Tutorial 1

Problem 1
A batch of resistors that each have a nominal resistance of 330  are to be
tested and classified as ±5% and ±10% components. Calculate the
maximum and minimum absolute resistance for each case.
Solution:
Absolute resistance
330  5 % = 330  16.5
330  10% = 330  33
For ±5% components
Maximum : 330 + 16.5 = 346.5
Minimum: 330 – 16.5 =313.5
For ±10% components
Maximum : 330 + 33 = 363
Minimum: 330 – 33 = 297

#
 Problem 2
Three of the 330  resistors referred to in Problem 1 are connected in
series. One has a ±5% tolerance, and the other two are ±10%. Calculate
the maximum and minimum values of the total resistances.
Solution:
For X = A ± B,  error in X = ± [(error in A) + (error in B)]
( R1  R1) + (R2  R2 ) + ( R3  R3 )
= ( R1 + R2 + R3 )  (R1 + R2 + R3)
= ( 330  5% )  +( 330  10% )  + ( 330  10% ) 
= (330 + 330 + 330)  (16.5 + 33 + 33) 
= 990  82.5 
RTmax= 990 + 82.5  = 1072.5  and
RTmin = 990 - 82.5  = 907.5 

#
 Problem 3
A dc power supply provides currents to four electronic circuits. The currents are
37 mA, 42 mA, 13 mA and 6.7 mA. The first two are measured with an accuracy
of ±3%, and the other two are measured with ±1% accuracy. Determine the
maximum and minimum levels of the total supply current.
Solution:
For X = A ± B,  error in X = ± [(error in A) + (error in B)]
I1 = 37  3% mA
I2 = 42  3% mA
I3 = 13  1% mA
I4 = 6.7  1% mA
I1 + I2 + I3 + I4 = ( I1 + I2 + I3 + I4 )  (I1 + I2 + I3 +I4)
= 37 + 42 + 13 + 6.7  (1.11 + 1.26 + 0.13 + 0.067) mA
ITmax = 98.7 + 2.567 mA = 101.267 mA
ITmin = 98.7 - 2.567 mA = 96.13 mA

#
 Problem 4
The voltages at opposite ends of a 470  ±5% resistor are measured as V1 = 12 V
and V2 = 5 V. The measuring accuracies are ±0.5 V for V1 and ±2% for V2.
Calculate the level of current in the resistor, and specify its accuracy.
Solution:
For X = A ± B,  error in X = ± [(error in A) + (error in B)]
For X = A/B,  % error in X = ± [(% error in A) + (% error in B)]
V1 = 12  0.5 V
V2 = 5  2% V = 5  0.1 V
R = 470  5%
then,
V 1  V 2 (12  0.5V )  (5  0.1V )
I 
R 470  5%
7  0.6V

470  5%

#
 7  0.6V 7  8.57%
I 
470  5% 470  5%

I = 0.01489  ( 8.57% + 5%) A

= 14.89  13.57% mA

#
 Problem 5
A resistor R has a potential difference of 25V
across its terminals, and a current of 63mA.
The voltage is measured on a 30V analog
instrument with an accuracy of ±5% of full
scale. The current is measured on a digital
instrument with a ±1 mA accuracy. Calculate
the resistance of R and specify its tolerance.

#
 Solution:
63  1 mA= 63  1.6 %
V R

The absolute value of the error in the analog voltmeter is 5% x 30V = 1.5V
Therefore V = 25 ± 1.5V = 25 ± 6% V
For X = A/B,  % error in X = ± [(% error in A) + (% error in B)]

V 25  6%V
R 
I 63  1.6% mA
= 396.8  7.6% 

#
• A 470  ±10% resistor has a potential
difference of 12 V across its terminals. If
the voltage is measured with an accuracy
of ±6%, determine the power dissipation
in the resistor, and specify the accuracy of
the result.

#
R = 470 10% 
V = 12  6% V
V 2 (12  6%V ) 2
P 
R 470  10%
X=A/B, % error X=  (% error A + % error B)
X=AB , % error X =  B(% error A)
144V
P  0.306W
470
%  P =  (2(6) +10) % =  22% W
Therefore
P = 0.306  22% W

#
The output voltage from a precision 12 V power
supply, monitored at intervals over a period of time,
produced the following readings: V1 = 12.001 V, V2
= 11.999 V, V3 = 11.998 V, V4 = 12.003 V, V5 =
12.002 V, V6 = 11.997 V, V7 = 12.002 V, V8 =
12.003 V, V9 = 11.998 V and V10 = 11.997 V.
Calculate the average voltage level, the mean
deviation, and the standard deviation in the measured
voltage at any time.

#
 Vi d= V- Vi d2

1 12.001 0.001 0.000001

2 11.999 0.001 0.000001
3 11.998 0.002 0.000004
4 12.003 0.003 0.000009
5 12.002 0.002 0.000004
6 11.997 0.003 0.000009
7 12.002 0.002 0.000004
8 12.003 0.003 0.000009
9 11.998 0.002 0.000004
10 11.997 0.003 0.000009
 120.000 0.022 0.000054
#
V =  Vi / n = 120.00/10 = 12.000 V
d =  V- Vi/n = 0.022/10 = 2.2 mV
 =  ( d2 /n) =  0.000054/10 = 2.32 mV
Voltage error probability = 2.32 x 0.6745=
1.57

#
• Successive measurements of the temperature of
a liquid over a period of time produced the
following data: T1 = 25.05°C, T2 = 25.02°C, T3
= 25.03°C, T4 = 25.07°C, T5 = 25.55°C, T6 =
25.06°C, T7 = 25.04°C, T8 = 25.05°C, T9 =
25.07°C, T10 = 25.03°C, T11 = 25.02°C, T12 =
25.04°C, T13 = 25.02°C, T14 = 25.03°C and
T15 = 25.05°C. Determine the average
temperature, the mean deviation from average,
and the standard deviation.

#
 ti d= ti- t d2

1 25.05 0.02 0.0004

2 25.02 0.05 0.0025
3 25.03 0.04 0.0016
4 25.07 0.00 0.0000
5 25.55 0.48 0.2304
6 25.05 0.02 0.0004
7 25.04 0.03 0.0009
8 25.05 0.02 0.0004
9 25.07 0.00 0.0000
10 25.03 0.04 0.0016
11 25.02 0.05 0.0025
12 25.04 0.03 0.0009
13 25.02 0.05 0.0025
14 25.03 0.04 0.0016
15 25.05 0.02 0.0004
 376.12 0.89 0.2486
#
t =  ti / n = 376.12/15 = 25.07
D =  ti- t/n = 0.89/15 = 0.059 mV
=  ( d2 /n) =  0.2461/15= 0.128
Temperature error probability = 0.128 x
0.6745 = 0.087