Physical Experiment I

Lab Report

Measurement of Resistance by
Lab Title: Ammeter-Voltmeter Method

Your Chinese Name: 邱杨

UESTC ID: 2022360903034

Instructor: Fu Hao

Teaching Assistant: Jin Ruoyan

Date Performed: 2023/4/1

Score:
 Score
Abstract (About 100 words, 10 points)

The Ammeter-Voltmeter Method is a general method widely used in

𝑉
measurements of resistance. It is based on the Ohm’s Law(𝑅 = 𝐼 ), which can
calculate the value of resistance indirectly after measuring the values of the current
and voltage. In this method, an ideal ammeter has 0 resistance and an ideal voltmeter
has infinite resistance, but in reality the instruments always have internal resistances
that is neither 0 nor infinity, which causes systematic error. Considering the resistance
value of the resistor, the ammeter and the voltmeter, experimenter can choose one
method between the ammeter outside/inside methods which has smaller error. Using
other formulas which have taken the inner resistance into consideration can get the
corrected resistance.

Score
Calculations and Results (Calculations, data tables and figures;
15 points)
DATA TABLE 1-1(purpose: To compute the instrument error and reading error for
further calculations of uncertainty and to teach you to read the voltmeter and ammeter
correctly)
Apparatus Voltmeter Ammeter
Accuracy class 0.5 0.5
Range (unit) 1.5V 3V 7.5V 15V 15mA 30mA
Resistance (unit) 684Ω 1357Ω 3.39×103 Ω 6.86×103 Ω 2.2Ω 1.3Ω
Instrument Error (unit) 0.008V 0.02V 0.04V 0.08V 0.08mA 0.2mA
Reading Error (unit) 0.002V 0.004V 0.01V 0.02V 0.02mA 0.04mA

(Don’t forget UNITS)

DATA TABLE 1-2: (purpose: To use ammeter outside method to measure resistance with a
small value)

Accepted value Rx1: 51Ω Voltmeter resistance RV= 684Ω

Current, I (mA) Voltage, V(V) 𝑅𝑥1 =

𝑉
Rheostat Rx1=V/I 𝐼−
𝑉
Range Instrument error Range Instrument error 𝑅𝑉
setting (Ω)
30mA 0.2mA 1.5V 0.008V (Ω)
1 22.8mA 1.130V 49.6Ω 53.4Ω
2 26.8mA 1.315V 49.1Ω 52.9Ω
3 29.4mA 1.440V 49.0Ω 52.8Ω
Average Rx1 49.2Ω 53.0Ω
Relative error -3.5% 3.9%
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DATA TABLE 1-3: (purpose: To use ammeter inside method to measure resistance with a small
value)
Accepted value Rx1 51Ω Ammeter resistance Ra=1.3Ω

Current, I (mA) Voltage, V(V) 𝑉

Rheostat Rx1=V/I 𝑅𝑥1 = − 𝑅𝑎
Range Instrument error Range Instrument error 𝐼
setting (Ω)
30mA 0.2mA 1.5V 0.008 V (Ω)
1 19.6 mA 1.085 V 55.4Ω 54.1Ω
2 23.4 mA 1.270 V 54.3Ω 53.0Ω
3 24.9 mA 1.350 V 54.2Ω 52.9Ω
Average Rx1 54.6Ω 53.3Ω
Relative error 7.1% 4.5%

DATA TABLE 1-4: (purpose: To Use ammeter outside method to measure resistance
with a large value)
Accepted value Rx2: 1000Ω Voltmeter resistance RV= 6.86×103 Ω

Current, I (mA) Voltage, V(V) 𝑅𝑥2 =

𝑉
Rheostat Rx2=V/I 𝐼−
𝑉
Range Instrument error Range Instrument error 𝑅𝑉
setting (Ω)
15mA 0.08mA 15V 0.08V (Ω)
1 12.30mA 10.90V 886.2Ω 1018Ω
2 13.65mA 12.02V 880.6Ω 1010Ω
3 14.45mA 12.70V 878.9Ω 1008Ω
Average Rx1 881.9Ω 1013Ω
Relative error -11.81% 1.30%

DATA TABLE 1-5: (Use ammeter inside method to measure resistance with a large
value)
Accepted value Rx2 1000Ω Ammeter resistance Ra=2.2Ω

Current, I (mA) Voltage, V(V) 𝑉

Rheostat Rx2=V/I 𝑅𝑥2 = − 𝑅𝑎
Range Instrument error Range Instrument error 𝐼
setting (Ω)
15mA 0.08mA 15V 0.08V (Ω)
1 10.70mA 10.85 V 1014Ω 1012Ω
2 12.75 mA 12.95 V 1015Ω 1013Ω
3 13.87 mA 14.10 V 1016Ω 1014Ω
Average Rx1 1015Ω 1013Ω
Relative error 1.50% 1.30%

(1) Show one sample calculation of the instrument error by using the data in
Table 1-1.
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 The voltmeter with its accuracy class of 0.5 and the range of 1.5v:
∆𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓.= 0.5%×1.5=0.008V
(2) Use the last set of data in Table 1-2 to show the sample calculation of the
approximate resistance and the corrected resistance.
′ 𝑉 1.440𝑉
𝑅𝑥1 = 𝑉 = 1.440𝑉 =52.8Ω
1− 1−
𝑅𝑉 684Ω

(3) Follow the steps to find the uncertainty for the first set of measurement in
Table 1-2.
a) Use the measured voltage and current to calculate the magnitude of
resistance.
𝑉 1.130𝑉
𝑅𝑥1 = 𝐼 =22.8𝑚𝐴=49.6Ω

𝑉 1.315𝑉
𝑅𝑥1 = 𝐼 =26.8𝑚𝐴=49.1Ω

𝑉 1.440𝑉
𝑅𝑥1 = 𝐼 =29.4𝑚𝐴=49.0Ω

b) To find the type A uncertainty in current I, μA-I.

𝐼 ̅ = 26.3𝑚𝐴
1
𝜇𝐴−𝐼 = √𝑁(𝑁−1) ∑𝑁 ̅2
𝑖=1(𝐼𝑖 − 𝐼 ) =1.9mA

c) To find the type B uncertainty in current I, μB-I.

∆𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟.−𝐼
𝜇∆ 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢.−𝐼 = =0.11mA
√3

∆𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑.−𝐼
𝜇∆ 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑.−𝐼 = =0.023mA
√3

2 2
𝜇𝐵−𝐼 = √𝜇∆𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢.−𝐼 + 𝜇∆𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑.−𝐼 =0.11mA
d) To find the combined uncertainty in current I, σI.
2 2
𝜎𝐼 = √𝜇𝐴−𝐼 + 𝜇𝐵−𝐼 =1.9mA
e) To find the type A uncertainty in voltage V, μA-V.
𝑉̅ =1.295V
1
𝜇𝐴−𝑉 = √𝑁(𝑁−1) ∑𝑁 ̅ 2
𝑖=1(𝑉𝑖 − 𝑉 ) =0.22V

f) To find the type B uncertainty in voltage V, μB-V.

∆𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟.−𝑉
𝜇∆ 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢.−𝑉 = =0.005V
√3

∆𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑.−𝑉
𝜇∆ 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑.−𝑉 = =0.0011V
√3

2 2
𝜇𝐵−𝑉 = √𝜇∆𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢.−𝑉 + 𝜇∆𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑.−𝑉 =0.005V
g) To find the combined uncertainty in voltage V, σV.
3
 2 2
𝜎𝑉 = √𝜇𝐴−𝑉 + 𝜇𝐵−𝑉 =0.22V
h) Compute the relative uncertainty in resistance Rx1.
𝜎𝑅𝑥1 𝜎 𝜎
|𝑅𝑥1 |
= √( 𝑉𝑉)2 + ( 𝐼𝐼)2=0.18

𝜎𝑅
𝜎𝑅𝑥1 = |𝑅𝑥1 | × |𝑅 𝑥1|=9Ω
𝑥1

Score
Conclusions (About 100 words, 5 points)

First, it is very important to know the accuracy class, ranges and corresponding
resistances, instrument errors and reading errors of instruments. Then for resistors of
different resistance values, we should consider the ranges and corresponding
resistance values of both ammeter and voltmeter to make full use of the range for a
reading value with more significant figures to lessen error. As for the choice between
ammeter outside method and the ammeter inside method, it depends on the relative
values of R and the resistances of the ammeter and voltmeter. For the two resistors,
the ammeter inside method would have the smaller error. Our data from Fig3.1-4 and
Fig3.1-5 shows that successfully but the data from Fig3.1-2 and Fig3.1-3 falls to
comply with that. And in the Fig3.1-2 the relative error of corrected resistance is even
greater than the relative error of directly calculated resistance. I think they may be
caused by our reading errors. However, we must be loyal to our measurements,
though it doesn’t show the results of our expectation.

Score
Answers to Postlab Questions (10 points)

Q1. Considering the ranges and corresponding resistance values of both ammeter
and voltmeter, we should choose the range of 30mA for ammeter (1.3Ω)and
the range of 1.5V for voltmeter(684Ω), which allows us to make full use of
the range for a reading value with more significant figures to lessen error. For
this resistor of 51Ω, the resistance value of voltmeter is closer to the resistance
value of resistor in a multiple relationship, so the ammeter inside method
should have smaller error. However, our data doesn’t show that, I think it is
caused by the our reading error. Though it didn’t comply with our expectation,
we should be loyal to our data.

Q2. Considering the ranges and corresponding resistance values of both ammeter
and voltmeter, we should choose the range of 15mA for ammeter(2.2Ω) and
the range of 15V for voltmeter( 6.86×103 Ω)which allows us to make full use
of the range for a reading value with more significant figures to lessen error.
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 For this resistor of 1000Ω, the resistance value of voltmeter is closer to the
resistance value of resistor in a multiple relationship, so the ammeter inside
method should have smaller error. Our experiment data shows that
successfully.

Q3. I think the ammeter inside method in Fig.3.1-3 would have the smallest error.
Because when we choose the 30mA range for ammeter and 1.5V range for
voltmeter, the resistance value of ammeter(1.3Ω) is near to zero while the
resistance value of voltmeter(684Ω) is not great enough. And since we know
the resistance of the ammeter, the ammeter inside method has another accurate
formula to lessen the systematic error.

Q4. Most of the time it does. According to the normal distribution in statistics, if
we choose the R=𝑅̅ ±𝜎, there is a probability of 68.3% that the accepted resistance
lies within the range. And if we choose R=𝑅̅ ±2𝜎 or R=𝑅̅ ±3𝜎, it will increase to
95.4% or 99.7%.

Q5. If an ammeter has zero resistance, when we use the ammeter inside method,
the voltmeter can get the voltage of resistor directly since no voltage is divided to
the ammeter. If a voltmeter has an infinite resistance, when we use the ammeter
outside method, the ammeter will only get the current from resistor since no
current flows through the voltmeter of infinite resistance.

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 Appendix

(Scanned data sheets)

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