What is the advantage of using thick metallic strips to join wires in a potentiometer?

Two students $X$ and $Y$ perform a potentiometer experiment separately and the null point was obtained as shown in the diagram. During the experiment:
$(i)$ $X$ increases the value of $R$ (resistance).
(ii) $Y$ decreases the value of $S$ (resistance) without any other change.
The position of the null point obtained by students $X$ and $Y$ respectively:

The given potentiometer has its wire of resistance $10\, \Omega$. When the sliding contact is in the middle of the potentiometer wire,the potential drop across the $2\, \Omega$ resistor is -

In a potentiometer experiment,cells of e.m.f. $E_1$ and $E_2$ are connected in series $(E_1 > E_2)$. The balancing length is $64 \ cm$ of the wire. If the polarity of $E_2$ is reversed,the balancing length becomes $32 \ cm$. The ratio $\frac{E_1}{E_2}$ is: (in $: 1$)

To measure the internal resistance of a battery,a potentiometer is used. For $R = 10 \ \Omega$,the balance point is observed at $\ell = 500 \ cm$ and for $R = 1 \ \Omega$,the balance point is observed at $\ell = 400 \ cm$. The internal resistance of the battery is approximately: (in $\Omega$)

In a potentiometer experiment, a cell of emf $1.25 \,V$ gives a balancing length of $30 \,cm$. If the cell is replaced by another cell, the balancing length is found to be $40 \,cm$. What is the emf of the second cell?