Khan’s

PHYSICS
Wheatstone bridge 9811194916

When four resistances are connected as the sides of a quadrilateral The known resistance R is connected in the left gap and the un-
and across one diagonal a battery and across the other diagonal a known S is connected in the right gap. When the balance point is
galvanometer is connected, a Wheatstone bridge is said to form. obtained, we have.
The bridge is said to be balanced when no current flows through 𝑅 𝜌 𝑙 ⁄𝐴 𝑙
= =
the galvanometer. 𝑆 𝜌(100 − 𝑙)/𝐴 100 − 𝑙
Condition for the bridge being balanced: Or,
𝑃 𝑅 100 − 𝑙
= 𝑆. 𝑆= 𝑅 (6)
𝑄 𝑙
Proof: Applying Kirchhoff’s rule in loops (1) and (2)
►Called meter bridge because the resistance wire is one meter
long.
Ig ►Bridge wire is made of some alloy (manganin, constantan, ni-
chrome) because of its (i) small temperature coefficient of resistiv-
1 G 2 ity. Otherwise the resistance of the wire would change due to heat-
ing when current flows through it during the experiment and, (ii)
I I relatively high resistivity
►A meter bridge is said to be most sensitive when the four re-
sistances are of the same order.
−𝑃𝐼1 − 𝐺𝐼𝑔 + 𝑅(𝐼 − 𝐼1 ) = 0 (1) ►A meter bridge gives most accurate reading when the null point
−𝑄(𝐼1 − 𝐼𝑔 ) + 𝑆(𝐼 − 𝐼1 + 𝐼𝑔 ) + 𝐼𝑔 𝐺 = 0 (2) is somewhere in the middle of the bridge wire. This is because in
this case the fractional error (∆𝑙/𝑙) in the measurement of un-
If the bridge is balanced, 𝐼𝑔 = 0. With this the above equations
known resistance is least.
reduce to
The error arises mainly because of the end effects –
−𝑃𝐼1 = −𝑅(𝐼 − 𝐼1 ) (3)
(i) The points where the ends of the bridge wire are attached to
−𝑄𝐼1 = −𝑆(𝐼 − 𝐼1 ) (4) thick copper strips may not be exactly one meter apart and
On dividing equation (3) by equation (4), we have (ii) The ends of the ruler may not be exactly aligned with these
𝑃 𝑅 points.
= (5)
𝑄 𝑆 ►Very large resistances cannot be measured because then the
►Application/use: (i) To find unknown resistance. If three re- four resistances of the bridge will not be of the same order and the
sistances are known, the fourth can be found with the help of the bridge will not be sensitive.
equation (5) and, (ii) to find unknown temperature. ►Very small resistances cannot be measured because then the
►The bridge is said to be most sensitive when four resistances resistances of the copper strips and that of connecting wires will
are of the same order. become comparable to the bridge resistances and have to be taken
►If the positions of the battery and the galvanometer are inter- into account.
changed, no difference is made in the balance position or in the (Unedited notes. There may be some typos)
𝑃 𝑅
reading of the galvanometer. This is because = means
𝑄 𝑆
𝑃 𝑄
= 𝑆.
𝑅

Meter Bridge
Meter Bridge is the practical application of Wheatstone bridge and
as such used to find the value of an unknown resistance.
A meter bridge consists of
R S
copper strips – two L–shaped
and one straight, fitted as
shown in the diagram. AC is
G
a meter long resistance wire
of uniform cross-section 𝑙 100 − 𝑙
(made of some alloy like
manganin, constantan,
nichrome) stretched between the ends of the L-shaped copper
strips. A battery and a galvanometer along with a jockey are also
connected as shown in the diagram.