 40.0 cm?
Potential difference across PQ = 5.00 mV0.4×100
= 12.5 mV
Potential difference across PQ + potential difference across R = 2.000 V
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𝑅𝑃𝑄
𝑉𝑃𝑄 2
𝑅𝑃𝑄 𝑅
3
5
12.5 10 2
5 𝑅
R = 795 Ω
Example: 9702/22/M/J/10
(b) A uniform wire AB of length 100 cm is connected between the terminals of a cell of e.m.f. 1.5 V
and negligible internal resistance, as shown in Figure 20- 10.
Figure 20- 11
An ammeter of internal resistance 5.0 Ω is connected to end A of the wire and to a contact C that can
be moved along the wire.
Determine the reading on the ammeter for the contact C placed
(i) at A,
Ammeter reads zero ampere since points A and C are at the same potential.
(ii) at B.
V = IR
VAB = I (5.0)
I = 1.5 / 5.0 = 0.3 A
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(c) Using the circuit in (b), the ammeter reading I is recorded for different distances L of the contact C
from end A of the wire. Some data points are shown on Figure 20- 11.
Figure 20- 12
(i) Use your answers in (b) to plot data points on Figure 20- 11 corresponding to the contact C placed
at end A and at end B of the wire. [1]
(ii) Draw a line of best fit for all of the data points and hence determine the ammeter reading for
contact C placed at the midpoint of the wire.
reading = 1.25 A [1]
(iii) Use your answer in (ii) to calculate the potential difference between A and the contact C for the
contact placed at the midpoint of AB.
V = IR
V = 0.12 × 5.0
V = 0.60 V [2]
(d) Explain why, although the contact C is at the midpoint of wire AB, the answer in (c)(iii) is not
numerically equal to one half of the e.m.f. of the cell.
Points A, B and C is a potential divider and current in AC not equal to current in BC. The resistance
between A and C may not be equal to resistance between C and B. [2]
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