10/30/2014

Low Pass
Filter Lab

Andrew Powers, Hubert Walkowski, Cole Leether

WENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Abstract:
The Low Pass Filter Lab was conducted in order to determine how various
resistance values affect the cut off frequency of the circuit. In order to test the cut
off frequency of the circuits a circuit was constructed with the use of a resistor
and a capacitor. The resistors used to construct the four circuits were 470 ohm,
1k, 4.7k, and 10k. The cut off frequency was first theoretically determined for
each of the circuits then the circuits made on the breadboards were run and the
experimental cut off frequency was measured along with the slope of the cut off.
In the end it was concluded that as the resistor value increased the cut off
frequency decreased and as the resistance increased the rate in which the
capacitor was charged decreased.
Introduction/Synopsis:
A low-pass filter is a filter that passes signals with a frequency lower than a
certain cutoff frequency and attenuates signals with frequencies higher than the
cutoff frequency. The amount of attenuation for each frequency depends on the
filter design. The filter is sometimes called a high-cut filter, or treble cut filter in
audio applications. [1]
The cutoff frequency above which the output voltage falls below 70.7% of
the input voltage. This cutoff percentage of 70.7 is not arbitrary, all though it may
seem so at first glance. In a simple capacitive/resistive low-pass filter, it is the
frequency at which capacitive reactance in ohms equals resistance in ohms. In a
simple capacitive low-pass filter (one resistor, one capacitor), the cutoff
frequency is given as: [2]

By using LabVIEW, it is possible generate a response curve for different

resistors through a sweep of frequencies.

Images of Lab Equipment and Apparatus:

The electrical components used in this set up consisted of a breadboard
with connected resistors and capacitor. Four different circuits were constructed
using a 470 ohm, 1k, 4.7k, and a 10k resistor.
The images below express a complete set up of all above components. The
only aspect of the test equipment left out is the computer in which the LabVIEW
program was projected. This program was used to generate the graphics shown in
the graphical results section of the report.

Schematic of Set up:

Equations:

1
2

= , = , =

Graphical Results:
470 ohm

1k

4.7k

10k

Theoretical vs Calculated Cut Off Frequency Chart

Resistance

Theoretical
Cut Off
Frequency

470
1k
4.7k
10k

3.386 kHz
1.59 kHz
338.6 Hz
159 Hz

Cut off Freq in

log Scale (x
value on
Graphs)
3.4
3.133
2.467
2.067

Converting
Log to
Measured
Frequency
103.4
103.133
102.467
102.067

Measured Cut
Off Frequency

2.51 kHz
1.36 kHz
293 Hz
116 Hz

LabVIEW Interface to Calculate Theoretical Cut off Frequency

Discussion of Results:
The trends of the graphs show that the cut off frequency is what was
expected for a low pass filter. For the 470 ohm and 1 k resistors, the amplitude
decreases significantly after the cut off frequency is reached which is in the stop
band of the graph. For the 4.7 k and 10 k resistors, their graphs show a more
gradually decreasing amplitude after the cut off is reached, again in the stop band
of their respective graphs. Based on each graph, comparing the measured cut off
frequencies to theoretical values, it is seen that the frequencies are far off for
each resistor. But, an important thing to notice here is the trend when going from
a 470 ohm resistor to 10 k. The theoretical values show a decreasing frequency
trend which is also shown with the measured values; theoretical cut off

frequencies range from 3.386 kHz to 159 Hz, and the measured cut off
frequencies range from 2.51 kHz to 116 Hz. It is good to see that both show a
decreasing trend, but the values are off due to large error in the experiment.
The main area of error in this experiment has to do with the capacitors
used. Companies who make capacitors generally do so at minimal cost. Because
of this, capacitors tend to be very inaccurate, leading to untrue results. As
explained before, the trend of measured cut off frequencies makes sense, but it is
consistently off from theoretical values due to bad lab hardware. The labelled
value of the capacitor used was 0.1 micro farad but it is estimated that it was truly
0.2 micro farad based on numerical results.

Conclusions:
The results of this lab show the characteristics of a low pass filter. As
resistance in the system decreases, the cut off frequency increases. Obviously,
these two variables have an inverse relationship which is important to know.
Once the cut off frequency is reached, the amplitude decreases until it ceases. In
situations that require a low pass filter and need high accuracy, investment in
quality hardware and instruments is recommended because if cheap material
were used like in this experiment, low accuracy will be produced. If this was done
again with proper equipment, the low pass filter could actually be used in
applications like converting AC to DC where it can smooth out the rippling
waveform of the alternating current2.

Reference Material:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-pass_filter#Acoustics
[2] http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_8/2.html