BRIDGE CIRCUITS

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What is a bridge circuit?

The bridge circuit has twoarms(Raand Rbconstitute one arm here, and
Rcand Rsconstitute the other arm). Each arm is composed of two resistors in
series, and you may want to think of each arm as a voltage divider. The
output is thedifferencebetween the outputs of the two voltage dividers. In
the bridge circuit above we have also included some source resistance for the
source which drives the bridge circuit.

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:

The first description of the bridge was by Samuel Hunter

Christie (1784-1865) in
1833.
Sir Charles Wheatstone is most famous for this device but
never claimed to have
invented it. HOWEVER, he did more than anyone else to

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:
The Wheatstone bridge is an
electrical bridge circuit used
to measure resistance. It
consists of a common source
of electrical current (such as a
battery) and a galvanometer
that connects two parallel
branches, containing four
resistors, three of which are
Note:
known. One parallel branch
the higher the supply voltage,
contains one known
the easier it is to detect a
resistance and an unknown
condition of imbalance
(R4 in the above example);
between the four resistors
the other parallel branch
with the null detector, and
contains resistors of known
thus the more sensitive it will
be.
resistances. In order to
determine the resistance of
the unknown resistor, the
The Wheatstone bridge is an electrical
circuit for
resistances
ofthe
theprecise
other three

Analysis Of Bridge Circuits - Balancing

The Bridge

We have noted that it might be possible to get a bridge output of zero volts.
That's true, but it only happens under certain conditions. When the output of
a bridge is zero, the bridge is said to bebalanced. The first thing we will do is
to determine the conditions for a bridge circuit to be balanced.
If the output voltage of a bridge circuit is zero, that will happen when
the outputs of both dividers is the same.

Analysis Of Bridge Circuits - Balancing

The Bridge

1. The first thing that we notice is that both voltage dividers have the same
voltage at the "top"
of the bridge. Call that voltage Vtop.
Then, the voltage at the left terminal (labelled "+") is given by:

Vtop. [Rb/(Ra+ Rb)]

Similarly, the voltage at the right terminal (labelled "-") is given
by:

Vtop. [Rs/(Rc+ Rs)]

* The difference between these two voltages - the output voltage - is given
by:

Vtop. [Rb/(Ra+ Rb)] - Vtop. [Rs/

(Rc+ Rs)]

Analysis Of Bridge Circuits - Balancing

The Bridge

2. Setting the output voltage to zero (the condition for a balanced bridge),
we get:

Vtop. [Rb/(Ra+ Rb)] - Vtop. [Rs/(Rc+

Rs)] = 0
Since Vtopis a common factor it can be removed. Then, we get:

[Rb/(Ra+ Rb)] - [Rs/(Rc+ Rs)] = 0

Or

[Rb/(Ra+ Rb)] = [Rs/(Rc+ Rs)]

Now, cross-multiply the denominators.

Analysis Of Bridge Circuits - Balancing

The Bridge

RbRc+ RbRs= RsRa+ RbRs

Note that the termRsRbappears on both sides of the equation and can
be taken out on
both sides.
That gives us:

RbRc= RsRa
3. This is the condition for balance that we were looking for. It is a very
simple relationship
that must be obeyed by the resistors in the bridge portion of the
circuit.

Analysis Of Bridge Circuits - Balancing

The Bridge

RbRc= RsRa

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:

The first description of the bridge was by Samuel Hunter

Christie (1784-1865) in
1833.
Sir Charles Wheatstone is most famous for this device but
never claimed to have
invented it. HOWEVER, he did more than anyone else to

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:
The Wheatstone bridge is an
electrical bridge circuit used
to measure resistance. It
consists of a common source
of electrical current (such as a
battery) and a galvanometer
that connects two parallel
branches, containing four
resistors, three of which are
Note:
known. One parallel branch
the higher the supply voltage,
contains one known
the easier it is to detect a
resistance and an unknown
condition of imbalance
(R4 in the above example);
between the four resistors
the other parallel branch
with the null detector, and
contains resistors of known
thus the more sensitive it will
be.
resistances. In order to
determine the resistance of
the unknown resistor, the
The Wheatstone bridge is an electrical
circuit for
resistances
ofthe
theprecise
other three

Measurement Errors

12

Example
In the Wheatstone bridge circuit, R3 is a
decade resistance with a specified in
accuracy 0.2% and R1 and R2 = 500
0.1%. If the value of R3 at the null position
is 520.4 , determine the possible
minimum and maximum value of RX

Therefore the possible values of Rx

are 518.32 to
13 522.48

Computation:

Example

A Wheatstone bridge has a ratio arm of 1/100 (R2/R1). At

first balance, R3 is adjusted to 1000.3 . The value of Rx is
then changed by the temperature change, the new value of
R3 to achieve the balance condition again is 1002.1 . Find
the change of Rx due to the temperature change.

15

Example

A Wheatstone bridge has a ratio arm of 1/100 (R2/R1). At

first balance, R3 is adjusted to 1000.3 . The value of Rx is
then changed by the temperature change, the new value of
R3 to achieve the balance condition again is 1002.1 . Find
the change of Rx due to the temperature change.

16

 Questions/Problem Solving:
1. For these values of resistance would the bridge be balanced? Yes or No
Show your computation.
Ra= 1000
Rb= 2000
Rc= 3000
Rs= 6000
2.For these values of resistance determine the value ofRafor which the
bridge is balanced.
Rb= 1000
Rc= 2000
Rs= 5000

 Questions/Problem Solving:
3. For these values of resistance determine the value ofRsfor which the
bridge is balanced.
Ra= 10
Rb= 10000
Rc= 10
4. For these values of resistance you should have found that the bridge
would be balanced. (These are the values from Question 1 above.) For
these values, what are the values of V+and V-? (And remember, both
values of voltage are the same when the bridge is balanced.)
Ra= 1000
Rb= 2000
Rc= 3000
Rs= 6000
Assume the following values for the source
Vc= 10v
Ro= 0 (Ideal voltage source)

 Questions/Problem Solving:
5. For these values of resistance bridge would be unbalanced.
Ra= 1000
Rb= 2000
Rc= 3000
Rs= 6600
Assume the following values for the source
Vc= 10v
Ro= 0 (Ideal voltage source)

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:

The first description of the bridge was by Samuel Hunter

Christie (1784-1865) in
1833.
Sir Charles Wheatstone is most famous for this device but
never claimed to have
invented it. HOWEVER, he did more than anyone else to

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE:
The Wheatstone bridge is an
electrical bridge circuit used
to measure resistance. It
consists of a common source
of electrical current (such as a
battery) and a galvanometer
that connects two parallel
branches, containing four
resistors, three of which are
Note:
known. One parallel branch
the higher the supply voltage,
contains one known
the easier it is to detect a
resistance and an unknown
condition of imbalance
(R4 in the above example);
between the four resistors
the other parallel branch
with the null detector, and
contains resistors of known
thus the more sensitive it will
be.
resistances. In order to
determine the resistance of
the unknown resistor, the
The Wheatstone bridge is an electrical
circuit for
resistances
ofthe
theprecise
other three

AC BRIDGE:

Note:
Impedance is the opposition of
the flow of current in an AC
circuit.

Z1

Z3

___ = __

Impedance bridges work the

same, only the balance equation
is withcomplexquantities, as
both magnitude and phase across
the components of the two
dividers must be equal in order
for the null detector to indicate
zero. The null detector, of
course, must be a device capable
of detecting very small AC
voltages.
*An oscilloscope is often used for
this, although very sensitive
electromechanical meter
movements and even
(small speakers) may
1 headphones
4
be used if the source frequency is
within audio range.

Z2Z3= Z Z

AC BRIDGE:

One way to maximize the effectiveness of audio headphones as a null

detector is to connect them to the signal source through an impedancematching transformer. Headphone speakers are typically low-impedance
units (8 ), requiring substantial current to drive, and so a step-down
transformer helps match low-current signals to the impedance of the
headphone speakers. An audio output transformer works well for this
purpose.

AC BRIDGE:

Using a pair of headphones that completely surround the ears (the closedcup type), we can detect currents of less than 0.1 A with this simple
detector circuit. Roughly equal performance was obtained using two
different step-down transformers: a small power transformer (120/6 volt
ratio), and an audio output transformer (1000:8 ohm impedance ratio). With
the pushbutton switch in place to interrupt current, this circuit is usable for
detecting signals from DC to over 2 MHz: even if the frequency is far above
or below the audio range, a click will be heard from the headphones each

AC BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance

AC BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance

Hay Bridge
A Hay Bridge is an AC
bridge circuit used for
measuring an unknown
inductance by balancing
the loads of its four
arms, one of which
contains the unknown
inductance. One of the
arms of a Hay Bridge
has a capacitor of known
characteristics, which is
the principal component
used for determining the
unknown inductance
value. Figure shows a
diagram of the Hay

Maxwell BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance

This ingenious bridge

circuit is known as
theMaxwell-Wien
bridge(sometimes
known plainly as
theMaxwell bridge),
and is used to measure
unknown inductances in
terms of calibrated
resistance and
Calibration-grade inductors are more difficult to manufacture than capacitors
of similar precision, and so the use of a capacitance.
simple symmetrical inductance
bridge is not always practical. Because the phase shifts of inductors and
capacitors are exactly opposite each other, a capacitive impedance can
balance out an inductive impedance if they are located in opposite legs of a

Maxwell BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance and Resistance

STUDY OF MAXWELLS BRIDGE:

The Maxwells bridge is widely used for inductance measurement in the
range 1Hto 1000H. The important feature of this system is the unknown
inductance is measured in terms of a known capacitance. The use of standard
arm offers the advantage of compactness & easy shielding. The capacitor is
almost lossless component. One arm hasa resistance R1 in parallel with C1&
hence itis
easiertowritethebalancedequationusingadmittanceofonearminsteadof

Maxwell BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance and Resistance

The general equation for the bridge is,

Z1Zx = Z2Z3
Zx=Z2Z3/Z1=Z2Z3Y1
WhenZ1=R1//C1i.e.Y1=1/R1+jC1
Z2=R2,
Z3=R3
Zx=Rx+jLx
Equating real terms & imaginary terms we get,
Rx=R2R3/R1
Lx=C3R2R3
Q=Lx/Rx=C1R1
The Maxwells Bridge is limited to use of
measurement of low Q value (1 to 10).The
measurement is independent of excitation

Maxwell BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance and Resistance

RxR1=R2R3
Lx=C1R2R3
Q=Lx/Rx=
C1R1

Maxwell BRIDGE: Determining unknown Inductance and Resistance

Advantages of Maxwell's Bridge

(1) The frequency does not appear in the final
expression of both equations, hence it is independent of
frequency.
(2)Maxwell's inductance capacitance bridgeis
very useful for the wide range of measurement of
inductance at audio frequencies.
Disadvantages of Maxwell's Bridge
(1) The variable standard capacitor is very expensive.
(2) The bridge is limited to measurement of low quality
coils (1 < Q < 10) and it is also unsuitable for low value
of Q (i.e. Q < 1) from this we conclude that a Maxwell
bridge is used suitable only for medium Q coils.

AC BRIDGE: Determining unknown Capacitance

Schering Bridge: Determining unknown Capacitance

ASchering Bridge is a bridge circuit used for measuring an unknown

electrical capacitance and its dissipation factor. The dissipation factor of
a capacitor is the ratio of its resistance to its capacitive reactance. The
Schering Bridge is basically a four-arm alternating-current (AC) bridge
circuit whose measurement depends on balancing the loads on its
arms.

Schering Bridge: Determining unknown Capacitance

In this Schering Bridge, the resistance values of
resistors R1 and R2 are known, while the resistance
value of resistor R3 is unknown. The capacitance
values of C1 and C2 are also known, while the
capacitance of C3 is the value being measured.

To measure R3 and C3, the values of C2

and R2 are fixed, while the values of R1
and C1 are adjusted until the current
through the ammeter between points A
and B becomes zero. This happens when
the voltages at points A and B are equal, in
which case the bridge is said to be

Schering Bridge: Determining unknown Capacitance

When the bridge is balanced, Z1/C2 = R2/Z3, where

Z1 is the impedance of R1 in parallel with C1 and Z3
is the impedance of R3 in series with C3. In an AC
circuit that has a capacitor, the capacitor contributes
a capacitive reactance to the impedance. The
capacitive reactance of a capacitor C is 1/2fC.
As such, Z1 = R1/[2fC1((1/2fC1) + R1)] = R1/(1 +
2fC1R1) while Z3 = 1/2fC3 + R3. Thus, when the
bridge is balanced:
2fC2R1/(1+2fC1R1) = R2/(1/2fC3 + R3); or
2fC2(1/2fC3 + R3) = (R2/R1)(1+2fC1R1); or
C2/C3 + 2fC2R3 = R2/R1 + 2fC1R2.

Schering Bridge: Determining unknown Capacitance and Resistance

When the bridge is balanced, the

negative and positive reactive
components are equal and cancel out,
so2fC2R3 = 2fC1R2 or

R3C2 = R2C1 .
Similarly, when the bridge is balanced,
the purely resistive components are
equal, so

C2/C3 = R2/R1

C3R2 = C2R1

or

Wien BRIDGE: Determining unknown Capacitance

Wien BRIDGE: Determining unknown Capacitance

An example of a little extra
complexity added to compensate
for real-world effects can be
found in the so-calledWien
bridge, which uses a parallel
capacitor-resistor standard
impedance to balance out an
unknown series capacitor-resistor
All capacitors have somecombination.
amount of internal resistance,
be it literal or equivalent (in the form of dielectric
heating losses) which tend to spoil their otherwise
perfectly reactive natures. This internal resistance may
be of interest to measure, and so the Wien bridge
attempts to do so by providing a balancing impedance
that isn't pure either.