EXPERIMENT 4:THEVENINS THEOREM AND WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

OBJECTIVES The main objectives of the experiments are: 1.To analyze dc resistive circuits using Thevenins Theorem 2.To analyze an unbalanced Wheatstone bridge using Thevenins Theorem

LIST OF REQUIREMENTS The equipments and components used in this experiments are summarized in the table below: Equipment DC power supply Galvanometer Digital multimeter Ammeter Resistor 2.2k ,1.2k ,10k ,3.3k Decade resistance Quantity 1 1 1 1 3 for 2.2k 1 and 1 for others

THEORY THEVENINS THEOREM It is possible to simplify any linear circuit, no matter how complex, to an equivalent circuit with just a single voltage source and series resistance connected to a load. The qualification of linear is identical to that found in the Superposition Theorem, that is part of thevenins theorem, where all the underlying equations must be linear (no exponents or roots). If we're dealing with passive components (such as resistors, and later, inductors and capacitors), this is true. However, there are components) some components are (especially that certain gas-discharge is, their opposition and to semiconductor which nonlinear:

current changes with voltage and/or current. As such, we would call circuits containing these types of components, nonlinear circuits. It is useful in analyzing power or battery systems and other interconnected circuits where it will have an effect on the adjoining part of the circuit.

Step to use Thevenins Theorem. 1.Remove the components over which one desires to measure the voltage.

VTH=Thevenin Equivalent Voltage from point a to b. By using equation: VTH=V,

 

we can obtain the value of VTH.(No current flow through R2,so no voltage drop across R2)

2.Find the Thevenins Equivalent Resistance leading up to a and b. Removed or replace the voltage supply with the same internal resistance as the supply.

By using equation: RTH= ,

   

+R2

we can obtain the value of RTH.

3.Reattach R between to a and b, put RTH in series with R, and place VTH on the circuit.

4.Calculate the current and voltage through R using the following equation. Current through R: IR=

 

Voltage through R: VR = IR =
   

WHEATSTONE BRIDGE The fundamental concept of the Wheatstone Bridge is two voltage dividers, both fed by the same input. The circuit output is taken from both voltage divider outputs. History The circuit we now know as the Wheatstone Bridge was actually first described by Samuel Hunter Christie (1784-1865) in 1833. However, Sir Charles Wheatstone invented many uses for this circuit once he found the description in 1843. As a result, this circuit is known generally as the Wheatstone Bridge. To this day, the Wheatstone bridge remains the most sensitive and accurate method for precisely measuring resistance values.. The characteristic of Wheatstone Bridge: 1.Has 4 resistive arms 2.A source of e.m.f (a battery) 3.A null detector(usually a galvanometer or another sensitive current meter).

The current through galvanometer depends on the potential difference between point c and d. The bridge is said to be unbalanced when the potential difference across the galvanometer is 0V so there no current flowing through the galvanometer. It occurs when the voltage from point c to a equal to the voltage from point d to a or when the voltage from point c to point b equals to the voltage from point d to point b.

When the bridge is unbalanced, current flows through galvanometer, cause a deflection of its pointer. The deflection is a function of the galvanometer sensitivity. It can be expressed in linear or angular units. By using formula: S= = = or, or,

Therefore, total deflection, D is D=S l

where S=the sensitivity of the galvanometer I =the current that flow through the galvanometer

Step to determine the value of current flowing through the galvanometer. 1.Determine the equivalent voltage or the Thevenin Voltage, VTH at terminal c and d when the galvanometer is removed from the circuit. Based on the circuit, we can assumed VTH = Vcd = Vca - Vad where Vca = V and Vad =  V

 

 

therefore VTH = V V

 

 

VTH = (

 

 

)V

VTH can also be determined by computing the voltage between Vcb and Vdb. VTH = Vcd = Vcb Vdb

2.Determine the value of equivalent resistance or Thevenin Resistance, RTH by looking into terminal c and d with battery is replaced by its internal resistance. Usually the internal resistance of the battery is low and can be assumed to be 0 . RTH=
   

  

3.The current computed through the galvanometer when the galvanometer is connected back to the output terminal of the Thevenins equivalent circuit.

IG=

 

where RG is the resistance of the galvanometer.

RESULT PART A Quantity Estimated Value (Pre-lab) Measured Value Without Using Thevenins Theorem VTH RTH Current through R3(IR3) Voltage across R3(VR3) Using Thevenins Theorem

PART B R1 RG VTH (estimated) RTH (estimated) IG (estimated) IG (step 2) VTH (step 3) RTH (step 3) IG (step 4) % of error IG (step 5) % of error IG (step 6) % of error VTH (step 7) % of error RTH (step 8) 2.3 k 2.0 k 2.5 k

DISCUSSION In this experiment that is Thevenins theorem and Wheatstone bridge, we need to identify the theory of what is Thevenins theorem and what is Wheatstone bridge. Thevenins theorem provides a way to simplify a complex circuit to a two-resistor single voltage circuit. While Wheatstone bridge is the bridge has 4 resistive arms, together with a source of emf(a battery) and a null detector(usually a galvanometer or another sensitive current meter). The fundamental concept of the Wheatstone Bridge is two voltage dividers, both fed by the same input. The circuit output is taken from both voltage divider outputs. The relationship between this two is the formula in Wheatstone bridge is actually based on Thevenins theorem, that have been explained in theory. In this experiment that is experiment 4 that is Thevenin theorem and Wheatstone

bridge, there are two objective that is the first is to analyze dc resistive circuits using Thevenins Theorem that is in part A in this experiment. In this part that the result in table part A , we have first calculated the value that we want to find using formula in Thevenins theorem that is VTH = V
        

, to obtained VTH, RTH =

+ R2 , to obtained RTH, VR = IR = IR =
 

to obtained the

voltage through R required and

to obtained the current through R required

(Pre-Lab). Then we run the experiment first without using Thevenins Theorem and then we using Thevenins Theorem. The different between this is when without using Thevenins Theorem we can only find current and voltage through R3, and cannot obtained VTH and RTH. While when using Thevenins Theorem we can obtained all result that is VTH ,RTH, VR and IR more easy and more accurate. For the second objective which is to analyze an unbalanced Wheatstone bridge using Thevenins Theorem that is in part B in this experiment. Like part A, first we calculate the value the value we want to find using formula in Wheatstone Bridge, that is to obtaine VTH , RTH=
  

VTH = (

 

  

)V

  

to find RTH, and IG =

 

, where RG is the resistance of

the galvanometer (Pre-Lab). After the experiment is done, the percent of error of VTH , RTH, and IG between theory and from experiment is calculated by using formula (
     

x 100%. This percent of error shows that there are some error occur during experiment such as human error that is parallax error and equipment error and simplification error. This show that when using the formula to find the value of VTH ,RTH, and IG is more easy and more accurate.

CONCLUSION In this experiment that is experiment 4 that is Thevenin theorem and Wheatstone bridge, there are two objective that is the first is to analyze dc resistive circuits using Thevenins Theorem that is in part A in this experiment. Second objective is is to analyze an unbalanced Wheatstone bridge using Thevenins Theorem that is in part B in this experiment. In both part, first we find the value required that is in part A is VTH ,RTH, VR and IR while in part B is VTH ,RTH, and IG by using formula that in Thevenin theorem and Wheatstone bridge. This is done during Pre-Lab. Then, we run the experiment. From the result obtained by theory and experiment , there are slightly different value from the value between this two. In part A, when without using Thevenins Theorem we can only find current and voltage through R3, and cannot obtained VTH and RTH. While when using Thevenins Theorem we can obtained all result that is VTH ,RTH, VR and IR more easy and more accurate. This is because when using the formula is more easy than without using the formula. While in part B, after the experiment is done, the percent of error of VTH , RTH, and IG between theory and from experiment is calculated by using formula (
     

)x

100%. This percent of error shows that there are some error occurred during experiment such as parallax error. The result shows that when using the formula is more easy and more than without use it or by experiment. The reason why when using formula is more easy and more accurate than without using formula is because the formula is have been research by the great scientists such as Sir Charles Wheatstone and been simplified for our usage so that we can find the value with easy.

REFERENCES y y y y y y y LABORATORY MANUAL, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1 (EEE 230) PUAN MAHIZAN BINTI AB. MANAN,ASSITANT LECTURER, FACULTY OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, UiTM PENANG WWW.WIKIPEDIA.COM FUNDEMANTAL OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT TEXT BOOK TEXT BOOK OF ESE 122 WWW.BLURIT.COM WWW.ALLABOUTCIRCUITS.COM