Tennessee State University

College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
ENGR 2001
CIRCUITS I LAB
Section 02

Lab Experiment #2
Ohms Law

Vance Willis
Lab Partner: Tish Spalding
Instructor: Dr. Carlotta A. Berry

Lab Performed: September 15, 2005

Report Submitted: September 22, 2005

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment was to perform a number of resistance, current, and
voltage measurements to series of simple resistor circuits to illustrate Ohms Law; a
relationship between voltage, current, and resistance (v=ir). Once this data was
accumulated, it was compared to the theoretical values calculated using the Ohms Law
equation. The measured data was compared to the theoretical data by means of a
percent error analysis. Finally, the measured and calculated results were presented in
scatter plots.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
I.

Objective

II.

Theory

III.

Equipment

IV.

Apparatus

V.

Procedure

VI.

Graphs

VII.

Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations

Appendix A

Data

Appendix B

Formulas and Sample Calculations

Appendix C

References

I.

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment was to take several voltage, current, and
resistance measurements to simple circuits to illustrate the effect of Ohms law in
electrical circuits, then analyze the results by comparing them to theoretical
calculations

II.

Theory:
Ohms law is a relationship between voltage, current, and resistance, which can
be expressed mathematically as v=ir, where v is voltage measured in volts (V), i
is current measured in amperes (A), and r is resistance measured in ohms ().
To illustrate this experimentally, a series of three experiments were conducted:
Experiment Part 1:
Fix voltage, vary current by means of an adjustable resistor (a potentiometer),
then record the resistance.
Experiment Part 2:
Fix resistance, vary voltage by means of an adjustable voltage power supply,
then record the current.
Experiment Part 3:
Fix resistance, vary current by means of an adjustable voltage power supply,
then record the voltage.

III.

Equipment:
Tektronix Digital Multimeter
Tektronix Power Supply
1 k Resistor
0-5 k Potentiometer
Leads (2 pair)
Alligator Clips
Breadboard

IV.

Apparatus:
Experiment Part 1:
The apparatus used for part 1 of the experiment consisted of a Tektronix digital
multimeter (in ammeter mode), a Tektronix power supply, a 0-5 k
potentiometer, a breadboard, and alligator clips attached to the leads on the
potentiometer (see Figure 1).

Experiment Parts 2 and 3:

The apparatus used for parts 2 and 3 of the experiment consisted if a Tektronix
digital multimeter (in ammeter mode), a Tektronix power supply, a 1 k resistor,
a breadboard, and alligator clips attached to the leads on the resistor (see Figure
2).

Figure 1
(Lab Apparatus used for Experiment Part 1)

Figure 2
(Lab Apparatus used for Experiment Parts 2 and 3)

V.

Procedure
Experiment Part 1:
1. Connect a 0-5 k potentiometer to a 10-volt power supply.
2. Connect a digital ammeter in series with the potentiometer.
3. Adjust the potentiometer until the current is 10 mA. Record the actual current
value.
4. Remove the power supply and connect a digital ohmmeter to the
potentiometer and measure the resistance. Record the actual resistance
value.
5. Repeat steps 1-4, adjusting the potentiometer according to obtain the
following current values: 9 mA, 8 mA, 7, mA, 6 mA, 5 mA, 4 mA, 3 mA, and 2
mA.
6. Use Ohms law to calculate the theoretical values for resistance, given the
actual values of voltage and current in the experiment.
7. Perform an error analysis for the measured versus theoretical resistance
values.
8. Plot the measured and theoretical results in a scatter plot.
Experiment Part 2:
1. Select a 1 k resistor and use a digital ohmmeter to measure the actual
resistance value.
2. Connect the 1 k resistor to a variable voltage power supply.
3. Connect a digital ammeter in series with the resistor.
4. Adjust the power supply to 10 V, and record the actual current value
displayed on the digital ammeter.
5. Repeat steps 2-4, adjusting the power supply according to obtain the
following voltage values: 9 V, 8 V, 7 V, 6 V, 5 V, 4 V, 3 V, 2 V, and 1 V.
6. Use Ohms law to calculate the theoretical value for current, given the actual
values of voltage and resistance in the experiment.
7. Perform an error analysis for the measured versus theoretical current values.
8. Plot the measured and theoretical results in a scatter plot.
Experiment Part 3:
1. Select a 1 k resistor and use a digital ohmmeter to measure the actual
resistance value.
2. Connect the 1 k resistor to a variable voltage power supply.
3. Connect a digital ammeter in series with the resistor.
4. Adjust the power supply voltage until the current is 10 mA. Record the actual
current value displayed on the digital ammeter, and the actual voltage value
displayed on the power supply.
5. Repeat steps 2-4, adjusting the power supply according to obtain the
following current values: 9 mA, 8 mA, 7 mA, 6 mA, 5 mA, 4 mA, 3 mA, 2 mA,
and 1 mA.
6. Use Ohms law to calculate the theoretical values for voltage, given the actual
values of current and resistance in the experiment.

7. Perform an error analysis for the measured versus theoretical voltage values.
8. Plot the measured and theoretical results in a scatter plot.
Graphs
Experiment Part 1:
Figure 3 shows the results of the experimental resistance measurements, as well
as the calculated theoretical resistance values.
Resistance vs. Current

12
Calculated
Measured

10
Resistance (k)

VI.

8
6
4
2
0
0

10

Current (mA)

Figure 3
(Actual & Theoretical Resistance Values for Experiment Part 1)

12

Experiment Part 2:
Figure 4 shows the results of the experimental current measurements, as well as
the calculated theoretical current values.
Current vs. Voltage

12
Calculated
Measured

Current (mA)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0

10

Voltage (V)

Figure 4
(Actual & Theoretical Current Values for Experiment Part 2)

12

Experiment Part 3:
Figure 5 shows the results of the experimental voltage measurements, as well as
the calculated theoretical voltage values.
Voltage vs. Current

12
Calculated
Measured

Voltage (V)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0

10

Current (mA)

Figure 5
(Actual & Theoretical Voltage Values for Experiment Part 3)

12

VII.

Results, Conclusions and Recommendations

The measurements done during parts 1, 2, and 3 all relatively accurately agreed
with the theoretical calculations based on Ohms Law. When the measured
values were compared to the theoretical values, the largest percent error was
5.8%. Error that was noted during this experiment is mostly due to the voltage
measurements being taken from the power supplys voltmeter. The voltmeter on
the power supply is analog, with a resolution of 0.5 V. Measurements made from
this meter were rounded to the nearest 0.25 V (half of the instruments display
divisions). The error experienced in this experiment could be reduced by using
an additional digital voltmeter to measure voltage values. Tables 1, 2, and 3
present the results of the measurements and the error analysis for experiment
parts 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Voltage
(V)

Current
(mA)

Resistance
(calculated)
(k)

Resistance
(measured)
(k)

Resistance
Error
(%)

10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00

10.07
8.96
7.93
6.98
5.97
4.97
3.96
3.00
2.09

0.993
1.116
1.261
1.433
1.675
2.012
2.525
3.333
4.785

1.005
1.129
1.280
1.455
1.703
2.050
2.570
3.400
4.880

1.20%
1.16%
1.50%
1.56%
1.67%
1.88%
1.77%
2.00%
1.99%

Table 1
(Measured Data, Calculated Data, and Error Analysis for Experiment Part 1)

Voltage
(V)

Resistance
(k)

Current
(calculated)
(mA)

Current
(measured)
(mA)

Current
Error
(%)

10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00

0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989

10.111
9.100
8.089
7.078
6.067
5.056
4.044
3.033
2.022
1.011

10.270
9.260
8.160
7.300
6.250
5.060
4.130
3.080
2.140
1.000

1.57%
1.76%
0.88%
3.14%
3.02%
0.09%
2.11%
1.54%
5.82%
1.10%

Table 2
(Measured Data, Calculated Data, and Error Analysis for Experiment Part 2)
10

Current
(mA)

Resistance
(k)

Voltage
(calculated)
(V)

Voltage
(measured)
(V)

Voltage
Error
(%)

10.02
9.02
7.99
7.00
6.02
5.01
4.00
3.00
2.01
1.00

0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989

9.910
8.921
7.902
6.923
5.954
4.955
3.956
2.967
1.988
0.989

9.75
8.75
7.75
6.75
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00

1.61%
1.91%
1.92%
2.50%
0.78%
0.91%
1.11%
1.11%
0.61%
1.11%

Table 3
(Measured Data, Calculated Data, and Error Analysis for Experiment Part 3)

11

APPENDIX A
Data
Voltage
(V)

Current
(mA)

Resistance
(measured)
(k)

10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00

10.07
8.96
7.93
6.98
5.97
4.97
3.96
3.00
2.09

1.005
1.129
1.280
1.455
1.703
2.050
2.570
3.400
4.880

Table 4
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 1)

Voltage
(V)

Resistance
(k)

Current
(measured)
(mA)

10.00
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00

0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989

10.270
9.260
8.160
7.300
6.250
5.060
4.130
3.080
2.140
1.000

Table 5
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 2)

12

Current
(mA)

Resistance
(k)

Voltage
(measured)
(V)

10.02
9.02
7.99
7.00
6.02
5.01
4.00
3.00
2.01
1.00

0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989
0.989

9.75
8.75
7.75
6.75
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00

Table 6
(Measured Data for Experiment Part 3)

13

APPENDIX B
Formulas, Sample Calculations, and Error Analysis
Formulas:
% error =

v = ir

theoretical measured
theoretical

i=

v
r

r=

(percent error)

*100

v
i

(Ohms Law)

Calculations:
Example calculations shown here are for 1 k resistors in experiment part A.

% error =

r=

1.675 1.703
1.675

*100 = 1.67%

v 10.00
=
= 1.675
i
5.97

14

APPENDIX C
References
Alexander, Charles K. and Matthew Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 2nd
Edition, McGraw Hill, 2004.
Berry, Dr. Carlotta A. Circuits I Lab Study Guide for ENGR2001. Tennessee State
University

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