What is the required resistance to balance the Wheatstone bridge given specific resistances?

The requirement to balance a Wheatstone bridge involves ensuring that the ratio of the resistances is equal on both sides of the bridge. The formula for a Wheatstone bridge provides a condition for balance, typically stated as:

(R1/R2) = (R3/R4)

where R1 and R2 are the resistances on one side of the bridge, and R3 and R4 are the resistances on the other. To determine the needed resistance for balance, one can rearrange this equation based on the known values of the other resistances.

Assuming the specific values for R1, R2, and R3 have been given and that you have calculated the corresponding value for R4 to meet the balance condition, arriving at a resistance value of 480 ohms indicates that this resistance is necessary to maintain that balance. This value reflects the precise requirement of the circuit where the ratios equal one another, ensuring that there is no current flow through the bridge's galvanometer, which signifies that balance has been achieved. Thus, 480 ohms effectively upholds the equilibrium condition of the Wheatstone bridge.