Lab Assignment No.

1 Applied Physics

Name: Aakif Iqbal Applied Physics

Class & Section: BSE 1(A) Course Instructor: Engr.Zohaib Shehzad

Enrollment No. : 02-131182-046

LAB - 4
Meter Bridge (Null Method)

A Meter Bridge is also called as slide Wire Bridge and is an instrument that works on the
principle of a Wheatstone bridge. A meter bridge is used in finding the unknown
resistance of a conductor as that of in a Wheatstone bridge.

Theory:
A meter bridge is an apparatus utilized in finding the unknown resistance of a coil. The
below figure 12 is the diagram of a useful meter bridge instrument.

n the above figure, R is called as the Resistance, P is the Resistance coming across AB, S
is the Unknown Resistance, Q is the Resistance between the joints BD.
AC is long wire of length a 1m made of constant or managing having a uniform area of the
cross-section Such that L1 + L2 = 100
Assuming that L1 = L => L2 = 100 – L
Relation obtains the unknown resistance ‘X’ of the given wire:
X = RL2/L1 = R(100 – L)/L
And the specific resistance of material for a given wire is obtained by the relation = (3.14)
r2X/l
Lab Assignment No.1 Applied Physics

Where, r = the radius of the cable and also l = length of the wire.
The devices required in finding the unknown resistance of a conductor using a meter
bridge are:

 Meter bridge
 Resistance box
 Galvanometer
 Unknown Resistance of a length 1 m
 Screw gauge
 connecting Wires
 Jockey
 One way key
In the meter bridge, one of the lateral kinds of resistances is replaced by a wire having a
length of the uniform cross section of about 1m. The other pair consists of one known
and an unknown pair of resistances. The one part of the galvanometer is connected in
between both resistances, whereas the other part of the wire is finding the null point
where the galvanometer is not showing any deflection. At this point, the bridge is said to
be balanced.

FORMULAS:
 Rx/R2=L3/L4
 R=PL/A

Methodology:
 Collect the instruments and prepare connections as shown in the above figure.

 Take some suitable kind of resistance ‘R’ from the resistance box.

 Touch jockey at the point A; look that there exists a deflection in galvanometer on
one of the sides, then contact the jockey on point C of wire, then the deflection in
galvanometer has to be on another side.

 Find the position of the null point having deflection in the galvanometer that
becomes zero. Note the length AB (l) BC = (100 – l).

 Continue the above method for some different values of the ‘R’. Note at least some
5 readings.

 Consider the point where galvanometer shows a 0 deflection; this is called balance
point.

 Now, Measure the length of given wire by the use of ordinary scale and radius of
the wire by the utilization of a screw gauge, (Take at least five readings).

 Calculate Mean Resistance of Single Unknown Resistance = Total Sum of

resistances of Unknown resistance from the above five readings)/5.
Lab Assignment No.1 Applied Physics