Plotting Basic Lab Data with Excel

This example will show how to plot basic lab data with Excel. Specifically this example plots the
current versus voltage characteristics of a 400 ohm fixed resistor and a light bulb. First the data is
appropriately entered into Excel.
Voltage (V)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20

Current1 (mA)
0
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00

Current2 (mA)
0
5.98
10.19
13.52
16.16
18.12
19.85
21.07
22.02
22.51
22.65

The first column of cells [Voltage (V)] contains the eleven voltage values. The second column of
cells [Current1 (mA)] contains the eleven current values associated with the previous eleven
voltage values for a 400 ohm resistor. The third column of cells [Current2 (mA)] contains the
eleven current values associated with the previous eleven voltage values for a light bulb. Voltage
(in volts) will be plotted along the horizontal axis (the X axis), and current (in milliamperes) will
be plotted along the vertical axis (the Y axis).
Select the column of eleven cells which contains all the appropriate voltage values, and while
holding down the Ctrl key, additionally select the column of eleven cells which contains all the
appropriate current values for the 400 ohm resistor, and finally, while continuing to hold down
the Ctrl key, select the column of eleven cells which contains all the appropriate current values
for light bulb.
Click on the Chart Wizard button located on the toolbar. On the Standard Types tab, select
XY (Scatter) under Chart type: and then select Scatter with data points connected by lines
under Chart sub-type:. Click Finish.
Next place the cursor over one of the horizontal axis (X axis) values, such as 15; right click
and select Format Axis, on the Scale tab type 2 in the Major unit: text box. Click OK.
Place the cursor anywhere in a blank area of the plot; right click and select Chart Options. On
the Titles tab, type in appropriate titles for the Chart title: [which could be Linear and
nonlinear I-V characteristics], the Value (X) axis: [which would be Voltage (V)] and the
Value (Y) axis: [which would be Current (mA)]. On the Gridlines tab, check the Major
gridlines box under Value (X) axis. Click OK.
Place the cursor anywhere in a blank area of the plot; right click and select Source Data. On
the Series tab, type in 400 ohm resistor in the Name: text box for Series1. Next select
Series2 under Series and type in light bulb in the Name: text box for Series2. Click OK.

Place the cursor anywhere in a blank area of the plot; right click and select Format Plot Area.
On the Patterns tab, select the None option under Area. Select OK.
Your plot should now look similar to the one below. You may adjust the overall size and aspect
ratio of the plot by appropriately stretching the corners and sides.

Linear and nonlinear I-V characteristics

60

Current (mA)

50
40
400 ohm resistor

30

light bulb

20
10
0
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

Voltage (V)

A variety of other adjustments can also be made to the plot. For example, you may wish to limit
the horizontal axis of the plot to 20 volts and limit the vertical axis of the plot to 50 milliamperes.
To make these modifications, do the following: place the cursor over one of the horizontal axis
(X axis) values, such as 14; right click and select Format Axis, on the Scale tab type 20
in the Maximum text box. Click OK. Next place the cursor over one of the vertical axis (Y
axis) values, such as 40; right click and select Format Axis, on the Scale tab type 50 in
the Maximum text box. Click OK.
Other lab data can be plotted with Excel in a similar manner. To learn how to plot data in a
semilog graph, reference the document Plotting Lab Data in a Semilog Graph with Excel
which is available at the following website: http://ecet.spsu.edu/whodges/default.htm