Physics Lab Sliding Rheostat

Quick Answer: The Physics Lab Sliding Rheostat is a general-purpose variable resistor for school and college physics laboratories, letting students adjust resistance with a sliding contact to study current, voltage and circuit behaviour. It is part of the LabEquip Rheostat range.

Product Description

This Physics Lab Sliding Rheostat from LabEquip provides manually adjustable electrical resistance for practical circuit investigations. A movable sliding contact allows the effective resistance in a connected circuit to be varied progressively, making the apparatus useful for demonstrations and measurements involving current, voltage and resistance.

In a typical laboratory session, students connect the rheostat in series with a cell, ammeter and voltmeter, then adjust the sliding contact to observe how the readings change. This makes it a standard piece of apparatus for verifying Ohm’s law and for general circuit-behaviour experiments across school and college physics laboratories.

This listing covers the general-purpose sliding rheostat model. The exact resistance range, current rating, dimensions and construction details have not been verified for this specific listing and are best confirmed directly with LabEquip before ordering for a specific experiment; where a specific nominal size is required, see our Wire Wound Rheostat 12 Inch.

What This Helps Students Learn

• Understand how a variable resistor changes current in a circuit.
• Verify Ohm’s law using measured voltage and current at different resistance settings.
• Read and use an ammeter and voltmeter correctly in a laboratory circuit.
• Observe the relationship between resistance, current and voltage experimentally.
• Build and safely operate a simple series circuit.

Specifications

Safety Note

This is an electrical laboratory apparatus and should be used only under teacher or lab-instructor supervision. Always connect and disconnect circuits with the power supply switched off, avoid exceeding the rheostat’s safe current rating, and inspect wiring and terminals for damage before each use.

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the frame and terminals with a dry cloth after use.
• Check the sliding contact moves smoothly and terminals are secure before each session.
• Store in a dry location away from moisture to prevent corrosion of the resistance wire.

Why Choose LabEquip

LabEquip is a supplier of physics lab equipment for schools and colleges. Alongside this sliding rheostat, we offer the Wire Wound Rheostat 12 Inch and the Rheostat 8 Inch 100 Ohm 1.6A. Browse our full Rheostat category for more variable-resistance apparatus for your physics laboratory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sliding rheostat used for?
It is used to vary resistance in a circuit so students can study how resistance affects current and voltage, commonly for verifying Ohm’s law.

How is this different from the Wire Wound Rheostat 12 Inch?
This listing is a general-purpose sliding rheostat without a stated nominal size, while the Wire Wound Rheostat 12 Inch is specifically identified as a 12-inch wire-wound model.

Is this suitable for college-level laboratories, not just schools?
Yes, sliding rheostats of this type are commonly used in both school and college physics laboratories for circuit experiments.

Do you supply other rheostat sizes?
Yes, LabEquip also supplies the Wire Wound Rheostat 12 Inch and the Rheostat 8 Inch 100 Ohm 1.6A within our Rheostat category.

What precautions should be taken when using this apparatus?
Always switch off the power supply before connecting or disconnecting the circuit, avoid exceeding the safe current rating, and use it under teacher supervision.

Last updated: September 2026