NAME: DATE:

SCHOOL:

SECTION 5 – FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRONICS

ACTIVITY SHEET
Project Name: Logic Gates

Context: Digital systems are said to be constructed by using logic gates. Logic Gates are an
integral part behind the operation of many electronic devices .

Project: Design and build a circuit to verify the truth table of an AND gate.

Objectives: At the end of the exercise, you should be able to:

 Distinguish between integrated circuits and discrete components.

 Identify pin connections of a typical I.C. device such as an AND gate.
 Connect an AND gate I.C. in a circuit and verify its truth table.
 Verify how an AND gate function can be replaced by two mechanical switches .

1
THEORY & RESEARCH:
1. What is a logic gate and where is it used?

A logic gate is an idealized model of computation or physical electronic device implementing a Boolean

function, a logical operation performed on one or more binary inputs that produces a single binary output.
They are basically used in circuits involving computation and processing, such as: streetlights and push
button switches.

2. What is an I.C.?

Integrated circuits are a combination of diodes, microprocessors, and transistors in a minimized form on a
wafer made of silicon that can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, microprocessor, or even
computer memory. Integrated circuits can perform calculations and multiple tasks when combined with
each other. Some examples of ICs are audio amplifiers, logic devices and memory devices.

3. What is an AND gate?

An AND gate is an electrical circuit that combines two input signals to produce a single output signal. An
AND gate accepts two input signals, and if both signals are 1, the output signal is also 1; otherwise, the
output signal will be 0.

4. What is a truth table and why is it important?

A truth table is a tabular representation of all the combinations of values for inputs and their
corresponding outputs to show whether a propositional expression is true for all legitimate input values.

2
APPARATUS & MATERIALS:

 One solderless breadboard  One 7408 AND gate I.C.

 Connecting wires / jumper wires  One 1KΩ resistor

 Digital probes  One LED

 4.5V battery  Grounds

DIAGRAM:

Figure I Figure II

PROCEDURE:

1. The I.C. was inserted into the solderless breadboard.

2. The pins for power supply and ground were identified for the I.C.
3. The pins for the inputs and output of the AND gate was identified.
4. The AND gate used in Figure I was tested, and the truth table was verified for the AND gate.
5. Figure II was used to verify how AND gate functions can be replaced by two mechanical switches
with the help of a truth table.

3
RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS:

Truth Tables –

Figure 1:
Fill in the table using the states: high/low; lit/unlit.

Input - A Input - B Output - LED

Low Low Unlit

Low High Unlit

High Low Unlit

High High Lit

Figure 2:

Fill in the table using the states: opened/closed; lit/unlit.

Input - A Input - B Output - LED

Open Open Unlit

Open Close Unlit

Closed Open Unlit

Closed Closed Lit

4
Screenshot of Circuits:

Circuit 1:

Circuit 2:

5
DATA ANALYSIS:

1. How do you identify pin connections on a 7408 AND I.C. chip?

IC 7408 is a logic gate chip with four two-input AND gates. Each of the four AND gates are independent.
The IC 7408 has a total of 14 pins. Pins 1,2,4,5,9,10,12 and 13 are the input pins. Pins 3,6,8 and 11 are
the output pins. Pin 14 is the voltage pin and pin 7 is the ground pin.

2. Which logic gate is similar to the function of two series switches?

The AND logic gate is like the function of two series switches in a circuit. This is because when both
switches in series are not closed, current isn’t able to flow through the circuit to power a device that is
connected to that circuit. This is similar to the AND gate where if both inputs are not 1, the output will be
0.

3. Which logic gate is similar to the function of two parallel switches?

The OR logic gate is similar to the function of two parallel switches in a circuit. This is because when
either switch in parallel is closed, current will flow through the switch allowing any device connected to
the circuit to function. Just like when either input in an OR gate is 1, the output of the OR gate will also
be one.

4. Explain briefly, why one will consider an operational amplifier as an I.C. chip?

One can consider an operational amplifier as an integrated circuit chip because like an I.C chip,
operational amplifiers can increase weak signals. An operational amplifier has two input pins and one
output pin, and its basic role is to amplify and output the voltage difference between the two input pins.
Operational amplifiers can also be considered as an IC chip as they are both comprised of transistors and
resistors.

CONCLUSION:

At the end of this lab, the functions and uses of a logic gate was confirmed by performing two tests
using two separate circuits. The differences between an AND gate and an OR gate was understood and
what switches perform similarly to the following logic gates were also investigated. The lab also
distinguished the differences between an integrated component, which is a hardware component
combined with one or more other components, and a discrete component, which is an elementary

6
electronic device constructed as a single unit. Lastly, the function and purpose of an I.C chip was also
researched in this lab.