PURPOSE: To demonstrate operation of a Wheatstone bridge.
DESCRIPTION: A Wheatstone bridge is connected as in the circuit below using two (approximately) 400 ohm resistors, a 0-90 ohm variable resistor and a 60 watt light bulb (16.7 ohms cold) with a 6 volt battery and a 0-5 mA ammeter (large lecture meter). The unknown resistance Rx (the light bulb) is:
Rx = Rs (R2/R1),
where Rs is the resistance of the active part of the variable resistor (equal to the fraction of its length used multiplied by 90 ohms).
SUGGESTIONS:
REFERENCES: (PIRA 5F20.40)
EQUIPMENT: Two 400 ohm resistors, 0-90 ohm variable resistor, 60 watt light bulb as "unknown" resistor, center zero 0-5 milliamp lecture meter, digital multimeter.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.
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