OWEN’S (AC) BRIDGE em03

1. General theory

Figure 1

Figure 1 shows an AC bridge circuit. The bridge is said to be balanced when no PD is

detected by the multimeter (so no current flows). The balance conditions are similar
to those for a DC bridge, i.e.
Z1 Z3
= (1)
Z2 Z4
where Zi are complex impedances. However, there are two balance conditions
corresponding to equality of the real parts and equality of the imaginary parts in the
above relation.

2. Owen’s bridge
This circuit, shown in Figure 2, is suitable for the measurement of self-inductance.

Figure 2

1
The balance condition, given by equation (1), is
1
R3 +
R1 + jω L1 j ωC3
= 1
.
R2
jω C4
On equating the real parts and the imaginary parts we obtain the two conditions:
L1 = C4 R2 R3 (2)

R 
and C3 = C4  2  . (3)
 R1 
N.B. It is not essential that you understand the details of how these equations were
derived in order to perform the experiment. The derivation will be explained in
lectures.

3. Method
Set up the circuit as in Figure 2 (check the wiring even if it appears to be set up
correctly when you start). Using R1 and R3 as variables, C3 and L1 may be
determined using different values of C4 from 0.1 to 1.0 µF. Treat C4 as a standard
capacitor. A multimeter may be used as a detector. A frequency of 1 kHz is
convenient. Students may have difficulty in finding a balance point first time. Start
with C4 = 0.5 µF with C3 nominally equal to the same value. Equation (3) requires
that R1 and R2 are then about the same. The value of the inductance is about 80-100
mH. If L1 = 0.09 H then from equation (2), if we assume that R2 = R3 = R ,

0.09 = 0.5 × 10 −6 R 2

giving R = 424 Ω. Thus for C3 = C4 = 0.5 µF one would expect a balance point
when R1 = R2 = R3 . Find an approximate balance point with R1 = R2 = R3 . Then
vary R3 to satisfy equation (2) and vary R1 to satisfy equation (3).
Take a total of 10 measurements of L1 and C3 , for C4 values from 0.1 to 1.0 µF

4. Analysis
1) Two appropriate straight-line graphs should be plotted to find C3 and L1 from the
gradient. Errors in these results should be calculated from the accuracy of the circuit
components (partial differential method).

2) Next, a statistical analysis should be carried out. Data consists of 10 measurements

of L1 and C3 , for C4 values from 0.1 to 1.0 µF. If xi are the values obtained for L1 ,
then the mean value of L1 is given by

2
 n
∑ xi x1 + x2 +.....+x10
i=1
x= = .
n 10

n
∑ (xi − x )2
i=1
The standard error in the mean is given by σ m =
n(n − 1)
Where n = 10 is the number of measurements of L1 . Express your final result in the
form x ± σ m .
A similar analysis can be carried out for the value of C3 .

3) The experimentally determined values and associated errors of L1 and C3 may be

compared with both the mean and standard errors, and finally with the stated values
written on the components. Do the measured values agree with the stated values? Is
the graphical analysis or statistical analysis more consistent, and why?