Wheatstone bridge to measure high resistances?

In summary, a Wheatstone bridge may not be the best method for measuring very high resistances with good accuracy due to potential issues with the current for the meter and the resistor being measured. These issues can be overcome by using amplifiers or specialized instruments designed for high resistance measurements.
  • #1
tua28494
10
0
Can a wheatstone bridge be used to measure very high resitances with good accuracy? If not what problems interfere?
 
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  • #2
One problem would be that the current for the meter that detects the balance point has to come through the resistor being measured.

So, you might be trying to detect when the meter is actually reading zero instead of some other very low value of current.

There are ways around this (by adding amplifiers for example) but the basic Wheatstone Bridge would have such difficulties.
 
  • #3
It has been a long time since I had to use a Wheatstone bridge. I think the highest resistance in it was about 1 megohm. The galvanometer does not carry any current when the bridgre is balanced, but the high-meg resistor R would have to carry ~1 volt/R amps, and the galvanometer might have a full scale deflection of ? 1 microamp ?. So the galvanometer should be replaced with a low-offset op amp. For 10^8 ohms or higher I would either build a low input bias current/low voltage offset inverting transimpedance amplifier, or buy an instrument from Keithley Instruments.

Bob S
 

Related to Wheatstone bridge to measure high resistances?

1. How does a Wheatstone bridge work?

The Wheatstone bridge is a circuit used to measure unknown resistances by comparing them to known resistances. It works by balancing the voltage across a bridge circuit, with the unknown resistance in one arm and known resistances in the other three arms.

2. What is the advantage of using a Wheatstone bridge to measure high resistances?

The Wheatstone bridge is able to measure high resistances accurately because it uses a null method, meaning that there is no current flowing through the unknown resistance. This avoids errors caused by the internal resistance of the measuring instrument, which can affect the accuracy of direct resistance measurements.

3. How do you calculate the unknown resistance using a Wheatstone bridge?

The unknown resistance can be calculated by using the formula Rx = R1 x (R2/R3), where R1, R2, and R3 are the known resistances and Rx is the unknown resistance. By adjusting the known resistances until the bridge is balanced, the value of Rx can be determined.

4. What types of materials are suitable for use in a Wheatstone bridge?

The resistances used in a Wheatstone bridge can be made from a variety of materials, including metal wires, resistive films, and semiconductor materials. The materials must have a high resistivity and low temperature coefficient to ensure accurate measurements.

5. What are some common applications of the Wheatstone bridge?

The Wheatstone bridge is commonly used in laboratory settings for measuring high resistances, but it also has practical applications in industries such as electronics, telecommunications, and materials testing. It can be used to measure the resistance of wires, strain gauges, and other components, as well as to detect changes in resistance caused by temperature or pressure variations.

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