WHAT IS WHEATSTONE BRIDGE?

Wheatstone bridge, also known as the resistance bridge, calculates the unknown resistance by
balancing two legs of the bridge circuit. One leg includes the component of unknown resistance.
Samuel Hunter Christie invented the Wheatstone bridge in 1833, which Sir Charles Wheatstone
later popularized in 1843.

The Wheatstone Bridge Circuit comprises two known resistors, one unknown resistor and one
variable resistor connected in the form of a bridge. This bridge is very reliable as it gives accurate
measurements.

CONSTRUCTION OF WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:

A Wheatstone bridge circuit consists of four arms of which two arms consist of known resistances
while the other two arms consist of an unknown resistance and a variable resistance. The circuit
also consists of a galvanometer and an electromotive force source. The emf source is attached
between points a and b while the galvanometer is connected between the points c and d. The
current that flows through the galvanometer depends on the potential difference across it.

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE PRINCIPLE:

The Wheatstone bridge works on the principle of null deflection, i.e. the ratio of their resistances
is equal and no current flows through the circuit. Under normal conditions, the bridge is in the
unbalanced condition where current flows through the galvanometer. The bridge is said to be in
a balanced condition when no current flows through the galvanometer. This condition can be
achieved by adjusting the known resistance and variable resistance.
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE FORMULA:
Following is the formula used for Wheatstone bridge:

R=PS/Q

Where,

R is the unknown resistance

S is the standard arm of the bridge
P and Q is the ratio of arm of bridge
Method 1
Method one for finding the unknown resistance
The bridge is said to be balanced when there is no current flowing through the galvanometer. This
means that the potential difference or voltage between the points Q and S is zero. In this case
the current flowing through the fixed resistors R1 and R2 is the same and is considered as I1. The
current flowing through the variable resistor R3 and the unknown resistor Rx will be the same and
is I2. As the potential at Q and S is the same, the voltage drop from the point P to Q is equal to
the voltage drop at from point P to point S.

Wheatstone Bridge
Here I1 R1 = I2 R3 – equation 1. Now the voltage drops from point Q to point R is equal to the
voltage drop from point S to R. So I1 R2 = I2 RX – equation 2. Now dividing the equation 1 by 2 we
get
I1 R1 = I2 R3 / I1 R2 = I2 RX. Thus R1 / R2 = R3 / Rx.
R1 Rx = R2 R3
Thus Rx = R2 R3 / R1. The unknown resistance is determined in terms of other known resistors in
the bridge.

Problem 1: Consider a bridge circuit where R1 = 50 Ω, R2 = 10 Ω, R3 = 20 Ω. Now find the

value of unknown resistance Rx
Solution:
R1 / R2 = R3 / Rx.
Rx = R2 R3 / R1
= 10 * 20 / 50
= 200 / 50
= 40 Ω

Method 2
Method two for finding the unknown resistance
The value of the unknown resistance can be found in other ways too. Consider the same figure
given above. When Ig, the current through the galvanometer is zero the bridge is said to be
balanced. Apply Kirchhoff’s loop rule to the closed loops PSQP and RQSR. Kirchhoff’s loop rule or
voltage law states that the sum of voltage drops is equal to the sum of voltage rise. The algebraic
sum of all voltages across the circuit will be zero.

Wheatstone Bridge circuit

Consider the first loop PSQP.
-I2R3 + 0 + I1R1 = 0
From the loop RQSR, we get
I1R2 + 0 – I2Rx = 0
From the first loop we get, I2 / I1 = R1 / R3. Also, from the second loop we get I2 / I1 = R2 / Rx.
Thus R1 / R3 = R2 / Rx, Rx = R2 R3 / R1.

Problem 1: Calculate the current through the galvanometer connected across P and R of 10
Ω resistance with a potential difference of 20 V

Solve the circuit

Solution:
Consider the mesh PRQP
50 I1 – 30 I2 + 10 Ig = 0
= 5 I1 – 3 I2 + 1 Ig = 0 – equation 1
Consider the mesh PSQP
100 (I1 – Ig) - 40 (I2 + Ig) - 10 Ig = 0
= 100 I1 - 100 Ig - 40 I2 - 40 Ig - 10 Ig = 0
= 100 I1 - 150 Ig - 40 I2 = 0
= 10 I1 – 15 Ig - 4I2 = 0 - equation 2
Consider the next mesh RQSVR
30 I2 + 40 (I2 + Ig) = 20
= 30 I2 + 40 I2 + 40 Ig = 20
= 70 I2 +40 Ig = 20
= 7 I2 +4 Ig = 2 – equation 3
Multiply the equation 1 by 2
10 I1 –6 I2 + 2 Ig = 0
Equation 1- 2
10I1 –6 I2 + 2 Ig = 0 -
10 I1 – 4 I2 – 15 Ig = 0
- 2 I2 + 17 Ig = 0
17 Ig = 2 I2
I2 = 8.5 Ig
Substituting the value in equation 3
59.5 Ig + 4 Ig = 2
63.5 Ig = 2
Ig =0.0315 A

Method 3
Method three for finding the unknown resistance
Consider the same figure. By adjusting the variable resistor, the bridge is balanced as usual. Also,
the voltage at points Q and S should be equal for the bridge to be balanced. This method is
applying the ohms’ law.
Ohm’s law states that V = I R. So, I = V / R
Here I2 = V / Rx + R3. Substitute the values for V = I R
The voltage at point S = V (Rx / Rx + R3)
The voltage at point Q = V (R2 / R1 + R2)
Thus VSQ = V (Rx / Rx + R3) - V (R2 / R1 + R2)
When VSQ = 0
V (Rx / Rx + R3) = V (R2 / R1 + R2)
Rx R1 + Rx R2 = R2 R3 + R2 Rx
Rx R1 = R2 R3
Rx = R2 R3 / R1

Problem 1: Calculate the voltage across the points P and R. Also find the value of resistor

R4 to balance the bridge.

Solve the Wheatstone Bridge

Solution:
Consider the arm P1 Q1 P2
VQ1 = R3 / (R1 + R3) * Vs
= 40 / 90 * 100
= 0.44 * 100
= 44 V
Consider the next arm P1 Q2 P2
V Q2 = R4 / R2 + R4 * VS
= 50 / (100+ 50) * 100
= 50 / 150 * 100
= 0 .33 * 100
= 33 V
Thus Vout = 44 – 33 = 11 V.
The value of resistor R4 for balancing the bridge = R2 R3 / R1
= 140 / 50
= 2.8 Ω
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE APPLICATION:
The Wheatstone bridge is used for the precise measurement of low resistance.
Wheatstone bridge along with operational amplifier is used to measure physical parameters
such as temperature, light, and strain.
Quantities such as impedance, inductance, and capacitance can be measured using
variations on the Wheatstone bridge.

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE LIMITITATIONS:

For low resistance measurement, the resistance of the leads and contacts becomes
significant and introduces an error.
For high resistance measurement, the measurement presented by the bridge is so large
that the galvanometer is insensitive to imbalance.
The other drawback is the change in the resistance due to the heating effect of the current
through the resistance. Excessive current may even cause a permanent change in the value
of resistance.

Q1. What is Wheatstone Bridge?

ANS. Wheatstone bridge, also known as the resistance bridge, calculates the
unknown resistance by balancing two legs of the bridge circuit. One leg includes
the component of unknown resistance.
Q2. What is the Wheatstone Bridge Principle?
ANS. The Wheatstone bridge works on the principle of null deflection, i.e. the
ratio of their resistances is equal and no current flows through the circuit.
Q3 When is the Wheatstone Bridge balanced?
ANS. A Wheatstone bridge is said to be in a balanced condition when no current
flows through the galvanometer. This condition can be achieved by adjusting the
known resistance and variable resistance.
Q4. When is the Wheatstone Bridge said to be unbalanced?
ANS. Under normal conditions, the bridge is in an unbalanced condition where
current flows through the galvanometer.
Q5. What are the limitations of Wheatstone Bridge?
ANS. For low resistance measurement, the resistance of the leads and contacts
becomes significant and introduces an error.