Experiment 1

Circuits with Resistive Elements

In this experiment, we shall experiment with circuits consisting of resistive

elements such as resistors, photocells and light emitting diodes. We shall
learn how to use a multimeter to measure resistance, voltage and current.

1.1 Resistance Measurement

1.1.1 Resistor Color Coding
Resistors used in electronic circuits use a standard color code, which consists
of four color bands. The first two bands are used to determine the first and
the second significant figures of the resistance value. The third band is the
multiplier, which gives the number of zeros we shall add to the resistance value.
The fourth band is the percent tolerance of the resistance value. The color
code used for resistors with four bands is given in Table 1.1
For special applications, precision resistors with tolerance values as low as
0.001% are available. Such resistors use a fifth color band, not included in the
above table.
As an example, lets find the resistance value of a resistor with four color
bands of brown, black, orange and gold.
• The first color band is brown, so the first digit is “1”.
• The second color band is black, so the second digit is “0”.
• The third color band is orange, so the multiplier is “1000”.
• The resistance value is then 10 × 1000 = 10000Ω or 10kΩ.
• The fourth band is gold, so the resistor has a tolerance of 5%. Therefore,
the resistance is between 9.5 kΩ and 10.5 kΩ.

1
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Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Multiplier Band 4 Tolerance

Black 0 Black 0 Black 1 Silver 10%
Brown 1 Brown 1 Brown 10 Gold 5%
Red 2 Red 2 Red 100 Red 2%
Orange 3 Orange 3 Orange 1000 None 20%
Yellow 4 Yellow 4 Yellow 10000
Green 5 Green 5 Green 100000
Blue 6 Blue 6 Blue 1000000
Violet 7 Violet 7
Gray 8 Gray 8 Silver 0.01
White 9 White 9 Gold 0.1

Table 1.1: Resistor color coding scheme

1.1.2 Using a Multimeter to measure Resistance

To measure resistance using a multimeter you need to connect the resistor
between the leads of the multimeter as shown in Figure 1.1 and press the
resistance button on the multimeter. The Agilent multimeter has different
inputs for measuring voltage, current and resistance. Be sure to connect your
test leads to the inputs for resistance measurement.

0.000

Figure 1.1: Measuring resistance using a multimeter.

Measurements & Questions:

1. Use the color coding scheme to determine the resistance and tolerance
of the resistors in your kit.

2. Use your multimeter to measure the resistance of the same resistors.

Create a table comparing the measured resistance values with those you
obtained using the color coding.

3. Verify that the measured resistance values are within the tolerance limits.
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4. Choose two resistors you have measured before and use your experiment
board to connect them first in series then in parallel. Measure the equiv-
alent resistance of the connections with your multimeter. Compare your
measured values with those you would expect from calculations of the
equivalent resistance.

1.2 Voltage Measurement

We can measure the voltage across a circuit element by connecting the mul-
timeter in parallel with the element. For instance, the multimeter shown in
Figure 1.2 measures the voltage between the points A and B.
In the laboratory, the voltage source shown in Figure 1.2 is an electronic
power supply, which generates a constant voltage just like a battery. It is
a good practice to set up the power supply to generate the desired voltage
before connecting it to your circuit. To set up the Agilent power supply, do
the following:
• Turn on the power supply.
• Enable the power supply output.
• Set the output voltage to the desired value.
• Disable the voltage output.
• You will enable the voltage output after you finish constructing the cir-
cuit and set up your multimeter for voltage measurement.

0.00 V

A B
R1
R2
Vs

Figure 1.2: Measuring voltage using a multimeter.

To measure voltage using a multimeter:

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• Construct your circuit.

• Press the DC Voltage measurement button on the multimeter. This

is a very important step since you can cause permanent damage to the
multimeter if you try to measure voltage while your multimeter is set to
measure resistance.

• The Agilent multimeter has different inputs for measuring voltage, cur-
rent and resistance. Connect your test leads to the inputs for voltage
measurement.

• Connect the test leads to the points on the circuit across which the
voltage has to be determined.

• Check your circuit one last time.

• Enable the voltage output of the power supply.

• Read the voltage off the multimeter display.

• You can now move the multimeter leads to make other measurements.

• When you complete all your measurements, disable the voltage output.
You do not have to turn off the power supply.

Measurements & Questions:

1. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1.3. Measure the voltage across
each resistor.

2. Verify Kirchoff’s voltage law using the measured voltages.

3. Every voltmeter has an internal resistance. Would you expect a good

voltmeter to have a low or high internal resistance? Why?

3.9 k

1k
5V

Figure 1.3: Resistors connected in series.

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1.3 Current Measurement

Before you make any changes to your circuit check to make sure that the power
supply output is disabled. You do not have to turn off the power supply.
We can measure the current flowing through a circuit element by connecting
the multimeter in series with the element. For example, the multimeter shown
in Figure 1.4 measures the current flowing through the resistor, R1 .
To measure current using your multimeter do the following:

• Construct your circuit.

• Connect the test leads in series with the element through which the
current has to be determined.

• Press the DC Current measurement button on the multimeter.

• The Agilent multimeter has different inputs for measuring voltage, cur-
rent and resistance. Connect your test leads to the inputs for current
measurement.

• Enable the power supply output.

• Disable the power supply output if you have to change your connections
for other current measurements.

A B

R1
Vs

Figure 1.4: Measuring current using a multimeter.

Measurements & Questions:

1. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1.5.

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2. Measure the currents Is , I1 and I2 .

3. Verify Kirchoff’s current law.

4. Every current meter has an internal resistance. Would you expect a good
current meter to have a low or high internal resistance? Why?

Is I1

3.9 k I2 1k
5V

Figure 1.5: Resistors connected in parallel.

1.4 Photocell as a Resistive Element

In this part of the experiment, we shall construct a simple circuit consisting
of a resistor and a photocell. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1.6.

3.9 k Photocell

5V

Figure 1.6: Resistor and photocell in series.

Measurements & Questions:

1. Measure the voltage across the photocell and the 3.9 kΩ resistor under
ambient light. Be sure not to block the ambient light incident on the
photocell during this measurement. Use your measurement results to
calculate the photocell resistance under ambient light.

2. Repeat the previous measurement after covering the photocell completely

with the black plastic box in your kit. Use your measurement results to
calculate the photocell resistance in dark.
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3. Use Ohm’s law and your measurement results from previous steps to cal-
culate the current flow through the photocell in dark and under ambient
light.

4. Measure the current flowing through the photocell using your multimeter
in dark and under ambient light. Compare your measurement results
with the calculated values obtained in the previous step.

1.5 A Simple LED Circuit

In this part of the experiment we will experiment with a light emitting diode
(LED). Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1.7. Be sure to connect the LED
such that it is forward biased.
Resistance
Box
3.9 k
LED
5V

Figure 1.7: Resistor and LED in series with a decade box.

Measurements & Questions:

1. Set your decade box resistance to zero ohm such that the only resistor
in series with the LED is the fixed, 3.9 kΩ resistor. If you connected the
circuit correctly, your LED should be on producing a bright red light.
Measure the voltage across the LED using the multimeter.

2. Measure the current flowing through the LED using your multimeter.

3. Increase the resistance of the box as you observe the changes occurring
in the loop current and the brightness of the LED.

4. Record the total series resistance and resulting current for five different
settings of the decade box. Use these measurements to calculate the
voltage across the LED.

5. Use your measurement results, to estimate the turn-on voltage of the

LED.
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1.6 A Night Light Circuit

Consider the circuit shown in Figure 1.8. The circuit makes use of the photocell
to sense the intensity of the ambient light. If the light level is not sufficient,
it turns on the LED, which produces a bright red light.

3.9 k Photocell
LED
5V

Figure 1.8: A Night light circuit.

Operation of the Circuit

First, we see that the photocell and the LED are connected in parallel. There-
fore, the voltages across the two components should be exactly the same at
all times. We can also see that the current going through the resistor will be
shared by the photocell and the LED.
When the ambient light level is low, the photocell resistance is very large.
A good photocell may have a dark resistance on the order of several megaohms.
Then, a larger portion of the current entering the top node flows through the
LED. As we have seen in the previous experiment, the intensity of the light
produced by an LED increases with a larger current. When the ambient light
level is sufficiently high, the photocell resistance becomes very small and more
current begins to flow through the photocell leaving a small current to flow
through the LED and the LED turns off.
The value of the series resistance is critical and determines the sensitivity
of the circuit to different light conditions. For instance, if a smaller resistor is
used in the circuit, a larger current would flow into the node and this would
make the LED brighter. At the same time, it would be more difficult to turn
off the LED requiring a very low photocell resistance under ambient light.

Preparation:

• Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1.8. Be sure to orient the LED
polarity correctly.

• If the ambient light is sufficient, the LED should be off. If the ambient
light is not sufficient, your desk lamp should be able to provide this light
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to the photocell. If the LED remains ‘on’ even with the light from the
desk lamp, check your circuit.
• Use the black box to block the light incident on the photocell. Does the
LED turn on when you do this? If it does not, check your circuit.

Measurements & Questions:

1. Using your multimeter as a DC voltmeter, measure the supply voltage,

voltage across the LED and the 3.9kΩ resistor under ambient light (If
the ambient light is insufficient you can use a desk lamp). Be sure not
to block the incident light with your arms during the measurements.
2. Repeat the measurements in dark using the black box to cover the pho-
tocell.
3. Tabulate your measurements. The table could look like Table 1.2.
4. Verify Kirchoff’s voltage law using the measurement results.
5. Use the measured voltages to calculate the current flowing through the
LED in dark and under ambient light. For these calculations you will
need to use Ohm’s law and Kirchoff’s current law.
6. Measure the LED current under ambient light using the multimeter. Be
sure not to block the incident light with your arms during the measure-
ments.
7. Repeat the measurement in dark using the black box to cover the pho-
tocell.
8. Tabulate and compare the LED current values obtained using both meth-
ods.

1.7 Design Your Own Circuit

Design a new circuit, which turns on the LED when the ambient light level is
sufficient and turns it off when the light level is low. In your circuit, be sure
to have a resistor in series with the diode to limit the current flow.
Show your circuit to the teaching assistant before connecting it to the
power supply.

Measurements & Questions:

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1. Verify that your circuit is working.

2. Measure the critical voltages and currents in your circuit for the best
component values.

3. Write a brief technical report for your circuit. In your report, include
the following items:

• Circuit diagram
• Theory of operation, analysis of the circuit
• Measurement results
• Critique of the circuit, considering its advantages as well as its
shortcomings.
• Potential uses for the circuit.
• Cost estimate - how much will the components cost if it is manu-
factured in thousands? For pricing of the components you can refer
to online stores including Radio Shack, Jameco and Digi-Key.

Power Supply Resistance LED Photocell

Voltage(in dark)
Voltage(in light)
Current(in dark)
Current(in light)

Table 1.2: Voltages and Currents in the circuit.