NVAEasyJEE 2023Potentiometer

JEE Physics 2023 Question with Solution

In an experiment to find emf of a cell using potentiometer, the length of null point for a cell of emf 1.5V1.5 \, \text{V} is found to be 60cm60 \, \text{cm}. If this cell is replaced by another cell of emf EE, the length-of null point increases by 40cm40 \, \text{cm}. The value of EE is x10\frac{x}{10} V. The value of xx is _____.

Answer

Correct answer:25

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: emf of first cell E1=1.5VE_1 = 1.5 \, \text{V}, null point length l1=60cml_1 = 60 \, \text{cm}. The new null point length is l2=60+40=100cml_2 = 60 + 40 = 100 \, \text{cm}.

Find: the value of xx if E=x10VE = \frac{x}{10} \, \text{V}.

In a potentiometer experiment,

E1E2=l1l2\frac{E_1}{E_2} = \frac{l_1}{l_2}

So,

1.5E2=6060+40=610=35\frac{1.5}{E_2} = \frac{60}{60 + 40} = \frac{6}{10} = \frac{3}{5}

Hence,

E2=52VE_2 = \frac{5}{2} \, \text{V}

Now compare with

E2=x10VE_2 = \frac{x}{10} \, \text{V}

Therefore,

x10=52\frac{x}{10} = \frac{5}{2}

So,

x=25x = 25

Therefore, the value of xx is 2525.

Common mistakes

  • Using inverse proportionality between emf and balancing length is incorrect here. In a potentiometer, emf is directly proportional to the null point length. Use E1E2=l1l2\frac{E_1}{E_2} = \frac{l_1}{l_2}.

  • Taking the second length as only 40cm40 \, \text{cm} is wrong. The null point increases by 40cm40 \, \text{cm}, so the new length is 60+40=100cm60 + 40 = 100 \, \text{cm}.

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