BEE2123 Tutorial 4_DC and AC Bridges

1. An ammeter is connected in series with an unknown resistance Rx and a dc supply. A

voltmeter is connected directly across the supply. The ammeter resistance is 10 Ω and the
voltmeter sensitivity is 10 kΩ /V. Determine Rx if the ammeter indicates 0.5 A and the voltmeter
reading is 500 V.

Ans: RX = 990 Ω .

Rx RA = 10 Ω
A I = 0.5 A

V S=10 kΩ /V
V = 500 V

V = I R = I ( Rx + RA )

500 = 0.5 ( Rx + RA )

Rx = 500/0.5 - 10 Ω

= 990Ω

2. A Wheatstone Bridge as in figure below has R1 = 1 kΩ , R2 = 100 Ω and R3 is adjustable from

1 kΩ to 5 kΩ . Calculate the maximum and minimum values of R4.

Ans: R4 min = 100 Ω and R4 max = 500 Ω .

B
1 kΩ 100 Ω

3V A C

1 kΩ - 5 kΩ
D

R1R4 = R2R3
 When R3 = 1000Ω ,

R2R3 100 x 1000

R4 = ---------- = ---------------
R1 1000
= 100Ω

When R3 = 5000Ω ,

R2R3 100 x 5000

R4 = ---------- = ---------------
R1 1000

= 500Ω

Therefore the minimum value of R4 is 100Ω and its maximum value is 500Ω

3. For a Wheatstone Bridge as in Problem 2, R1 = 1000 Ω , R2 = 4000 Ω , R3 = 100 Ω and R4 =

400 Ω when the bridge is balanced. Internal resistance of the galvanometer is 100 Ω with its
measuring sensitivity is 100 mm/µA. Determine the deflection (mm) of the galvanometer caused
by an additional of 1 Ω in resistor R4. (Hint: Use Thevenin’s theory due to imbalance in R4)

Ans: Deflection (mm) of the galvanometer = 111.60 mm.

Current sensitivity of the galvanometer is 100mm/µ A
When the resistor at CD arm is 400Ω , the bridge is balance and the galvanometer does not deflect.
When the resistor at CD arm increases by 1Ω , the circuit is unbalance and the galvanometer
deflects. Voltage and resistance across AC are

B
1 kΩ 4 kΩ

3V A VAC C

100 Ω 400 Ω
D

Thevenin open voltage across AC

VAC = V th = VBA – VBC

= I1R1 – I2R2

Applying voltage divider,

1000 4000
= 3 ( ------------------) – 3( ------------------ )
1000 + 100 4000 + 401

= 3 (0.9090909 – 0.9088843)

= 3 x 0.0002066
 = 0.0006198

= 0.6198 mV

Thevenin equivalent resistance when the source is shorted,

1000Ω 100Ω

B D

4000Ω 401Ω

Rth = 1000//100 + 4000//401

1000x100 4000x401
= ------------- + ----------------
1100 4401

1000 1604000
= ------- + ----------
11 4401

= 90.909Ω + 364.463Ω

= 455.372Ω

Rth=455.372 Ω

Vth=0.6198 mV G Rg=100 Ω

Current through the galvanometer,

I = Vth/ ( Rth + Rg)

0.6198 mV
= --------------------------
455.372 Ω + 100 Ω
= 1.1160 µ A

Therefore the deflection of the galvanometer is 1.1160 µ A x 100mm/µ A = 111.60 mm

4. Derive equations for Cx and Rx referring to the figure below.

Ans: RX = R2R3/R1 and CX = R1C3/R2

B

R1 R2

A C
C3 Cx

R3 Rx
D

Z1Zx = Z2Z3

Z1 Z2
----- = -----
Yx Y3

Z1Y3 = Z2Yx

Z1 = R1,
Z2 = R2,
Y3= (1/R3) +(1/(- j/ω C3 )) = (1/R3) – (ω C3/j) = (1/R3) – (ω C3/j) (-j/-j) = (1/R3) + jω C3
Yx = ( 1/Rx) + jω Cx

R1 ((1/R3) + jω C3 ) = R2 (( 1/Rx) + jω Cx)

(R1/R3) + jω R1C3 = (R2 /Rx) + jω R2Cx

Comparing the real and imaginary parts

Real part:
R1/R3 = R2 /Rx

R2 R3
Rx = -------
R1
Imaginary part:
R1C3 = R2Cx
 R1C3
Cx = --------
R2

5. An AC Bridge consists of: R1 = 2000 Ω in parallel with C1 = 0.047 µF; R2 = 1000 Ω in series
with C2 = 0.47 µF; C3 = 0.5 µF; and Zx is an unknown component. Determine the value for the
unknown component if the oscillator frequency is 1 kHz.

Ans: Rx = 40.1Ω and Cx = 0.833µ F

C1 R2
R1 C2

C3 Zx

Z1Zx = Z2Z3

Z2Z3
Zx = -------
Z1
Zx = Z2Z3Y1

Y1 = (1/R1) + jω C1
Z2 = R2 – j/ω C2
Z3= - j/ω C3
Zx = (R2 – j/ω C2) (- j/ω C3) ( 1/R1 + jω C1)

R2 C1 1 j
= [---- + ---- + j ( ω R2C1 - -------- ) ] (- ---- )
R1 C2 ω R1C2 ω C3

R2C1 1 j R2 C1
= [ ------- - ------------ ] - -----( ----- + -----)
C3 ω 2R1C2C3 ω C3 R1 C2

If R1 = 2000Ω , C1 =0.047µ F, R2 =1000Ω , C2 =0.47µ F, C3 = 0.5µ F and the frequency of

the oscillator = 1000Hz,

Then,

1000Ω x0.047µ F 1 j 1000 0.047µ F

 Zx = [-------------------- - -----------------------------------------] - ------------------- ( --------- + -----------)
0.5µ F (2π 1000)2x2000Ω x0.5µ Fx0.47µ F 2π x1000x0.5µ F 2000
0.47µ F

Zx = [ 94 – 53.89] – j318.31[0.5 + 0.1]

Zx = 40.1 – j191

∴ Zx = Rx – jXc
Where Rx = 40.1Ω , Xc =191
Cx = 1/(2π x1000x191)
= 0.833µ F

6. An AC Bridge is balanced on 1000 Hz with these values: C1 = 0.2 µF; R2 = 500 Ω ; R3 = 300
Ω in parallel with C3 = 0.1 µF; and an unknown component in the fourth branch. Determine the
value of capacitor, C4 or inductor, L4 which is in series with resistor R4 in the fourth branch.

Ans: Rx = 34.312 Ω and Lx = 28.971 mH

C1 R2

R3 Zx
C3

Z1Zx = Z2Z3

Z2Z3
Zx = -------
Z1

Z2
Zx = -------
Y3 Z1

Y3 Z1Zx = Z2

Z1 = - j/ω C1
Z2 = R2
Y 3= (1/R3) + jω C3

-j 1
 ( ------ ) (----- + jω C3 ) Zx = R2
ω C1 R3

-j C3
( -------- + ---- ) Zx = R2
ω R3C1 C1

C3 j
---- + --------
R2 C1 ω R3C1
Zx = --------------------- x -----------------------
C3 j C3 j
------ - ------- ------ + -------
C1 ω R3C1 C1 ω R3C1

C3 j
R2 ( ---- + --------- )
C1 ω R3C1
Zx = ------------------------------------
C3 1
( ------)2 + ( ------- )2
C1 ω R3C1

C3 jR2 C3 jR2
( R2 ---- + --------- ) ( R2 ---- + --------- )
C1 ω R3C1 C1 ω R3C1
Zx = --------------------------------- = -----------------------------------
C3 1 ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12
( ----- )2 + ( ------- )2 (----------------------------)
C1 ω R3C1 ω 2R32C14

C3 ω 2R32C14 jR2 ω 2R32C14

Zx = ( R2 ---- x ------------------------- ) + ( --------- x -----------------------------)
C1 ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12 ω R3C1 ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12

ω 2R2R32C13 C3 ω R2 R3 C13
Zx = ( ------------------------- ) + j ( -----------------------------)
ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12 ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12

∴ Zx = Rx + jXL

where

ω 2R2R32C13 C3 ω R2 R3 C13
Rx = ( --------------------------) , XL = (---------------------------)
ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12 ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12

R2 R3 C13
Lx = --------------------------
ω 2R32C12 C32 + C12

If C1 = 0.2µ F, R2 =500Ω , R3=300Ω , C3=0.1 µ F and the oscillator frequency is 1000Hz.

(2π 1000)2x500x3002x (0.2x10-6)3x(0.1x10-6)

Rx = ---------------------------------------------------------------------
(2π 1000)2x3002x(0.2x10-6)2x(0.1x10-6)2 + (0.2x10-6)2

500x300x(0.2x10-6) 3
Lx = -------------------------------------------------------------------
(2π 1000)2x3002x(0.2x10-6)2x(0.1x10-6)2 + (0.2x10-6)2

Rx = 34.3115Ω

Lx = 28.9707mH

7. A Maxwell Bridge as in figure below is used to measure an unknown impedance:

(i) The components are: R1 = 3138 Ω , C1 = 20 µF, R2 = 50 Ω and R3 = 100 Ω .
Determine the unknown impedance in balanced condition.
(ii) Determine the Q factor of the coil if the frequency is 50 Hz.

Ans: i) Rx = 1.593 Ω and Lx = 0.1 H

ii) Q = 19.7

C1 R2
R1
Lx
R3 Rx

i) Z1Zx = Z2Z3
 Zx= Z2Z3Y1

Y1 =1/R1 + jω C1
Z2 = R2
Z3 = R3
1
Zx= R2 R3 (---- + jω C1)
R1
R2R3
= ---------- + jω R2 R3 C1
R1

= Rx + jXL

= Rx + jω Lx

R2R3
Rx = ----------
R1

Lx = R2R3C1

If R1= 3138Ω , C1=20µ F, R2=50Ω , R3=100Ω .

Then Rx = 50Ω x 100Ω /3138Ω

= 1.593Ω

Lx = 50Ω x100Ω x20µ F

= 0.1 Henry

ii) Q Factor of the inductor = XL/R

= ω R1C1

= 2π f x 3138Ω x 20µ F

= 19.7