The Wheatstone Bridge.

Posted by Mr Mallon on December 17, 2013

Roll the mouse over the instructions and the think physics button for more information.

The Wheatstone Bridge is used to find the value of an unknown resistor.

When there is no p.d. across the bridge the we say the Wheatstone Bridge is balanced.

If the value of resistance in the decade box is changed then it follows there is a direct proportional change in the current that will flow across the bridge.

wheatstonepractical02.clipular

Provided the resistance is not changed too much away from the balance point then it can be written

daum_equation_1387234537953

Further info about the Wheatstone Bridge
BBC Bitesize Higher Physics: Wheatstone Bridge.

17Dec
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Internal Resistance of an electric cell.

Posted by Mr Mallon on December 14, 2013

InternalResistance

In the simulation below it can be seen that when electric current is taken from an electric cell the potential difference between the terminals decreases.

When no current is taken the tpd is at its maximum. This is the EMF of the electric cell.

The EMF of an electric cell is the maximum energy given to each Coulomb of electric charge.

This lost energy per coulomb, usually called "lost volts" is lost in the internal resistance of the electric cell.

You can download a poster for your notebook below.

InternalResistance

14Dec
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Moving Charges in an Electric Field.

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 28, 2013

Roll mouse over the V, W and Q for definition of these terms.

28Nov
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Electric Fields

Posted by Mr Mallon on November 28, 2013

When a physicist talks about a field they are not talking about the green ones with
cows in it.

Rather they mean regions of space where objects experience a force without being touched.

To picture these regions in space physicists use arrowed lines.

The direction of the arrows show the direction where the objects experience the force.

28Nov
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