I am building a bridge circuit in class using 3 1kΩ resistors and a 5kΩ potentiometer. (There are 2 resistor in series and the other resistor and potentiometer are in series, parallel to the other 2 resistors). I have two questions: 1.) What, in laymans terms, constitutes a bridge circuit? It seems to me that this is built exactly like a series-parallel circuit and I'm not really getting the difference. We skipped over the Complex Ciruit Analysis Chapter, so I'm having trouble with it. And 2.) How does the bridge circuit really differ from a simple series-parallel circuit? Is it just the use of the potentiometer to control current flow?
Also, what's the use for making changes in the potentiometers resistance to control the current flow? I measured the current between the two branches and when the potentiometer is set to a low resistance, current moves from B2 to B1. And when I adjust the potentiometer to a higher resistance (say 5k Ohms) I get a negative current measurement because the current is moving from B1 to B2. Why would you ever need to make adjustments to a rheostat to change the current like that? Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
Also, what's the use for making changes in the potentiometers resistance to control the current flow? I measured the current between the two branches and when the potentiometer is set to a low resistance, current moves from B2 to B1. And when I adjust the potentiometer to a higher resistance (say 5k Ohms) I get a negative current measurement because the current is moving from B1 to B2. Why would you ever need to make adjustments to a rheostat to change the current like that? Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
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