ELN9104

Lab 4 – Using a Potentiometer

Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to understand how to use a potentiometer to achieve a variable
output voltage and how to modify the potentiometer to achieve a variable current.

Materials:
 The following resistors:

470 Ω, 560 Ω, 3.3 kΩ

 1 10 kΩ potentiometer
 1 1 kΩ potentiometer
 LED (for bonus section)

Procedure:
1. Measure the resistance of each resistor and potentiometer.

Table 1
Measured value
kΩ
R1 470 Ω 0.478 kohms
R2 560 Ω 0.563 kohms
R3 3.3 kΩ 3.48 kohms
Pot 1 1 kΩ 1 kohms
Pot 2 10 kΩ 11 kohms
Part 1: Variable Output Voltage
2. Build the circuit shown in schematic 1.
Notice that the resistors are connected to pin 1 and pin 3 of the potentiometer.
Ammeter

Voltmeter
Reading Vout

1 kΩ

wiper

Schematic 1a Schematic 1b Figure 11

1

1
What is a potentiometer. (n.d.). The Engineering Knowledge. Retrieved June 16, 2023, from
https://www.theengineeringknowledge.com/what-is-a-potentiometer/.
ELN9104 Lab 4

3. Calculate the expected maximum and minimum for Vout using the voltage divider formula. Place
your answers in Table 2.

Table 2
Calculate Vout Measured Vout Measured IT
V V mA
minimum
maximum

4. Connect the ammeter in series with the power supply to monitor the total current. Connect the
voltmeter as shown in schematic 1b. Measure the minimum and maximum values for Vout and
record these values in Table 2.

Part 2: Variable Current

Note: in this part of the lab we will be using the potentiometer as a variable resistor.

5. Build the circuit shown in schematic 2 using the 10 kΩ potentiometer and the 3.3 kΩ resistor.
Notice that the power supply (VS) is connected to pin 2 of the potentiometer and the 3.3 kΩ
resistor is connected to pin 3.

10 kΩ

Schematic 2a Schematic 2b

6. Disconnect the circuit from the power supply and measure the total resistance of the circuit.
Adjust the potentiometer until the total resistance is reading the first R T value in Table 3.
7. Using your measured values from Table 1, calculate the resistance the potentiometer is set to
(Rpot), add this value to Table 3.
8. Connect the power supply and measure the voltage across each component in the circuit, add
these values to Table 3.
9. Calculate IT and the power dissipated by the potentiometer, add these values to Table 3. Pay
attention to factors of 10 and do not forget to include units with the data.
10. Repeat steps 6 through 9 for each RT value in Table 3.

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 ELN9104 Lab 4

Table 3
RT R pot V pot V3 IT P pot
(kΩ) RT −R3 V3 I T ×V pot
R3
4.3
5.3
6.6
11.3
Max

11. Plot power vs resistance for the potentiometer acting as a variable resistor. Label the plot
appropriately.

Power vs Resistance

Power

Resistance

At what resistance does the potentiometer dissipate the most amount of power?

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ELN9104 Lab 4

Bonus:
i. Using a 560Ω, a 1kΩ pot and a 5V source, create a circuit to dim an LED. (Hint: to dim an LED you
need to decrease the current flowing through the LED.)

Draw your schematic here:

Comment as to how well your circuit worked:

ii. Now that you dimmed the LED, adjust the pot until the LED is completely off, then slowly
readjust the pot until the LED has just turned on, stop and measure the voltage across the LED.
Record that value here:

VLED

Note: This is referred to as the forward voltage drop of the LED, the minimum required voltage to
turn on the LED. Most LED’s will turn on at around 1.7V to 2.3V. You can learn more about LEDs
in future electronics courses.

Conclusion: