Statement of Objective:

To become familiar with the Wheatstone Bridges as a resistance measuring instrument.

Theory:

The wheatstone bridge consists of four resistors arranged in the figure shown below. It’s used for
finding the value of an unknown resistance by comparing it with known resistances. Three known
resistance are adjustable and connected to an unknown resistance, galvanometer, dry cell battery, and
the sliding wheatstone sliding bridge as well. For a balanced condition, no current flows through the
galvanometer and should read zero. Hence, the current through the unknown resistance is the same as
the current through the known R 1 and the potential drop is equal to the potential drop across R 2 and the
unknown resistance can be then calculated from these values. The balanced condition is obtained as
you slide the moveable section of the bridge along the wire until the galvanometer reads a values of
zero.

Experimental Setup:

Experimental equipment for this lab includes wiring, rheostat, wheatstone bridge, galvanometer,
ammeter, voltmeter, decade resistor box, unknown resistor box, and power source. (Setup diagram
below)
Procedure:

Setup the circuit dictated in the lab manual. Have the instructor check the circuit before beginning.
Turn on your power source and make sure the current flowing through is less than a one ampere.
Proceed to measure the resistance of coil #1 of your unknown resistor box using the bridge. Set the
sliding contact of the bridge on the wire and adjust while pressing down until the galvanometer comes
to a reading of zero. Make an estimate of the uncertainties of this measurement and record the length
from the end of the bridge. Use the equations given to find the supplementary required data along with
their errors. Repeat for coils 2-5. Next connect coils 4 and 5 in series and find the resistance in the same
fashion dictated above. After that, reconnect coils 4 and 5 in parallel and again find the resistance.
Afterwards, calculate the theoretical resistance of each five coils using the equation given along with the
resistivity constants given. Evaluate the uncertainties of the theoretical values and do not perform error
calculations for the series and parallel cases.

Data:

Table 1 – Slide-Wire Wheatstone Bridge

AC CB R X
Item ∆(AC)/AC ∆(CB)/CB ∆R/R (∆X/X)(100%)
(cm) (cm) (Ω) (Ω)
Coil 1 13.7 86.3 5 0.79 0.0036 5.79x10-4 0.0025 0.25%
Coil 2 34.1 65.9 5 2.59 0.00147 7.59x10-4 0.0025 0.25%
Coil 3 27.6 32.4 5 1.91 0.00181 x10-4 0.0025 0.25%
Coil 4 49 51 5 4.8 0.00102 x10-4 0.0025 0.25%
Coil 5 69 31 5 11.13 0.000725 x10-4 0.0025 0.25%
Coil 4
and 5 77.1 22.9 5 16.8 0.000649 2.18x10-3 0.0025 0.25%
(Series)
Coil 4
and 5 41.3 58.7 5 3.52 0.00121 8.52x10-4 0.0025 0.25%
(Parallel)
Table 2

X ± ∆X X ± ∆X
% Error
Item (Theory) (Slide-Wire) Degree of Overlap
(%)
(Ω) (Ω)
1.72x10-12 ±
Coil 1 0.79 ± 0.00198 4.59x1013 none
4.97x10-7
8.27x10-13 ±
Coil 2 2.59 ± 0.00648 3.13x1013 none
2.39x10-7
8.62x10-13 ±
Coil 3 1.91 ± 0.00478 2.22 x1013 none
2.49x10-7
4.14x10-13 ±
Coil 4 4.8 ± 0.012 1.16x1014 none
1.20x10-7
3.29x10-11 ±
Coil 5 11.13 ± 0.0278 3.38x1013 none
4.99x10-7
Coil 4 and 5 3.33x10-11
16.8 5.05x1013 N/A
(Series)
Coil 4 and 5 4.09x10-13
3.52 8.61x1014 N/A
(Parallel)

Data Analysis:

Sample Calculations for Coil 1:

-Table 1:

CB = 100 cm – 13.7 cm = 86.3 cm

X = R(AC/BC) = 5Ω(14.7/86.3) = 0.79Ω

∆(AC)/AC = 0.05cm/13.7cm = 0.0036

∆(CB)/CB = 0.05cm/86.3cm = 0.000579

∆X/X * 100% = ∆R/R + ∆Q/Q = ∆R/R + 0 = 0.25%

-Table 2:

Radius r = 0.0025 in x (0.0254 m/1 in) (1/2) = 3.175x10 -4 m

A = πr2 = π(3.175x10-4 m)2 = 9.97x10-4 m2

Theorectical X = (ρA)/l = [(1.73x10-8Ω/m)( 9.97x10-4 m2)]/(10m) = 1.72x10-12Ω

Theoretical Series 4&5 = 3.29x10-11 + 4.14x10-13 = 3.33x10-11

Theoretical Parallel 4&5 = 1/(1/3.29x10-11 + 1/4.14x10-13) = 4.09x10-13

= 4.97x10-7

Experimental ∆X = X(%/100%) = 0.25%*100%*0.79 = 0.00198

% Error = abs(1.72x10-12-0.79)/1. 72x10-12 x 100% = 4.59x1013%

Discussion:

Our results for this lab were good in that they were reasonable in terms of the measurements and
instruments used. The issue for this lab lies in the calculation for the theoretical value of the unknown
resistance as I believe I used the incorrect one considering the resistance achieved through the formula
provide in the lab manual was miniscule compared to actual and realistic values. The data taken from
this lab tells us that the sliding wheatstone bridge has an adjustable stability that allows for it to
calculate unknown resistances using several known ones. One key issue would be to re-examine the
connectivity issues of the bridge and the circuitry as the galvanometer could not retain an accurate
reading in many instances because of connectivity issues. Human error again would be the cause of the
high % errors we obtained from our calculations as the wrong formula was probably utilized. However,
the experimental data itself is well within reasonable bounds of probability.

Conclusion:

This experiment detailed a process which an unknown resistance could be calculated if several other
factors were known. This is a key skill and instrument in the electrical field and will prove useful in the
future. Such implications as testing for multiple unknown resistances also seem like a high probability
with this equipment and setup as well as accurate readings in light of our mishaps.