Scribd
Upload
29 views

Lab#5 Wheatstone Bridge

Uploaded by

j.edusei28
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views

Lab#5 Wheatstone Bridge

Uploaded by

j.edusei28
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

1

ECSE 2170 LAB 5 Wheatstone Bridge

LAB OBJECTIVES: Learn about the Wheatstone Bridge and practice the
Node-voltage/Mesh-Current Method of circuit analysis.

1. Before constructing the circuit shown below, first measure the value of the resistors you use
with an ohmmeter.

nominal value measured value nominal value measured value

R1 100 ohms _______________ R 2 10 ohms _______________

R3 1000 ohms _______________ R 4 100 ohms _______________

In this circuit, we can consider two branches are in parallel connection: (R1+R3) // (R2+R4). In
each branch, the two resistors are in series connection, so we can use voltage division to consider
the voltage drop across each resistor.
If all resistors are ideally accurate as shown in the circuit diagram, what is the voltage Vab? If
we add another wire between a and b, what is the current in that wire?
2
2. Then measure the voltage across each resistor using voltmeter. Are they close to your
expectation?
Measure Vab using voltmeter. Is this value the same as you expect? Why?

3. With an ammeter, measure the current through each resistor.

4. Now add a wire between a and b and use ammeter to measure the current. Is it the same as
you expected? Why?
Also, does the current through each resistor change? When you use KCL to check the 4
resistor currents and Iab, there might be very big error. Increase R2 and R4 by 100 times,
measure all currents again and you should see the values match KCL much better. Analyze the
possible reason.
Consider what happens when adding this extra wire between a and b.

This circuit is called the Wheatstone Bridge. If R1  R4 = R2  R3 , the bridge is


“balanced” and there will be no current between a and b, and Vab = 0 V no matter what
resistance is connected between a and b.

Application: if R1 and R3 are given resistance and R2 is an unknown resistance, we can use a
potentiometer as R4. By tuning the value of R4, we make the current between a and b to be exact
0 A (balanced). Then we can calculate R2. You can try to use potentiometer for this in the lab
(Optional).
3

In the lab report, besides answering/analyzing the above questions, also calculate the values of
all the currents using Node-Voltage Method and Mesh-Current Method, respectively.

You might also like