Shane Holbrook, Jordon Kurz

Experiment 1: Measurement of Resistance

Thursday September 3rd, 2015
Instructor Michael Combs

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment is familiarization of the ohms function of the multi-meter,
and exposure to various resistors by use of equipment and various color coded resistors. This is
accomplished by being given real world activities such as reading the ohmmeter, potentiometer,
and differentiating of any given resistor.
Materials:
The materials used were: Eight various resistors, and two alike resistors, one
potentiometer (via the Photo-Board PB-503 trainer), and one Fluke 117 multi-meter.
Procedures:
First we had to acquire the needed materials from the designated locations. This includes
the trainer, and the 10 resistors. The Fluke 117 multi-meter was brought by Jordon from home to
use in the lab. After the equipment was obtained and instructions were given from Mr. Combs,
we then began to further investigate the instructions from our work order (lab book). We than
begin to write down the various color codes from each resistor in order as we placed them into
the trainer. After we had recorded all of the obtained resistors, we then began to take note of the
measured values of each resistor on page 12 of our lab books. Once these were recorded, we then
concluded with finishing up the difference in percentage, and writing in the color-code value of
each resistor. From here we then begin to study the potentiometer function of the trainer. We then
recorded our values with work order instructions following from page 11 from our lab books.
After this was completed we determined the remainder of the required lab through depiction of
the given color codes and values.

Findings:
For Table 2 which was the measurement of the resistors we gathered the following
information:
Resistor

Color of Band
st

1
Brown

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Yellow
Blue
Brown
Red
Orange
Brown
Orange

8
9

Brown
Brown
Green

10

2nd
Green
Purple
Grey
Green
Violet
Orange
Black
White
Black
Black
Brown

Color-

Measured

Code Value

Value

Difference

4th
Silver

1.5

1.46k

2.7%

Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

k10%
4705%
6805%
1505%
2705%
3305%
1005%
390.55

465
680
155
267
326
98.6
386.5

1.06%
0%
3.33%
1.11%
1.12%
1.4%
0.90%

Gold
Gold
Gold

%
1k5%
1005%
5.1k5%

0.986
98.4
5.05k

1.4%
1.6%
1.00%

3rd
Red
Brown
Brown
Brown
Brown
Brown
Brown
Brown
Red
Brown
red

Then we were to determine the resistance of the terminals of the potentiometer on table 3 page
13 of our lab books. The results were as follows:

Step

Step 4: Total resistance between terminals 1 and 3 = 1.103k

Shaft Position
Resistance Measured Between:
Terminals 1-2 and Terminals 2-3

Sum of
Resistance
Readings

5
6
7

CCW
CW
1/2CW

1.5k
1.1k
550

1.1k
1.2k
570

1501.1
1101.2
1120

Conclusion:
After accessing the information given from the experiment one can gather that indeed the
resistors color code is a clear indicator of its actual resistance. This is determined from Table 2 in
which each value was first listed, the color code value then deciphered, and then measured. As is
clearly indicated the percentile difference of each measured resistor shows that they are indeed in
tolerance. The only thing one could determine from the results of Table 2 is that due to the
DMM, that the readings due tend to fluctuate a bit, although due in part to the Fluke 117, it was
quite accurate in its readings. The very concept of this lab is to learn about ohms, resistors, and

potentiometers. The measurement with the Fluke 117 and trainer was quite depictive, and
informative. The potentiometer portion of the experiment I feel could have been a bit more
elaborate, as I know there are different types of potentiometers (such as linear and nonlinear), I
did gather quite a bit of information from the results. It could be adequately determined from our
readings that from terminals one and two, that they tended to fluctuate from positions in
increments of around 400-550 . Then with terminals two and three it fluctuated around 100-600
, which is quite a difference. Now it is known that when measuring a potentiometer that
terminals one and two have a fixed resistance between them and that is the total resistance,
where the actual resistance will vary between the terminals when you move the contact. Overall
the experiment was a good introduction to resistance, the trainer, potentiometers, and resistors.

Further Investigation:
The further investigation portion was covering the resistance of five-band color-coded
resistors. The results were as follows as is listed in Table 4 page 13 of our lab books:
Resistor
1st

Brown

Color of Band
2nd
3rd
4th

Red

Violet

Brown

Color-

Minimum

Maxim

Code

Value

um

1.24 k

Value
1.30k

5th

Red

Value
1.27k

Green

Orange

Blue

Black

Brown

= 2%
536 =

530.69

541.36

Orange

Orange

Blue

Green

Red

1%
3.30M

3234M

3366M

96624

98576

White

Violet

Blue

Red

Brown

= 2%
97.6k

Violet

Green

Black

Gold

Red

= 1%
75 =

73.5

76.5

Brown

2%
1.5k =

1.485

1.515

Brown

Green

Black

Black

1%

Application Problem:
1.06 x 102

Although this answer is a bit off, it is still as close as I could manage to get. I came to this
conclusion by first moving the equation around. The equation gave the resistance, coefficient of
resistance in ohms-meters, and diameter of a wire, more investigation was still needed.
First thing that had to be done was converting the diameter to cross-sectional area.
1
Cross sectional Area= diamete r 2 x
2

1
( 6.38 x 104 ) =3.1969161 x 107
2

For easier calculations I will simply this number to:

7

3.20 x 10

Now we can relook at the equation as:

L=

P
/R
A

Whichwilllooklikethis:
108
L=1.69 x
/5
3.20 x 107

Whichwouldcalculatetoshowsustheneededlength:
1.06 x 102

Evaluation and Review Questions:

1. A. no
B. Get another meter and retest.
2. 1-2 = 1.5k for 2-3 = 1.1k
3. a. Brown, Red, Black, Silver
b. Blue, Gray, Red, Silver

c. Gray, Brown, Brown, Silver

d. Yellow, Violet, Green, Silver
e. Brown, Black, Black, Silver
4. a. 22 5%
b. 750 10%
c. 510 5%
d. 9.1 5%
e. 820k 10%
5. a. 28350
b. 25650