Question 10: (a) In a metre bridge [Fig. 3.27], the balance point is found to be at 39.5 cm from the end A, when the resistor Y is of 12.5 Ω. Determine the resistance of X. Why are the connections between resistors in a Wheatstone or meter bridge made of thick copper strips?
(b) Determine the balance point of the bridge above if X and Y are interchanged.
(c) What happens if the galvanometer and cell are interchanged at the balance point of the bridge? Would the galvanometer show any current?
Answer:
A metre bridge with resistors X and Y is represented in the given figure.

(a) Balance point from end A, l1 = 39.5 cm
Resistance of the resistor Y = 12.5 Ω
Condition for the balance is given as,

Therefore, the resistance of resistor X is 8.2 Ω.
The connection between resistors in a Wheatstone or metre bridge is made of thick copper strips to minimize the resistance, which is not taken into consideration in the bridge formula.
(b) If X and Y are interchanged, then l1 and 100 - l1 get interchanged.
The balance point of the bridge will be 100 - l1 from A.
100 - l1 = 100 - 39.5 = 60.5 cm
Therefore, the balance point is 60.5 cm from A
(c) When the galvanometer and cell are interchanged at the balance point of the bridge, the galvanometer will show no deflection. Hence, no current would flow through the galvanometer.
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