Experiment No.

: 08
Name of the Experiment: WIRE
ASUREMENT OF RESISTANT PER UNIT LENGTH OF THE BRIDGE
BY CARRY FOSTER'S METHOD AND HENCE DETERMINATION OF
UNKNOWN RESISTANCE.
Obiectives)
detemine the resistance per unit length of the bridge wire by Carey Foster's method and
To
hence to determine the unknown resistance.

Apparatus:
i] A meier bridge with four gaps (Carey Foster's bridge)
ü] Two equal resistances (say 1 ohm each)
ii) A fractional resistance box (0.10 to 10.00 ohm)
iv] A DC power supply (apply 2V only).
vA table galvanometer (range 30-0-30 mV, 1 smallest div.....mV)
vi A plug commutator
viil Connecting wire
viil Unknown resistance (in ohm) E R
Circuit Diagram:

P Q
S

.-..-.
Figure-1: Circuit connection of a Carey Foster's bridge
[Here P& Qare two nearly equal resistarices (each of one ohm); S is a metal strip having
zero resistance; R is the fractional resistance box; E is a DC regulated power supply, C isa
commutator; Ri is a rheostat in the battery circuit ; G is a galvanometer]
 or n e Dridge
Theory l, from the left
end
is balanced, let the null point be
cm
(A) When the bridge
wire, then from Wheatstone bridge principle
P R+a+hP .... (8.1)
S+B+(100-1)P is the
the end corrections at the two.ends
of the bridge wire andp
Where, a and ß are
resistance per unit length of the bridge wire. tnen
the same end,
f by interchanging R & S the null point is obtained
at h cm from
S+a+p ... (8.2)
R+B+(100-1,)P
Solving these two equations, we get
.- (8.3)
-
Since the strip has almost zero resistance i.e. S
=
0, then
R .... (8.4)
P
- "S in
fractional resistance box 'R' is inserted in the
extreme right gap and strip
Again, if the the null
the extreme left gap at first and their positions are interchanged, giving }1 & h as
point lengths, then

P
R (8.5)

-
is
Therefore in general the working formula of this experiment

... (8.6)

unknovwn resistance:
(B) Determination of metal resistance r and R be replaced by
Let the be replaced by a known
strip S resistance of the
that the unknown
resistance is unknown. Suppose
the given wire whose from the left end of the bridge
is the distance of the null point
and that l1 from the same end
given wire is Rx be the distance of the null point
circuit. Let lh
wire obtained with this
when r änd Ry are interchanged.
obtained with circuit,
Then using equation (3)
we get

R l ) (8.7)

formulas of the experiment.

Equations (6) & (7) are the working
 Procedure:
1 Make the circuit connections as shown figure -1. The fractional resistance box is connected
in the extreme left gap and strip in the extreme right gap. Close tightly all the plugs of the
box and observe the null point. The null point should be obtained near the middle of the
bridge wire, if not the resistance P& Q are not equal.
11 Take out a plug to insert a small resistance (say, 1 ohm) from the box R. Note the null
point readings for both direct and reverse currents. The null point (li) should be located
towards the left end of the bridge wire. Increase gradually the resistance R (say,
1.22,1.4Q,1.6 Q etc) and each time record the null points for both direct and reverse currents
till the end of the bridge wire is approached.
nterc hanged the copper strip S' and the resistance box R. Put those resistances serially
from the box which were used before, i.e. in step (ii) and record the null points (l2) in the
previous manner. In this case, the null points will be located between the mid point and the
right end of the bridge wire.
ivj find the value of'p' of the bridge wire from each set of reading using equation (6) and
obtain the mean 'p'.
v] Repeat the same with replacing R by Rx and S by r (known resistance).

Observation(s):
Table-
Determination of' p' of the bridge wire
P=Q=1ohm

No. Resistance in the Position of null point for (cm) R Mean p

of extreme (ohm/em)
obs. Left Direct Reverse Mean (cm)
Right (ohm/em)
gap gap current current
(2)
R (1) 0
0 R
R(1.2)
2
0 R (1.2)

3
 Calculation:
R
. ..ohm/cm

R
.....ohm/cm, etc
p1,1
Mean = PtP2f pp ohm/cm
n

Result(s)
The resistance the resistance per unit length of the bridge wire (P)= ..ohm/cmn.
The resistance of the unknown wire = .....ohm.

Error calculatio:
R
P1
Hence, P_ S4-4) 2 Since R did not measure]
P -1
Where &= 1 smallest division of the measuring scale.

Thus, maximum percentage of error, o z100% -2

r x100%= = x100%
-
Discussion(s): ensure that there is no loose contact any where
the measurements,
1 Before proceeding with
in the circuit.
with S 0,
=R= the null point is obtained at a
AT the beginning, it should be seen whether on the right of 50 cm mark,
ii] null point is obtained more

point very near the 50

cm mark. Ifthe the null point is more on the
left of the of
defective. If on the other hand,
the resistance P is
is defective.
50 cm mark, the resistance Q