EEE 141

(Lab Report)
Experiment 03:
Ladder Circuit and Loading Effect of Voltage Divider Circuit

Submitted By:
Name: Ekhfa Hossain
ID: 172 1625 642
Group: 04
Date:27-March-2019
 Experiment Name :

Ladder circuit and Loading Effect of Voltage Divider Circuit

Objectives :

Learn how to use variable resistor

Learn to implement voltage divider circuit on breadboard

To understand and experimentally verify how the loading effect works on voltage divider circuit

Theory :

A.Background Knowledge :

Voltage divider :

The voltage divider rule is the voltage is divided between two series resistors in direct proportion to
their resistance

Loading effect :

When an instrument of lower sensitivity is used with a load the measurement it makes is erroneous this
effect is known as loading effect

Potentiometer :

A potentiometer is a three terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms on adjustable
voltage divider. if only two terminal are used one end and the wiper it acts as a variable resistor.
B.How the circuit works :

The circuit has 3 resistors equivalent to 560 ohm. First we connected the resistors in series with a
voltage source of 9 volt. And then put a potentiometer with changeable resistance in parallel with the
3rd resistor. When we were going through our experiment, we change the resistance of the
potentiometer couple of times and took the note of the current and voltage of the circuit. First we
leveled the meter in 1 ohm, then 4 ohm and followed with 10 ohm. Every time we observed the change
in current and voltage. So basically how the circuit is working here? At first when we put 3 resistors in
series they were giving a constant output of current of the whole circuit and voltage of the individual
resistors. When we put a potentiometer in parallel the current divided into two parts in the 3rd resistor
and gave a different current output from the previous one. Voltages of the first two resistors remained
the same whether the voltage of the 3rd one changed as we put a potentiometer in parallel with it. The
final current output was always effected by it. We then changed the resistance of the potentiometer for
couple of times and for previous explanation it was obvious that result varied from each others. We
observed and took notes of the changes and had done with our experiment.

Equipment List :

1. DMM
2. Trainer Board
3. 3 × 560 Ω resistors
4. 1 × ( 0 – 10 kΩ) variable resistor
5. Bunch of wire
Circuit Diagram :
 Data & result :

Circuit 1 Circuit 2 Circuit 2 Circuit 2

(R4 = 1 KΩ) ( R4 = 1 KΩ) (R4 = 4 KΩ) (R4 = 10 KΩ)
RT 1.662 KΩ 1.465 KΩ 1.597 KΩ 1.632 KΩ
E 9V 9V 9V 9V
I 5.30 mA 6.143 mA 5.73 mA 5.514 mA
VR1 3.03 V 3.44 V 3.12 V 3.05 V
VR2 3.07 V 3.44 V 3.12 V 3.06 V
VR3 3.01 V 2.36 V 2.753 V 2.90 V
VR4 ××××××× 2.36 V 2.753 V 2.90 V
IR1 5.46 mA 6.02 mA 5.631 mA 5.50 mA
IR2 5.54 mA 6.02 mA 5.631 mA 5.52 mA
IR3 5.43 mA 4.26 mA 4.96 mA 5.23 mA
IR4 ××××××× 2.36 mA 0.68 mA 0.29 mA
Table C.1

Percentage Error :

Circuit 1 Circuit 2 (R4 = 1 kΩ) Circuit 2 (R4 = 4 kΩ) Circuit 2 (R4 = 10 kΩ)

I 0.93 % 0.98 % 2.69 % 1.1 %

VR1 1% 0.9 % 0% 0%
VR2 2.3 % 0.9 % 0% 0.33%
VR3 0.33 % 8.25 % 0.3 % 0.34%
VR4 ×××××××× 8.25 % 0.3 % 0.34%
IR1 1.9 % 1.63% 1.07 % 0.9%
IR2 3.35 % 1.63% 1.07 % 0.9%
IR3 1.3 % 9.23 % 1.43 % 1.35%
IR4 ×××××××× 7.27 % 0% 0%
Table C.2
 Compare and Comment on Theoretical and Practical Values :

In this experiment we have seen that theoretical and experimental values are almost same. In some
extent it differs from others slightly more but for others it is not that much different.

Discuss on the loading effect of voltage divider circuit:

We did careful measurement of all values. We observed the voltage divider circuit and in this
experiment we have learned how to create a ladder circuit ,how to form a voltage divider circuit on a
bread board and we knew uses of variable resistor.For this experiment,the variable resistor was so
sensitive because of its measurement.

Therefore there were very small differences between the theoretical and experimental values that can
be avoided. No problem faced during this experiment but because of some issues the theoretical and
experimental were slightly different.

Result Analysis:

In this experiment ,we have calculated voltage and current for each resistor. For circuit 1 there were no
variable resistor there were only three resistor of 560 ohm.so, for first circuit we couldn’t find the value
of VR4 and IR4 . But for circuit 2 there were variable resistor we have changed the value of variable
resistor multiple times.then we have calculated the values for each and every resistor each times the
value has changed. then for all the values we have calculated the percentage error which was not that
much. as we know that value can be changed for some system error but for this experiment we can see
that percentage error is 0.33% and some extent it is also 0% so, our values were pretty accurate.this
much of percentage error can be avoided.

For circuit 1 we have calculated voltage using DMM and calculated current using ohm’s law. Circuit 2
there were variable resistor and we have changed the values multiple time .Firstly for 1 KΩ we have
calculated voltage using DMM and current using ohm’s law. then for 4 KΩ and 10 KΩ we have calculated
voltage and current in same way.
 Discussion :

By doing this experiment we have got to know the effect of load resistance. For circuit 2 we have used
the load resistance which can be called as variable resistance too. we set it on parallel with R3. we have
to be very careful when we connect the variable resistance because we can not connect leg A,C but we
can connect with leg A,B or B,C.

Here, we have calculated current and voltage for each resistance and find the values pretty accurate.But
working with varable resistor can be pretty difficult so, we have to be very careful when we are changing
the values of variable resistor.

For first circuit there were no load resistance, all the resistor were connected series so, we calculated
the voltage and current very easily.but for circuit 2 there were variable resistance which were connected
in paralled with R3. we have changed the value variable resistor multiple time for each time we have
calculated voltage with DMM and current from ohm’s law.we have also observed as we increase the
load resistance, voltage also rises.

in conclusion, we have learned about the ladder circuit and loading effect of voltage divider circuit. we
have learned so many things by doing this lab it was knowledgeable for our learning.

Attachment: