THEORY

The components introduced in this lab will be used in the following labs to construct circuits that
increase in complexity as the labs go on. Electronic components can be broadly classified into
active and passive components. Active Components are electronic components which are capable
of amplifying or processing an electrical signal, such as diodes and transistors while Passive
Components are electronic components which are not capable of amplifying or processing an
electrical signal that we use in this experiment, such as resistors, variable resistor, capacitors,
inductors, batteries, switch, breadboard and magnet. The basics electronic instrument such as
Analogue Voltmeter, Digital Multimeter and Analogue Multimeter.
A resistor is a two terminal component which provides resistance to the flow of current in a
circuit. All resistors have power ratings. It is the maximum power that can be dissipated without
damaging the component. Thus, a 1 watt resistor with a resistance of 100 can pass a maximum
current of 100 mA .The Capacity of resist of a material is its resistance which is measured in Ohms
(Ω) or Omega. The mathematical representation of Ohm’s Law is I = V/R. Resistance cannot be
measured in negative; it is only a positive value. The size of a resistor is usually bigger if its wattage
rating is higher, so as to withstand higher power dissipation. Resistors can be broadly classified
into two groups-fixed and variable. Variable resistors can be used to do such adjustments. Big size
variable resistors are usually called rheostats. In electronic circuits, we use small size variable
resistors, and they are called potentiometers.
A capacitor can store electrical energy in its electric field, and release it whenever desired. A
capacitor opposes any change in the potential difference applied across its terminals. The
capacitance of a capacitor is measured in farads (F). Capacitors vary in shape and size, but the
basic configuration is two conductors separated by an insulating medium.
An inductor is a device that stores electrical energy in the magnetic field surrounding it.
Inductance is the property of a coil (the inductor) to oppose a change in current. In its simplest
form, an inductor consists of a wire loop or coil. The inductance of an inductor is directly
proportional to the number of turns in the coil. The unit of Inductance is henry (H).
A breadboard (or protoboard) is a construction base for prototyping of electronics. The term
"breadboard" is commonly used to refer to a solderless breadboard (plugboard). Most electronic
components in electronic circuits can be interconnected by inserting their leads or terminals into
the holes and then making connections through wires where appropriate. The breadboard has strips
of metal underneath the board and connect the holes on the top of the board. The metal strips are
laid out as shown below. Note that the top and bottom rows of holes are connected horizontally
and split in the middle while the remaining holes are connected vertically.
Battery is a device that converts chemical energy in to electrical energy and provides power to
devices. Batteries come in different sizes and voltage. Batteries are also classified as Primary and
Secondary. You can use Primary Batteries until they are drained out and discard them later. In case
of Secondary Batteries, you can use them even after they are drained out by recharging them.In
electronic circuits, we often use 1.5V AA Batteries or 9V PP3 Batteries.
Analogue ammeters, also known as current meters, are metered instruments that measure current
flow in amperes. Current levels are displayed on a dial, usually with a moving pointer or needle
made of a soft iron. Analogue ammeters provide information about current draw and current
continuity in order to help users troubleshoot erratic loads and trends. They have both positive and
negative leads and feature extremely low internal resistance. Analogue multimeters are
instruments that are used to measure electrical quantities such as voltage, current, resistance,
frequency and signal power. Basic functionality includes measurement of potential in volts,
resistance in ohms, and current in amps. Analogue multimeters are used to find electronic and
electrical problems. Advanced units come with more features such as capacitor, diode and IC
testing modes. A digital multimeter (DMM) is a test tool used to measure two or more electrical
values—principally voltage (volts), current (amps) and resistance (ohms). It is a standard
diagnostic tool for technicians in the electrical/electronic industries. Digital multimeters combine
the testing capabilities of single-task meter the voltmeter (for measuring volts), ammeter (amps)
and ohmmeter (ohms). Often they include a number of additional specialized features or advanced
options.