SCHOOL OF BASIC SCIENCES AND RESEARCH, SHARDA UNIVERSITY

PHYSICS LABORATORY MANUAL

Experiment title: To determine the specific resistance of the material of a Expt. No.6
given wire using Carey Foster’s bridge

OBJECTIVE: To determine the specific resistance of the material of a given wire using
Carey Foster’s bridge.

APPARATUS REQUIRED: Carey Foster Bridge, galvanometer, Leclanche cell or dry cell,
resistance wire, decimal-decade resistance box, single way plug key, rheostat, screw gauge
and connecting wires.

Formula used:
X – Y = ρ (l2 – l1)
ρ = X / (l2 – l1)
σ = Y. πr2/l
THEORY: A Carey Foster’s bridge is a modification of meter bridge in the following two
ways:
1. The effective length of the bridge wire is increased due to two additional resistance
lengths P and Q.
2. Interchanging the out gaps eliminates the end resistances. With these modifications the
bridge is more precise and sensitive.

Let ρ be the resistance per unit length of the bridge wire and α, β be the end resistances on two
ends A and B respectively. If the balance is obtained at a length l1 with resistance X in LHS
and l2 with X in RHS gap, we have for the same value of ratio arms.
P/Q = (X +α+ P l2) / [ Y +β+ P(100 – l1)] For X in LHS gap

P/Q = (Y + α+ P l1) / [ X +β+ P(100 – l2)] For X in RHS gap

Solving we have
X – Y = ρ (l2 – l1) (1)
This equation gives the differences of two resistances in terms of bridge wire resistance. To
determine ρ, Y is kept zero, i.e. the gap is covered with copper strip and balancing length l 1
and l2 are obtained for known values of resistance X. Then

ρ = X / (l2 – l1) (2)

Knowing the resistance of wire (Y, from equation 1), the specific resistance of its material,
σ can be determined as

σ = Y. πr2/l (3)
Where l is the length of the wire, r is the radius of the wire.

PROCEDURE:

(A) Determination of

1. Make neat and tight connections. A deci-ohm resistance box is connected in left gap
and short circuit unknown gap on right by copper strip.
2. Introduce some resistance and determine balance point l1 by sliding jockey. Choose
such a resistance that balance occur towards the end of the wire.
3. Interchange the resistance box and copper strip and find the balancing length l 2
measured from the same end.
4. By changing the value of resistance X in the resistance box, find the balancing length
in such a way that whole length of the wire is calibrated.
5. Calculate the value of ρ using equation (2).
(B) Determination of unknown resistance and difference between two resistances:

1. Use a known resistance box for X having resistance comparable to unknown resistance
Y connected in other gap.
2. By choosing suitable resistance from resistance box find balancing length l 1. By
suitable we mean a resistance for which balance is obtained approximately at the
center of the bridge wire.
3. Interchange X and Y and find balancing length l2.
4. By changing resistance X in steps find other sets of l1 and l2.
5. Calculate the difference (X – Y) from each of the above set.
6. Finally calculate Y, the unknown resistance using equation (1).

.
(C) Determination of specific resistance:

1. Find the length of the wire used.

 2. Find the radius of wire using screw gauge.
3. Find specific resistance using equation (3).

OBSERVATIONS:

Radius of the given wire =

Length of the given wire =

Table1: Determination of ρ

Balancing length when X is in

Resistance (l2 - l1) ρ=X/(l2-l1)
S. No.
X (ohms) Left gap (l1) Right gap (l2) cm cm
cm cm
           
           
           
           

Mean = …… ohm/cm

Table 2: Determination of unknown resistance Y

Balancing length when X is in

Resistance (l2 - l1) Y=X-ρ(l2-
S. No.
X (ohms) Left gap (l1) Right gap (l2) cm l1) cm
cm cm
           
           
           
           

CALCULATIONS: Calculate values of for each set of readings in table 1. Get its mean
value. Now calculate Y from table 2 and then knowing the values of length and radius of the
wire, calculate the value of specific resistance.

RESULT : The specific resistance of the given wire is = ………….…….. Ohm-cm.

Percentage Error:

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Connections must be neat and tight.
2. Pressed jockey should not be moved on the wire. It should be pressed gently and
momentarily to avoid heating.
3. The difference between X and Y should not be more than the resistance of the bridge
wire otherwise balance point will not be obtained
4. While determining the balance should be obtained near the end of the wire while for the
difference of the resistance it should be obtained near the middle of the wire.
5. The bridge is most sensitive when P, Q, X and Y are of the same order.

Theoretical Error:-
σ = yπr2 / l
taking log and differentiating both sides
log σ = log y + 2log r + log l
(1 / σ) δ σ = ( 1/y. δy + 2/r. δr + 1/l. δl )
(1 / σ) δ σ = ( 1/y. δy + 2/r. δr + 1/l. δl ) x 100

OUTCOME:

Student will learn the concept of Wheatstone bridge and Carey Foster Bridge and understand the
concept of resistance and resistivity of a metal wire. Learn how to use screw guage for
measuring radius of the wire.

TRY TO ANSWER:
1. What do you mean by specific resistance?
2. What is resistance?
3. What are the factors, which affect the resistance of a conductor?
4. If the length or radius of a wire is increased, whether the specific resistance will change?
5. How is the resistance coils placed inside the resistance box?
6. In a resistance box, is the resistance of the coil below the brass pieces marked INF is
infinity?
7. Why resistances are usually made of constantan or manganin wires?
8. What is the principle of Wheat stone’s bridge?
9. When does the bridge most sensitive?
10. What is the advantage in interchanging the positions of resistance box and unknown
resistance in this experiment?
11. Why the resistance of inner gaps should be of same value? If not, what is the harm?
12. What is the minimum difference in resistance that you can measure with this bridge
wire?