EEE1 Lab: Experiment 4

AC Circuits

Date:______________ Section:_____ Group:_____

Name Student Number Signature
1.
2.

A. Instructions
 Perform the tasks enumerated in this experiment.
 Present the results of all tasks labelled as SPOT CHECK to your instructor.
 Answer the questions in the Required Discussion section in complete detail. You can use extra sheets or print outs.
Do not forget to cite your references.
 Submit this handout together with any other additional sheets you used on the day of the deadline.

B. Objectives
1. To appreciate the concept of peak voltages, rms voltages, average voltage, frequency, period and phase difference
through the use of the oscilloscope, signal generator, DMM and simple AC circuits.
2. To very concepts of phasor analysis (phase angles, phasor addition, etc.)

C. Materials and Equipment

1. Digital Oscilloscope (1) 5. Resistors, inductor, capacitor
2. Oscilloscope Probes (2) 6. Wires, connectors and clips
3. Signal Generator (1) 7. Digital Multimeter (1)
4. Signal Generator Coaxial Cable (1)

D. AC Analysis of Capacitive Loads

1. Implement the circuit shown in Figure 1. Vs is a 100 kHz, 3.5Vrms, 0 DC offset sinusoidal waveform generated from
the signal generator. Measure the voltage of Vs using the DMM. Vac=_________, Vdc=__________.
R = 1kΩ, C = 2.2nF
2. [SPOT CHECK] Using the techniques learned in the previous experiment, display the waveforms across the resistor
(Vr) and the capacitor (Vc) simultaneously using the oscilloscope. Draw the resulting waveforms in Figure 2.
Complete Table 1. ΔΦ is the phase difference between the voltage and current through that particular component
(∠Voltage-∠Current). Assume that the resistor is ideal. Hint: The current can be computed using the resistor
voltage and the resistor value.

Figure 1. RC Circuit

Table I. RC Circuit Measurements

Component VT Vrms IT Irms ΔΦ ZT (phasor, Ω, degrees) Computed

(peak,V) (rms, V) (peak, A) (rms, A) (degrees) Value
C1
Vs
 (a) (b)
Figure 2. Capacitive Load Output Waveform (a)Vr and Vc (b) XY plot

3. Use the X-Y mode of the oscilloscope while both Vr and VC are displayed in CH1 and CH2 respectively. If not
possible, display Vs and VC instead. Phase deviation = _________
E. AC Analysis of Inductive Loads
1. Implement the circuit shown in Figure 3. Vs is a 500 kHz, 5Vpeak, 0 DC offset sinusoidal waveform generated from
the signal generator. R2 = 1kΩ, L1=47uH
2. [SPOT CHECK] Using the techniques learned in the previous experiment, display the waveforms across the resistor
(Vr) and the inductor (VL) simultaneously using the oscilloscope. Draw the resulting waveforms in Figure 4.
Complete Table 2. ΔΦ is the phase difference between the voltage and current through that particular component
(∠Voltage-∠Current). Assume that the resistor is ideal. Hint: The current can be computed using the resistor
voltage and the resistor value.
3. Use the X-Y mode of the oscilloscope while both Vr and VL are displayed in CH1 and CH2 respectively. If not
possible, display Vs and VL instead. Phase deviation = _________

Figure 3. RL Circuit

Table II. RL Circuit Measurements

Component VT Vrms IT Irms ΔΦ ZT (phasor, Ω, degrees) Computed

(peak,V) (rms, V) (peak, A) (rms, A) (degrees) Value
L1
Vs
 Figure 4. Inductive Load Output Waveforms (a) Vr and Vl (b) XY Plot

F. AC Analysis of RLC Circuits

1. Implement the circuit shown in Figure 5. Vs is a 500 kHz, 10V peak-to-peak, 0 DC offset sinusoidal waveform
generated from the signal generator. R4 = 1k, C = 2.2nF, L = 47uH, R3 = 0
2. [SPOT CHECK] Display the waveforms across the capacitor and inductor simultaneously. Draw the resulting
waveform in Figure 6 and complete Table III. Assume that the resistors are ideal. Hint: The current can be
computed using the voltages and the ideal resistor.
3. Use the X-Y mode of the oscilloscope while both VC and VL are displayed in CH1 and CH2 respectively. If not
possible, display Vs and V instead. Phase deviation = _________

Figure 5. RLC Circuit

Table III. RLC Measurements

Component VT Vrms IT Irms ΔΦ ZT (phasor, Ω, degrees) Computed

(peak,V) (rms, V) (peak, A) (rms, A) (degrees) Value
C
L
Vs

Figure 6. RLC Output Waveform (a) Vc and VL (b) XY Plot

G. Required Discussion
1. What does the DMM measure (Vac and Vdc)? How does it compare with measurements made using the
oscilloscope?
2. Describe the method you used in computing for the capacitance and inductance values of the components from
VT, IT and ΔΦ. C = ________, L = ________
3. Using the obtained data and applying phasor analysis, show that Vs is actually equal to Vr + VC. Show also for Vr+VL.
4. Observe the output voltage V in part F as frequency is increased. There will be point where the output power is
halved, also called the 3dB point. 3db point frequency = _____________.