Physics II online lab: Wheatstone Bridge circuits Page #1

Name:____________________________________ Section: _______

Computer Simulation: Series and Parallel CKT

In this activity you will use the Simulation: Wheatstone Bridge Circuit to
develop your understanding of finding unknown resistance.

1. Objective

To study the method for finding unknown resistor.

2. Apparatus
Phet online software for Circuit construction

3. Theory

There are some arrangements of resistors in circuits that cannot be reduced to simpler circuits
using simple series and parallel combination rules. Complete analysis of such circuits requires
Kirchoff's rules. Sometimes, as we will now see, under special circumstance some useful
information about the circuit can none-the-less be obtained. An example of a circuit that cannot be
reduced using simple series and parallel rules appears

Fig. 1: The schematic representation of a Wheatsotne bridge circuit.

The Wheatstone bridge circuit above is usually operated by adjusting the variable resistor
R3until no current flows in the ammeter. Under this special circumstance, the above circuit
problem may be solved easily without the need for Kirchoff's rules. Notice that resistors R 3 and
R2 are NOT in parallel (because there is a different voltage across each resistor) if there is a
current in the ammeter. Also R 3 and R4 are NOT in series (because there is a different current
through each resistor) if there is a current in the ammeter. Fig. 1 shows the schematic
representation of a Wheatsotne bridge circuit.
Originally the Wheatstone bridge was developed as a sort of "electrical balance" to
measure unknown resistors placed in the position of R4and the adjustable resistor R3 had a sort
of scale which could be used to determine the value of the unknown resistor R4in a way we now
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describe. This original use of the Wheatstone bridge has been replaced with the digital volt, amp,
ohmmeter in your circuit kit.
3.1. Analysis of the Circuit

Since no current flows in the ammeter, the electrical potential of point C is the same as the electrical
potential of point D (otherwise current would flow between the two points).

Fig. 2: The schematic representation of a Wheatsotne bridge circuit and current flow in each branch.

3.2. Analysis of the circuit

Since no current flows through the ammeter, the current i 1 through resistor R1 is the same as the
current through resistor R3 as indicated in the diagram above. Similarly, the current i2 through
resistor R2 is the same as the current through resistor R4.
It also follows (from the fact that points C and D have the same electrical potential) that the voltage
drop across resistor R1 is the same as the voltage drop across resistor R 2 so

I1 R1 = I 2 R2 (1)

Similarly, the voltage drop across resistor R3 is the same as the voltage drop across resistor R 4 so

I1 R3 = I 2 R4 (2)

If you divide equation (1) by equation (2) the currents cancel out and one obtains

R1 R2
= (3)
R3 R4

You can use equation (3) by solving for the unknown resistor R4 obtaining

R 3 R1 R3 R 2 R4 R1 R 4 R3 R 2 R3 R 2
= → = → R 4= (4)
R3 R4 R1 R 1 R4 R1

4. Procedure

4.1. Get yourself familiar with the software:

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a. Environment: You see the following page when the software is opened Go to the link:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab/latest/circuit-
construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html

b. You can drag and drop items in the left column onto the screen to build a circuit. The rest of
the items in the box could be found by clicking on the downward or upward arrow

a. Wires could be extended by clicking on one end and drag to the place you want to
connect.
b. By grabbing the middle of the wire you can move it to wherever you want. The wire
could be removed by clicking on the wire and then click on (or press Delete on
your keypad).
c. The wires are not having any resistance by default but their resistance could be
customized using the box on the right hand side (Wire Resistivity)
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d. The resistors could be dragged and dropped on the screen and their resistance could
be changed by clicking on the resistor and the options shows up below: The color
codes changes as the resistance changes. The whole item could be removed by
clicking on (or press Delete on your keypad).

e. The batteries could be dragged and dropped on the screen and the voltage of the
battery could be changed by clicking on the battery and the options shows up: The
polarity could be changed by clicking on and the whole item could be removed by
clicking on (or press Delete on your keypad). The internal resistance of the
battery could be customized using the box on the right hand side (Battery
Resistance)

f. The items for building the circuit could be connected by bring the two ends close. If
you want to disconnect a connection click on the junction and then click on (or
press Delete on your keypad)

g. A circuit could be build using a battery, wires, and resistor. It is optional to add a
switch. By clicking on the switch the current starts to flow. By default it shows the
movement of the electrons (from negative to positive). If you want to
see the conventional demonstration of current flow (from positive to negative) click
on the in the top right box. By clicking on the Values in the top right
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box you can see the value of each element shown on top of it. By clicking on the

in the bottom right box your circuit will be shown in the schematics rather
than lifelike items.

h. If you want to measure the voltage across any element in the circuit, drag and drop
voltmeter then move and place the probes across the desired element. You can move
back the voltmeter in the box where you got it to remove it from the screen.

i. If you want to measure the current, you need to remove one wire and place the
Ammeter instead in series with the rest of the circuit.

j. You can take a screen shot and fill in the word file and upload your answers. Also
you can go to the options and take a screenshot. It would save a picture in you
downloads. The third option is to use word to take the screenshot. Go to menu 
insert screenshot. (You can do screen clipping by choosing the item at the bottom)
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2.1. Build the circuit

Choose two resistor (Pick randomly between 10-100 Ω and make sure they are different by almost
50; e.g. 23 Ω, 75 Ω; don’t change is once you picked)) and combine with a the pencil available in the
tools on the left tool bar as the unknown resistor and build a Wheatstone bridge circuit on your
circuit board. Add another resistor (R 3) parallel to the pencil, as the variable resistor (rheostat or
potentiometer). Use the 12 volt power supply. Click on the switch to connect the circuit ( 
) and then vary R3 by clicking on the R 3 Resistor ( ) and read the current (
) on the ammeter until the ammeter reads zero current (You may not reach zero but
minimize it as much as possible) . The ammeter does not show the current direction and you may
see the current decreasing and if you go fast in changing the current may start increasing from the
other direction. Therefore as you are approaching zero you need to change slowly and back up if
you see it started increasing again. Determine the value of the resistance R 1, R2, and R3 by clicking
on the resistor and reading the values. Use equation (4) to obtain the value of the unknown
resistance R4 using the value for the variable resistor, R3 you obtained by changing the resistor.

Fig. 3: Schematic circuit for part 1 (Left). Simulation on software (Right)

Repeat the experiment with two other sets for R 1 and R2 and change R3 until you make the current
flow in the middle to be zero and find the resistance of the R 4 (Pencil). Fill in the table below and
find the average R4. Note the color bands of the resistors on your data sheet and find the value of
each of your resistors this is the theoretical value. Fill out the below table:

Trial Read and Read and Change and Calculate and Calculate and
insert↓ insert↓ insert↓ write↓ write↓

Resistance: Resistance: Resistance: Resistance: Find the

R1 (Ω) R2 (Ω) R3 (Ω) R R average R4 (Ω)
R4 (Ω)= 3 2
R1
1 30 91 8.5 25.78
2 20 70 7 24.5 25.09
3 40 100 10 25

Repeat this process and find the resistance of two other elements of the light bulbs: and
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Trial Read and Read and Change and Calculate and Calculate and
insert↓ insert↓ insert↓ write↓ write↓

Resistance: Resistance: Resistance: Resistance: Find the

R1 (Ω) R2 (Ω) R3 (Ω) R 3 R2 average R4 (Ω)
R4 (Ω)=
R1
1 15 65 2.5 10.83
2 35 85 4 9.71 10.18
3 50 100 5 10

Trial Read and Read and Change and Calculate and Calculate and
insert↓ insert↓ insert↓ write↓ write↓

Resistance: Resistance: Resistance: Resistance: Find the

R1 (Ω) R2 (Ω) R3 (Ω) R R average R4 (Ω)
R4 (Ω)= 3 2
R1
1 12 62 19 98.17
2 24 84 28.5 99.75 100.10
3 45 95 48.5 102.39

1.3. Questions
1. When the circuit is balanced an no current is flowing between the two branch, remove the

Ammeter and read the voltage using the Voltmeter . How much is the
potential difference in Volts? Potential difference would equal zero volts.

2. Now connect a 10Ω resistor instead of the Ammeter ( ) and measure the voltage again

using the Voltmeter ( ). How much is the potential difference in Volts and explain
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why you are reading this voltage drop? No change in voltage would exist so potential
difference would be zero.