The bridge network is a configuration that has a
multitude of applications. This type of network is
used in both dc and ac meters. Electronics courses introduce these in the
discussion of rectifying circuits used in converting a varying signal to one
of a steady nature (such as dc).

Fig. 1: Various formats for a bridge network.
The bridge network may appear in one of the three forms as indicated
in Fig.1. The network in Fig. 1(c) is also called a symmetrical lattice
network if R2 = R3 and R1 = R4. Fig. 1(c) is an excellent
example of how a planar network can be made to appear nonplanar. For
the purposes of investigation, let us examine the network in Fig. 2
using mesh and nodal analysis.
Fig. 2: Assigning the mesh currents to the network.
Mesh analysis (Fig. 2) yields
$$(3 Ω + 4 Ω + 2 Ω)I_1 - (4 Ω)I_2 - (2 Ω)I_3 = 20 V$$
$$(4 Ω + 5 Ω + 2 Ω)I_2 - (4 Ω)I_1 - (5 Ω)I_3 = 0$$
$$(2 Ω + 5 Ω + 1 Ω)I_3 - (2 Ω)I_1 - (5 Ω)I_2 = 0$$
and
$$ \begin{split}
9I_1 - 4I_2 - 2I_3 &= 20 \\
-4I_1 + 11I_2 - 5I_3 &= 0 \\
-2I_1 - 5I_2 + 8I_3 &= 0
\end{split}$$
with the result that
$$ \begin{split}
I_1 &= 4 A\\
I_2 &= 2.67 A\\
I_3 &= 2.67 A
\end{split}$$
The net current through the 5 Ω resistor is
$$I_{5Ω} = I_2 - I_3 = 2.67 A - 2.67 A = 0 A$$
Fig. 3: Defining the nodal voltages for the network.
Nodal analysis (Fig.3) yields
$$ \begin{split}
({1 \over 3 Ω} + {1 \over 4 Ω} +{1 \over 2 Ω})V_1 -({1 \over 4 Ω})V_2 - ({1 \over 2 Ω})V_3 &={20 \over 3} A \\
({1 \over 4 Ω} + {1 \over 2 Ω} + {1 \over 5 Ω})V_2 - ({ 1 \over 4 Ω})V_1 - ({ 1 \over 5 Ω})V_3 &= 0 \\
({ 1 \over 5 Ω} + {1 \over 2 Ω} + {1 \over 1 Ω})V_3 - ({ 1 \over 2 Ω})V_1 - ({1 \over 5 Ω})V_2 &= 0
\end{split}$$
and
$$ \begin{split}
({1 \over 3 Ω} + {1 \over 4 Ω}+{1 \over 2 Ω})V_1 - ({1 \over 4 Ω})V_2 - ({1 \over 2 Ω})V_3 &= 6.67 A \\
- ({ 1 \over 4 Ω})V_1 + ({1 \over 4 Ω} + {1 \over 2 Ω} +{1 \over 5 Ω})V_2 - ({1 \over5 Ω})V_3 &= 0\\
- ({1 \over2 Ω})V_1 - ({1 \over 5 Ω})V_2 + ({1 \over 5 Ω} + {1 \over 2 Ω} +{1 \over 1 Ω})V_3 &= 0
\end{split}$$
Solving for voltages,
$$\begin{split}
V_1 = 8.02 V \\
V_2 = 2.67 V \\
V_3 = 2.67 V
\end{split}
$$
and the voltage across the 5 Ω resistor is
$$V_{5Ω} = V_2 - V_3 = 2.67 A - 2.67 A = 0 V$$
Since $V5Ω = 0 V$, we can insert a short in place of the bridge arm without
affecting the network behavior. (Certainly $V = IR = I (0) = 0 V$.)

(a)

(b)
Fig.4: (a)Substituting the short-circuit equivalent for
the balance arm of a balanced bridge. (b) Redrawing the network
In Fig. 4(a), a short circuit has replaced the resistor R5, and the voltage
across R4 is to be determined. The network is redrawn in Fig. 4(b), and
$$ \begin{split}
V_{1Ω} &= {(2 Ω || 1 Ω)20 V \over (2 Ω || 1 Ω) + (4 Ω || 2 Ω) + 3 Ω} \\
&={{ 2 \over 3}(20 V) \over {2 \over 3} + {8 \over 6} + 3} \\
&={40 V \over 15} \\
&= 2.67 V
\end{split}
$$
as obtained earlier.


Fig.5: Substituting the open-circuit equivalent for the balance arm of a balanced bridge.
We found through mesh analysis that $I_{5Ω} = 0 A$, which has as its
equivalent an open circuit as shown in Fig. 5(a). (Certainly $I = V>R =
0>(0/\infty) = 0 A.$) The voltage across the resistor R4 is again determined
and compared with the result above.
The network is redrawn after combining series elements as shown in
Fig. 5(b), and
$$ \begin{split}
V_{3Ω} = {(6 Ω || 3 Ω)(20 V) \over 6 Ω || 3 Ω + 3 Ω} \\
= {2 Ω(20 V) \over 2 Ω + 3 Ω} = 8 V
\end{split}$$
and
$$ \begin{split}
V_{1Ω} &= {1 Ω(8 V) \over 1 Ω + 2 Ω} \\
&= {8 V \over 3} = 2.67 V
\end{split}
$$
as above.
Fig. 6: Establishing the balance criteria for a bridge
network.
The condition V5Ω = 0 V or I5Ω = 0 A exists only for a particular
relationship between the resistors of the network. Let us now derive this
relationship using the network in Fig. 6, in which it is indicated that
I = 0 A and V = 0 V.
The bridge network is said to be balanced when the condition of
I = 0 A or V = 0 V exists.
If V = 0 V (short circuit between a and b), then
$$V_1 = V_2$$
0and
$$ I_1R_1 = I_2R_2 $$
or
$$I_1 = {I_2R_2 \over R_1}$$
In addition, when V = 0 V,
$$V_3 = V_4$$
and
$$I_3R_3 = I_4R_4$$
If we set I = 0 A, then $I_3 = I_1$ and $I_4 = I_2$, with the result that the
above equation becomes
$$I_1R_3 = I_2R_4$$
Substituting for I1 from above yields
$$({I_2R_2 \over R_1}) R_3 = I_2R_4$$
or, rearranging, we have
$$\bbox[5px,border:1px solid blue] {\color{blue}{{R_1 \over R_3} = {R_2 \over R_4}}} \tag{1}$$
This conclusion states that if the ratio of R1 to R3 is equal to that of R2
to R4, the bridge is balanced, and I = 0 A or V = 0 V. A method of
memorizing this form is indicated in Fig. 7.
Fig.7: A visual approach to remembering the balance
condition.