M.A.

M MODEL SCHOOL
CHAVERCODE,PALAYAMKUNNU P.O. TVM
PINCODE:-695146,PH:-0470 2667117

2017-2018

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
DONE BY:-sanjith.b.s
XII-A

IN COMPLIANCE TO THE AWARD OF ALL INDIA

SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

ON METER BRIDGE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
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To find the variation of resistance with change in length of wire using
meterbridge.

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 M.A.M MODEL SCHOOL
CHAVERCODE,PALAYAMKUNNU P.O. TVM
(AFFILIATED TO C.B.S.E. NEW DELHI)
PH:-0470 2667117

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this project report entitled
“to study the variation of resistance with change in length of wire
using meterbridge”has been completed by sanjith.b.s
in the partial fulfillment for XII examination in PHYSICS OF
CBSE,DELHI, during the academic year 2017-2018

Reg. No……………….

Examiner Teacher in charge

1)………………….

2)…………………. Principal

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 INDEx
S.No. Contents Page No.
I. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 5
II. Objective 6
III. Introduction 7
IV. Theory 11
V. Observation & calculation 16
VI. Conclusion 18
VII. Bibliography 19

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First I thank the Almighty, who miraculously blessed me

throughout this project period for its successful completion. In
this opportunity, I express my sincere gratitude to our Hon’ble
Principal Mr.N Prabala Chandran for exposing me to do this
project work.

I am indebted to the head of Physics Department,

Miss.Hisana To whom I accord my sincere gratitude and
profound thankfulness for her good guidance, insightful opinion
and constructive criticism.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my

parents for their encouragement and help to complete this
project work. Last but not least I am thankful to my friends
and all other who helped me to complete this project work.

With gratitude

Sanjith.b.s

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 OBJECTIVE
The Objective of this project is to study the variation of

resistance with change in length of wire using meter bridge.

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 INTRODUCTION
Meter bridge is a apparatus which use on the Wheatstone
Bridge Principle
Wheat Stone Bridge
A Wheatstone bridge is an electrical circuit used to measure an
unknown electrical resistance by balancing two legs of a bridge
circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown component. it was
invented by Samuel Hunter Christie in 1833 and improved and
popularized by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1843.Although today
digital multimeters provide the simplest way to measure a
resistance, The Wheatstone Bridge can still be used to measure
very low values of resistances down in the milli-Ohms range.

Principal For Wheat Stone Bridge

The general arrangement of Wheatstone bridge circuit is shown in
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the figure below. It is a four arms bridge circuit where arm AB,
BC, CD and AD are consisting of electrical resistances P, Q, S
and R respectively. Among these resistances P and Q are known
fixed electrical resistances and these two arms are referred as
ratio arms. An Galvanometer is connected between the terminals
B and D through a switch K2. The voltage source of this
Wheatstone bridge is connected to the terminals A and C via a
switch K1 as shown. A variable resistor S is connected between
point C and D. The potential at point D can be varied by adjusting
the value of variable resistor. If we vary the electrical resistance
value of arm CD the value of current I2 will also be varied as the
voltage across A and C is fixed. If we continue to adjust the
variable resistance one situation may comes when voltage drop
across the resistor S that is I2.S is becomes exactly equal to
voltage drop across resistor Q that is I1.Q. Thus the potential at
point B becomes equal to the potential at point D hence potential
difference between these two points is zero hence current through
galvanometer is nil. Then the deflection in the galvanometer is nil
when the switch K2 is closed.

Applying Kirchoff’Law we can easily find that in that condition

P/Q=R/S

Meter Bridge Experiment using Wheatstone Bridge Principle

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Meter bridge is based on the principle of wheat stone bridge and
it is used to find the resistance of an unknown conductor or to
compare two unknown resistance. The practical diagram is shown
in the below figure-:

Calculation
R is Known Resistance

S is Unknown Resistance
P is Resistance across AB
Q is the Resistance between BD
AC is a 1m long wire made of maganin or constanan having

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uniform area of cross-section So that L1+L2=100
Assuming L1=L => L2=100-L

The unknown resistance ‘X’ of the given wire is obtained by

relation :
X = RL2/L1= R(100-L)/L

And specific resistance of the material of a given a wire is

obtained by =(3.14) r2X/l
where r = radius of the wire and l = length of wire.

LAW OF RESISTANCE-:

First law of resistance-:

The resistance of conductor is directly proportional to the

length of the conductor. Greater is the length of the conductor
greater will be the resistance, similarly smaller is the length,
and smaller will be the resistance of the conductor.

Second law of resistance-:

The resistance of conductor is inversely proportional to the

cross sectional area of the conductor. Greater is the cross
sectional area smaller will be the resistance and when smaller
is cross sectional area greater will be the resistance.

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 Theory
Wheatstone’s principle

The metre bridge is operates under Wheatstone’s principle. Here, four

resistors P, Q, R, and S are connected to form the network ABCD. The
terminals A and C are connected to a battery, and the terminals C and D
are connected to a galvanometer through keys K1 and K2
respectively.
In the balancing condition, there is no deflection on the
galvanometer. Then,

Metre Bridge apparatus

The metre bridge, also known as the slide wire bridge consists of a one
metre long wire of uniform cross sectional area, fixed on a wooden block.
A scale is attached to the block. Two gaps are formed on it by using thick
metal strips in order to make the Wheat stone’s bridge. The terminal B
between the gaps is used to connect galvanometer and jockey.

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A resistance wire is introduced in gap S and the resistance box is in gap
R. One end of the galvanometer is connected to terminal D and its other
end is connected to a jockey. As the jockey slides over the wire AC, it
shows zero deflection at the balancing point (null point).
If the length AB is , then the length BC is ( 100-l ).
Then, according to Wheatstone’s principle;

Now, the unknown resistance can be calculated as,

The specific resistance or resistivity of the material of the wire can be

then calculated by using the relation,

; Where L be the length of the wire and r be its radius.

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APPARATUS USED-:
Metre bridge , Battery eliminator , Galvanometer , Resistance
box , Jockey , One way key , A resistance wire , Screw gauge
, Metre scale , Connecting wires.

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PROCEDURE-:

 Arrange the required materials on a table and make the

connections as per the connections diagram.
 Connect the resistance wire in the left gap (between c & d)
and resistance box in the right gap.
 Introduce some resistance in the circuit by taking out some
resistance from the resistance box.
 Plug the key. Bring the jockey in contact with the end A
first, and then with C. Note the deflection on the
galvanometer.
 If the galvanometer deflects in the opposite direction, the
connections are right and the null point is in between A and
C.
 If not so, change the resistance in the resistance box and
repeat the process so that the null point is somewhere
between A and C.
 If the galvanometer deflected towards a single side, then
check the connection.
 Now, slide the jockey slowly over the wire starting from one
and (say, A) and note the galvanometer deflection. Continue
the process till the balancing point is reached.
 Balancing point is the point at which the galvanometer
shows zero deflection. Now, note the position of the jockey

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 from end A. Take it as the balancing length (l) using the
metre scale.
 Repeat the process for different values of R. The balancing
length is measured each time.
 Now, interchange the position of resistance wire and
resistance box in gaps AB and CD.
 Repeat the above steps to find the balancing length, for the
same values of R.
 We can calculate the unknown resistance of the resistance
wire by using the relation,

 Measure the diameter of the given resistance wire using a

screw gauge. Hence, its radius(r) can be found.
 Also measure the length (L) of the wire using a metre scale.
 From the measured values, the specific resistance
(resistivity) of the given resistance wire can be calculated
using the relation,

 The same process is repeated for different length of wire.

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 OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS
1.For length 10 cm (Table-1)
Resistance Left Right L=(L1+L2)/2 X=R(L/(100-L)
(L1) (L2) ( )
1 50 50 50 1
2 32 38 35 1.07
3 25 25 25 1
4 20 22 21 1.06

2.For length 15 cm (Table-2)

Resistance Left Right L=(L1+L2)/2 X=R(L/(100-L)
(L1) (L2) ( )
1 58 62 60 1.5
2 44 43 43.5 1.53
3 34 34 34 1.54
4 28 28 28 1.55

3.For length 20 cm (Table-3)

Resistance Left Right L=(L1+L2)/2 X=R(L/(100-L)
(L1) (L2) ( )
1 66 66 66 1.94
2 48 50 49 1.92
3 39 40 39.5 1.95
4 32.5 32.5 32.5 1.92

4.For length 25 cm (Table-4)

Resistance Left Right L=(L1+L2)/2 X=R(L/(100-L)
(L1) (L2) ( )
1 72 72 72 2.57
2 55 57 56 2.54
3 46 46 46 2.55
4 38 40 39 2.55
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These observations can be concluded and tabulated as-:
S.NO. Length Resistance( )
1. 10 1.03
2. 15 1.53
3. 20 1.93
4 25 2.55

Resistivity of the wire can be calculated by finding the

diameter and hence radius of wire using screw gauge.

Radius of wire=0.114*10^-3m.
Resistivity of the wire in all the case was obtained
as 4.01*10 m

Graphical representation-:

R( )

Length(m)

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 CONCLUSION
From the investigatory project I can understand that,

 The resistance of a wire is directly proportional to its length.

 Resistivity of the wire is to be constant.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 NCERT PHYSICS TEXT.
 Move fast with physics by SL ARORM.
 PHYSICS TEXT by Pradeep.
 ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2009
 http://projects.icbse.com/subject/physics
 www.wikipedia.com
 www.google.com
 www.cbse.nic.in

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