Metre bridge- Law of combination of resistors

# Materials required:

• Metre bridge (slide wire bridge)
• Battery (Leclanche cell)
• Galvanometer
• Resistance box (0.1 to 10 ohm)
• Jockey
• One way key
• Two resistance wires
• Screw gauge
• Metre scale
• A set square
• Connecting wires

# Procedure:

• Make sure you first draw the circuit diagram and arrange the metre bridge apparatus.

• Connect the resistance wire whose resistance say X is to be determined in gap G1. Take care of that no part of the wire forms a loop and minimum portion of the wire is used for connection.
• Connect a resistance box of low range in gap G2.
• Make all other connections as in the circuit diagram.
• Take out some resistance (say 2Ω) from the resistance box.
• Insert the key in plug key to complete the battery circuit.
• Touch the jockey gently first at left and then at right end of the bridge wire. Note the deflections in the galvanometer. If the galvanometer shows deflections in opposite directions, the connections are correct. If the deflection is in one side only then there is some fault in the circuit, so the connections need to be checked.
• Allow the jockey to gently move or slide over the wire between A and C from left to right till galvanometer gives a null deflection (galvanometer reads the value 0)
• The point where the jockey is touching the wire is null point B.
• Place jockey in the middle of the wire (between 45cm to 55cm), choose an appropriate value of R from the resistance box such that the galvanometer shows null deflection.(Pointing 0)
• Note position of point B and measure the distance from the end where the resistance wire is connected to the point B. It is taken as the balancing length l1 (AB)
• Also note the length CB (100-l).
• Interchange the resistances X and R. i.e, connect X in gap G2 and R in gap G1
• Gently move jockey on the wire to attain null deflection in the galvanometer. (Shows zero in the galvanometer.)
• Note the reading balancing length l2 (CB) and the length AB (100-l).
• The mean balancing length is calculated. Repeat the experiment with different values of known resistance R.
• Using the formula X= , we can find out the unknown resistance.
• A mean value of the unknown resistance calculated will be considered as the value of unknown resistance.
• Connect two resistances X1 and X2 in series and repeat the experiment keeping this combination in gap G1 and vice versa. This gives the resistance of combination, Xs of X1 and X2 in series.
• Connect two resistances X1 and X2 in parallel and repeat the experiment keeping this combination in gap G1 and vice versa.This gives the resistance of combination,Xp of X1 and X2 in parallel.

# Simulator Procedure (as performed through the Online Labs):

## Law of Resistances in Series

• Your simulator will consist of a metre bridge kept on a table, battery, resistance box and wires on the side bar menu.
• You can calculate the resistance of a single wire or serially connected wire by selecting from the drop down menu, “Arrangement of Resistors”.
• If you selected, “Single”, then drag the battery and the resistance box shown on the side bar menu near to the metre bridge using your mouse.
• Drag one of the wires to the right gap of the metre bridge.
• Now the button, “Start experiment” will be enabled.
• Now you can select your desired resistance from the resistance box just by clicking on the box and then choosing the resistance from the pop-window, “Select Resistance”. Now close the pop-window.
• Click on the enabled button and "Insert Key”.
• Now you can move the jockey from one left end to right either by moving the jockey with your mouse or by moving the slider, “Jockey Position”.
• Simultaneously check the readings of the galvanometer, once the needle reaches the zero reading, stop moving the jockey and note down the length of the wire from the balanced position on the left side, let say “AB” which is l cm.
• Repeat the same by moving the jockey from the right end to the left and note down the length of the wire from the balanced position on the right side, let take it as “BC” which is 100-l cm.
• Repeat the same procedure with second wire and note down the lengths.
• For each wire take three readings and calculate its mean readings/resistance.
• Repeat the same procedures for the series connection.

## Law of Resistances in Parallel

• Your simulator will consist of a metre bridge kept on a table, battery, resistance box and wires on the side bar menu.
• You can calculate the resistance of a single wire or serially connected wire by selecting from the drop down menu, “Arrangement of Resistors”.
• If you selected, “Single”, then drag the battery and the resistance box shown on the side bar menu near to the metre bridge using your mouse.
• Drag one of the wires to the right gap of the metre bridge.
• Now the button, “Start experiment” will be enabled.
• Now you can select your desired resistance from the resistance box just by clicking on the box and then choosing the resistance from the pop-window, “Select Resistance”. Now close the pop-window.
• Click on the enabled button and "Insert Key”.
• Now you can move the jockey from one left end to right either by moving the jockey with your mouse or by moving the slider, “Jockey Position”.
• Simultaneously check the readings of the galvanometer, once the needle reaches the zero reading, stop moving the jockey and note down the length of the wire from the balanced position on the left side, let say “AB” which is l cm.
• Repeat the same by moving the jockey from the right end to the left and note down the length of the wire from the balanced position on the right side, let take it as “BC” which is (100-l) cm.
• Repeat the same procedure with second wire and note down the lengths.
• For each wire take three readings and calculate its mean readings/resistance.
• Repeat the same procedures for the parallel connection. (Here, you need to drag the wire twice to make a parallel connection).
• # Observations:

 Unknown resistance Trial No Resistance from the resistance box (R ohm) Balancing Length on the side of X (100-l)cm Unknown resistance Mean Resistance (ohm) X1 only 1 l1 (cm) l2 (cm) Mean l (cm) X1 = 2 3 X2 only 1 X2 = 2 3 X1 and X2 in series 1 Xs = 2 3 X1 and X2 in parallel Xp =

# Calculation for verification of laws in series

Experimental value of Xs = ........... ohm
Theoretical value of Xs = X1 + X2 = ........... ohm

# Calculation for verification of laws in parallel

Experimental value of Xp = ........... ohm
Theoretical value of Xp,

$X_{p}=\frac{X_{1}X_{2}}{X_{1}+X_{2}}$ ........... ohm

# Result:

Experimental value of Xs =  ohm

Theoritical value od Xs =   ohm

Experimental value of Xp =   ohm

Theoritical value of Xp =   ohm

The experimental and the theoritical value of Xs and Xp are found to be the same.Hencew law of resistances in series and parallel is verified.

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