a) Unbalanced Wheatstone Bridge

A Wheatstone bridge circuit consists of four resistors arranged in a diamond

configuration. In the case of an unbalanced bridge, the voltage across points C
and D (Vcd ) is non-zero.
Given the resistors R1 = 80 Ω, R2 = 120 Ω, and R3 = 480 Ω, and a source
voltage (Vs ), you are tasked with:

1. Calculate the output voltage across points C and D in the unbalanced

state.

2. Determine the value of the resistor R4 that would balance the bridge (i.e.,
make Vcd = 0).

Solution
1. Calculate the output voltage across points C and D
Using the potential divider rule, we can find the voltages at points C and D
as:
   
R3 R2
VC = Vs and VD = Vs
R3 + R4 R1 + R2
Substituting the values R1 = 80 Ω, R2 = 120 Ω, R3 = 480 Ω and R4 = 160 Ω,
we can find VC and VD , and then find Vcd as:

Vcd = VC − VD
2. Determine the value of R4
To find the value of R4 that balances the bridge, we set Vcd = 0 and solve
for R4 :
R3 R2
=
R3 + R4 R1 + R2
Solving for R4 , we find:
 
R1 + R2
R4 = R3 − R3
R2
80 Ω+120 Ω


Substituting the known values, we get R4 = 480 Ω 120 Ω − 480 Ω =
160 Ω.