Step 1: Concept
The Wheatstone bridge is a circuit used to measure an unknown electrical resistance by balancing two legs of a bridge circuit, making the current through the detector null. When the bridge is balanced, the ratio of resistances in opposite arms are equal.
Step 2: Meaning
In a balanced Wheatstone bridge, the potential difference across the mid-point of one pair of opposite arms is zero, indicating that no current flows through the galvanometer.
Step 3: Analysis
Consider a Wheatstone bridge with four resistors \(P\), \(Q\), \(R\), and \(S\) connected in such a way that they form two pairs of opposite arms. The bridge is balanced when the potential difference between points A and B (the mid-points of the opposite arms) becomes zero, meaning no current flows through the galvanometer.
For the bridge to be balanced, the following condition must hold:
\[\frac{P}{Q} = \frac{R}{S}\]
This can be rearranged to:
\[PS = QR\]
Option A: \(P/Q = R/S\) is directly derived from the balance condition of the Wheatstone bridge.
Option B: \(P/R = S/Q\) does not represent the correct ratio for a balanced bridge.
Option C: \(PS = QR\) is mathematically equivalent to the condition derived from balancing the bridge, but it is not in the form given in Option A.
Option D: \(P+Q = R+S\) does not have any direct relation with the balance condition of the Wheatstone bridge.
Step 4: Conclusion
The correct condition for a balanced Wheatstone bridge is that the ratio of resistances in opposite arms must be equal, which can be expressed as:
\[\frac{P}{Q} = \frac{R}{S}\]
Final Answer: (A)