To determine conductivity

using KELVIN’S BRIDGE

Submitted To : Submitted By :

Dr. (Mrs.) Poorva Singh Kajal Agarwal

Tarun Bharat
Charvi Varshney
What is KELVIN’S BRIDGE?
❏ Kelvin bridge also known as kelvin double bridge or Thomson bridge, is a
measuring instrument used to measure unknown electrical resistors.
❏ It is specially designed to measure resistors that are constructed as four terminal
resistors.
❏ We can also use wheatstone bridge, ohmmeter for measuring resistor’s value but
kelvin bridge has special use.

The operation of the Kelvin bridge is very similar to the Wheatstone bridge,
but uses two additional resistors.
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
The Wheatstone bridge works on the principle of null deflection, i.e. the ratio of their
resistances are equal and no current flows through the circuit.
Under normal conditions, the bridge is in the unbalanced condition where current
flows through the galvanometer. The bridge is said to be in a balanced condition when
no current flows through the galvanometer. This condition can be achieved by adjusting
the known resistance and variable resistance.

The use of Wheatstone Bridge is the measurement of resistances of several

mega ohm.
Balanced condition of the bridge :
PROBLEM IN WHEATSTONE BRIDGE
❏ for resistance R < 1 ohm, the resistance of the connecting wires or terminals
becomes significant and conventional measurement techniques will include them
in the results
❏ the undesirable resistor is known as PARASITIC RESISTOR

Question:- How to overcome the problem of measurement of low value resistance?

Answer:- Using Kelvin Bridge Method.
BUT HOW?
❏ Very low value resistors particularly precision resistors and high current ammeter
shunts are constructed as four terminal resistors.
❏ These resistance have a pair of current terminals and a pair of potential or voltage
terminals.
❏ In use a current is passed between the current terminals, but the volt drop across
the resistor is measured at the potential terminals.
❏ The volt drop measured will be entirely due to resistor itself, as the PARASITIC
RESISTANCE of the leads carrying the current to and from the resistors are not
included in the potential circuit.
❏ That's why the bridge circuit is required.
KELVIN’S BRIDGE
❏ It is one of the best devices available for the precise measurement of low
resistances and a modification of wheatstone bridge by which the errors due to
contact resistance and lead resistances are eliminated.

❏ This bridge is named double bridge because it contains a second set of ratio arms.

❏ An interesting variation of the Wheatstone bridge is the Kelvin Double bridge, used
for measuring very low resistances (typically less than 1/10 of an ohm)
MODIFICATION OF WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

R=P/Q

Therefore we conclude that making the galvanometer

connection as at C, the resistance of leads does not affect
the result. This is not a practical way of achieving the
desired result.
KELVIN’S DOUBLE BRIDGE
❏ Previously in kelvin’s single bridge as there was a trouble in determining the
correct point for galvanometer connection so we need a modification which is
the actual KELVIN BRIDGE arrangement

❏ The Kelvin Double Bridge incorporates the idea of a second set of ratio
arms, hence the name of double bridge- and the use of four terminal resistors
for the low resistance arms.

❏ In a typical KELVIN BRIDGE, the range of resistance calculated is 0.1 ohm to

1.0 ohm .
KELVIN BRIDGE arrangement
Description of KELVIN’S DOUBLE BRIDGE
❏ The first of ratio arms is P and Q. The second set of ratio arms, p and q is used to connect the
galvanometer to a point ‘d’ at the appropriate potential between points ‘m’ and ‘n’ to eliminate
the effect of connecting lead of resistance ‘r’ between the unknown resistance ‘R’ and the
standard resistance ‘S’.

❏ The ratio p /q is made equal to P/Q. Under balance conditions there is no current through
the galvanometer, which means that the voltage drop between a and b, E is equal to the
voltage drop Ed between a and d.
❏ Above equation is the usual working equation for the Kelvin Double Bridge. It indicates that
the resistance of connecting lead ‘r’ has no effect on the measurement provided that the two
sets of ratio arms have equal ratios.
RESISTIVITY :
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.
CONDUCTIVITY :
❏ Electrical conductivity or specific conductance is the reciprocal of electrical
resistivity, and measures a material's ability to conduct an electric current.
❏ SI unit of conductivity is ohm per meter .
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP :
Thank you