Determining Resistance and Resistivity Using a Meter Bridge

Posted on May 15, 2024 in Physics

To Find Resistance of a Given Wire Using Meter Bridge and to Determine the Resistivity of its Material

Table of Contents:

• Aim
• Materials Required
• Theory
• Circuit Diagram
• Observations
• Calculations
• Result
• Precautions
• Sources of Error
• Viva Questions

Aim

To find the resistance of a given wire using a meter bridge and hence determine the resistivity (specific resistance) of its material.

Materials Required

1. A meter bridge
2. A Leclanche cell (battery eliminator)
3. A galvanometer
4. A resistance box
5. A jockey
6. A one-way key
7. A resistance wire
8. A screw gauge
9. A meter scale
10. A set square
11. Connecting wires
12. A piece of sandpaper

Theory

Meter bridge apparatus is also known as a slide wire bridge. It is fixed on the wooden block and consists of a long wire with a uniform cross-sectional area. It has two gaps formed using thick metal strips to make the Wheatstone’s bridge.

Then according to Wheatstone’s principle, we have:

The unknown resistance can be calculated as:

Then the specific resistance of the material is calculated as:

Where,

• L is the length of the wire
• r is the radius of the wire

Circuit Diagram

Procedure

1. The arrangement of the apparatus should be as shown in the circuit diagram.
2. The wire whose resistance is to be determined should be connected in the right gap between C and B without any formation of loops.
3. The resistance box should be connected in the left gap between A and B.
4. All the other connections should be as shown in the circuit diagram.
5. Plug the key K in place of 2-ohm resistance in the resistance box.
6. The jockey should be first touched gently to the left end and then to the right end of the bridge.
7. The deflections in the galvanometer should be in opposite directions and if it is in one direction then the circuit connections are not correct. Note the galvanometer deflection.
8. Let D be the null point where the jockey is touching the wire. The movement of the jockey should be gentle from left to the right of the galvanometer.
9. Take a 12 value from the resistance box should be taken such that when the jockey is nearly in the middle of the wire, there shouldn’t be any deflection.
10. Note the position of D to know the length of AD = l.
11. Four sets of observations should be taken by changing the value of 12.
12. Record the observations in a tabular form.
13. Stretch the resistance wire to find its length using a meter scale.
14. Using a screw gauge, measure the diameter of the wire at four different places keeping it in a mutually perpendicular direction.
15. Record the observations in the table.

Observations

Length of given wire L = …….cm

Table for unknown resistance (X)

Least count of the screw gauge

Pitch of screw gauge = …….mm

Total no. of divisions on the circular scale = ………..

∴ L.C of the given screw gauge =

= ……mm

Zero error e = ……mm

Zero correction c = -e = ……mm

Radius of the resistance wire

Calculations

Calculation for X

The value of l is determined from the position of D and recorded in column 3 of Table 1.

Find length (100 – l) cm and write in column 4.

Calculate X and write in column 5,

Calculation for D

Mean corrected diameter =

Calculation for specific resistance

Specific resistance of the material of the given wire,

Standard value of the specific resistance of the material of the given wire,

ϱ₀ = …..ohm.m

Percentage error =

= ………%

Result

1. The value of unknown resistance X = …….
2. The specific resistance of the material of the given wire = ………
3. Percentage error = …….

Precautions

1. The connections should be neat, tight, and clean.
2. Plugs should be tightly connected in the resistance box.
3. The movement of the jockey should be gentle and it shouldn’t be rubbed.
4. The key K should be inserted only when the observations are to be taken.
5. The null point should be between 45cm and 55cm.
6. To avoid the error of parallax, the set square should be used to note the null point.
7. There shouldn’t be any loops in the wire.
8. The diameter of the wire should be measured in two perpendicular directions that are mutual.

Sources of Error

1. The screws of the instrument might be loose.
2. The wire might be of non-uniform diameter.
3. There might be a backlash error in the screw gauge.

Viva Questions

Q1. Why is the meter bridge called so?

Ans: It is called a meter bridge because the bridge uses a one-meter long wire.

Q2. What is the null point?

Ans: Null point is defined as the point at which a galvanometer reads 0 deflections.

Q3. Why is the bridge method better than the Ohms law of measurement?

Ans: The bridge method is better than the Ohms law of measurement because of the null method.

Q4. What is the range of measurement of resistance using a Wheatstone bridge?

Ans: The resistance measurement range using a Wheatstone bridge is between 1Ω to a few megaohms.

Q5. How can a Wheatstone bridge be used for the measurement of physical parameters?

Ans: A Wheatstone bridge is used to measure physical parameters like temperature, light, etc., using an operational amplifier and rectifiers are used for the conversion of A.C to D.C.