Laboratory Activity No.

1
Electric Circuit Fundamentals

Introduction:
Electricity is the flow of electric current along a conductor and the path or line which
an electrical current flow is called electrical circuit. In its most simple form, an electrical
circuit consists of three fundamental parts: a power source to drive electrical current
around the circuit (a battery), a conductor to carry the current around the circuit (some
cable), a load that has resistance (a bulb, a heating element, a motor etc.) and converts
the electrical energy into another form (light, heat, kinetic etc.). This experiment will
provide two parts and multisim software will be use in each part of the experiment.

Part 1: Voltage and Current in a DC Circuit

Objectives:
1. Examine how voltmeter will be used to measure voltage across a circuit component.
2. Inspect how ammeter will be used to measure current flow in a circuit component.
3. Examine what happens if the rated value of a component is exceeded (only
simulation will be used to investigate this step).

Circuit Diagram
Materials:
One dc power supply
One dc 0-20 V voltmeter
One dc 0-100 mA ammeter
One Multimeter
One 5 V, 1 W lamp

Procedure:
Simulation

1. Create the circuit shown in figure 1 on the Multisim software. Use 5 V, 1 W lamp
for simulation. (In the Components Toolbar, select the Indicator icon; now find
Voltmeter, Ammeter, and Lamp in this window.)

2. Set the dc supply voltage to 3 V and click the Simulate Switch and verify that the
battery voltage is 3 V as measured by the voltmeter. Record the voltage across the
lamp terminals “V” and the current “I” flowing through it in Table 1. Calculate the power
dissipation in the lamp using the relationship P = VI and note it down.

3. Change the dc supply voltage to 5 V. Run the analysis again. Record voltage and
current in Table 1 and calculate the power dissipation in the lamp.

4. Change the dc supply voltage to 7 V. Run the analysis and see the effect on the
intensity of light. Record voltage and current in Table 1 and calculate the power
dissipation.

5. Change the dc supply voltage to 8 V. Run the analysis and observe the value of
current, also observe the glow of the lamp. What happened? Explain.
Documented Simulation:

A.

Result:

At V = 3V

Ammeter/ I = 120mA / 0.12A

Power Dissipation = VI

P = (3V) (0.12A)

P = 0.36 W

B.
Result:

At V = 5V

Ammeter/ I = 200mA / 0.2A

Power Dissipation = VI

P = (5V) (0.2A)

P=1W

C.

Result:

At V = 7V

Ammeter/ I = 280mA / 0.28A

Power Dissipation = VI

P = (7V) (0.28A)

P = 1.96 W
 D.

Result:

At V = 8V

Ammeter/ I = 320mA / 0.32A

Power Dissipation = VI

P = (8V) (0.32A)

P = 2.56 W

Question:
Why is the lamp damaged when the voltage across it goes to 7 V? Explain bu
comparing the power dissipation with the rated value.
Answer:
Because our component is lamp, it could only produce a maximum output rate of
1 watt, however the 7 VDC has 1.96 watts, which can allow the lamp to be damaged
because it has reached the required power rate of 1 watt. Every component has an
absolute max rating mentioned in the data sheet beyond which they do get damaged due
to over voltage, over current or high temperatures. Similarly, with 7 V, the 8 V will also be
pushed to the same result since it will overwhelm the lamp's power rate. The 1st and 2nd
simulations, on the other hand, can only light up the lamp without destroying it. This gives
the max rated power input to be 1 watt. That's the maximum power the lamp can tolerate.

Part 2: Ohm’s Law – Resistance

Objectives
1. Learn how to use multimeter to measure resistance
2. Verify Ohm’s law
3. Determine the relationship between voltage and current for constant resistance.
4. Determine the value of resistance from the slope of I-V characteristic curve.

Materials
One dc variable voltage power supply
One multimeter
One 0-100 mA ammeter
Resistor, 100 Ω

Circuit Diagram:
Procedure:
Simulation

1. Build the circuit of figure 2 using Multisim. Connect a multimeter between the
terminals of resistor and set it to read resistance. Select R 1 = 100 Ω. Click the
Simulation Switch to run analysis. Record the value of resistance R 1 in Table 3.

2. Build the circuit given in figure 3. Set V s = 10 V and R 1 = 100 Ω. Click Simulation
Switch to run analysis. Record voltage “V 1” across resistor R 1 by connecting a
multimeter in parallel to it. Record the value of current “I” flowing through R 1 by
Connecting another multimeter in series to R 1 . Note down the values in Table 3. From
the voltage current readings, verify Oh’s law V 1 = R 1 I. Considering multimeter reading
as the reference, calculate the % error.

3. Vary the dc supply voltage V s in steps of 2 V amd record current in each case. Enter
your result in Table 4.

4. Plot “I” vs. “V” in the graph of Table 5.

5. Calculate the value of resistor based on the slope of the V-I characteristic curve
plotted in step 4.

Ohm’s Law
𝑉
R=
𝐼

V = 10 V
I = 100 mA / 0.1 A
10 𝑉
𝑅 = 0.1 𝐴

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Ω
V-I Measurements

A.
At V = 0 V
𝑉
R=
𝐼

V=0V
I = 0 A / 0 mA
0 𝑉
𝑅= 0𝐴

𝑹=𝟎Ω

B.

At V = 2 V
𝑉
R= 𝐼

V=2V
I = 20 mA / 0.02 A
2 𝑉
𝑅 = 0.02 𝐴

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Ω
C. At V = 4 V
𝑉
R= 𝐼

V=4V
I = 40 mA / 0.04 A
4 𝑉
𝑅 = 0.04 𝐴

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Ω

D.
At V = 6 V
𝑉
R=
𝐼

V=6V
I = 60 mA / 0.06 A
6 𝑉
𝑅=
0.06 𝐴

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Ω

E.

At V = 8 V
𝑉
R=
𝐼

V=8V
I = 80 mA / 0.08 A
8 𝑉
𝑅 = 0.08 𝐴

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Ω
F.
At V = 10 V
𝑉
R=
𝐼

V = 10 V
I = 100 mA / 0.1 A
10 𝑉
𝑅 = 0.1 𝐴

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 Ω

Resistance Measurement from V-I Slope, R = 100 Ω.

Questions:

1. Compare the values of resistance obtained with ohmmeter, Ohm’s law, and slope of

the V-I plot. Comment on your results.

Answer:

The ohmmeter[multimeter] measured a resistance equal to 100 Ohms, according

to the result provided by the 1st simulation. However, a voltage of 10V, 8V, 6V, 4V, 2V
and 0V was recorded in the preceding simulation, which recorded an equivalent current
equal to 100A, 80A, 60A, 40A, 20A and 0A each. The voltage and current measured
obtained a resistance equal to 100 ohms as shown by the equation of the Ohm law R=
V/ I. The voltage is plotted on Y -axis and current on X -axis as it is done for a power
supply or DC generator, then by definition slope will be (delta y / delta x) = voltage / current
and its dimensions will be that of resistance or ohms.

2. How could you tell if the resistance are linear or not?

Answer:

We can determine whether it is linear or not by looking at the behavior of each type of
component on a graph. A graph of current vs. voltage, also called an I-V curve, will
immediately tell you the difference between linear and nonlinear resistance. A component
with linear resistance will have an I-V curve that is actually a straight line. In contrast, a
component with nonlinear resistance will have a nonlinear I-V curve.

Any other observations or comments:

 Laboratory Activity No. 2
Series and Parallel Circuits
Voltage Divider and Current Divider Rules

Introduction

There are two basic ways in which to connect more than two circuit components:
series and parallel.

For a series circuit shown in figure 1, the voltage across resistors R1, R2, and R3
can be written as:

𝑅1
𝑉1 = 𝑉
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 𝑠
𝑅2
𝑉2 = 𝑉
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 𝑠
𝑅3
𝑉3 = 𝑉
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 𝑠

This is the voltage divider rule (VDR).

For parallel circuit given in figure 2, the branch currents can be written in terms of

the total current as:

 𝑅2
𝐼1 = 𝐼
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑠
𝑅1
𝐼2 = 𝐼
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑠

This is termed as the current divider rule (CDR).

Objectives

1. To study the voltage current relationships of series and parallel circuits.

2. To verify the voltage divider and current divider rules.

Materials
One dc power supply
One multimeter
Assorted resistors

Circuit Diagrams

R2 = 100 Ω, R3 = 150Ω, R4 = 220 Ω, R6 = 330 Ω

Procedure:

Simulation

1. Build the circuit given in figure 3 on Multisim.

2. Connect voltmeters, ammeters (or multimeters) at appropriate positions to measure

voltages and currents shown in Table 1.

3. Disconnect the voltage source. Connect a multimeter and measure the total

resistance and record the value in Table 1. (Remember resistance is always measured

without any source connected to the circuit.)

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the circuit given in figure 4 and record the values in Table 2.

Figure 3: Current
 Figure 3: Voltage

Table 1: Table 1: Simulation and Experimental Result for Figure 3

I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 Req

Workbench 0.263A 0.103A 0.16A 0.062A 0.222 0.041A 10.345V 24V 13.655V 0V 13.655V 91.0996Ω

Questions:

Refer to figure 3 and the results obtained in Table 1 and answer the following questions:

 Find R eq 1
R 4 \\ R 6 = R 2 + R 46 = R 246
R2 = 100 Ω 1 1
+ 100 + 132 = R 246
𝑅4 𝑅6
R3 = 150Ω 1 R 246 = 232Ω
=
R4 = 220 Ω 1 1
220 + 330
R6 = 330 Ω = 132Ω
 1
R 3 \\ R 246 =
1 1
+
𝑅 3 𝑅 246
1
=
1 1
+
150 232
𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝟗𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟗𝟔Ω

 Find Is : Vs
Is =
R eq
Vs = 24 V
24
=
Req = 91.0996Ω 91.0996
= 0. 26345 A
= 𝟐𝟔𝟑. 𝟒𝟓 𝒎𝑨

1. Are R 4 and R 6 in parallel or in series? Why? Refer to voltage current measurements

for your answer to justify.

R4 & R6 are parallel. According to the formula of Voltage in a parallel circuit which is 𝑉𝑇=
𝑉1= 𝑉2= 𝑉3=⋯= 𝑉 , Therefore R4 is equal to the voltage of R6.

2. Are R 3 and R 4 in parallel or in series? Why? Justify.

 Solution:

IA = 1000 mA R4 = 220Ω
R3 = 150Ω
I4 = -0.062 A
Is = 160 m A = 0.16 A
V4 = ?
V3 = ?
V3 = I3 R 3 V4 = I4 R 4
= (0.16)(150) = (0.062)(220)
𝐕𝟑 = 𝟐𝟒 𝑽 𝐕𝟒 = −𝟏𝟑. 𝟔𝟒 𝐕

∴ R4 & R6 are series

3. Are V s and R 3 in parallel or in series? Why? Justify.

 Solution:

Vs = 24 𝑉
Vs = I3 R 3
= (0.26345)(91.0996)
= 23.99
𝐕𝟑 = 𝟐𝟒 𝑽

∴ Vs & R3 are in parallel because their voltage are equal to one another.

4. Are V s and R 6 in series or in parallel? Why? Justify.

 Solution:

Vs , R 6
R s = 91.0996

1R 6 1R 5
I6 = I6 =
Rs + R6 Rs + R6
(263.448)(330) (263.448)(91.0996)
= =
330 + 91.0996 330 + 91.0996
= 𝟐𝟎𝟔. 𝟒𝟓𝟔 = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟗𝟗𝟒

∴ Using CDR, Vs & R6 are in parallel.

5. Are V s and R eq in parallel or in series? Why? Justify.

 Solution:
Using Ohm’s Law:
Vs = 24 V Veq = Is R eq
R eq = 91.0996 Ω Veq = (0.26345)(91.0996)
Is = 0.26345 A Veq = 24 V

∴ Vs and Req are parallel because they have equal value of voltage.

6. Is VDR applicable for R 3 and R 4? Why? Justify your answer on the basis of theory

given in the introduction.

 VDR is applicable for R3 and R4 because the voltage divider rule works only in series
connection and R3 and R4 falls on series type of connection.
Using VDR: R3 & R4
R V R V
V4 = 4 s V3 = 3 s V = V4 + V3
R4 +R3 R4 +R3
(24)(220) (24)(150)
V4 = (220)+(150)
V3 = (220)+(150)
24 = 14.2703 + 9.7298
V4 = 14.2703 V V3 = 9.7298 V 24 = 24

7. Is CDR applicable for R 4 and R 6? Why? Justify your answer on the basis of theory

given in the introduction.

 According to the rule of CDR, the connection must be in parallel in order to use the CDR
formula. R4 and R6 are in parallel. Therefore, we can tell that the CDR are relevant for R4
and R6. Thus, CDR is applicable.
 Solution:
Using CDR: R4 & R6
𝑅6 𝑅4
𝐼4 = 𝐼 𝐼6 = 𝐼
𝑅4 +𝑅6 2 𝑅4 +𝑅6 2
330 220
𝐼4 = (0.10345) 𝐼6 = (0.10345)
220+330 220+330
𝐼4 = 0.06207 𝐴 𝐼6 = 0.04138 𝐴
𝐼4 = 62.07 𝑚𝐴 𝐼6 = 41.38 𝑚𝐴
8. Is the parallel combination of R 4 and R 6 in series or in parallel with R 2? Why? Justify.

Refer to figure 4 and the results obtained in Table 2 and answer the following questions:

 Solution:
132 100
V4||6 = 100+132 (24) V2 = 100+132 (24)
V4||6 = 18. 668 V V2 = 10.345 V

V2 + V4||6 = Vs
10.345 V + 13.665 V = 24 V
24 V = 24 V
∴ The parallel combination of R4 & R6 are in parallel using VDR.

Any other observations or comments: