Session 1: Multisim Experiments

1.4.0. Introduction:
Multisim is a powerful circuit design software and will form the basis of circuit
design during this period of study and, possibly, afterwards. Students are
encouraged to explore the software in more detail in their own time.

Students must record ALL results, such as circuit diagrams and graphs etc., from
the Multisim and onto the laboratory diary in MS WORD format using the ‘copy’
and ‘paste’ functions. The students are encouraged to use this method to keep a
laboratory diary by using both applications simultaneously.

Note: For all sessions, do not select resistor, capacitor and inductor from the
Virtual list for simulation as their values contain complex components. For op-
amps, please select ‘OPAMP_3T_VIRTUAL’ for simulation.

1.4.1 Simulation 1: Resistor Networks

Fig.1.9 Three Different Resistors

(a) Consider the resistors shown in Fig.1.9:

• Using all three resistors and the multimeter within Multisim, identify the
resistor configuration that will result in:

(1) the lowest effective resistance.

(2) the largest effective resistance.

Hint: refer to section 1.0.0 and think how to tackle this problem if only two
resistors were supplied.

(b) Using the same three resistors and a 10V battery, design a potential divider
that will provide an output voltage of 1V across the 1k resistor to within an
accuracy of 10%. The relevant theory is presented in section 1.1.0.

1.4.2 Simulation 2: Equivalent Circuits

Consider the Wheatstone bridge arrangement in Fig.1.10, having a load resistor
of 5k across the sensing terminals, AB.
 Fig.1.10 A Wheatstone Bridge

• Based on Thévenin’s theorem, as presented in section 1.2.0, use Multisim:

(1) To find the Thévenin equivalent circuit between A and B.

(2) The current flowing through the 5k resistor.

Hint: use the multimeter to probe the relevant quantities.

• What would be the current flowing through the 5k resistor if the bridge
was balanced?
1.4.3 Simulation 3: Properties of Operational Amplifiers

(a) Input characteristics of the op-amp.

Fig.1.11 Circuit for Input Characteristics

• Construct the circuit depicted in Fig.1.11 using Multisim (Note: select

‘OPAMP_3T_VIRTUAL’ for all op-amps in the circuits). Ideally, the gain
of the op-amp should be infinity. Please double click on the op-amp and
change the open loop gain (A) to 1099 (i.e. 1e99). Hence, complete table C:

Table C

R (k) I (μA) V (Volts)

4
8
12
16
20

• From the completed Table C, answer the following questions:

(i) To what extent does the voltage V (the voltage drop across the input
terminals of the op-amp) vary with the input current, I?
(ii) The circuit to the right of the dotted line behaves like -------. Which of the
following is the correct answer? (a) short circuit, (b) constant current
source or (c) constant voltage source. Please explain your answer.
(iii) What would be the resistance looking to the right of the dotted line?
(b) Output characteristics of the op-amp

A
B

Fig.1.12 Circuit for Output Characteristics

As previously, construct the circuit shown in Fig.1.12 using Multisim and
complete table D:
Table D

R (k) I (mA) V (Volts)

4
8
12
16
20

• From the completed Table D, answer the following questions:

(4) To what extent does the voltage V (the voltage drop at the output terminal of
the op-amp) vary with load resistor, R?
(5) The circuit to the left of the dotted line behaves like -------. Which of the
following is the correct answer? (a) short circuit, (b) constant current
source or (c) constant voltage source. Please explain your answer.
(6) What would be the resistance looking to the left of the dotted line?
(c) Negative-Feedback Loop.

A
B

Fig.1.13 Circuit for Negative Feedback Characteristics

Once again, construct the circuit illustrated in Fig.1.13 using Multisim and
complete table E:

Table E

R (k) I (mA) V (Volts)

4
8
12
16
20

From the completed Table E, answer the following questions:

(7) How does ‘I’ vary with R?

(8) The circuit below the dotted line behaves like -------.
Which of the following is the correct answer? (a) short circuit, (b) constant
current source or (c) constant voltage source. Please explain your answer.
(9) What would be the resistance looking across the dotted line from above
between nodes A and B?
1.4.4 Simulation 4: Non-Inverting Summing Amplifier

Fig.1.14 Non-Inverting Summing Amplifier

• Using only 10k resistors to construct the circuit, calculate the values of
resistors based on the theory presented in section 1.3.4 for the circuit shown
in Fig.1.14, to produce an output voltage Vo, which is the sum of V1 and V2.

• Use Multisim to design and simulate the circuit to add voltages of 4V and
6V respectively.

• As shown in section 1.3.4, the part of the circuit contained in the dashed box
can be replaced by a Thévenin equivalent circuit. Use Multisim to find this
circuit.
1.4.5 Simulation 5: Inverting Summing Amplifier

Fig.1.15 Inverting Summing Amplifier

• Using only 10k resistors to construct the circuit, calculate the values of
resistors based on the theory given in section 1.3.5 for the circuit shown in
Fig.1.15, to produce an output voltage Vo, which is the inverted sum of V1
and V2.

• Use Multisim to design and simulate the circuit to produce the inverted
addition of 6V and -4V.

• Use Multisim to find the Thévenin equivalent circuit for the components
contained within the dashed box.