Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of

Ohm’s law

National University of Sciences and Technology

(NUST)

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)

Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification

of Ohm’s law

Submitted By: Muhammad Amaan Raza

Registration No: 465416

Submitted To: Ms. Sania Shaheen

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law
Assessment Rubrics for EE-103 Electrical Engineering Lab
Excellent (9-10) Good (7-8) Fair (4-6) Poor (1-3)
Introductio Complete and well Nearly complete, Some introductory Very little
n and written; provides all missing some minor information, but still background
Theory necessary points missing some major information
background points provided, or
principles for the information is
experiment incorrect
Experimen Well-written in Written in paragraph Written in paragraph Missing several
tal paragraph format, all format, important format, still missing important
Procedure experimental details experimental some important experimental
are covered details are covered, experimental details details or not
some minor details written in
missing paragraph format
Results: All figures, graphs, All figures, graphs, Most figures, graphs, Figures, graphs,
data, tables are correctly tables are correctly tables tables contain
figures, drawn, are numbered drawn, but OK, some still errors or are poorly
graphs, and contain some have minor missing some constructed, have
tables, etc. titles/captions. problems or could important or required missing
still be improved features titles, captions or
numbers, units
missing or
incorrect, etc.
Discussion All-important trends Almost all the results Some of the results Very incomplete or
and data have been correctly have been correctly incorrect
comparisons have interpreted interpreted and interpretation of
been interpreted and discussed, only discussed; partial but trends and
correctly and minor improvements Incomplete comparison of data
discussed, good are needed. understanding of indicating a lack of
Understanding of results is still evident. understanding of
results is conveyed. results.
Conclusion All-important All-important Conclusions regarding Conclusions
conclusions have conclusions have major points are missing or missing
been clearly made, been drawn, could be drawn, but many the important
student shows good better stated are misstated, points
understanding indicating a lack of
understanding
Report All sections in order, All sections in order, Sections in order, Sections out of
Formatting well formatted, very formatting generally contains the minimum order, too much
, structure readable. well, allowable handwritten copy,
and References provided But could still be Amount of sloppy formatting.
referencing appropriately improved. handwritten copy, No referencing at
References provided, formatting is rough all.
but not entirely but readable.
Improper
References

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law
Contents
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................... 4
Objectives: .............................................................................................................................. 4
Tools and Equipment: ............................................................................................................ 4
Theory: ................................................................................................................................... 4
Effect of Voltage on Current (Constant Resistance) .............................................................. 4
Effect of Resistance on Current (Constant Voltage) .............................................................. 5
Residual Resistance in Circuits .............................................................................................. 5
Voltage Drop Across Resistors .............................................................................................. 5
Lab Task: ................................................................................................................................ 6
Results: ................................................................................................................................... 7
Discussion: ............................................................................................................................. 7
General Safety Rules: ............................................................................................................. 7
Electrical Hazards and their Safety Measures: ....................................................................... 7
Conclusion:............................................................................................................................. 8

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law

Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification

of Ohm’s law
Introduction:
This experiment aims to verify Ohm’s Law and explore the relationship between voltage,
current, and resistance in electrical circuits. Ohm’s Law, a fundamental principle in electrical
engineering, defines the direct relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance
(R). By investigating the effects of constant resistance and varying voltage, and constant
voltage with varying resistance, the law is further validated.

Objectives:
 To verify Ohm's Law:
 To study the effect of voltage on current while keeping resistance constant.
 To study the effect of resistance on current while keeping voltage constant.
 To investigate the voltage drop across resistors with different input voltages.

Tools and Equipment:

 Multimeter
 DC Power Supply
 Resistors
 Breadboard
 Connecting Wires

Theory:
Ohm’s Law is one of the fundamental principles governing electrical circuits. It states that the
current (I) passing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the
voltage (V) across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance (R) of the
conductor. The law is mathematically expressed as:
𝐕∝𝐈

𝐕=𝐈∗𝐑
 Current (I): The flow of electrical charge through a conductor, measured in amperes
(A).
 Voltage (V): The electrical potential difference between two points, measured in volts
(V).
 Resistance (R): The opposition to the flow of current in a circuit, measured in ohms
(Ω).

Effect of Voltage on Current (Constant Resistance)

When the resistance is kept constant and the voltage is increased, the current increases
proportionally. This is because the relationship between voltage and current is linear, as
expressed by Ohm’s Law. For example, if the voltage is doubled, the current also doubles,
provided that the resistance does not change.

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law

Figure 1: Relation between Voltage and Current

Effect of Resistance on Current (Constant Voltage)

When the voltage is kept constant and the resistance is increased, the current decreases. This
is due to the inverse relationship between resistance and current. As resistance increases, it
restricts the flow of electrons through the circuit, reducing the current. If the resistance is
doubled, the current is halved at the same voltage.

Residual Resistance in Circuits

In practical circuits, there is always some residual resistance, even in components like wires
or breadboards, which are expected to have very low resistance. This residual resistance can
arise from imperfect connections, contact resistance, and the inherent resistance of the
materials used in the wires or breadboard. Parasitic elements such as stray capacitance and
inductance in the circuit can also introduce additional resistance, which affects measurements
and leads to small deviations from the expected values.

Additionally, when using a breadboard, the connections between the metal clips and
component leads may introduce slight resistance. This residual resistance adds to the overall
resistance in the circuit, slightly altering the current and causing discrepancies in voltage
readings.

Voltage Drop Across Resistors

In both series and parallel circuits, the voltage drop across resistors follows Ohm's Law. For
resistors in series, the sum of voltage drops across each resistor equals the total input voltage.
In parallel circuits, the voltage across each resistor is the same as the source voltage, but the
current varies with resistance.

However, in some cases, the voltage measured across a resistor may exceed the source
voltage due to residual resistance in the wiring or poor connections. Parasitic inductance and
capacitance can also induce small voltages that alter the expected readings. These factors are

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law
more prominent in practical setups involving breadboards or long wires, where such parasitic
elements exist.

Lab Task:

R (kΩ) V 𝐈𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐦𝐀) 𝐈𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 (𝐦𝐀) %Error

0.9887 5 4.87 5.05 3.56

0.9887 10 9.23 10.1 8.61

0.9887 15 15.4 15.17 1.5

Table 1: V and I (R constant)

R (kΩ) V 𝐈𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐦𝐀) 𝐈𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 (𝐦𝐀) %Error

0.9887 10 9.23 10.1 8.61

21.6 10 0.4559 0.46 0.89

1.465 10 6.894 6.07 13.5

Table 2: R and I (V constant)

R (kΩ) 𝐕𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑

14.8 5.01 5.0092

21.6 5.01 5.008

2.28 5.01 5.0098

Table 3: R and 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 (𝐕𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 constant)

R (kΩ) 𝐕𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑

12 5.0155 5.0152

12 10.022 10.02

12 15.08 15.085

Table 3: 𝐕𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 and 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 (R constant)

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law

Results:
 Effect of Voltage on Current (Constant Resistance): The current increased
proportionally as the voltage was increased, confirming Ohm's Law.
 Effect of Resistance on Current (Constant Voltage): The current decreased as the
resistance increased, in line with the theoretical expectation.
 Voltage Drop across Resistors: When testing with different voltages, the voltage
drop across resistors followed Ohm’s Law. However, in certain cases, the measured
voltage across the resistor was observed to be greater than the source voltage

Discussion:
In some instances, the voltage measured across the resistor was greater than the source voltage
due to possible measurement errors or induced EMF in the circuit from external sources or
poor grounding. Such abnormalities can be caused by inductance in the wires or breadboard
connections.

General Safety Rules:

 Never hurry. Haste causes many accidents.
 Always see that power is connected to your equipment through a circuit breaker.
 Connect the power source last. Disconnect the power source first.
 Never make wiring changes on live circuits. Work deliberately and carefully and
check your work as you proceed.
 Before connecting the power, check your wiring carefully for agreement with the
wiring diagram for an accidental short-circuit and for loose connections.
 Check out the supply voltage to make sure that is what you expect. For example: AC
or DC, 120V, 208V or 240V.
 Do not cause short-circuits or high currents arcs. Burn from arcs may be very severe
even at a distance of a few meters. Report all electrical burns to your instructor.
 Be careful to keep metallic accessories of apparel or jewelry out of contact with live
circuit parts and loose articles of clothing out of moving machinery.
 When using a multiple range meter always use the high range first to determine the
feasibility of using a lower range.
 Never overload any electrical machinery by more than 25% of the rated voltage or
current for more than a few seconds.
 Do not permit a hot leg of a three phase 208V supply, or of a 240V or 120V supply to
come in contact with any grounded objects, as a dangerous short-circuits will result.

Electrical Hazards and their Safety Measures:

Working with electrical devices can pose hazards such as electric shocks, short circuits, and
equipment damage. The following are some common electrical hazards and their solutions:

 Electric Shock:
Solution: Ensure that the equipment is properly grounded, avoid touching live wires,
and use insulated tools.

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law
 Short Circuits:
Solution: Always double-check connections before powering the circuit, and use
fuses or circuit breakers to prevent damage.
 Overheating:
Solution: Monitor the power supply and ensure the circuit components are rated for the
voltage and current being used.
 Equipment Damage:
Solution: Use the correct settings on devices like the multimeter and oscilloscope to
prevent overloading them.

Conclusion:
The experiment successfully verified Ohm’s Law, confirming the direct proportionality
between voltage and current and the inverse relationship between resistance and current.
Voltage drops across resistors were consistent with theoretical values, except for minor
deviations due to measurement errors.
Reference
[1] W. D. Stevenson, Elements of Power System Analysis, 4th ed. New York, NY, USA:
McGraw-Hill, 1982.
[2] A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 7th ed. New York, NY, USA:
Oxford University Press, 2015.
[3] A. E. Fitzgerald, D. E. Higginbotham, and A. Grabel, Basic Electrical Engineering, 5th
ed. New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill, 1981.

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 Lab 03: Measurement of DC voltage & current in a circuit & verification of
Ohm’s law

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