EXPERIMENT

6
MEASUREMENT OF DIRECT CURRENT
Measuring Direct Current
OBJECTIVES
Direct current in a circuit can be measured by means of a dc
1. To measure current in a circuit ammeter. In measuring current the circuit must be physically
2. To measure the effect of resistance in controlling current broken or opened and the meter inserted in series with the
3. To measure the effect of voltage in controlling current circuit. Suppose, for example, it is required to measure current
in the circuit of Figure 6-1. The circuit is first broken at X
BASIC INFORMATION (Figure 6-1). The ammeter is then inserted in series with the
circuit at the two open leads A and B (Figures 6-2 and 6-3).
Resistance, Voltage, and Current When using an analog ammeter, the polarity of the meter
terminals must be followed. The common (COM) or negative
Previous experiments used a circuit component called a (−) lead of the meter must be connected to the point of lower
resistor, whose resistance could be measured directly with an potential. The positive (+) lead (sometimes called the "hot"
ohmmeter. The value of the resistor, expressed in ohms, is not lead) must be connected to the point of higher potential. When
dependent on the circuit in which it is connected. The value of properly connected, the pointer or “needle” of the analog am-
the resistor is a specified amount of resistance within a given meter will move in an arc in a clockwise (left-to-right) direc-
range, called the tolerance of the resistor. tion. If the correct polarity is not followed, the pointer will
Similarly, the voltage of a voltage source such as a battery or swing sharply to the left off scale, where it will hit a stop pin or
power supply can exist independently of any circuit. Its value else move to the extreme left of the scale. In either case the
can be measured with a voltmeter. pointer can be bent or broken and the meter seriously damaged.
On the other hand, electric current cannot exist by itself.
Current is defined as the movement of electric charges, but to
have movement there must be voltage and a path along which
the charges can move. A voltage source by itself cannot produce
current. The electric circuit provides the complete path. Current
is restricted to this closed path (Figure 6-1).
The amount of current in a circuit is dependent on the amount
of voltage applied by the voltage source and on the nature of the
conductive path. If the path offers little opposition, the current
is greater than it would be in a circuit where there is more
opposition to current. Opposition to direct current is called
resistance (measured in ohms). Current, then, can be controlled
by the amount of resistance in a circuit.
The terminals of digital meters may also be marked for polarity. 8. The amount of current in a circuit can be controlled by the
However, the consequences of not following the correct amount of applied voltage and by the amount of resistance
polarity are less serious than with analog meters. Most digital in the circuit.
meters when connected with reverse polarity will display a
correct reading with a minus sign or some other appropriate
symbol. Reversing the leads will produce the same reading
without the minus sign.
Some ammeters are designed to make accurate measure-
ments of low amperage. These meters are given special names
to denote the ranges for which they are designed. The
milliammeter is used to measure currents in the thousandths of
an ampere range (milli means one-thousandth). The
microammeter is used to measure currents in the millionths of
an ampere range (micro means one-millionth).

CAUTION: An ammeter must never be connected across (that is,

in parallel) with any component. Ammeters must always be
connected in series with the conductors carrying current to a
component in order to measure current in the component.
Failure to follow this rule can result in serious damage to the
meter.

SUMMARY

1. Opposition to current is a characteristic of a resistor.

Resistance can exist by itself.
2. Voltage is a characteristic of an electromotive force (emf) MATERIALS REQUIRED
source. Voltage can exist by itself.
3. Current cannot exist by itself. For current to exist, a voltage Power Supply:
source and a closed path (circuit) are required.  4 1½-V dry cells
4. In measuring direct current in a circuit, the circuit must be
broken and an ammeter must be connected in series with Instruments:
the circuit.  0-10 mA milliammeter
5. In connecting an ammeter in a circuit, meter polarity must  VOM or DMM
be observed. Resistors (5%, ½-W):
6. Proper polarity is observed if the pointer of an analog
 3 1000-Ω
ammeter moves up scale, from left to right, when the meter
is connected in a circuit. Serious damage to the meter can Miscellaneous:
result if the correct polarity is not followed.  SPST switch
7. The correct polarity should be followed when connecting
digital meters. Failure to follow correct polarity, however,
is not likely to damage the meter. Digital meters will
usually display a minus sign or other distinctive symbol to
indicate a reversal of polarity.

PROCEDURE
1. In this experiment you will observe the effect of resistance 2. Select one 1000-Ω resistor and measure its actual
on current in a circuit. You will first measure resistance; resistance. Record the value in Table 6-1 (p. 45).
then you will wire the resistance into a circuit and measure
current. 3. Connect four 1½-V dry cells in series-aiding, the meter,
switch S1, and the 1000-Ω resistor (labeled R1), as shown
NOTE: Never measure the resistance of a component while in Figure 6-4 (p. 43). The switch must be in the open
it is connected in a circuit, especially if there is current in position. Note carefully that the negative terminal of the
the circuit. cell must be connected to the negative terminal or lead of
the meter. Have the instructor check the circuit.
4. After the circuit has been approved, close the switch. The
meter will read the current in the circuit. Record the value
in Table 6-1.
5. With the switch still closed and the meter reading current
in the circuit, disconnect the resistor from the circuit. What
effect did this have on the meter reading? Record in Table
6-1 the current read by the meter with the resistor out of the
circuit. Open the switch.
6. Connect one lead of each of two 1000-Ω resistors to-gether
and measure the resistance across the two unconnected
leads, as in Figure 6-5(a). Record this value in Table 6-1.
7. Connect the two joined resistors (labeled R1, and R2) in the
circuit with the meter, switch, and cells, as shown in Figure
6-5(b). Close the switch. Record the current read by the
meter in Table 6-1. Open the switch. Disconnect R1 and R2
from the circuit.
8. Connect all three 1000-Ω resistors by adding the third
1000-Ω resistor (R3) to the combination of R1, and R2.
Measure the resistance across the three-resistor
combination, as in Figure 6-6(a) (p. 44). Record the value
in Table 6-1.
9. Connect R1, R2, and R3 in the circuit, as shown in Figure 6-
6(b). Close the switch and record the current read by the
meter in Table 6-1. Open the switch.
Voltage Measurements
A series circuit exists when the power source and all resistors
are connected through a single conducting path, as in 6-6(b).
10. Disconnect the milliammeter and reconnect it between R1
and R2, as shown in Figure 6-6(c). Trace the path from the
cell terminals to make sure the meter polarity is correctly
connected. Close the switch and in Table 6-1 record the
current read by the meter. Open the switch.
11. Disconnect the milliammeter and reconnect it between R2
and R3, as shown in Figure 6-6(d). Again observe meter
polarity carefully. Close the switch. In Table 6-1, record
the current read by the meter. Open the switch.
12. Disconnect the meter and reconnect it between R3 and the
switch, as shown in Figure 6-6(e). Observe meter polarity.
Close the switch. In Table 6-1 record the current read by
the meter. Open the switch.
Controlling Current by Voltage
13. Disconnect the resistors from the circuit. Separate the three
resistors and reconnect R1 into the circuit as in Figure 6-4.
With the four cells in the circuit measure the voltage across
the four cells. Record the value in Table 6-2 (p. 45).
14. Close the switch. In Table 6-2 record the current read by
the meter. Open the switch.
15. Remove one cell so that the circuit is supplied by only three
cells. Measure the voltage across the three-cell
combination. Record the value in Table 6-2.
16. Close the switch and record the current read by the meter
in Table 6-2. Open the switch.
17. Remove one cell, leaving two cells to supply the circuit.
Measure the voltage across the two cells. Record the value
in Table 6-2.
18. Close the switch. In Table 6-2 record the current read by
the meter. Open the switch.
19. Remove one cell, leaving one cell to supply the circuit.
Measure the voltage across the cell. Record the value in
Table 6-2.
20. Close the switch. In Table 6-2 record the current read by 21. Remove the last cell and complete the series circuit with
the meter. Open the switch. only the meter, resistor, and switch. Close the switch. In
Table 6-2 record the current read by the meter.