UNIVERSITY KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA FRANCE INSTITUTE

NMB 34102
Measurement and Instrumentation System

EXPERIMENT 2
ANALYSIS OF THE ERROR IN MEASUREMENT

Prepared by:
NORRIMAH ABDULLAH
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS DEPARTMENT

1.0

OBJECTIVES
This experiment is designed to help students to :
a) Use DMM, oscilloscope and function generator to measure DC and AC
voltage and current of a circuit.
b) Analyze and understand the error introduced during measurement.
c) Explain the causes of measurement errors.

2.0 EQUIPMENTS
1)
2)
3)
4)

Digital Multimeter (DMM)

DC Power Supply
Resistor : 1 k - 2 units
Project Board

3.0 PROCEDURES:
3.1 PART A: DC Voltage Measurement
1.

Measure and record the expected resistance values of the two resistors using
DMM.

2.

Construct the circuit in Figure 1.

R1
A
Vin

I2

R2

Vout
B

Figure 1
3.

Set the input voltage Vin = 2 V. Using DMM, measure and record the output
voltage across R2.

4.

Increase Vin by 2 V. Measure and record the output voltage across R2 .

5.

Repeat Step 4 until Vin = 10 V. (Write down your measurement in a table)

6.

Calculate the expected voltage across R2 for all the input voltages, Vin in Step
5. (use the expected resistance value of R1 and R2 )

7.

For each measurement and expected values in Step 5 and 6, calculate the
absolute error, % error, relative accuracy, and % accuracy.

8.

Draw a graph of measured output voltage vs. input voltage from your data in
Step 5. How is the relationship between the measured output voltage and
input voltage? Is there any obvious error seen on your graph? Is there any
systematic error shown on your graph? Discuss your observations and
findings.

3.2 PART B: DC Current Measurement

1. Use the resistors and circuit in Part A.
2. Set the input voltage Vin = 2 V. Using DMM, measure and record the current
flow through R2.
3. Increase Vin by 2V. Measure and record the current flow through R2.
4. Repeat Step 3 until Vin = 10 V. (Write down your measurement in a table).
5. Calculate the expected current flow through R 2 for all the input voltages, Vin
in Step 4. (use the expected resistance value of R1 and R2 )
6. For each measurement and expected values in Step 4 and 5, calculate the
absolute error, % error, relative accuracy, and % accuracy.
7. Draw a graph of measured current vs. input voltage from your data in Step 4.
How is the relationship between the measured current and input voltage? Is
there any obvious error seen on your graph? Is there any systematic error
shown on your graph? Discuss your observations and findings.

3.3 PART C: AC Voltage and Current Measurement

1.

Construct the circuit in Figure 2.

R1
A
Vin
I2

R2

Vout
B

Figure 2
2.

Set the input voltage Vin = 4 Vpp. Measure the output voltage across R2 using
oscilloscope and DMM. Compare the result obtained.

3.

Increase Vin by 1 V. Measure and record the output voltage across R2.

4.

Repeat Step 4 until Vin = 8 Vpp. (Write down your measurement in a table)

5.

For each measurement and expected values in Step 3, calculate the absolute
error, % error, relative accuracy, and % accuracy.

6.

Draw a graph of measured output voltage vs. input voltage from your data in
Step 5. How is the relationship between the measured output voltage and
input voltage? Is there any obvious error seen on your graph? Is there any
systematic error shown on your graph? Discuss your observations and
findings.

7.

Make conclusion on your observations and findings for the measurement

error in Part A, B and C. Give your opinions on how to reduce the errors.