California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Electrical Engineering Department

Memorandum

To: Professor R. Frank Smith Date: April 12, 2011

Group Members: Joseph Arias

Jordan Quintana

Sergio L. Zaragoza III

Subject: Ohm’s Law

The objective of this laboratory experiment was to verify Ohm’s law. In so doing learning the
tools electrical engineers use to analyze basic circuits, such as reading resistor color codes and
the use of ohmmeters, voltmeters, and ammeters. In evaluating the data we learned to calculate
the power loss in resistors using Ohm’s law: P = V2/I = I2R.

A wide range of resistors with variable resistance, wattage and tolerances are available for
applications on current carrying devices used in virtually every system with electrical
components such as a coffee machine or the F-22 Raptor. The resistance and tolerance of a
resistor is determined by observation of the color code. The color code consists of a series of four
to five transverse colored stripes that translate to a value of resistance and tolerance. The wattage
of a resistor can vary based on different parameters such as the size, cooling and mounting.

In the first part of the experiment color codes were taken from source 1 (reference to appendix
on page 5) to determine the resistance of 7 resistors on the board provided. A voltage was
applied across each resistor and an experimental value was obtained.

By referencing the color code, the theoretical resistances for the 7 resistors were 330Ω, 100Ω,
10000Ω, 4700Ω, 3010Ω, 2000Ω and 1000Ω. The experimental resistances as well as the errors
were calculated and tabulated on table 1 shown below. By observation, the errors yielded ranged
from 0% to 16.27% for the theoretically 10000Ω resister and theoretically 4700Ω resistor,
respectively. Generally, the percent error for measured resistance vs. theoretical resistance could
be explained by the tolerance of the resistor, which is determined by the last band in the resistor

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color code. For the theoretically 4700Ω resistor, the last band was determined by the
experimenters to be silver, which translates to a tolerance of +/- 10%. By observation, the
percent error of the experimental resistance is not within the tolerance of the resistor by 6.27%.
With an exception to resistor 3, all resistors are not within the specified tolerance.

Color Code Theoretical % error

Resistance Experimental Experimental
Resistor 1st
2nd 3rd 4th 5th (Ω) Resistance (Ω) Discrepancy
1 Orange Orange Brown Gold Yellow 330 357.1 8.23
2 Brown Black Brown Gold Yellow 100 111.1 11.11
3 Brown Black Yellow Gold N/A 10000 10000.0 0.00
4 Yellow Purple Red Silver N/A 4700 5464.5 16.27
5 Orange Black Brown Brown Brown 3010 3125.0 3.82
6 Red Black Black Brown Brown 2000 2024.3 1.21
7 Black Brown Black Red Silver 1000 1133.8 13.38
Table 1

In the second part of the experiment a variable voltage supply was connected to an 1134, 2025,
and 3125 ohm resistor. The voltage was varied from 0 to 10 volts and the results were plotted on
a current versus voltage graph (Figure 1, page 3).

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 0.005

Figure 1

0.0045
From the graph, we can verify Ohm’s Law from the plot because the slope of the graph is
measured as I/V, which means that the resistance will be measured by 1/R. Following these
formulas, this would mean that a smaller resistance would be shown with a higher slope on the
graph, and a bigger resistance would be shown as a line with a lower slope. Since [Rexp]7 is less
than [Rexp]5, the graph will show that [Rexp]7 will have a higher current flowing through it at the
fixed value of voltage that [Rexp]5, therefore, the plot verifies Ohm’s Law.

To measure the current through the resistor with an ammeter, connect the other end of the

0.004
resistor and the negative terminal to the ammeter in series with the circuit. The values of amps
should come out to be in mA. To calculate the resistance without the use of an ammeter, the
color code would be used to find the theoretical resistance of the resistor and divide the voltage
by the resistance to get the current through the resistance. However, because there is an
uncertainty value with every resistor, the value for the current will differ by a percentage value
marked on the resistor.

0.0035 3
In the third part of the experiment an 82 ohm (theoretical resistance) resistor was connected to
the variable power supply. The voltage was gradually increased and using our finger to feel an
increase in temperature. The voltage and resistance was measured at three different noticeable
temperature differences. The voltage was to be increased so that the wattage loss in the resistor
was less than ¼ watt. The results are as follows in table 2 below:

Measured Calculated Temperature

Voltage
Resistance,Ohm Wattage, Non War Ho
, Volts
sΩ Watts W e m t
V
84.566 4.00 0.189 X
83.946 4.34 0.224 X
82.807 7.08 0.605 X
Table 2

A resistor receives electrical energy and transforms it into heat. Technically electrical energy is
not lost but transformed into heat. In this report we refer to this transfer as a loss of wattage. A ¼
watt loss was observed at a voltage of 4.34 V and a measured resistance of 83.946 Ω. The
resistor felt warm when it dissipated ¼ watts. The measured resistance rendered a percent error
of 2.4%. This difference in the measured resistance to the theoretical resistance read off the
color/number code can be justified assuming the prescribed tolerance each resistor comes with.
The resistor became too hot to touch at approximately 7.08 V, 0.605 watts.

In conclusion, the experiment objectives were met. The experiment demonstrated proper usage
of the power source and ohmmeter in the electrical engineering laboratory by means of
validating ohms law and calculating powers using a plethora of resistors with known resistance.
Ohms law was demonstrated by calculating the experimental resistance using the currents going
through each resistor at a constant voltage. The resistors with theoretical resistances of 3010Ω,
2000Ω and 1000Ω yielded experimental resistances of 2125Ω, 2024Ω and 1134Ω ultimately
resulting in errors of 3.82%, 1.21% and 13.4%, respectively. The maximum allowed power of an
82Ω resistor was exceeded by means of varying the voltage until the resistor burned out. 0.25
watts were dissipated at 4.53Volts and the 82Ω resistor’s temperature was described as warm.
The resistor was described as too hot to touch when .605 watts were dissipated.

Appendix

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