Islamic University of Technology (IUT)

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)

Name: ………………………………… Student No…..……. Section and Group.…….

Course No. : EEE 4604

Course Name : Measurement and Instrumentation LAB
Experiment No. : 02
Experiment Name : Determination of Unknown Resistances by DC Bridges

Objective:
To measure unknown resistance values by Wheatstone bridge and Kelvin’s Double
bridge methods.

Apparatus:
 Bread Board
 Resistors: 10Ω, 100Ω, 330Ω, 470Ω, 560Ω
 Potentiometer: 10KΩ
 Galvanometer
 Multimeter
 Wires
Task 1: To measure unknown resistance values by Wheatstone bridge

Circuit Diagram:

R1 = 10Ω R2 = 100Ω

A C
G

RX
R3

Figure 1: Wheatstone bridge

Prepared by: Mr. Muhammad and Md. Ghulam Saber

Revised by: Saad Mohammad Abdullah
Department of EEE, IUT Page 1
Theory of Operation:
The Wheatstone bridge consists of four resistance arms together with a source e.m.f and a
null detector. The galvanometer is used as the null detector. The arms consisting of
resistances R1 and R2 are called ratio arms. The arm consisting of the resistance RX is the
unknown resistance to be measured. The battery is connected between nodes A and C
while the galvanometer is connected between nodes B and D. Balance condition can be
obtained by varying the potentiometer, R3.

Condition for balance, R2*RX = R1*R3

Therefore, the unknown resistance, RX = (R1*R3)/R2

Procedure:

 Connect the circuit as shown in figure 1.

 Put the unknown resistance at the RX arm.
 Obtain null deflection of the galvanometer by varying the potentiometer, R3.
 Measure the resistance of the potentiometer.
 Measure the unknown resistance according to the given formula.
 Repeat the procedure for another two resistors.
 Tabulate the results.

SL. R1 R2 R3 RX = (R1*R3)/R2 RX(measured)

No.

Prepared by: Mr. Muhammad and Md. Ghulam Saber

Revised by: Saad Mohammad Abdullah
Department of EEE, IUT Page 2
Task 2: To measure unknown resistance values by Kelvin’s Double bridge

Circuit Diagram:

P = 10Ω Q = 100Ω

p = 10Ω q = 100Ω

RX S

Figure 2: Kevin’s Double Bridge

Theory of Operation:
Compared to Wheatstone bridge; this bridge contains another set of ratio arms, hence
called Double Bridge. This method is used to measure low resistances.

The unknown resistance is given by, RX = (P*S)/Q

( )

where RY is the yoke resistance measured between the node connecting S and q and the
node connecting Rx and p.

Here,

( )

Therefore, the unknown resistance,

Prepared by: Mr. Muhammad and Md. Ghulam Saber

Revised by: Saad Mohammad Abdullah
Department of EEE, IUT Page 3
Procedure:

 Connect the circuit as shown in figure 2.

 Put the unknown resistance at the RX arm.
 Obtain null deflection of the galvanometer by varying the potentiometer, S.
 Measure the resistance of the potentiometer.
 Measure the unknown resistance according to the given formula.
 Repeat the procedure for another two resistors.
 Tabulate the results.

SL. P Q S RX = (P*S)/Q RX(measured)

No.

Questions:
1. Compare the accuracy of the Wheatstone and Kelvin double bridges.
2. Which bridge would you prefer to use for the measurement of a test resistor having a
value around 50 kΩ?
3. What are the sources of error and precautions of DC bridges?

Discussions:

Prepared by: Mr. Muhammad and Md. Ghulam Saber

Revised by: Saad Mohammad Abdullah
Department of EEE, IUT Page 4