EXPERIMENT No.

1
SAFETY, POWER SOURCES and METERING

OBJECTIVES

1. To learn the simple rules of safety.

2. To learn the proper connection of a meter in a circuit.

INSTRUMENTS and MATERIALS

Multi-tester or VOM
Glass of water

DISCUSSION

Safety is simply a matter of applying common sense precaution. The rules of safety are
concerned with the prevention of accidental injury. First aid involves the treatment of injuries
sustain when accident occurs.

The rules of shop safety apply generally to the Electrical Laboratory. Student and
instructor who work with electricity face the hazard of electric shock and should make every
effort to understand the danger.

Current above 100 milliampere or one-tenth of an ampere are considered fatal. A person
may encounter a current of 200 milliampere and live to tell about it. Current is forced through the
resistance of a circuit by voltage. The lower the resistance, the more current can be forced
through the circuit for a given amount of voltage. The current that flows through the human body
depends on the resistance of the part of the body through which the current is flowing.

PROCEDURE

1. With your instructor’s help, use the analog tester and measure the resistance between
the following points of your body:

Right hand to left hand R = ______________ohms

Either hand to either ankle R = ______________ ohms

2. Wet the contact areas and measure again

Right hand to left hand R = ______________ohms

Either hand to either ankle R = ______________ ohms
 Is the resistance lower when the areas are wet? ______Why? __________
____________________________________________________________

Will more current flow when the skin is wet or dry?

____________________________________________________________

3. Since 100 milliampere or 0.1 ampere is lethal, you will use that value in a formula to
determine how much voltage can be fatal. The formula is:

Voltage = Current x Resistance = 0.1 x Resistance

Substitute the resistance measured in Procedures (1) and (2) into the formula to
calculate the fatal voltage.

The resistance measured in (1)

Right hand to left hand V = ______________volts

Either hand to either ankle V = ______________ volts

The resistance measured in (2)

Right hand to left hand V = ______________volts

Either hand to either ankle V = ______________ volts

Obviously, you should not test your results. Remember also, that voltages much
lower than those above can be lethal under certain circumstances. Probably the best
advice anyone can follow when working with electricity is:

THINK – PLAN AHEAD! FOLLOW THE RULES USED IN ELECTRICAL

LABORATORY!

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1. List three safety precautions that must be followed when working on electric circuits.
2. Define electric current.
3. Define resistance.
4. In this activity, you were considered a conductor. What are the factors that affect the
resistance of a conductor? Explain.
5. What is the amount of charge that passes by a point in a wire in 3 ms, if the current
was measured at 25 A?