Aim

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AIM

To study the construction and

application of Wheatstone
Bridge
 CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2- Components of Wheatstone bridge
3- Circuit Construction
Working principle of Wheatstone bridge
5- Example Circuit
6- Applications of Wheatstone bridge
7- Limitations of Wheatstone bridge
8- Limitations of Wheatstone bridge
9- Summary
10- Bibliography
77- Precautions
 INTRODUCTION
Samuel Hunter Christie invented the
Wheatstone bridge in the year 1833, which
became popular with the works of Sir
Charles Wheatstone in 1843. An electrical
circuit that is set up to measure the unknown
value of a resistor and creates a balance
between the two legs of the bridge circuit is
called a Wheatstone Bridge. As shown in
the figure below, three resistances are
known (one is variable/adjustable) and the
fourth one has to be found out. Compared to
the other measuring instruments such as
voltage divider, the concept of Wheatstone
bridge is widely used because of the
accuracy in its measurement of resistance.
 Components of
Wheatstone Bridge
• A resistor with an unknown resistance
value.
• Two resistors (with known resistance
value)
• Variable Resistor (a device like
Rheostat or Preset could work)
• Voltage/DC source
• Galvanometer (or any device which
indicates the voltage difference or the
flow of current)
• Connecting Wires
• Circuit Construction
• Construction of Wheatstone Bridge
 CIRCUIRT
CONSTRUCTION

A Wheatstone bridge is a bridge-type

structure having four resistors, three of
known and one of unknown value.

Here Rl, R2, and R3 have known values

among which R2 is adjustable and finally Rx
is the value to be measured. Along with
these resistances, a galvanometer (Vg) is
there between B & D, and a DC supply
between A & C.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
OF WHEATSTONE
BRIDGE

Now according to the Wheatstone bridge

principle if the ratio of the two resistances
(R1/R2) on one edge is equal to the ratio of
the two resistances (R3/Rx) on another
edge then there will be no flow of current
between the midpoints of the two edges of
resistance. This condition of the bridge is
known as the Balanced Bridge Condition.

In the Balanced Bridge condition, the current

through the galvanometer is zero and also
the voltage difference between the points B
& D becomes zero, i.e., at both points
voltage level would be the same.
Writing equations for the balanced bridge
condition would look like: R1/R2 = R3/Rx
(or) R1 * Rx =R2 * R3 Thus, Rx = R3 *
(R2/R1)

This detection of zero current in

galvanometer is of high precision, thus
depending on the level of precision of
known values, the unknown resistance can
be found with the highest rate of accuracy
and precision.

In the Wheatstone bridge experiment, one

resistor should always be variable in order
to obtain a balanced condition. The Circuit
performs at its best when the regulated
voltage source is used, instead of the
current with repelling characteristics.
 EXAMPLE CIRCUIT

Let us consider the below circuit where the

bridge is in an unbalanced condition and we
need to calculate the voltage difference
between QI and Q2, i.e., Volt and hence the
value of R4 needed to make the bridge
balanced.

P
l R2
Ri 50 100
Q 0^
j
Vout
40Q 500
>

R
?
p 2
Example of Wheatstone Bridge As per the
voltage division law,

Vql = (R3/(R3+R1)) * Vs ,where Vs =

100volts (voltage source)

Putting values of R3 = 40 ohms, Rl = 50

ohms, and Vs= 100 volts, we get Vql = 44.4
volts

Similarly, Vq2 = (R4/(R4+R2)) * Vs putting

the values, R4 =50 ohms, R2 = 100 ohms,
and Vs =100 volts, we get Vq2 =33.3 volts

Thus, Volt can be found as, Volt = Vql - Vq2

So, Volt = 44.4 - 33.3 = 11.1 volts

Now to make the bridge balanced, we can
find a suitable value for R4 as done below:

R4 = R2 * (R3/R1)

putting the values of Rl, R2, and R3, we

have

R4 = 100 * (40/50) =80 volts

Therefore, R4 = 80 volts is the value of

resistor which should be used to make the
bridge in a balanced condition.
 APPLICATIONS OF
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

• Used in Light detecting devices.

• For measuring the changes in the
pressure.
• For measuring the changes in the
strain of the circuit.
• Used for the Sensing of mechanical
and electrical quantities.
• Also, photo resistive devices use this
circuit.
• Thermometers also use Wheatstone
bridges for the temperature
measurements which need to be
accurate.
• Values like capacitance, inductance,
impedance, etc. can be measured with
some variations in the Wheatstone
bridge circuit.
 LIMITATIONS OF
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

Along with all these advantages, there are

a few limitations of the Wheatstone bridge
as well, such as:

• Readings may be inaccurate under

unbalanced conditions.
• The range of measured resistance
varies from a few ohms to mega
ohms.
• Susceptibility for high de current is not
there.
 SUMMARY
• Created in 1833, popularized in 1840s
• Wheatstone bridges are one of the best
methods of measuring resistance due
to the basic mathematical ratio
involved.
• Accurate standards with sensitive
enough voltmeter, measurements of
resistance within .05% can be reached.
• Many calibration laboratories still use
this method today.
• The Wheatstone Bridge are
replaceable; however, for its
simplicity and versatility the circuit is an
indispensible piece of technology
BIBLIOGRAPHY
WEBSITES-
qooqle.com
u/u/iv. wikipedia.com
www.scribd.com

Books-

12th Physics
PRACTICAL
Physics
CLASS 12th
 PRECAUTIONS

SHARP INSTRUMENT HEAT HAZARO GLASSWARE

HAZARD HAZARD

CHEMICAL ELECTRICAL
HAZARD HAZARO

BIOHAZARD LASER RADIATION RADIOACTIVE EXPLOSIVE

HAZARD HAZARD HAZARD

> Clean the connecting wires properly.

> Hold the jockey perpendicular to the
wire.
> All connections should be neat and tight.