SCHOOL OF BASIC SCIENCES AND RESEARCH, SHARDA illl"1VERSITY

PHYSICS LABORATORY MANUAL

Experiment title: To determine the specific ·resistance of the material of a Expt. No.6
Eti.ven wire using Carev Foster's bridize

Q13JECTIVE: To determine the specific resistance of the material of a given wire

/
· using Carey Foster's bridge.

APPARATUS REQUifilfilt Carey Foster Bridge, galvanometer, Leclanche cell or

dry cell, resistance wire, decimal-decade resi§ta.nce box, single way plug key,
rheostat, screw gauge and connecting wires.

Formula used:

• X-Y=p(lz-h)
p =X/(12 - h)
a= Y. nr2/l v
THEORY: A Care~ "Foster's bridge is a modificatir.n of nieter bridge in the
1

following two ways: · ...:

1. The effective length of the bridge wire is increased due to two additicihal ·
resistance lengths P and Q.
2. Interchanging the out gaps eliminates the end resistances. With these
modifications the bridge is more precise and sensitive.

••:. ·.- ·.· -~ • • ~ •• !_ ·.,; •••.

't~,-~ • :-': -:· :..
>··
., _s :J~' -~~ • ~ .:: .-,, ~: ~·:•

... . . •.•;. I' .• ~-~·:l·_.·~ ,:,.,.·, ..__. ,. :. · ·:,~

0 ·;:: <~_:·:· >rr .. -' iii - - · ·i:.~:- .-- ~d:~·:_~

.,::g:: .;., ;:·.· Ja~'.·~-~-:~~E? i~f

tiq·_:•.\,e1;;,;1,s:~,;~;=..,: ;)_: ~._. .

~ -:,'
p
_·:;·,·.:....

.-,
c_.._._•.. ~ .t;.;.;;
:..·*.-.. .....: ,,,...............--..--
• lh,. ••~ . ;- -· .-.:.. . •, .
·,);
~
.,."--·..··.,·........:,'· ;.

Let p be the resistar~ce per unit length of the bridge wire and a , B be. ti1e end
r.__ si.~tances on two ends A and B respectively. If the balance is obtained at a

length h vrith resistance X in L1:f S and 12 with X in RHS gap, we have for the
sa:ne value of r at.io armPi .

.. l
~I
I P/Q = (X -,-a+ P lz) / [ Y +8+ P(lOO - i1)] For X in LHS gap

P/Q = (Y + a+ P h) / [ X +B+ P(lOO - lz)J For X in RHS gap

Solving we have
X-Y=p(lz-h) (1)
This equation gives the differences of two resistances in terms of bridge wire
resistance. To determine p, Y is kept zero, i.e. the gap is covered with copper strip
and balancing length Ii and 12 are obtained for known values of resistance X.
Then

p=X/(lz-h) (2)

Knowing the resistance of wire (Y, from equation 1), the specific resistance of its
material, a can be determined as

a = Y. rrr 2/l (3)

Where 1 is the length of the wire, t is the radius of the wire. .____f

1- PROCEDURE:

.
(A) Determination of

1. Make neat and tight connections. A deci·ohm resistance box is connected in1
left gap and short circuit unknown gap on right by copper strip.
2. Introduce some resistance and determine balance point h by sliding jockey. 7
Choose such a resistance that balance occur towards the end of the wire.
3. Interchange the resistance box and copper strip and find the balancing
length 12 measured from the same end. ·
4. By changing the value of resistance X in the resistance box, find the
balancing length in such a way that whole length of the wire is calibrated.
5. Calculate the value of p using equation (2).
(B) Determination . of unknown resistance and difference between two
resistances:
1. Use a known resistance box for X having resistance comparable to
unknown resistance Y connected in other gap.
2. By choosing suitable resistance from resistance box find balancing length
h. By suitabl~ we mean a resistance for which balance is obtained
approximately at the center of the bridge wire.
3. Interchange X and Y and find balancing length 12.
4. J~y changing resistance X in steps find other sets of h and h.
5. Calculate the difference (X- Y) from each of the above set.
6. Fi~ally calculate Y, the unknown resistance using equation (1).
 (C) Determim~4"ion
· _., · of spec
· ific resistance:
. ··

1. Find th-3 length of the wire used.

~- F~nd the ~adius of wire using screw gauge.
. / ,3. Fmd specific resistance using equation (3).

/ @SERVATIONS:

Radius of the given wire =

Length of the given wire =

Table I: Determinatiori' of p

Balancing length when X is in

Resistance (12 - h) p=X/(12-h)
S.No.
X (ohms) Right gap (12) cm cm
Left gap (1 1 ) cm
cm --

.
i

Mean = ...... ohm/cm

Table 2: Determination of unknown resistance Y

J

Balancing length when X is in

Resistance (12 - h) Y=X-p(l2·
S.No. - li) cm
X (ohms) Right gap (h) cm
Left gap (1 1) cm
cm

CALCULATIONS: Calculate values of for each set of readings in table 1. Get its
mean value. Now calculate Y from table 2 and then knowing the values of length
and radius of the wire, calculate the value of specific resistance.

REfjULT: The specific resistance of the given wire is= ........... .......... O~:n--c_m.
I
'

Percentage Error:

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Connections must be neat and t.ight.
2. Pressed jockey should not be moved on the wire. It shbuld be pressed gently
and momentarily to avoid heating.
3. The difference between X and Y should not be more than the resistance of the
bridge wire otherwise balance point will notJ)e obta:ined
4. While determining the balance should be obtained near the end of the wire ..
while for the difference of the resistance it should be obtained near the
middle of the wire.
5. The bridge is most sensitive when P, Q, X and Y are of the same order.
Theoretical Error:-
a =ym-2 /I .
taking log and differentiating both sides
log a = log y + 2log r + log 1
(1 / a) 6 a= ( 1/y. 6y + 2/r. 6r + 1/1. 61)
(1 / a) 6 a= ( 1/y. 6y + 2/r. 6r + 1/1. 61) x 100

OUTCOME:

Student will learn the concept of Wheatstone bridge and Carey Foster Bridge and
understand the concept of resistance and resistivity of a metal wire. Learn how to
use screw guage for measuring radius of the wire.

TRY TO ANSWER:
1. What do you mean by specific resistance?
2. What is resistance?
3. What are the factors, which affect the resistance of a conductor?
4. If the length or racijus of a wire is increased, whether the specific resistance
will change?
5. How is the resistance coils placed inside the resistance box?
6. In a r~sistance box, is the resi.s tance of the coil below the brass pieces marked
INF is infinity?
7. Why resistances are usually made of cons tan tan or manganin wires?
8. What is the principle of Wheat stone's bridge?
· 9. When does the bi·idge most sensitive?
 10. What is the advantage in interchanging the positions of resistance box and
unknown resistance in this experiment?
11. Why the resistance of inner gaps sho1,1ld be of same value? If not, what is the
harm? ·
12. What is the minimum difference in resistance that you can measure with this
bridge wire?
,.
11
'

1
-.
f