Wheatstone Bridge

The Wheatstone Bridge is the name given to a combination of four resistances connected to give a null center value

The Wheatstone Bridge diamond shaped circuit who’s concept was developed by Charles Wheatstone can be used to
accurately measure unknown resistance values, or as a means of calibrating measuring instruments, voltmeters,
ammeters, etc, by the use of a variable resistance and a simple mathematical formula.

Although today digital multimeters provide the simplest way to measure a resistance. The Wheatstone Bridge can
be used to compare an unknown resistance to that of a known resistance to determine its value allowing very low values
of resistances down in the milli-Ohms (mΩ) range to be measured.

The Wheatstone bridge (or resistance bridge) circuit can be used in a number of applications and today, with modern
operational amplifiers we can use the Wheatstone Bridge Circuit to interface various transducers and sensors to these
amplifier circuits.

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The Wheatstone Bridge circuit is nothing more than two simple series-parallel arrangements of resistances connected
between a voltage supply terminal and ground producing zero voltage difference between the two parallel branches when
balanced. A Wheatstone bridge circuit has two input terminals and two output terminals consisting of four resistors
configured in a familiar diamond-like arrangement as shown. This is typical of how the Wheatstone bridge is drawn.

The
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When balanced, the Wheatstone bridge can be analysed simply as two series strings in parallel. In our tutorial about
Resistors in Series, we saw that each resistor within the series chain produces an IR drop, or voltage drop across itself as
a consequence of the current flowing through it as defined by Ohms Law. Consider the series circuit below.

As the two resistors are in series, the same current ( i ) flows through both of them. Therefore
the current flowing through these two resistors in series is given as: V/RT.

I = V ÷ R = 12V ÷ (10Ω + 20Ω) = 0.4A

The voltage at point C, which is also the voltage drop across the lower resistor, R2 is calculated
as:

VR2 = I × R2 = 0.4A × 20Ω = 8 volts

Then we can see that the source voltage VS is divided among the two series resistors in direct proportion to their
resistances as VR1 = 4V and VR2 = 8V. This is the principle of voltage division, producing what is commonly called a
potential divider circuit or voltage divider network.

Now if we add another series resistor circuit using the same resistor values in parallel with the first we would have the
following circuit.

As the second series circuit has the same resistive values of the first, the voltage at point
D, which is also the voltage drop across resistor, R4 will be the same at 8 volts, with
respect to zero (battery negative), as the voltage is common and the two resistive
networks are the same.

But something else equally as important is that the voltage difference between point C
and point D will be zero volts as both points are at the same value of 8 volts as:
C = D = 8 volts, then the voltage difference is: 0 volts

When this happens, both sides of the parallel bridge network are said to be balanced because the voltage at point C is
the same value as the voltage at point D with their difference being zero.

Now let’s consider what would happen if we reversed the position of the two resistors, R3 and R4 in the second parallel
branch with respect to R1 and R2.

With resistors, R3 and R4 reversed, the same current flows through the series
combination and the voltage at point D, which is also the voltage drop across resistor,
R4 will be:
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VR4 = 0.4A × 10Ω = 4 volts
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Now with VR4 having 4 volts dropped across it, the voltage difference between points C and D will be 4 volts as: C = 8
volts and D = 4 volts. Then the difference this time is: 8 – 4 = 4 volts
The result of swapping the two resistors is that both sides or “arms” of the parallel network are different as they produce
different voltage drops. When this happens the parallel network is said to be unbalanced as the voltage at point C is at a
different value to the voltage at point D.

Then we can see that the resistance ratio of these two parallel arms, ACB and ADB, results in a voltage difference
between 0 volts (balanced) and the maximum supply voltage (unbalanced), and this is the basic principal of the
Wheatstone Bridge Circuit.

So we can see that a Wheatstone bridge circuit can be used to compare an unknown resistance RX with others of a
known value, for example, R1 and R2, have fixed values, and R3 could be variable. If we connected a voltmeter,
ammeter or classically a galvanometer between points C and D, and then varied resistor, R3 until the meters read zero,
would result in the two arms being balanced and the value of RX, (substituting R4) known as shown.

Wheatstone Bridge Circuit

By replacing R4 above with a resistance of known or unknown value in the sensing arm of the Wheatstone bridge
corresponding to RX and adjusting the opposing resistor, R3 to “balance” the bridge network, will result in a zero
voltage output. Then we can see that balance occurs when:

The Wheatstone Bridge equation required to give the value of the unknown resistance, RX at balance is given as:

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Where resistors, R1 and R2 are known or preset values.

Example No1
The following unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge is constructed. Calculate the output voltage across points C and D and the
value of resistor R4 required to balance the bridge circuit.

For the first series arm, ACB

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The voltage across points C-D is given as:

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The value of resistor, R4 required to balance the bridge is given as:

We have seen above that the Wheatstone Bridge has two input terminals (A-B) and two output terminals (C-D). When
the bridge is balanced, the voltage across the output terminals is 0 volts. When the bridge is unbalanced, however, the
output voltage may be either positive or negative depending upon the direction of unbalance.

Wheatstone Bridge Light Detector

Balanced bridge circuits find many useful electronics applications such as being used to measure changes in light
intensity, pressure or strain. The types of resistive sensors that can be used within a wheatstone bridge circuit include:
photoresistive sensors (LDR’s), positional sensors (potentiometers), piezoresistive sensors (strain gauges) and
temperature sensors (thermistor’s), etc.

There are many wheatstone bridge applications for sensing a whole range of mechanical and electrical quantities, but one
very simple wheatstone bridge application is in the measurement of light by using a photoresistive device. One of the
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Ancontrolled
LDR, also known as
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visible light levels intoRa270.57
change in resistance and hence a voltage. Light dependent
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A typical Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) cell such as the ORP12 light dependent resistor typically has a resistance of about
one Megaohm (MΩ) in dark or dim light, about 900Ω at a light intensity of 100 Lux (typical of a well lit room), down to
about 30Ω in bright sunlight. Then as the light intensity increases the resistance reduces. By connecting a light
dependant resistor to the Wheatstone bridge circuit above, we can monitor and measure any changes in the light levels as
shown.

Light Detection

The LDR photocell is connected into the Wheatstone Bridge circuit as shown to produce a light sensitive switch that
activates when the light level being sensed goes above or below the pre-set value determined by VR1. In this example
VR1 either a 22k or 47kΩ potentiometer.

The op-amp is connected as a voltage comparator with the reference voltage VD applied to the non-inverting pin. In this
example, as both R3 and R4 are of the same 10kΩ value, the reference voltage set at point D will therefore be equal to
half of Vcc. That is Vcc/2.

The potentiometer, VR1 sets the trip point voltage VC, applied to the inverting input and is set to the required nominal
light level. The relay turns “ON” when the voltage at point C is less than the voltage at point D.

Adjusting VR1 sets the voltage at point C to balance the bridge circuit at the required light level or intensity. The LDR
can be any cadmium sulphide device that has a high impedance at low light levels and a low impedance at high light
levels.

Note that the circuit can be used to act as a “light-activated” switching circuit or a “dark-activated” switching circuit
simply by transposing the LDR and R3 positions within the design.

The Wheatstone Bridge has many uses in electronic circuits other than comparing an unknown resistance with a known
resistance. When used with Operational Amplifiers, the Wheatstone bridge circuit can be used to measure and amplify
small changes in resistance, RX due, for example, to changes in light intensity as we have seen above.

But the bridge circuit is also suitable for measuring the resistance change of other changing quantities, so by replacing
the above photo-resistive LDR light sensor for a thermistor, pressure sensor, strain gauge, and other such transducers, as
well as swapping the positions of the LDR and VR1, we can use them in a variety of other Wheatstone bridge
applications.

Also more than one resistive sensor can be used within the four arms (or branches) of the bridge formed by the resistors
R1 to R4 to produce “full-bridge”, “half-bridge” or “quarter-bridge circuit arrangements providing thermal
compensation or automatic balancing of the Wheatstone bridge.
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sayon John

I love the side pls I will like to be notify when u post next
Thanks

Posted on June 29th 2022 | 7:01 am

Reply
Jude Onyekachi

Help me out with this question from principles of Electronics.

Using Thevenin’s theorem , find the current through the galvanometer in the wheatstone bridge with R1=1000
ohms, R2=100 ohms, R3=1000 ohms , R4=99 ohms and a voltage of 10 volts.

Posted on May 24th 2022 | 9:05 pm

Reply
Annu Sharma

I agree

Posted on May 22nd 2022 | 7:15 am

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Wheatstone bridge the Best information good
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Posted on March 09th 2022 | 2:55 pm
Reply
 Erastus

Please what are the things you will observe when working with the wheel stone bridge and with the length to
resistance wheel aton bridge.

Posted on January 12th 2022 | 7:22 am

Reply
tony chu

Can we apply this to compare/measure some unknown inductance or capacitance by inputting AC voltage at a
known frequency and by balancing them with some known reactance values? If yes, how to deal with possible
phase shifting, or to eliminate ?

Posted on December 21st 2021 | 6:30 pm

Reply
Jim Yuill

Great explanation, very clear

Posted on November 24th 2021 | 8:53 pm

Reply
Torach Jimmy

Thanks very much for The enlightenment.

Posted on November 17th 2021 | 10:00 pm

Reply
Agbormehong

Good analysis. I wish to have more of these kind of analysis to help my students here in Cameroon Africa

Posted on October 23rd 2021 | 1:39 pm

Reply
Usman Shah

Please explain how R2 = R2/R1+R2 in the above example?

Posted on October 15th 2021 | 9:15 am

Reply
Wayne Storr

We would do if we could understand your comment, as R2 is not found in the tutorial as being equal to
R2/(R1+R2)

Posted on October 15th 2021 | 11:09 am

Reply
Muhammad farooq

Does the unknown resistor and its opposit resistors have the same value

Posted on September 27th 2021 | 6:38 am

Reply
Stevenson Jack

It is very helpful to me because I came to know alot

Posted
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clearly
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Accept Alland understandable.
I’m also interested in linearization of a Wheatstone Bridge
 Posted on July 30th 2021 | 6:21 am
Reply
chimwemwe waribwe

the explanation was good and understandable am also interested in the explanation of the thevenins theorem

Posted on June 14th 2021 | 12:22 pm

Reply
Wayne Storr

Then read the tutorial about Thevenin’s Theorem

Posted on June 14th 2021 | 4:51 pm

Reply
Leakey Mutuma Mucee

actually am much greatful because if it was not for good solving of wheatstone bridge i could remain confused

Posted on May 23rd 2021 | 6:08 am

Reply
J

Jjj

Posted on May 18th 2021 | 5:00 am

Reply
Raj chaudhari

Study of Wheatstone bridge

Posted on April 30th 2021 | 10:47 am

Reply
Areej Rani

It’s outstanding

Posted on April 16th 2021 | 6:40 pm

Reply
deepak kumar meher

i love read physics but difficulties in wheatstone bridge

Posted on April 02nd 2021 | 10:56 am

Reply
Hiyori

How should an ammeter and voltmeter be connected in the Wheatstone Bridge circuit?
Is it the same as the other circuits!?

Posted on February 22nd 2021 | 3:39 pm

Reply

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