EEE 362

PART B1 REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

RQ 1

A Wheatstone bridge uses: R1 = 40 Ω, R2 = 60 Ω, R3 = 100 μΩ

Draw the bridge and calculate the unknown resistance under balanced condition.

SOLUTION

First draw the bridge circuit as shown below:

R1 R2

A C
Vo

R4
R3

Vs

Using the formula

R2 R4  R1 R3  0
We have

R1 R3 40 x 100 x10-6
R4   = 66.67
R2 60

RQ 2

The four impedances of an AC bridge are

Find out whether the bridge is balanced or not

SOLUTION
In polar co-ordinate system representation, the bridge balance conditions are

and

Thus

Also

This indicates that phase relationship is satisfied whereas magnitude condition is not satisfied.
Hence, the bridge is unbalanced.

RQ 3
Consider a platinum resistance thermometer with a range of 0° – 25°C, whose resistance at 0°C is
500 Ω and whose resistance varies with temperature at the rate of 4 Ω/°C. Over this range of
measurement, the output characteristic of the thermometer itself is nearly perfectly linear.
The DC bridge circuit in figure RQ 3 is used to measure the temperature.
 Figure RQ 3

Determine the range of the output voltage Vo when R1 = R2 = R3 = 500 Ω and Vi = 10 V

SOLUTION
 Ru R1 
At any temperature Vo = VDB = VDA - VAB =Vi  - 
 R u +R 3 R 2 +R1 

At 0
R u = R1 = R 2 = R 3 = 500

Therefore
Vo = 0 V

At 25
R u = 500 + 4 x 25 = 600 , R1 = R 2 = R 3 = 500

Therefore
 600 500 
Vo = 10  -  = 0.455 V
 1100 1000 

Hence, the range of the output voltage, Vo, is 0.000 – 0.455 V

 RQ 4

Draw the circuit and derive the equations that give the unknown resistance and inductance (or
capacitance) in terms of the known standard values for each of the following ac bridge circuits
under balance condition:

( a) Maxwell inductance bridge

(b) Maxwell-Wien bridge

(c) Modified De Sauty bridge

(d) Schering bridge

SOLUTION

Please see my lecture note PART B1 BRIDGE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

RQ 5
For the Wheatstone bridge shown in the fig. RQ 9, calculate the range in the output voltage as R T
changes from 100 Ω to 101 Ω

Fig RQ 9

SOLUTION
 R4 R3 
V0  VAC  VAD  VCD     VS
 R1  R4 R2  R3 
 R2 R4  R1 R3 
  Vs
  R1  R4  R2  R3  
where, R1 = 150 Ω, R 2 = 300 Ω, R 3 = 200 Ω, R 4 = R T
 When RT =100 Ω

 R2 R4  R1 R3   300 x100 - 150x200 

V0    Vs =   10 = 0 V
  R1  R4  R2  R3    150+100  300+200  

When RT = 101 Ω

 R2 R4  R1 R3   300 x101 - 150x200 

V0    Vs =   10 = 0.0239 V = 23.9 mV
  R1  R4  R2  R3    150+101 300+200  
Hence for a change of RT from100 Ω to 101 Ω, the output voltage changes from 0 mV to 24 mV

RQ 6
Show that for the single element varying Wheatstone bridge, the output voltage, Vo, is related
to the input voltage, Vi, by the formula
 R 
Vo  Vi  
 2  2 R  R  
where R is the resistance when the arms are balanced and R is the change in
resistance when loaded

SOLUTION

Vo  VB  VD  VAB  VAD
Treating the left and the right parts of the bridge as individual voltage dividers we have
 R  R R  R
VAB  Vi  Vi
 R  R    R  2 R  R

R R
VAD  Vi  Vi
R   R 2R

R  R R 2 R  R  R   R  2R  R  R
Vo  Vi  Vi  Vi  Vi
2 R  R 2R 2R  2R  R  2  2 R  R 

RQ 7

A balanced bridge is made up as follows:

Arm ab is an unknown capacitor Cx in series with an unknown resistance Rx
Arm bc is a resistance, R3 , of 3 kΩ,
Arm cd is a capacitor, C4 , of 0.8 µF in parallel with 1 kΩ resistance, R4 .
Arm da is a capacitor, C2 , of 0.4 µF.
The supply is connected across ac and a detector across bd.
Draw the circuit diagram and name the bridge. Calculate the values of Cx and Rx .

SOLUTION

The circuit diagram is shown below

It is Schering bridge

1 x 103 x 0.4 x10-6  0.1333 x 10-6 F = 0.1333  F

CX 
3 x 103

C4 R 3 0.8 x10-6 x 3 x103

Rx = 
C2 0.4 x10-6  6x 103  = 6 k

RQ 8

Show that for the single element varying Wheatstone bridge, the output voltage, Vo, is related to the
input current, Ii, by the formula
 R 
Vo  I i R 
 4 R  R 
where R is the resistance when the arms are balanced and R is the change in
resistance when loaded

SOLUTION
 Vo  VB  VD  VAB  VAD  I1  R  R   I 2 R

Treating the left and the right parts of the bridge as current dividers we have

2R
I1  Ii
4 R  R

2 R  R
I2  Ii
4 R  R

2R 2 R  R  R 
Vo  Ii  Ii  Ii R 
4 R  R 4 R  R  4 R  R 

RQ 9

The arms of an a.c.bridge are arranged as follows:

AB is a noninductive resistance of 500 Ω in parallel with a capacitor of capacitance 0.25 μF .
BC is a non-inductive resistance of 300 Ω .
CD is an inductive impedance (unknown).
DA is a noninductive resistance of 200 Ω .
Balance is obtained under these conditions. Draw the bridge circuit and name the bridge.
Determine the values of the unknown resistance and inductance of the arm CD

SOLUTION

The circuit is Maxwell-Wien bridge

 R x = R3
R 2R 4 300 x 200
= =
R1 500 = 120 Ω

L x = L3
= C1R 2 R 4 = 0.25 x 10-6 x 300 x 200 = 15 x 10-3 = 15 mH

RQ 10
Show that for the all-element varying Wheatstone bridge, the output voltage, Vo, is related to
the input voltage, Vi, by the formula
 R 
Vo  Vi 
 R 
where R is the resistance when the arms are balanced and R is the change in resistance
when loaded

SOLUTION
The all-element varying Wheatstone bridge is shown below

The output voltage of the bridge is given by

Vo = VSQ = VPS - VPQ

Treating the left and the right parts of the bridge as individual voltage dividers we have

R  R R  R
VPS  Vi  Vi
 R  R    R  R  2R
 R  R R  R
VPQ  Vi  Vi
 R  R    R  R  2R

R  R R  R 2R R
Vo  Vi  Vi  Vs  Vi
2R 2R 2R R

RQ 11

In the capacitance bridge shown in figure below, resistor Q is variable from 500 ohms to 10 kohms,
and S ranges from 1 kohm to 3 kohms. P is a standard 1 kohm resistor and Cs is a standard 0.1Uf
capacitor. Calculate the range of measurement of Cx and rx.

SOLUTION
The bridge is modified De Sauty bridge
Hence
QCs
Cx 
P
And
Rs P
Rx 
Q
Therefore
Cx(min) = (Qmin x Cs)/P = (500 ohms x 0.1uF)/1k = 50 nF
Cx(max) = (Qmax x Cs)/P = (10k x 0.1uF)/1k = 1 uF
• rx(min) = P x S(min)/Q(max) = (1k x1k) /10k = 0.2 ohms
• rx(max) = P x S(max)/Q(min) = (1k x 3k) /500 ohms = 6 ohms

RQ 12

The arms of an a.c.bridge are arranged as follows:

AB and BC are non-reactive resistors of 100 Ω each
DA is a standard variable reactor L1 of resistance 32.7 Ω
CD comprises a standard variable resistor R in series with a coil of unknown impedance.
Balance was obtained with L1 = 47.8 mH and R = 1.36 Ω .
Draw the circuit and name the bridge. Find the resistance and inductance of the coil.

SOLUTION

The circuit is Maxwell inductance bridge since two adjacent arms each has an inductor in series with
a resistor.
Now  R 4 +R  x R 2 = R1 x R 3

Hence
R1 x R 3 - R x R 2 32.7 x 100 - 1.36 x 100
R4 = = = 31.34 
R2 100

Also
L4 x R 3 = L1 x R 2
Hence
L1 x R 2 47.8 x 100
L4 = = = 47.8 mH
R3 100
 RQ 13

The arms of an a.c. bridge are arranged as follows:

AB is a non-inductive resistance of 1,000 Ω in parallel with a capacitor of capacitance 0.5 μF ,
BC is a non-inductive resistance of 600 Ω
CD is an inductive impedance (unknown)
DA is a non-inductive resistance of 400 Ω .
Balance is obtained under these conditions.
Draw the circuit and name the bridge. Find the value of the resistance and inductance of the
branch CD.

SOLUTION

The circuit is Maxwell –Wien bridge since in two opposite sides arms one has an inductor in series
with a resistor and the other has a capacitor in parallel with a resistor.

Since R1 x R 3 = R 2 x R 4

Hence
R2 x R4 600 x 400
R3 = = = 240 
R1 1000

Also
L4 = C x R 2 x R 4
Hence
= 0.5 x106 x 400 x600 = 12 x 102 = 120 mH