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Name of student
Subject
Topic
Sub-topic

Physics

15 : Direct Current

Teachers Name
Class
Lesson no
Date
Day/Time

Ms. Liow
U6 Phy
7
/ / 2016
Fri / 11.30am-1.30pm

The potential difference measured by a potentiometer is more accurate than using a voltmeter
(a) When a potentiometer measures a potential difference, in another circuit, it does not draw
any current from the other circuit. It does not interfere with the other circuit. Therefore, the
potential difference measured by the potentiometer is accurate.
(b) When a moving-coil voltmeter is used to measure a potential difference across a conductor,
it draws some current from the circuit to move the pointer in the voltmeter. Therefore, the
potential difference measured by a moving-coil voltmeter is not accurate. It will not
measure the actual potential difference across the conductor.
Reasons for not being able to get a balance point in a potentiometer
(a) The potential difference, VXY, required to be measured by the potentiometer is bigger than
the potential difference across the whole length of the slide wire of the potentiometer.
(b)
The polarity of the potential difference, VXY, is wrongly connected to the potentiometer.
15.4.2 Wheatstone Bridge
1. Working principle of a Wheatstone bridge
A Wheatstone bridge consists of four resistors connected two-by-two in parallel as shown in
Figure 15.56.

A potential difference is supplied across the bridge at A and D. A galvanometer is connected

between B and C. The galvanometer G measures the voltage difference between points B and C.
The objective of the bridge is to adjust the resistances until there is no current flowing through
the
galvanometer at which point the bridge is balanced. When there is no current in the galvanometer,
the potential difference between B and C is zero.
At balance point,

potential at B = potential at C
p.d. of AB = p.d. of AC
p.d. of BD = p.d. of CD
i.e. VAB =VAC and VBD = VC

2 Wheatstone bridge formula

At balance point, VAB = VAC and VBD = VCD

VAB = I1R1; VAC =I2R2 and VAB = VAC I1R1 = I2R2

VBD = I1R3; VCD = I2R4 and VBD = VCD I1R3 = I2R4
R1 R2
R1 R3

R
R
R
R4
3
4
2
Therefore,
or
(a)
(b)

3 Uses of a Wheatstone bridge

Wheatstone bridge is used to compare two resistances.
Wheatstone bridge is used to find the resistance of an unknown resistor.

4 Advantages of Wheatstone bridge in measuring resistance as opposed to using ammeter and

voltmeter
(a)
Wheatstone bridge measures resistance by comparing resistances.
(b)
When using ammeter-voltmeter method, the resistances of ammeter and voltmeter will affect
the measurements.
Example
Figure shows a Wheatstone bridge circuit with the galvanometer reading showing zero.

Calculate the resistance of resistor R.

5 Wheatstone bridge formed by a slide wire and two resistors

Figure 15.58 shows a 1.0 m resistance wire AB.

A galvanometer is connected to D and a jockey. The jockey is moved along wire AB to locate the
balance point C. At balance point, potential difference across C and D is zero; this means no
current flows between C and D.
Resistance of wire AC is proportional to length of wire AC. The resistance of the slide wire is
being divided into two parts by the jockey.
When the bridge is balance and applying the Wheatstone bridge formula:

Example 1

Figure 15.59 shows a Wheatstone bridge circuit with a one-metre slide wire and the galvanometer
reading is zero.

Find the length l1 at the balance point.

Example 2
Figure 15.62 shows a circuit board consisting of a resistance wire AB, a standard resistor P of 6.0
connected to the left opening of the circuit board and a 160.0 cm tungsten wire of diameter 0.16
mm connected to the right opening of the circuit board. A galvanometer is connected to find the
balance point at C.

(a)
(b)

The galvanometer is balance when the length of AC is 57.4 cm.

Calculate the resistance of the tungsten wire.
Calculate the resistivity of the tungsten wire.

Exercise
1) In the circuit diagram below, the galvanometer gives a zero reading.
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Find the resistance of R.

2) The circuit diagram below shows a Wheatstone bridge circuit that is balance.

Find the resistance of P.

3) In the circuit diagram below, find the potential difference between X and Y.

4) The circuit diagram below shows two resistors, R and S, connected to a one-metre wire. S is a
standard resistor of 15 .
4

When the galvanometer reads zero, the length l1 is 38.0 cm. Find the resistance of R.

Worksheet for topic 15

1.
The
resistors
Given
5.00 Q,

figure above shows an arrangement of three

with resistance of R, R and 10.00 5 respectively.
that the resultant resistance between X and Y is
what is the resultant resistance between X and Z?

2.

The figure above shows a potential divider circuit where LDR is a light-dependent resistor.
Given that the LDR will produce a resistance of 1000 in darkness but only 100 in
brightness, what is the change of electric potential difference at point X?

3.

The figure shows an electric generator that supplies power P and voltage V to a factory
through a total resistance R of a cable. What is the power received by the factory?

4.

The figure above shows the arrangement of three resistors connected by wires of negligible
resistance. What is the effective resistance between point X and Y?

5. A potentiometer wire is used to compare the diameters of two constantan wires X and Y of
the same length as shown in the figure below.

When equilibrium is achieved, length PQ is 40.0 cm. If length PR is 100.0 cm, what is the
ratio diameter of wire X : diameter of wire Y

6. In the circuit shown in the figure below, PQ is a potentiometer wire of length 100 cm.
Accumulators X and Y have the same e.m.f. and negligible internal resistance.

If galvanometer G shows zero deflection, what is the equilibrium length 1 of the circuit?

Structure Questions
1. An electric cell has 1.5 V e.m.f. and 0.5 internal resistance.
(a) Calculate the power output when the cell is connected to an external resistor of 4.5 .
(b) Calculate the power efficiency supplied in fraction.
(c)What is the value of the external resistor if the power supplied is maximum?

2. A moving coil galvanometer has resistance 5 and gives full scale deflection when a
current of 10 mA flows through it. With the aid of a circuit diagram, show how the
instrument can be converted into
(a) an ammeter of 3 A,

(b) a voltmeter of 150 V.

3.

In the circuit shown in the figure below, the two batteries have internal resistance which
can be neglected.

Determine
(a) the current I which flows through the 10.0 resistor,
(b) e.m.f. E,
(c) resistance R.

4.

Find the potential difference between point B and point D in the circuit shown above in
terms of R1, R2, R3 R4, and V.

Essay Questions
1. (a) Two sets of lamps are connected to an electric supply of 240 V. Each set consists of 12
identical lamps. One set of lamps are connected in series whereas the second set are
connected in parallel. In each case, the electric power supply is 60 W. For a lamp which is
arranged in series, calculate the
(i)
current,

(ii)

potential difference,

(iii)

resistance.

Calculate the same quantities for a lamp which is connected in parallel.

(b) (i) A short circuit in the lamps will occur if one of the lamps connected in series is
spoilt. This will ensure that the other lamps can still light up. Calculate the fractional
increase in the dissipation of power for the other lamps. Assume that the resistance of each
lamp does not change.

(ii) What will happen if the faulty lamp is not replaced?

10