Phys 201-LabBook-sayfalar-63-72

3.
W HEATSTONE B RIDGE
OBJECTIVE: To determine the resistance of various conductors and their series and
parallel combinations using a slide-wire Wheatstone Bridge.
THEORY :
R1 R2
S2
G
R3 R4
A C
L1 D L2
S1
In Wheatstone bridge there are two pairs of resistors connected in parallel. A

galvanometer is connected between the points where individual resistors are connected
together in each pair. To protect the galvanometer against excessive currents, a large
resistance is connected in series with the galvanometer with the option to short it out
using a switch. A low voltage power supply is connected across the points where each
pair is connected in parallel to each other. In slide-wire Wheatstone Bridge case one pair
of resistors is simply a wire and the galvanometer is connected to a point on the wire with
the help of a sliding connection. The resistance ratio on this part of the circuit is simply
the ratio of the lengths of the wire sections on each side of the sliding connection.
Assuming that the resistances in the wire part of the circuit are R1 and R2 and the other
part are R3 and R4, let us further assume that the current passing through the wire part is
I1 and the other part is I2. Then, adjusting the position of the sliding contact on the wire,
the current through the galvanometer is brought to zero. This means that the potential
differences across the resistances opposing each other in each pair will be equal:
I 1 R1 = I 2 R3
I 1 R2 = I 2 R4
Dividing the first expression by the second one, we get
63
R1 R3 L1
= =
R 2 R 4 L2
since the resistance of a wire is proportional to its length, cross section and its material.
Both parts being part of the same wire, the ratio of the resistances is equal to the ratio of
their lengths. Using such a bridge and a known resistance, we can determine the value of
an unknown resistance as:
(100 − L1 )
Rx = R2 = R1
L1
for a 100 cm wire in the bridge.
APPARATUS : Slide-wire Wheatstone Bridge, galvanometer, resistance box,

large resistance (rheostat), unknown resistance set, 2 switches, 2-V power supply.
PROCEDURE :
• Connect the circuit. Set the resistance box to an appropriate value and move the
contact key on the slide wire until bridge is balanced. For the final precise
adjustments close the switch and observe zero deflection on the galvanometer.
Calculate the value of the unknown resistances.
• Combine any two non-adjacent conductors in series and place them into the
bridge. Determine the value of the combined resistance.
• Combine the same conductors in parallel and place them into the bridge.
Determine the value of the combined resistance.
64
W HEATSTONE B RIDGE
Name & Surname : Experiment # :
Section : Date :
DATA:
Draw The Circuit:
Show Series Connection: Show Parallel Connection:
65
R1 ( ) L1 ( ) L2 ( )
Name of the
Resistance # of Significant # of Significant
(Resistance Box) Figures = Figures =
RA
RB
RC
RD
RE
RParallel
( and )
RSeries
( and )
CALCULATIONS and RESULTS:
Symbol Calculations (show each step) Result
RA = ................................................... ...........
RB = ................................................... ...........
RC = ................................................... ...........
RD = .................................................. ............
RE = .................................................. ............
67
Symbol Calculations (show each step) Result
Rs = ................................................... .............
R// = ................................................... .............
Rs = ................................................... .............
(calculated)
R//= ................................................... .............

(calculated)
% Error for Rs : ......................................... .............
% Error for R// : ......................................... .............
Dimension for R: .............................................................
69
QUESTIONS :
1) Explain what happens when the galvanometer and the power supply are
exchanged in a balanced Wheatstone bridge.
2) Determine the uncertainty DR in the value of the unknown resistance if

the uncertainty in determining the balance point on the slide-wire is DL.
3) Calculate the current in each resistance and the parts of the wire assuming
that the power supply provides 2 V
71

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3.

In Wheatstone bridge there are two pairs of resistors connected in parallel. A

Dividing the first expression by the second one, we get

for a 100 cm wire in the bridge.

APPARATUS : Slide-wire Wheatstone Bridge, galvanometer, resistance box,

Draw The Circuit:

Show Series Connection: Show Parallel Connection:

CALCULATIONS and RESULTS:

Symbol Calculations (show each step) Result

R// = ................................................... .............

R//= ................................................... .............

% Error for Rs : ......................................... .............

% Error for R// : ......................................... .............

Dimension for R: .............................................................

2) Determine the uncertainty DR in the value of the unknown resistance if

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