Question

The sensitivity of a potentiometer can be increased by,
A. increasing the emf of the cell.
B. increasing the length of the potentiometer.
C. decreasing the length of the potentiometer.
D. none of these.

Answer 1

Hint: The sensitivity of a potentiometer can be found by considering the value of the potential gradient of the system. The smaller the value of $K$, the smaller the potential difference which can be measured by a potentiometer can measure. This will be in relation with the sensitivity of a potentiometer also. This will help you in answering this question.

Complete step by step answer:
The sensitivity of the potentiometer can be dependable upon the value of potential gradient $K$. Where $K$ be the potential supplied by the source battery which is divided by the length of wire. As the smaller the value of $K$, the smaller the potential difference which can be measured by a potentiometer can measure and also greater will be the sensitivity of the potentiometer. Therefore, for a certain potential difference, the sensitivity of the potentiometer will be increasing with the increase in length of the potentiometer wire.

So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: A potentiometer is defined as an electrical equipment with a three-terminal resistor having a sliding or rotating contact which can create an adjustable voltage divider. When the two terminals only are being used which can be one end and the wiper, then it will be acting as a differing resistor or may be a rheostat. This rheostat is defined as a two terminal electrical device which can be helpful in current control. The wire wound rheostats will be primarily helpful to control an electrical current.