Physics I Laboratory Manual Updated: January 2017

July, 2018

Siliguri Institute of Technology

Department of Engineering Sciences & Humanities
B.Tech 1st Year 1st Sem & 2nd Sem

Paper Name : Physics I Laboratory

Paper Code PH191 (for 1st sem)
: BS-PH191
PH291 (for 2nd sem)
BS-PH291
Experiment No : Electricity
PH191-4&(for 1st sem)(07)
Magnetism
PH291 -4 (for 2nd sem)
Experiment Name: Determination
Use of Carry Foster’s
of unknownBridge to Determine
resistance
using Carey-Foster's
Unknown bridge
Resistance.

Purpose of the experiment:

To determine the specific resistance of the material of the bridge wire and then to find the value
of unknown resistance using Carey Fosters Bridge.

Basic Theory:

The general arrangement of Wheatstone bridge circuit is shown in the fig 1. It is a four arms
bridge circuit where arm AB, BC, CD and AD are consisting of electrical resistances P, Q, S and
R respectively. Among these resistances P and Q are known fixed electrical resistances and these
two arms are referred as ratio arms. An accurate and sensitive Galvanometer is connected
between the terminals B and D through a switch S2.

fig 1

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The voltage source of this Wheatstone bridge is connected to the terminals A and C via a switch
S1 as shown. A variable resistor S is connected between point C and D. The potential at point D
can be varied by adjusting the value of variable resistor. Suppose current I1 and current I2 are
flowing through the paths ABC and ADC respectively. If we vary the electrical resistance value
of arm CD the value of current I2 will also be varied, as the voltage across A and C is fixed. If we
continue to adjust the variable resistance, one situation may come when voltage drop across the
resistor S (i.e, I2S), becomes exactly equal to voltage drop across resistor Q (i.e, I1Q). Thus the
potential at point B becomes equal to the potential at point D. Hence potential difference
between these two points is zero and so current through galvanometer is nil. Thus the deflection
in the galvanometer is nil when the switch S2 is closed.
Now, from Wheatstone bridge circuit:

Current I1= V/(P+Q) and Current I2= V/(R+S)

The potential of point B in respect of point C is nothing but the voltage drop across the resistor Q
and this is: I1.Q= VQ/(P+Q) ……………. (1)

Also the potential of point D in respect of point C is nothing but the voltage drop across the
resistor S and this is: I2.S= VS/(R+S) …………….. (2)

Equating, equations (1) and (2) we get,

ܳ ܵ ܲ+ܳ ܴ+ܵ ܲ ܴ ܲ ܴ
= ‫ݎ݋‬, = ‫ݎ݋‬, + 1 = + 1 ‫ݎ݋‬, =
ܲ+ܳ ܴ+ܵ ܳ ܵ ܳ ܵ ܳ ܵ

ொ
So ultimately we get that, ௉
×ܴ = ܵ ………………(3)

Here in the above equation, the value of R and P ⁄ Q are known, so value of S can easily be
determined. The electrical resistances P and Q of the Wheatstone bridge are made of definite
ratio such as 1:1; 10:1 known as ratio arms and R the rheostat arm is made continuously variable
from 0.2 to 1.4 in the interval of 0.2 Ω. The above explanation is most basic Wheatstone bridge
theory.

The circuit diagram for the experimental setup is shown in fig 2. There are four gaps in the
arrangement. The standard low resistances P and Q, of 1Ω each are connected in the inner gaps 2
and 3. The known resistance i.e. the fractional resistance box ( R ) and the unknown resistance S
whose resistance is to be determined are connected in the outer gaps 1 and 4, respectively.

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Physics I Laboratory Manual
anual Updated:
Updated July,
January 2017
2018

fig 2

A one meter long resistance wire of uniform area of cross section is soldered to the ends of two
copper strips. Since the wire has uniform cross sectional area, the resistance per unit length is the
same along the wire. A galvanometer G is connected between terminal B and the jockey D,
which is a knife edge contact with the wire. A lead accumulator with a key K in series is
connected between terminal A and C.

The position of jockey D is adjusted to locate the position where there is no deflection of the
galvanometer when the jockey is pressed to make electrical contact with the wire; this position is
called the balance point or null point. The bridge has its highest sensitivity when all the four
resistances, P, Q, R and S have comparable magnitudes.

The four points A, B, C and D in fig 2 exactly correspond to the points lab
labeled
eled A, B, C and D in
the circuit diagram of Wheatstone bridge in fig 1 and thus the Carey Foster Bridge effectively
works like a Wheatstone Bridge. If the balance point is located at a distance l1 from E, then we
can write the condition of balance as:

௉ ሺௌାఈା௟ ఘሻ
భ
= ሼோାఉାሺଵ଴଴ି௟ …………….(4)
ொ భ ሻఘሽ

where α and β are the end corrections at the left and right ends and ρ is the resistance per unit
length.

If the positions of S and R are interchanged and a null point is obtained at a length l2 from left
end then

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௉ ሺோାఈା௟మ ఘሻ
= ………………(5)
ொ ሼௌାఉାሺଵ଴଴ି௟మ ሻఘሽ

Combining Equations 2 and 3, we obtain:

ሺௌାఈା௟భ ఘሻ ሺோାఈା௟మ ఘሻ
= ……..…..(6)
ሼோାఉାሺଵ଴଴ି௟భ ሻఘሽ ሼௌାఉାሺଵ଴଴ି௟మ ሻఘሽ

Adding 1 on both sides and simplifying,

ሺௌାఈା௟భ ఘାଵ଴଴ఘሻ ሺோାఈା௟మ ఘାଵ଴଴ఘሻ
= …………..(7)
ሼோାఉାሺଵ଴଴ି௟భ ሻఘሽ ሼௌାఉାሺଵ଴଴ି௟మ ሻఘሽ

Since the numerators are equal, we can write:

ܴ + ߚ + ሺ100 − ݈ଵ ሻߩ = ܵ + ߚ + ሺ100 − ݈ଶ ሻߩ ….(8)
ܴ − ܵ = ሺ݈ଶ − ݈ଵ ሻߩ
S = R − ሺlଶ − lଵ ሻρ

Apparatus Used:

• Carey Foster’s Bridge Board,

• Battery eliminator,
• Galvanometer,
• Low resistance box (0.1 – 10Ω),
• Two standard resistances (1 or 2 Ω each),
• Copper Strip,
• Copper wire,
• Meter scale,
•* Power Supply
Screw gauge,
• Connecting wires,
•* Lead accumulator,
Unknown resistance
• One way Key,
• Jockey.

Procedure:

1. Determination of the resistivity ‘ρ’ of the bridge wire:

• Connect the circuit.

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• Ensure that equal resistances are put in the two middle gaps (2 and 3 in Figure 1).
• Put zero resistance in the fractional resistance box R. Measure the null point. Ideally it
should be at 50cm (from the left). If the null point is far from that, check if all the
connections are right.
• Put a small value (~0.2ohm) in the fractional resistance box. Note the value of the null
point. Do this for both reverse and direct current condition.
• Take the average values of null points for these conditions. These values should be noted
as l1 values (in cm).
• Change the value of the small resistance at a gap of 0.2ohm. Take data starting from
0.2ohm to 1.4ohm.
• Interchange the fractional resistance box and copper strip.
• Repeat the previous steps with the same fractional resistance for both reverse and direct
current condition.
• Note the value of the null point. These values should be noted as l2 values (in cm).

2. Determination of the value of Unknown resistance ‘S’:

• Replace the copper strip with the unknown resistance.
• Repeat the experiment as above to find the balancing lengths l1 and l2.
• Tabulate the readings of R, l1 and l2.and calculate the value of unknown resistance S.

Precautions:
• All the connections are to be made tightly.
• Allow the current to flow through the circuit on when the readings are to be taken.
• Jockey should not be dragged on the wire; it should be lifted and made in contact with
the wire.
• Confirm the connections by checking the deflection in the galvanometer.

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Observation:

1. Measurement of ρ:

Sl. R in Position of null point when the copper strip is in

ோ Mean ρ
No ohm Extreme right gap (cm) Extreme left gap (cm) (l2~ l1) ߩ = ሺ௟
మ ~௟భ ሻ in
. (l1) (l2) in cm
in ohm/cm ohm/cm
Direct Reverse Mean Direct Reverse Mean
1 0.4
2 0.6
3 0.8
4 1
5 1.2
6 1.4
7 1.6

2. Measurement of unknown resistance S:

Sl. R in Position of null point when the unknown resistance (l2− l1) ܵ=ܴ−
No ohm is in in cm ߩሺ݈ଶ − ݈ଵ ሻ
Mean S
. Extreme right gap (cm) Extreme left gap (cm) in ohm
in ohm
(l1) (l2)
Direct Reverse Mean Direct Reverse Mean
1 0.4
2 0.6
3 0.8
---
4 1---
5 1.2
---
6 ---
1.4
7 1.6
---

3. Results:

The resistance per unit length of the bridge wire = ……………………….. Ωcm-1

The value of the unknown resistance =……………………..Ω

4. Error:

ሺ‫܍ܝܔ܉܄ ܌܍ܞܚ܍ܛ܊۽ ~܍ܝܔ܉ܞ ܌ܚ܉܌ܖ܉ܜ܁‬ሻ

Percentage error = ‫܍ܝܔ܉ܞ ܌ܚ܉܌ܖ܉ܜ܁‬
× 100%

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Sample Questions & Answers

1. Why is the wheatstone bridge not used in the laboratory?

• The wheatstone bridge is not used in the labortory because it takes a long time to achieve
balance (i.e. condition of no deflection in the galvanometer) in it as resistances have to be
changed one at a time.
2. What is the advantage of the meter bridge over the wheatstone bridge?
• The advantage of the meter bridge over the wheatstone bridge is that one can vary two
resistances (R and S) at the time by moving the jockey.
3. What is the disadvantage of the meter bridge?
• In the meter bridge three metallic strips and a one meter long ware are used. The strips
and the wire usually made of different metals. For this reason ,in the two joints of strip
and wire two resistances( α and β )developed. If the values of these two resistances are
not determined ahead of the experiment, the meter bridge gives an incorrect result.This is
the disadvantage of the meter bridge.
4. What is the advantage of the Carey-Foster's bridge over the meter bridge?
• In the meter bridge there are two gaps to insert two resistances (P and Q)while in the
Carey-Forster's bridge there are four gaps to gaps to insert two additional resistances. By
interchanging these two additional resistances one can obtain additional equations which
consist of the resistances α and β. Now one can eliminate α and β from the final
equation which is used to calculate an unknown resistance. So ,one need not bother for
the values of the resistances α and β .This is the advantage of the Carey-Foster's bridge
over the metre bridge.
5. What is the specific resistance of matter?
• It is the resistance offered by a unit cube of the matter.The relation of the resistance and
the specific resistance is given by R=ρ *I/A Where R is the resistance, ρ is the specific
resistance and I and A are the length and area of cross section of resistance.So,if the
sample resistance is a unit cube ,then I=1 unit and A=1 (unit.unit). In this case, R=ρ
6. How an unknown resistance can be measured by the help of Wheatstone bridge?
• For measuring accurately any electrical resistance Wheatstone bridge is widely used.
There are two known resistors, one variable resistor and one unknown resistor connected
in bridge form as shown below. By adjusting the variable resistor the current through the
Galvanometer is made zero. When the current through the galvanometer becomes zero,
the ratio of two known resistors is exactly equal to the ratio of adjusted value of variable
resistance and the value of unknown resistance. In this way the value of unknown
electrical resistance can easily be measured by using a Wheatstone Bridge.
7. Why should jockey not be pressed when it is moved in Carey Foster's bridge?
• When Jockey is pressed the length of conductor increases due to elasticity. Since
resistance is proportional to length the resistance of the conductor also increases. So the

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voltage drop per unit length alters from its standard value. It causes error in our reading.
8. What do you mean by a Shunt?
• In electronics, a shunt is a device which allows electric current to pass around another
point in the circuit by creating a low resistance path. The term is also widely used in
photovoltaics to describe an unwanted short circuit between the front and back surface
contacts of a solar cell, usually caused by wafer damage. The origin of the term is in the
verb 'to shunt' meaning to turn away or follow a different path
9. What is a Galvanometer?
• A galvanometer is an electromechanical instrument for detecting and measuring electric
current.
10. What is the difference between resistivity and conductivity?
• Electrical resistivity (also known as resistivity, specific electrical resistance, or volume
resistivity) is an intrinsic property that quantifies how strongly a given material opposes
the flow of electric current. Electrical conductivity or specific conductance is the
reciprocal of electrical resistivity, and measures a material's ability to conduct an electric
current.
11. Define electric current ?
• The rate of flow of electric charge with time is called current.
12. What is SI unit of electric current ?
• The SI unit of electric current is ampere.
13. What is meant by the term electric potential difference ?
• The electric potential difference between two points in an electric field is defined as the
work done to move one coulomb positive charge from one point to the other.
14. What is a conductor ?
• It is a substance which allows the flow of the electric charge through itself e.g. Copper,
Silver etc.
15. Give example of a good non-metallic conductor.
• Graphite
16. State Ohm's law.
• OHM'S LAW states that if the temperature of a conductor is kept constant, the current
flowing through the conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across
its ends.
17. What is meant by the term electric resistance ?
• The resistance of a conductor is defined as the measure of its ability to oppose the flow of
electric current through itself.
18. What is SI unit of resistance ? Define it.
• Ohm. One ohm is the resistance of a conductor which allows 1 ampere current to flow
through itself when a potential difference of 1 volt is applied across its ends.
19. State the factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends.

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• The resistance of a conductor depends on (i) its length (ii) area of cross-section (iii)
nature of the material of the conductor.
20. Define the term resistivity. Give its SI unit.
• The resistivity of the material of a conductor is numerically equal to the resistance
offered by the conductor of length one metre and uniform area of cross-section 1 m2. Its
SI unit is ohm m.
21. Name an element which in different allotropic forms acts as a good conductor and a good
insulator.
• Carbon (Conductor as graphite and insulator as diamond
22. How is the resistance of a conductor affected by rise in temperature ?
• The resistance increases.
23. Give example of a material whose resistance decreases with rise in temperature.
• Semiconductor.
24. How can you convert a galvanometer into an ammeter ?
• A galvanometer can be converted into an ammeter by connecting an appropriate low
resistance wire (called shunt) in parallel with it.
25. How is ammeter connected in a circuit ?
• An ammeter is always connected in series in the circuit.
26. How can you convert a galvanometer into a voltmeter ?
• A galvanometer can be converted into a voltmeter by connecting a high resistance in
series with it.
27. How is a voltmeter connected in a circuit?
• A voltmeter is always connected in parallel.
28. What is the principle of galvanometer ?
• It works on the principle that a current carrying coil placed in a uniform magnetic field
experiences a torque.
29. Should galvanometer have a low or a high resistance ?
• A galvanometer should have a low resistance.
30. How can we convert a galvanometer to an ammeter ?
• A galvanometer can be converted into an ammeter of a given range by connecting a
suitable low resistance (called shunt) in parallel with the galvanometer.
31. How can a galvanometer be converted into a voltmeter ?
• A galvanometer can be converted into a voltmeter by connecting a high resistance in
series with it.
32. If a wire is stretched so as to increase its length, will its resistance increase or decrease ?
• The resistance increases.