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Delhi Public School Jaipur: Wheatstone Bridge

The document discusses a physics project report on the Wheatstone bridge. It begins with a brief history of the Wheatstone bridge and its derivation. It then provides an example of how to calculate an unknown resistance value using the Wheatstone bridge formula. The document concludes by discussing the basic operation of a Wheatstone bridge, providing a sample circuit diagram and calculation, and listing some common applications of the Wheatstone bridge.

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Manu Gupta
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296 views10 pages

Delhi Public School Jaipur: Wheatstone Bridge

The document discusses a physics project report on the Wheatstone bridge. It begins with a brief history of the Wheatstone bridge and its derivation. It then provides an example of how to calculate an unknown resistance value using the Wheatstone bridge formula. The document concludes by discussing the basic operation of a Wheatstone bridge, providing a sample circuit diagram and calculation, and listing some common applications of the Wheatstone bridge.

Uploaded by

Manu Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Delhi Public School

Jaipur
(A co-educational school affiliated to CBSE)

Physics Project Report


ON
Wheatstone Bridge
Guided by: Submitted by:
Ms Sujata Singh Manu Gupt
XII – C (Science)
Reg No. :
Delhi Public School
Jaipur
(A co-educational school affiliated to CBSE)

Chemistry Project Report


ON
Soy Milk Production
Guided by: Submitted by:
Ms M.N Ranjana Manu Gupt
XII – C (Science)
Reg No. :
Delhi Public School Jaipur

Certificate
This is to certify that the chemistry project
Davisson Germer Experiment in physics has
been submitted by the candidate Anant Vijay
with the roll number ____________ for the
class XII practical examination of the Central
Board of Secondary Education in the year 2019-
20. It is further certified that the project is the
individual work of the candidate.

Teacher in charge Examiner


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In the accomplishment of this project certain
people have bestowed their blessings and
hearty support.
I wish to thank all the people who have been
associated with this project. Apart from being
grateful to the Almighty, I would also like to
thank my principal Ms Sangeeta Kain and my
physics teacher Ms Sujata Singh, whose
invaluable guidance particularly has helped me
to complete the project.
I am also thankful to our lab assistant Mr.
Ramavtar for his great help.
I am obliged to my friends for their constant
support and help.
Last but not the least; I am most grateful to my
parents for their immense love and support.
INDEX
Page No.
1 – History and Derivation 1
2 – Operation & Example 2
3 – Example Circuit Diagram 3
And theory.
4 – Applications 4
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

Samuel Hunter Christie invented the Wheatstone bridge in 1833 and this bridge was improved and
popularized by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1843. The Wheatstone bridge is the interconnection of
four resistances forming a bridge. The four resistance in circuit are referred as arms of bridge. The
bridge is used for finding the value of an unknown resistance connected with two known resistor,
one variable resistor and a galvanometer. To find the value of unknown resistance the deflection on
galvanometer made to zero by adjusting the variable resistor. This point is known as balance point of
Wheatstone bridge.

Derivation
As we can see in figure, R1 and R2 are known resistor. R3 is variable resistor and Rx is unknown
resistance. The bridge is connected with the DC source (battery).
Now if Bridge is in the balanced condition then there should be no current flowing through
galvanometer and the same current I1 will flow thorough R1 and R2. Same goes for R3 and Rx,
means current flow(I2) thorough R3 and Rx will remain same. So below are the calculations to find
out unknown resistance value when bridge is in the Balanced condition (no current flow between
point C and D).
V = IR (by ohm's law)
VR1 = I1 * R1 ... equation (1)
VR2 = I1 * R2 ... equation (2)
VR3 = I2 * R3 ... equation (3)
VRx = I2 * Rx ... equation (4)
The voltage drop across the R1 and R3 is same and the voltage drop at R2 and R4 is also same in
the balanced bridge condition.
I1 * R1 = I2 * R3 ... equation (5)
I1 * R2 = I2 * Rx ... equation (6)
On dividing equation (5) and equation (6)
R1 / R2 = R3 / Rx
Rx = (R2 * R3) / R1

So, from here we get the value of Rx which is our unknown resistance and hence this is how
Wheatstone bridge helps in measurement of an unknown resistance.

Operation
Practically, the variable resistance is adjusted till the value of current through the galvanometer
becomes zero. At that point, the bridge is called as balanced Wheatstone bridge. Getting zero
current through galvanometer gives high accuracy, as a minor change in variable resistance can
disrupt the balance condition.
As shown in the figure, there are four resistance in the bridge R1, R2, R3 and Rx. Where R1 and
R2 are the unknown resistor, R3 is the variable resistance and Rx is the unknown resistance. If the
ratio of known resistors is equal to the ratio of adjusted variable resistance and unknown resistance,
in that condition no current will flow through the galvanometer.
At balanced condition,
R1 / R2 = R3 / Rx
Now, at this point we are having the value of R1, R2 and R3 so it’s easy to find the value of Rx from
the above formula.
From the above condition,
Rx = R2 * R3 / R1
Hence, the value of unknown resistance is calculated through this formula, given that current
through Galvanometer is Zero.
So we need to adjust the potentiometer till the point when voltage at C and D will be equal, in that
condition current through point C and D will be zero and the Galvanometer reading will be Zero, in
that particular position Wheatstone Bridge will be called in Balanced condition. This complete
operation is explained in the Video Given below:

Example
Let us take an example for understanding the concept of Wheatstone bridge, as we take an
unbalanced bridge to calculate the appropriate value for Rx (unknown resistance) to balance the
bridge. As we know if the difference of voltage drop across point C and D is zero then the bridge is in
balance condition.
According to the circuit diagram,
For the first arm ADB,
Vc = {R2 / (R1 + R2)}* Vs

On putting the values in the above formula,


Vc = {80 / (40 + 80)}* 12 = 8 volts

For the second arm ACB,


Vd = {R4 / (R3 + R4)}* Vs
Vd = {120 /(360+ 120)}*12 = 3 volts
So, the voltage difference between point C and D is:
Vout = Vc - Vd = 8 - 3 = 5 volts
If the difference of voltage drop across C and D is positive or negative (positive or negative shows
the direction of unbalance), it shows that the bridge is unbalanced and for making it balance we
need a different value of resistance in replacement of R4.
The value of resistor R4 required for balance the circuit is:
R4 = (R2 * R3) / R1 (condition of balance bridge)
R4 = 80 * 360 / 40
R4 = 720 ohm
Hence, the value of R4 required to balance the bridge is 720 Ω, because if the bridge is balance the
difference of voltage drop across C and D is zero and if you can use a resistor of 720 Ω the voltage
difference will be zero.
Applications
 Mainly used in measuring of very low value of unknown resistance having range of milli-ohms.
 If using a varistor with Wheatstone bridge we can also identifies the value of some parameters
like capacitance, inductance and impedance.
 By using Wheatstone bridge with operational amplifier it helps in measuring different parameters
like temperature, strain, light etc.

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