Expt.No.

2
Date:

Metre Bridge
Aim:
To find the resistance of a given wire using a metre bridge.
Apparatus Required:

✓ Metre bridge
✓ Battery eliminator
✓ Galvanometer
✓ Resistance box
✓ Jockey
✓ One way key
✓ A resistance wire
✓ Connecting wires

Theory:

A meter bridge is the practical application of Wheatstone bridge arrangement. When the bridge is in balanced
state there is no deflection in the galvanometer (G).

The unknown resistance can be calculated as,

where R is the known resistance from the

standard resistance box, l the balancing length for null deflection.
PROCEDURE :
• Clean the connecting wires using sand paper and make the connection as shown in figure.
• Take out some suitable resistance 'R' from the resistance box (R. B.).
• Touch the jockey at point A; see that there is a deflection in the galvanometer on one side, then touch the
jockey on the point C of the wire, the deflection in the galvanometer should be on the other side. If it is
so, your connections are correct.'
• Now find the position of null point where deflection in galvanometer becomes zero. Note length AJ as l
JC will be (100 - l).

• Repeat the above procedure for different values of 'R'. The value of this resistance 'R’ taken out from R.
B. should be such that the null point is in between 40 cm and 60 cm in the meter bridge wire. Note the
point where the galvanometer shows 0 deflections, this is called the balance point.

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PRECAUTIONS:
(i) Clean the connecting wires and the connecting points of metre bridge properly with
sand paper.
(ii) All connections should be neat and tight.
(iii) Balance point should lie between 40 cm and 60 cm.
(iv) Do not keep the jockey and the wire in contact for a long time.
(v) Hold the jockey perpendicular to the wire of metre bridge.
SOURCES OF ERROR :
(i) The screws of the instruments may be loose.
(ii) The keys of the resistance box may not be clean and tight.
(iii) The wire may not be uniformly thick throughout.

Result:

The unknown resistance of the given resistance wire, X = ............ Ω

Circuit Diagram:

X- unknown resistance, R- known resistance

To find the resistance of the given wire:

Trail no Value of R(Ω) Balancing length 100-l

l(cm) (cm)
(Ω)
1

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 3

Mean resistance, X = .................. Ω

Calculations:

1. Resistance of the wire, X = ............. Ω

2.

3.

4.

6.

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