Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 3

Name: Lab Session: Score: / 10

Lab 1: Resistor Networks, Voltage and Current

INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this lab is to equip you to build (i) a basic resistor circuit on a breadboard, (ii) operate a power supply,
and (iii) make measurements of resistance, current, and voltage using a digital multimeter (DMM). You will need to
apply the concepts from unit A.1, including the basic circuit laws and voltage divider rule to work out the problems
in this lab.

Learning outcomes
 Apply the basic circuit laws to evaluate resistance, voltage difference, and current
 Analyze and implement basic resistor networks on a breadboard
 Use a digital multimeter (DMM) to measure resistance, voltage difference and current correctly
 Apply the basic circuit laws and the voltage divider rule to explain the effect of the DMM's internal resistance
on the accuracy of a measurement

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Hardware:
1) Digital multimeter (DMM) 2) Power supply
Components:
1) Pack of Resistors 2) Breadboard

A
300Ω 3kΩ

8V 100Ω

1kΩ
B
Fig 1: Circuit for lab tasks 1 to 3.
(R is an unknown resistor to be distributed in the lab.)

LAB TASK 1: RESISTOR NETWORK

Use the DMM to measure R.

R=
Build the resistor network shown in Fig 1. on the breadboard. Use the DMM (switched to the appropriate mode) to
measure the resistance's equivalent resistance across terminals A-B.

RAB =

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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 3

LAB TASK 2: MEASURING VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE

Using the power supply, apply 8V across terminals A-B of the resistor network you have built-in Lab Task 1, just
like in Fig 1. Using the DMM, measure the voltage differences across the following branches:

a. The voltage across 300Ω =

b. Voltage across 100Ω =

c. Voltage across R =

d. Voltage across 3kΩ =

e. Voltage across 1kΩ =

f. Voltage across terminal Y-Z =

Discussion: In Fig.1, if the 100 Ω resistor is removed, and the resistor R is chosen as 200 Ω, estimate what should the
terminal voltage across Y-Z. Justify your answer. (0.5 marks)

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LAB TASK 3: MEASURING BRANCH CURRENTS

Using the DMM, measure the currents through the following branches:

a) Current through 300Ω between A-X =

b) Current through 3kΩ between X-Y =

c) Current through R =

Discussion: If the source voltage is half, estimate the new value in part (c)? Justified your answer. You are
not expected to use an experimental method to estimate the answer. (0.5 marks)

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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 3
GET THIS TASK MARKED BEFORE MOVING ONTO THE NEXT TASK

FINAL WARNING (POINT OF NO RETURN): MAKE SURE THAT LAB TASKS 1 TO

3 HAVE BEEN MARKED BEFORE DISMANTLING YOUR CIRCUIT FOR LAB TASK
4!
LAB TASK 4: INTERNAL RESISTANCE OF INSTRUMENTS
Part 1: Voltmeter

R1

R2
10V

Fig 2a: Circuit for Part 1 of Lab Task 4

a) Build the circuit in Fig 2a on the breadboard using R1 = R2 = 1.2 kΩ, and measured the voltage across R2.

VR2 = ______ (measured when R2 = 1.2 kΩ), VR2 = ______ (calculated using Ohm’s law)

b) Replace both resistors with R1 = R2 = 8.2 MΩ, and measure the voltage across R2 again.

VR2 = ______ (measured when R2 = 8.2 MΩ), VR2 = ______ (calculated using Ohm’s law)

Explain the difference in the above two cases

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Lab 1 EE 2005 Electronic Devices and Circuits Week 3

Part 2: Ammeter

R1

1V

I
Fig 2b: Circuit for Part 2 of Lab Task 4

a) Build the circuit in Fig 2b on the breadboard using R1 = 22Ω, then measure the loop current.

I = ______ (measured), I = ______ (calculated using Ohm’s law)

b) Replace the resistor in the circuit now that R1 = 1.2 kΩ, and then measure the loop current again.

I = ______ (measured), I = ______ (calculated using Ohm’s law)

Explain the difference in the above two cases

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