PUSAT PENGAJIAN KEJURUTERAAN

MEKANIK KAMPUS KEJURUTERAAN

UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
14300 NIBONG TEBAL, PULAU PINANG

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EML 211/2 – 2018/19
ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1
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Title: Experiment 10: Electric Circuitry I

Name: MUHAMMAD ZAIM HANIF BIN NAZARUDIN

Group: B03 Matrix No: 137849

Demonstrator: Mr. Mohd Ali Shahbana Mohd Raus

Lecturer: Dr. Ooi Lu Ean

Date of Experiment: 25/10/2018 Date of Submission: 29/10/2018

Signature: ...........................................................

Grader’s Comments :

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Title: Measurement of Voltage, Current, Power and Resistance in the Direct Current Circuit

Introduction:

The circuit can be connected in different way such as in series or parallel circuit. In series circuit, the
current across the circuit is the same but different in voltage. The value of total voltage in the series
circuit is the sum of voltage in each component. Besides, in parallel circuit the voltage across the
circuit is the same but different in current. The value of total current is the sum of the current in each
component. The total value of resistances in series circuit is the sum of all resistance in the circuit,
while in parallel, the total resistance in the circuit is the sum of one over each resistor.

Objectives:
a) To measure the voltage, current , power , and resistance using voltmeter and ammeter.
b) To understand the theories for series and parallel connection in the direct current circuit.

Apparatus:
a) 2 Multimeter
b) 2 Power source
c) Resistor with different value
d) 3 test resistor

Methodology:
1. Series Resistor Circuit

Part I
a. We choose the resistors and which labelled as R1 and R2, and the value of voltage which is
10V. The value of R1 and R2 are chosen which are 1000Ω, 1000Ω . Then, the summation of
R1 and R2 is equal to the total resistance in the circuit, Rt=R1+R2.The value of current was
calculated using simple Ohm’s Law equation, V=IR.
b. The resistance R1 and R2, are now connected in series using a circuit board as shown in
figure 1.
c. The circuit is completed by connecting a power supply with 10V.
d. The readings of voltage and current are measured by using multimeter. The data was recorded
and calculated.

Figure 1
Part II
a. The poles of battery was inverted.
b. We explain the reason that we able to take the reading from multimeter or not. And we
also explain how we solve the problem.
c. Then, we take the reading multimeter, and explain is there has a difference between the
reading from part 1 and part 2.
d. We justify our answer.

2. Parallel Resistor Circuit

a. We choose the resistors and which labelled as R1 and R2, and the value of voltage
which is 10V. The value of R1 and R2 are chosen which are 1000Ω, 1000Ω . Then, the
summation of R1 and R2 is equal to the total resistance in the circuit, Rt=R1+R2.The
value of current was calculated using simple Ohm’s Law equation, V=IR.
b. The resistance R1 and R2, are now connected in parallel using a circuit board as shown
in figure 2.
c. The circuit is completed by connecting a power supply with 10V.
d. The current ,I1 and I2 that pass through R1 and R2 respectively were measured using
ammeter.
e. The total current that flows in the circuit was measured using ammeter.
f. We justify our answer that the reading from multimeter is same or not with values that
we calculated from theory.

Figure 2

3. Measurement of voltage, current, power and load resistance by using one voltmeter.

3.1.Measure the voltage that across the resistant using a voltmeter

a. The circuit was set up according to Figure 3 with three different test resistor. The
circuit consist of a 3 different test resistor
b. Next, each test resistors are labelled as V1 ,V2, V3 respectively. A voltmeter was used
to determine the voltage reading for each test resistors.

Figure 3
3.2. Measure the current across the resistor using a ammeter

a. The value of known resistor, R =2.2kΩ, was choose. Then, the known resistor was
connected in a circuit with an unknown resistor as shown in Figure 4. The circuit
was completed by connecting it to a 5V power supply.
b. This setup was repeated for three test resistors (unknown resistor). After that,
voltage readings, V1,V2,V3 were taken for known resistor in each individual setup
by using a voltmeter.
c. The current that pass through the test resistors with the current labelled as I1, I2, I3
respectively was determined by using formula :

𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
Current pass through the load = Ampere
𝑅

Figure 4

3.3. Measure the power that apply to the load by using the voltmeter

a. The circuit was set up as shown in Figure 5.

b. The voltmeter was connected to the test resistor (unknown resistor).
c. The reading of voltage was labelled as V1 and the value was recorded.
d. The voltmeter was connected to the known resistor R = 2.2kΩ. The reading of the
voltage was recorded and labelled as V2 .
e. The power that has been applied to the test resistor (unknown resistor) was
calculated by using formula :
𝑉2
𝑃𝑜 = x 𝑉1
𝑅

Figure 5

3.4.Measure the load resistance RL by using voltmeter

a. The circuit in figure 5 was set up.

𝑉2
b. The load resistance was calculated, by referred to the reading V1 and
𝑅
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑉1 𝑉1𝑅
𝑅𝐿 = = =
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑉2⁄𝑅 𝑉2
4. Measurement of voltage, current, power, and load resistance using one ammeter

4.1. Measure the current through the load using a ammeter

a. The circuit was set up as shown in Figure 6 by using 1kΩ resistor.

b. The reading of ammeter, I was taken by using an ammeter.

Figure 6

4.2. Measure the voltage pass through the load using an ammeter

a. The circuit was set up as shown in Figure 7 by using 1kΩ resistor.

b. The reading of current, I that pass through 1kΩ resistor was recorded.
c. The voltage through the load was calculated using formula, V=IR

Figure 7

4.3.Measure the power that power supply to the load by using ammeter

a. The circuit was connected as shown in Figure 8 and the reading of current was measured
by using ammeter.
b. The resistor R was used with 220 Ω and the data was recorded as A1.
c. The connection as in figure 9 was making.
d. The reading of ammeter was taken as A2.
e. The voltage that pass through the load was calculated using formula VR= A2R.

Figure 8

Figure 9
 4.4. Measure the load resistance ,R

a. The data from section 4.3 was used referring to Figure 8 and 9. The load resistance was
calculated, RL.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝑅𝐿 =
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝐴2 𝑅
𝑅𝐿 = Ohms
𝐴1

5. Measurement of voltage, current, power , and load resistance using ammeter and voltmeter

a. The component of the circuit was connected as in Figure 10.

b. The reading of ammeter was taken as A and the reading from voltmeter was taken as V.
The power supplied to the load was:
PL= V x A Watt.
Load resistance, R1= V/A Ohm

Figure 10

Results
1. Series Resistor Circuit

Part 1: Rt=R1+R2
Rt=1000Ω+1000Ω
Rt=2000Ω

Vt=10V
V=IR
Calculated I = V/R
I =10V/2000Ω
I = 5mA

Part 2:
The poles of the battery are now inverted. The reading from voltmeter and ammeter are
undefined. The reason for the problem was the pointer of voltmeter and ammeter are
 deflecting to the left side which are impossible to determine the value. Reversing the polarity
of the multimeter will solve the problem. After reversing the polarity of the multimeter, the
readings are still the same as part 1. This is because resistors have no polarity, reversing the
current flow will not affect the value of the resistor. The total resistance and voltage source
remain the same, hence the result will be the same.

2. Parallel resistor circuit

𝑅1𝑅2
R1 = 4.7kΩ 𝑅𝑡 = 𝑅
1+𝑅2
4700Ω x 68000Ω
R2 = 68kΩ 𝑅𝑡 =
4700Ω+68000Ω

Rt= 4.4kΩ

Voltage for 𝑅1 =𝑅2 = 10V

From ammeter readings that pass through for each resistors:

Measured I1 = 2.6mA
Measured I2 = 0.15mA
Total current flows in the circuit, I = 2.75mA

Calculation method
𝑉 𝑉
𝐼1 = 𝑅 𝐼2 = 𝑅
1 1

10 10
𝐼1 = 4.7𝑘Ω 𝐼2 = 68𝑘Ω

𝐼1 = 2.13mA 𝐼2 = 0.147mA

Total calculated I = 2.28mA

The reading is not the same as the calculated current because resistors have tolerance value,
hence the reading taken will have slight differences from the calculated value. Another reason
that may causes the differences is the temperature. If a circuit is connected for too long, the
resistance within the wire will slightly increase hence will affect the value taken.

3. Measurement of voltage, current, power and load resistance by using one voltmeter.

3.1. Volt used = 5V

Test resistor 1, V1 = 5V
Test resistor 2, V2 = 4.8V
Test resistor 3, V3 = 5V

3.2. R used = 2.2k Ω

Voltage reading for unknown resistor, V1 = 3V
Voltage reading for unknown resistor, V2 = 4.9V
Voltage reading for unknown resistor, V3 = 4.8V
 𝑉
I=
𝑅
Current that pass through, I1 = 1.364mA
Current that pass through, I2 = 2.227mA
Current that pass through, I3 = 2.182mA

3.3. Volt used 5V

Known R used = 2.2k Ω
V1 = 2V
V2 = 3V

𝑉2
P= x 𝑉1
𝑅
3
P= x2
2200

P = 2.73mW

𝑉
3.4. 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑅𝐿 = 𝑉1𝑅
2
(2)(2200)
𝑅𝐿 =
3
RL = 1.47k Ω

4. Measurement of voltage , current , power , and load resistance using one ammeter

4.1. Load used = 1k Ω

Voltage used = 5 V
I = 5mA

4.2. Load used = 1k Ω

R used = 220 Ω
I = 22 mA
V=IR
V= 22x(10)^(-3)x 220Ω
Calculated Voltage = 4.84 V

4.3. Load used = 1k Ω

R used = 220 Ω
A1 = 5mA
A2= 22mA
VR =4.84V

𝑃𝐿 = Voltage x Current
𝑃𝐿 = 𝐴1 𝐴2 R
𝑃𝐿 =(5x10−3 )(22x10-3) (220)
 𝑃𝐿 = 0.0107W
PL= 0.242 W

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

4.4. 𝑅𝐿 =
𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝐴2 𝑅
𝑅𝐿 = Ohms
𝐴1
(0.022)(220)
𝑅𝐿 = 5𝑥10−3

RL = 968 Ω

5. Measurement of voltage, current, power and load resistance using ammeter and voltmeter

Load used = 4700 Ω

V = 10 V
A = 2.3mA

𝑃𝐿 = V x A
𝑃𝐿 =10 x 0.0023
𝑃𝐿 =0.023W

𝑉
𝑅𝐿 = Ohm
𝐴

10
𝑅𝐿 =
0.0023

𝑅𝐿 = 4347.83Ω

Discussion
1. Series Resistor Circuit

For part 1, according to the experiment and reading value, current measured was same
as calculated value. This show that the experiment that conducted was accurate because the
result we got has no error.
For part 2, from the experiment that we conducted same as part 1 but the poles of
battery was inverted. The reading from voltmeter and ammeter are undefined. The reason for
the problem was the pointer of voltmeter and ammeter are deflecting to the left side which are
impossible to determine the value. Reversing the polarity of the multimeter will solve the
problem. After reversing the polarity of the multimeter, the readings are still the same as part
1. This is because resistors have no polarity, reversing the current flow will not affect the
value of the resistor. The total resistance and voltage source remain the same, hence the result
will be the same.

2. Parallel resistor circuit

In this experiment, the reading value of the current, I1 was different between the
calculated value. This different has 22% percentage error that was high because more than
10% of percentage error. The result cannot be accepted due to the error that may happen
during the experiment. For I2, 2% percentage error that is low compare to the I1. This result can
be accepted because it low than 10% percentage error and may has some error during
experiment. Itotal in this experiment has 20% percentage error that is high percentage error.
The error that may occur during the experiment which is has a poor calibration of the
ammeter and voltmeter while recording the value to be zero. The device in the lab may not
working accurately during the experiment. Besides, the connection of the component may be
loose. Lastly, the resistance may increase the temperature because the high voltage supply to
the circuit that can affect the result.
Some precaution while handling the experiment to get a good result which is take
repeated reading and calculate the average reading of ammeter or voltmeter. Turn off the
power supply when we do not use it to avoid the resistor to be heated and lose the effective of
that resistor. Furthermore, always recalibrate the measuring device.

3. Measurement of voltage, current, power, and load resistance by using one voltmeter
Based on the results, the resistance, R2 has the highest voltage and current flow
followed by R3 and R1 in the series connection on part 3.2. For 3.3 and 3.4, we can see that the
power and load resistance had been calculated. It show that, when RL is high, more power
needed by the load.

4. Measurement of voltage, current, power and load resistance using one ammeter.

In 4.1 part, a simple series circuit that contain only a 5V power supply, a load and
ammeter was built. The value of the ammeter was 5mA. Then, in 4.2 part, a 220Ω resistor was
added in parallel with the load and the ammeter was changed to be in series with 220Ω
resistor. The reading of ammeter was 22mA. By using Ohm’s Law equation, the voltage that
pass through load was determined and the value is 4.84V. The voltage across resistors that in
parallel are the same, but we got slightly different. In 4.3, the location of ammeter was
changed so that the ammeter is series with the load. The reading of ammeter,A1 was 5mA.
Then, the location was switched to be series with 220Ω resistor and the reading of the ammeter
, A2 was 22mA. The voltage that pass through load formula was VR=A2R and the value was
4.84V. Power was determined and the value was 0.242W. Finally, the load resistance was able
to determine that is 968Ω.
The value of the current in A1 was higher than A2 because A1 is connected in the series
connection with load and A2 is connected in series connection with resistance.
 5. Measurement of voltage, current, power and load resistance using ammeter and voltmeter.
From this experiment, the reading of ammeter, A and voltmeter, V was 2.3mA and
10V. Then the power supplied to the load was calculated and the value was 0.023W. Finally,
the value of load resistance can be determined and the value was 4347.83Ω.

Overall review from the experiment, when the experiment is being carried out, one of
the unknown value resistors started to smoke. This incident is probably caused by the high
voltage value used as the initial voltage value that we set is 10V. High voltage source will lead
to increase in current in the circuit. Hence, the voltage source used is reduced to 5V and the
broken resistor is replaced by the technician. Besides, the circuit is avoided to connect to the
source for too long as it will causes the wire resistance to increase that may lead to inaccurate
of the data taken.

Conclusion
The current, voltage, power and resistor had been measured using the multimeter.
V=IR is the Ohm’ law as fundamental formula to calculate voltage, current and resistance in a
circuit.
In series circuit, the voltage across the resistor change while the current remain the
same. In parallel circuit, the current across the resistors change while the voltage remain the
same.

1. References
MCQ learn. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mcqlearn.com/g9/physics/what-is-zero-error.php
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from Parallax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallax
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from Series and Parallel Circuit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Series_and_parallel_circuits