TOPIC : To study the construction and application

of wheatstone bridge
SUBMITTED TO :
SUBMITTED BY : HARSH ARORA
CLASS : 12th
SESSION : 2022-23
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that HARSH ARORA a student of class XII of
SMT.SRIDEVI AWASIYA VIDHYAPEETH has successfully completed
the project on topic -:

" WHEATSTONE BRIDGE "

Under the guidance of MR.BHOORI SINGH CHAHAR

(subject teacher). This project is absolutely genuine and
does not indulge in plagiarism of any kind.

TEACHER IN CHARGE EXTERNAL EXAMINER

PRINCIPAL
 INDEX
TOPIC PAGE NUMBER
I. MAIN PAGE 1
II. CERTIFICATE 2
III. INDEX 3
IV. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4
V. INTRODUCTION 5
A. HISTORY 5
B. DEFINITIONANDSTRUCTURE 5
VI. COMPONENTS OFWHEATSTONE BRIDGE 5-6
VII. CIRCUITCONSTRUCTION 6
VIII. WORKINGPRINCIPLEOFWHEATSTONEBRIDGE 7–8
IX. EXAMPLE CIRCUIT 8–9
X. APPLICATIONOFWHEATSTONEBRIDGE 9–10
XI. LIMITATIONSOFWHEATSTONEBRIDGE 10
XII. PRECAUTIONS 10
XIII. IMPORTANTPOINTS 10- 11
XIV. BIBLIOGRAPHY 11
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success and final outcome of this project
required a lot of guidance and assistance from
many people and I am extremely fortunate to
have got this all along the completion of my
project work . Whatever I have done is only due
to such guidance and assistant and I would not
forget to thank them .

I would like to express my special thanks of

gratitude to my teacher
as well as our Principal Mrs. who gave me the
golden opportunity to do this wonderful project
on the construction and application of wheatstone
bridge and their essential guidance .

I would also like to thank my parents and friends

who helped me a lot in finalizing this project
within the limited time frame .
 INTRODUCTION
History : Scientists use many skills to investigate the world around
them. They make observations and gather information from their
senses. Some observations are as simple as figuring out the texture
and colour of an object. However, scientists may need to take
measurements if they want to know more about a substance.
Measurement is one of the important aspects of science. It is difficult
to conduct experiments and form theories without the ability to
measure. Thus, to measure unknown resistance in a circuit, Samuel
Hunter Christie invented the Wheatstone bridge in 1833, which Sir
Charles Wheatstone later popularised in 1843 .
Definition and Structure : 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)
Galvanometer (or any device which indicates the voltage
difference or the flow of current)
 Connecting Wires

CIRCUIT CONSTRUCTION

A Wheatstone bridge is a bridge-type structure having four

resistors, three of known and one of unknown value.

Here R1, 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 ofthe 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 looklike:

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 highestrate 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 isused,
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 Q1 and Q2, i.e., V out and hence the value of R4 needed to
make the bridge balanced.
As per the voltage division law,
VQ1 = (R3/(R3+R1)) * Vs ,where Vs =100volts (voltage source)
putting values of R3 = 40 ohms, R1=50 ohms ,and Vs= 100 volts,we
get ,
VQ1 = 44.4 volts
Similarly,
VQ2 = (R4/(R4+R2)) * Vs
putting the values, R4 = 50 ohms, R2 = 100 ohms, andVs =
100 volts, we get
VQ2 =33.3 volts
Thus,
Vout can be found as,
Vout = VQ1 – VQ2
So,
Vout = 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 R1, R2, and R3, we have R4 =
100 * (40/50) = 80 volts
Therefore, R4 = 80 volts is the value of resistor which should beused
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 in strain gauge .
 Used for the Sensing of mechanical and electrical
quantities.
 Also, photoresistive 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 ofthe
Wheatstone bridge as well, such as:

 Readings may be inaccurate under unbalanced conditions.

 The range of measured resistance varies from a few ohmsto
mega ohms.
 Susceptibility for high dc current is not there.

PRECAUTIONS
1. Clean the connecting wires properly .
2. Make sure all cuts on wire are covered with electrical tap
3. All connections should be neat and tight .

IMPORTANT POINTS
1. Created in 1833 popularized in 1843.
2. Measuring unknown resistances is very easy if we use wheatstone
bridge for this purpose because only simple mathematical ratios are
involved in this .
3. It is more accurate in as compared with other measuring
instruments such as voltage divider .
4. Because of simplicity and versatility of Wheatstone bridge it
becomes an indispensible piece of technology .
5. It is also used in some thermometers

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. www.google.com
2. NCERT Class 12th Physics Textbook Part 1
3. www.eeeproject.com
4. www.byjus.com
5. www.slideshare.net
6. Arihant All In One Physics Class 12th .
.