Potentiometer Questions. A Bit Confused About its Functions!?

Question

Questions:

1) given that the meter stick can be read to the nearest half millimeter, what is the smallest voltage change you could measure with the potentiometer constructed?

2) give at least two changes that would make the potentiometer more sensative and explain why.

My Approach: (1) Isn't this answer 0 volts (in change of voltage) because of meter stick values? (2) I have no idea...this was a lab setup, but i have no clue what this question is asking.

Appreciate all the help i can get!

Answer 1

You need to describe the experiment setup more thoroughly to be given a fully correct answer, but I think I can help a bit nonetheless....

1 - You were undoubtedly observing some physical pointer along a yard stick and being asked to translate that measurement into a voltage. If a change of 1mm represented 1 volt, then the smallest voltage change you could detect would be 0.5 volts. If 2mm represented 1 volt, then you could detect change to the nearest 0.25 volts. For a 3rd example, if 0.5mm represented 1 volt, then you could detect changes to the nearest 1volt

2 - Without knowing how things are set up I have absolutely no idea how to make the setup more sensitive. You could answer "use a more accurate ruler" but that isn't really what they're asking for [partial credit only maybe ;)]. The answer to this question will be a physical change in the setup such as - "add more wires to the coil" or "increase the lever arm of the reader" or "increase the length of the resistance wire". Something to that effect.