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HOME (HTTP://PHYSICSCATALYST.COM/ARTICLE) METER BRIDGE EXPERIMENT USING WHEATSTONE BRIDGE PRINCIPLE

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Meter Bridge Experiment using Wheatstone

Bridge Principle
JUNE 27, 2015 (HTTP://PHYSICSCATALYST.COM/ARTICLE/METER-BRIDGE-EXPERIMENT-USING-WHEATSTONE-BRIDGEPRINCIPLE/) PHYSICSCATALYST (HTTP://PHYSICSCATALYST.COM/ARTICLE/AUTHOR/PHYSICSCATALYST/) 0 COMMENTS
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(http://physicscatalyst.com/article/meter-bridge-experiment-using-wheatstone-bridgeprinciple/)

What is Wheat Stone Bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/wheat-stonebridge/)?

A Wheatstone bridge is an electrical circuit used to measure an unknown electrical resistance
by balancing two legs of a bridge circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown component. it

was invented by Samuel Hunter Christie in 1833 and improved and popularized by Sir Charles
Wheatstone in 1843.Although today digital multimeters provide the simplest way to measure
a resistance, The Wheatstone Bridge can still be used to measure very low values of
resistances down in the milli-Ohms range.

(http://i0.wp.com/physicscatalyst.com/article/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/eem_ g11.png)

Principal For Wheat Stone Bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/wheatstone-bridge/)

The general arrangement of Wheatstone bridge circuit is shown in the gure below. It is a four
arms bridge circuit where arm AB, BC, CD and AD are consisting of electrical resistances P, Q,
S and R respectively. Among these resistances P and Q are known xed electrical resistances
and these two arms are referred as ratio arms. An Galvanometer is connected between the
terminals B and D through a switch K2. The voltage source of this Wheatstone bridge is

connected to the terminals A and C via a switch K1 as shown. A variable resistor S is

connected between point C and D. The potential at point D can be varied by adjusting the
value of variable resistor. If we vary the electrical resistance value of arm CD the value of
current I2 will also be varied as the voltage across A and C is xed. If we continue to adjust the
variable resistance one situation may comes when voltage drop across the resistor S that is
I2.S is becomes exactly equal to voltage drop across resistor Q that is I1.Q. Thus the potential
at point B becomes equal to the potential at point D hence potential di erence between
these two points is zero hence current through galvanometer is nil. Then the de ection in the
galvanometer is nil when the switch K2 is closed.
Applying Kircho Law we can easily nd that in that condition
P/Q=R/S
Meter Bridge Experiment using Wheatstone Bridge Principle
Meter bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/) is based on the principle of
wheat stone bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/wheat-stone-bridge/) and it is used
to nd the resistance of an unknown conductor or to compare two unknown resistance. The
practical diagram is shown in the below gure

(http://i1.wp.com/physicscatalyst.com/article/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/eem_ g12.png)

Calculation
R is Known Resistance
S is Unknown Resistance
P is Resistance across AB
Q is the Resistance between BD
AC is a 1m long wire made of maganin or constanan having uniform area of cross-section So
that L1+L2=100
Assuming L1=L => L2=100-L
The unknown resistance X of the given wire is obtained by relation :
X = RL2/L1= R(100-L)/L
And speci c resistance of the material of a given a wire is obtained by =(3.14) r2X/l
where r = radius of the wire and l = length of wire.
Task of the Experiment
To nd out the Unknown Resistance and radius of the wire using meterbridge. We need to
take 5 reading and average out that for the calculation
Instruments required for the experiment
1) Meter bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/)
2) Galvanometer
3) Resistance box
4) Unknown Resistance of length 1 m
5) connecting Wires
6) Screw gauge
7) One way key
8) Jockey
PROCEDURE :
Step 1) Collect all the instruments and make the connection as shown in gure above
Step 2) Take out some suitable resistance R form the resistance box (R. B.).
Step 3) Touch the jockey at point A; see that there is a de ection in the galvanometer on one
side, then touch the jockey on the point C of the wire, the de ection in the galvanometer
should be on the other side. If it is so, your connections are correct.
Step 4) Now nd the position of null point where de ection in galvanometer becomes zero.

Note length AB (l) BC will be (100 l).

Step 5) Repeat the above procedure for di erent values of R. Take atleast 5 readings
Step 6)Note the point where the galvanometer shows 0 de ections, this is called the balance
point.
Step 7) Measure the length of the given wire using ordinary scale and the radius of the wire
using screw gauge( Take ve readings)
Table Of Observation
Table for Unknown Resistance (X)
S.no

Values Of Known Resistance

(R)

Balancing
Length(L)

Value of Unknown Resistance (X=R(100L)/L)

Calculate the Mean Resistance of the Unknown Resistance= (Total Sum of the resistance of
Unknown resistance from above 5 reading)/5
Table for Diameter (d)
LC of Screw Gauge=
Zero Correction=
S.no

PSR

HSR

Corrected HSR=PSR+HSR.LC

Mean diameter of the wire(d)=(Total Sum of the diameter from above 5 reading)/5

Radius of the wire(r)=d/2

Length of the wire=l

Please make sure all the observation are in same units

Speci c Resistance of the wire=( 3.14)r2X/l
Viva Voice question for Meter Bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meterbridge/)/Wheat Stone Bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/wheat-stonebridge/)
Q1 what do you mean by a resistance?
Ans: when a potential di erence is applied across a conductor, the free electrons start moving
in particular directions. While moving through the materials these electrons collide with other
atoms and molecules .they oppose this ow of electrons through it, this opposition is called
resistance
Q2 Explain the law of resistance? or How does the resistance of a wire depend on its
dimensions?
Ans: The resistance of a wire depends upon the various factors:
1. It directly proportional to its length L.
2. It is inversely proportional to its area of cross section A.
3. It depends upon the nature of the material.
4. It also depends upon the temperature of the wire.
Q3 Answer these
a) What is the range of Low resistance
Ans:Low Resistance: order of 1 ohm and under
b) What is the range of Medium resistance
Ans:Medium Resistance: 1 ohm upwards to about 0.1 M Ohm
resistances.
c)What is the range of High resistanceHigh Resistance: All resistances of the order of 0.1
MOhm and upwards

Q4. Explain Wheatstone bridge?

Ans: The Wheatstone bridge is an instrument for making comparison measurements and
operates upon a null indication principal.All details are explained above
Q5. What are the factors a ects the measurements of medium resistance?
Ans: The following factors a ect the measurements of medium resistance:
1. Resistance of contact leads
2. Thermoelectric e ects
3. Temperature e ect
4. Contact resistance
5. Change in ratio arms
6. using a high resistance
Q6. What are the limitations of Wheatstone bridge?
Ans: The use of Wheatstone bridge is limited to the measurement of resistances ranging from
a few Ohm to several Mega Ohm. The upper limit is set by the reduction in sensitivity to
unbalance caused by high resistance values.
Q7. What are the methods used to measure high resistances?
Ans: The di erent methods employed for measurement of high resistance are:
1. Direct de ection method
2. Loss of charge method
3. MegaOhm method
4. Megger
Q8: In a given meter bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/) set up, the
null point is obtained at a length l cm. If without making any other change, the radius of the
meter bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/) is doubled, what would be
the likely position of the null point now?
Answer Same
Q9:What happens to the resistivity of a wire when it is double folded?
Q10: Why do we use thick copper strips to connect the wire of the meter bridge
(http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/) to the rest of the set up?

Q11:Name the SI unit of the speci c resistance (resistivity).

Q12:Why constantan or manganin wires are used for making the resistance coils in resistance
box?
Q13.Why is ammeter always connected in series and voltmeter always connected in parallel?
Q14 what are the di erent methods used for measurement of medium resistances?
Ans: the di erent methods used for measurement of medium resistances are:
1. Ammeter- voltmeter method
2. Substitution method
3. Wheatstone bridge method
4. Ohmmeter method

Q15 what are the di erent methods used for measurement of Low resistances?
Ans: the di erent methods used for measurement of medium resistances are:
1. Potentiometer
2. Ammeter- voltmeter method
3. Kelvin double Bridge method

Q16: Why does galvanometer show opposite de ection in meter bridge

(http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/) experiment?
Answer:In meter bridge (http://physicscatalyst.com/article/tag/meter-bridge/) experiment we
are using a center zero galvanometer.
The galvanometer has two terminals; we shall call one terminal as X and the other as Y
If VX > VY , then a current will ow from X to Y through the galvanometer and makes the needle
to move from its center zero position. Let us say it moves to the right.
If VX < VY, then the current will be reversed and the needle moves to the left from its zero
position.
If VX = VY i.e., if the potential di erence is zero, no current ows through the galvanometer and
the needle remains in its zero position.
By adjusting the jockey, we nd the position where there is no potential di erence between
the two terminals of the galvanometer
3

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