Discussion:

In this laboratory experiment our objective is to build, test, and measure the voltage divider circuit and
Wheatstone bridge. We construct an actual circuit based on a given circuit schematic and to verify the
measured values from the computed values. We also used DC power supply, resistors, potentiometer
and digital multimeter for testing the circuit.

On the first part of our experiment is to construct a Wheatstone Bridge circuit shown in Figure 1. It
consist of two voltage divider powered by a DC source. After constructing the circuit, we measure the
output voltage on terminal A and B through multimeter then compute the potential difference from
terminal A to B (Vab = Va-Vb). We compare the measured values to the computed values to validate.
Since the measured value of Vab is -4.92 V and the calculated value is -4.955V and the percent error is
0.71, therefore measured value is correct. Next, R4 has been replaced with a 1kohm 1% resistor then
measure again the Vab. Notice that R1 = R3 and R2 = R4 and the relationship has been established,
R1/R2 = R3/R4. The Vab is now close to zero, we say that the Wheatstone Bridge is balanced. We also
conduct trial and error from changing resistance values as well as the power supply on balancing the
bridge circuit. We already understood the concept of a balanced bridge we can now proceed on the next
part.

On the second part, we build the circuit shown in figure 2. The figure shows that two 5kohm resistors
are connected in series with 10V DC supply. We measure the voltage across R2 (V2) with the measured
value of 4.99V. Since the computed value is 5V and they are approximately equal to measured value,
therefore the measured value is correct. We also changed the resistance of R2 from 5kohm to 5.1kohm
by inserting 100ohm resistor in series with 5kohm. Same procedure was done to get the voltage across
R2(V2).

On the last part of this experiment is to construct a bridge circuit in a near balanced condition. We build
the circuit shown on figure 3. Notice that we use potentiometer to balance the bridge. Next we insert
100ohm resistor in series with R2 then record the required parameters. The measured value of R3 is
1.037kohm and Vab is 0V to 0.1V, to obtain the balanced condition.

We do now understand the concept of a bridge circuit such as voltage divider circuit and Wheatstone
Bridge circuit.

Conclusion:

This laboratory experiment effectively showed how to operate Wheatstone bridge. The Wheatstone
bridge is composed of 4 resistors connected in a form of a square and a voltage source across each other
as shown in figure 1.

We conclude when the Voltage across terminal A and B is zero or close to zero, the bridge is balanced or
nearly balanced. In this condition, the relationship R1/R2=R3/R4 has been verified and the voltage drop
on terminal A and B must be the same.

The Wheatstone Bridge is also used to find the unknown value of resistance