EEL1196 INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES TUTORIAL 4

Tutorial 4: Measurement of R, L, C

1. In the Wheatstone bridge, R1 and R2 have a limiting error

of ± 0.05 %, R3 has a limiting error of ± 0.1 %. R1=R2= 1000
Ω and bridge is balanced when R3 is set to 3154 Ω. Determine
the upper and lower limits of the unknown resistance Rx.
(Answer: Rx is from 3147.7Ω to 3160.3Ω)

2. A certain AC bridge is in balance, with the following

B
constants: arm AB: R=450, arm BC: a resistance of 300 in
Z1 Z2
series with a capacitance of 0.265µF, arm CD: an unknown
impedance and arm DA: a resistor of 200 in series with an A G C
inductance of 15.9mH. The supply frequency is 1kHz. Find
the constants of arm CD. Z3
Z4
(Answer: Z4 has a resistor of 267 in series with a capacitor
of 0.795F) D

3. An AC Maxwell Bridge is constructed as shown in the figure. A

R1
The arms AB and BC are non-reactive resistors of 1k; arm DA is R2
L1
a standard variable reactor L1 in series with a resistance R1 of
D G B
100; the arm CD comprises a standard variable resistor R in RX
LX
series with the coil unknown impedance RX + jwLX. Balance is
Coil R3
obtained with L1=50mH and R=25. Find the resistance RX and
R
C
the inductance LX of the coil. (Answer: Rx = 75 Ω, Lx = 50 mH)
EEL1196 INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES TUTORIAL 4

4. Figure shows a parallel resistance capacitance bridge

connected to an AC source operating at 200Hz.
(i) Derive the equations for Rx and Cx.
(ii) Find the values of Rx, Cx and the D factor of the bridge,
given that it is balanced when R1 = 220Ω, R3 = 3kΩ, R4 =
23kΩ and C3 = 0.9 µF.
[Final Exam, February 2023]

(Answer: (i) 𝑅𝑥 = 𝑅𝑅1 𝑅3, 𝐶𝑥 = 𝐶3𝑅𝑅4 (ii) Rx = 28.7 Ω, Cx =

4 1
94.09 μF, D = 0.29)

5. The figure attached shows AC Maxwell Induction Bridge,

Z1 Z2
with R1=100, L1=250mH, R3=1k and R4=2k. R1 RS
(i) Find the unknown resistance RS and unknown inductance L1 LS
G
LS, under bridge balance condition.
(ii) If the circuit is excited by a 5V, 1kHz oscillator, find the R3 R4

unbalanced voltage, if LS=510mH. Z3 Z4

(Answer: (i) Rs = 200Ω, Ls = 0.5 H, (ii) ΔV = 0.0422-20.54o V)

6. Figure shows a series resistance-capacitance bridge to

measure the capacitor, C3 and its leakage resistance of R3.
The variable capacitor, C2 and resistor, R2 is adjusted
alternately to null the bridge. The values of the resistors are
given as R1 = 22 kΩ and R4 = 8 kΩ. The power supply
frequency is 120 Hz.

(i) Derive the equations for C3 and R3.

(ii) Calculate the values of capacitor, C3 and resistor, R3

if the bridge is balanced when C2 = 4.7 µF and R2 = 150 Ω.

[Module Test 2, March 2021]

𝑅2 𝑅4 𝑅1 𝐶2
(Answer: (i) 𝑅3 = 𝑅1
, 𝐶3 = 𝑅4
, (ii) R3 = 54.55 Ω, C3 = 12.93 µF)
EEL1196 INSTRUMENTATION & MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES TUTORIAL 4

Self-Test question:

7. A Maxwell-Wien Bridge operates at a supply R1

Z2
frequency of 1000rad/s is used to measure inductive Z1
R2
impedance. The bridge balanced at the following values: C1
G
C1 = 3 F, R1 = 2k , R2 = 500 and R3 = 4k  . RS
R3
LS
Find the series resistance and inductance and determine Z3 Z4
its Q-factor.

(Answer: Rs = 1 kΩ, Ls = 6 H, Q = 6)

8. Figure to the right shows a current balance bridge which is

used for potential measurement. The values of the resistors are
given as R1 = R2 = 20k , R3 = 4k , R4 = 3900  R5 = 50
and a high impedance null detector. Find the current that is
required to null the bridge if the supply voltage is 12V. [Supp
Exam March 2014]

(Answer: I = 0.5 mA)

9. For the Series Resistance-Capacitance Bridge shown in

Z1 Z2
figure, the bridge is balanced when R1 = 1k , C1 = 50 F ,
R1 RS
R3 = 4k  and R4 = 20k at a supply frequency of 100Hz. C1 CS
G
Find the unknown values for the capacitor (C s ) and resistor
R3 R4
(Rs ) , then calculate its dissipation factor (D-factor). [Final
Z3 Z4
Exam March 2019]

(Answer: Rs = 5 kΩ, Cs = 10 µH, D = 31.42)