Fizik 3 Report

Practical 3 : Investigating electric circuit
AIM (i) To set up Wheatstone Bridge

(ii) To determine the resistivity of a material using a Wheatstone Bridge
BACKGROUND A Wheatstone bridge is an electrical circuit used to measure an
INFORMATION unknown electrical resistance by balancing two legs of a bridge circuit,
one leg of which includes the unknown component. The primary
benefit of the circuit is its ability to provide extremely accurate
measurements. The concept of Wheatstone bridge was introduced in
order to measure the unknown resistance with the help of two known
and one variable resistance. Wheatstone Bridge can be used to
measure very low values of resistances down in the milli-Ohms range.
The electrical resistance of an object is a measure of its opposition to
the flow of electric current.
Wheatstone bridge circuit has two input terminals and two output
terminals consisting of four resistors configured in a diamond-like
arrangement. To find the value of unknown resistance, the deflection
on galvanometer made to zero by adjusting the variable resistor. This
point is known as balance point of Wheatstone bridge. Getting zero
current through galvanometer gives high accuracy, as a minor change
in variable resistance can disrupt the balance condition.
MATERIALS AND A Wheatstone Bridge, a 5 standard resistor, dry cells, a switch, a
APPARATUS constantan wire, a micrometre screw gauge, a meter ruler, a
Galvanometer, a jockey, connecting wires
PROCEDURE
Figure 1
1. Set up a modified circuit of the Wheatstone Bridge as shown in
Figure 1. RX is a 60cm SWG 32 constantan wire and R S is a 5 standard
resistor.
2. By using a jockey, determine the balance point which should be
around 35cm to 65cm of the slide wire. If necessary, adjust the length
of RX until the balance point falls in the range.
3. Record the values for RS, a1 and b1.
4. Reverse the terminals of the cell and obtain the values of a 2 and b2
for the second balance point.
5. While maintaining the same length for R X, interchange it with RS.
Determine the third balance point and record the values of a3 and b3.
6. Finally, reverse the terminals of the cell to obtain the fourth balance
point and record the values for a4 and b4.
7. Determine the mean for a1, a2, b3 and b4, and also determine the
mean for b1, b2, a3 and a4.
8. Calculate the resistance of RX.
9. Measure the length x of wire RX between terminals C and D and the
diameter.
10. Determine the resistivity of the material of the wire.
11. Discuss and draw conclusion from the results.
OBSERVATION,
ANALYSIS, (i) Record the values for a and b
DISCUSSION Circuit Resistance Length of Length of Unknown
arrangemen of RS / Ω first part of second part Resistance,
t Wheatstone of RX / Ω
bridge, a/ Wheatstone
cm bridge, b/
cm
1 5 67.0 33.0 10.15
2 5 67.5 32.5 10.38
3 5 31.2 68.8 11.03
4 5 31.2 68.8 11.03
(ii) The mean for a1, a2, b3 and b4 & b1, b2, a3 and a4
Length on Slide Wire During Mean / cm

Balance Point
a1, a2, b3 and b4 ¿4
= 68.03 cm
b1, b2, a3 and a4 33+32.5+31.2+31.2 / 4
= 32.00 cm
(iii) Find the unknown resistance by using formula :
(iv) The mean for Unknown Resistance

Ω
4
(v) The resistivity of the material of wire
Where :
ρ=¿ resistivity
L= length
A=¿ cross sectional area

R is the resistance in ohms (Ω), L is the length in metres (m), A is the

area in square metres (m2), and where the proportional constant ρ is
known as Resistivity. The electrical resistivity of a particular conductor
material is a measure of how strongly the material opposes the flow of
electric current through it. This resistivity factor, sometimes called its
“specific electrical resistance”, enables the resistance of different types
of conductors to be compared to one another at a specified
temperature according to their physical properties. Thus, the higher the
resistivity value of ρ the more resistance and vice versa.

To find area, A, we need to know the radius, r.
Diameter of wire, D = 0.32 x 10-3 m
Radius of wire, r = (0..32 x 10-3) /2
= 1.6 x 10-4 m
Length of wire = 0.6 m
Area, A = 2 hence substitute into
Theoretically, the unit of resistivity is in ohm-meters (Ωm). Nichrome, a

non-magnetic alloy that is commonly made up of 80% nickel and 20%
chromium, has a resistivity ranging from 1.10 × 10−6 Ωm to 1.50 ×
10−6 Ωm (The State Education Department, 2006). If we compared to
the results, the difference in both values are not so far that proved the
calculation is correct. From the results, we could conclude that the

resistance is low and the current flows must be higher and the voltage
also higher in the circuit.
Factors which affect resistance

There are four main factors which affect the resistance of a material.
These are :
 The length of the wire.
 The thickness of the wire.
 The temperature of the wire.
 The type of material the wire is made of
While conducting the experiment, the precaution that needed to be

aware is the zero error when using the micrometre screw gauge. This
is to ensure that the diameter of the nichrome wire is measured
correctly as it will affect the calculation later. Next, the level of eye
must be perpendicular to the scale so that no parallax error occurs
when taking the reading of the scale.
CONCLUSION From the Wheatstone bridge that being set up, I can calculate the
unknown resistance value which is Ω and the resistivity,
= 1.428 x 10-6 Ωm which near to the real value.
REFERENCES Cheong, F. C. (2011). Pre-U Text STPM Physics Volume 2. Selangor
Darul Ehsan: Pearson Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
The State Education Department. (2006). Reference Table for
Physical Science Setting/Physics. New York: The University of
The State New York.
APPENDICES
Picture 1 : The final set up of Wheatstone bridge
Picture 2 : The galvanometer shows zero reading on the scale shows the balance point
Picture 3 : Conducting the experiment

Picture 4 : Checking for zero error to subtract some value from the scale reading

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Practical 3 : Investigating electric circuit

AIM (i) To set up Wheatstone Bridge

Length on Slide Wire During Mean / cm

(iii) Find the unknown resistance by using formula :

(iv) The mean for Unknown Resistance

(v) The resistivity of the material of wire

R is the resistance in ohms (Ω), L is the length in metres (m), A is the

resistivity value of ρ the more resistance and vice versa.

Theoretically, the unit of resistivity is in ohm-meters (Ωm). Nichrome, a

calculation is correct. From the results, we could conclude that the

Factors which affect resistance

 The length of the wire.

 The thickness of the wire.

 The temperature of the wire.

 The type of material the wire is made of

While conducting the experiment, the precaution that needed to be

Picture 1 : The final set up of Wheatstone bridge

Picture 3 : Conducting the experiment

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