Wheatstone bridge

Wheat·stone bridge

noun
\ˌhwēt-ˌstōn-, ˌwēt-, chiefly British -stən-\

Definition of WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

: a bridge for measuring electrical resistances that consists of a conductor joining two branches of a circuit

Biographical Note for WHEATSTONE BRIDGE

Wheatstone, Sir Charles (1802–1875), British physicist. Wheatstone was professor of experimental philosophy at King's College, London. He is remembered for his researches in electricity, sound, and light. In 1834 he devised a revolving mirror for an experiment to measure the speed of electricity in a conductor. In 1843 he constructed the Wheatstone bridge and began to popularize its use. He initiated the use of electromagnets in electric generators, and in 1837 he and Sir William Fothergill Cooke patented an early telegraph.