Download Voltage, Current, and Resistance Lab

Voltage, Current, and Resistance Lab
Names________________________________
The object of this lab is to familiarize yourself with the multimeter and predicting current, resistance, and voltage outputs.
Materials: 3 Resistors, Multi-Meter, 4 alligator clip wires, and 9 V battery
Procedure:
1. Obtain 3 resistors. Write their color bands on the diagrams below.
R1
R2
R3
2. What are the theoretical values of resistance ± the tolerance (reading the bands to find the resistance and tolerance).
____________________
____________________
____________________
R1
R2
R3
3. What is the maximum and minimum value each resistor can have to be within the tolerance?
____________________
____________________
____________________
R1
R2
R3
4. Use your multimeter to measure the actual value of each resistor. Make sure the dial is set to the Ω symbol.
____________________
____________________
R1
R2
5. Is each resistor within it’s printed value?
____________________
R3
____________________
____________________
____________________
R1
R2
R3
6. Obtain a 9V battery and use your meter to measure the voltage of it. Make sure your
meter is set to measure voltage. (See Picture Above)
Voltage = _____________________
7. Use the equation V = IR to find the current that would flow through each of your resistors if you hooked them up to
your battery. V is #6, and R is the values found in question # 2. Write your answer in mA.
Theoretical Current =
____________________mA
____________________mA
____________________mA
Using R1
Using R2
Using R3
8. Construct the circuit below once for each of your resistors. Use your meter to measure the actual current running through the
circuit. Make sure to have your meter set up to measure current. Set the dial to read mA. The circuit must go through the meter.
Meaning you have to put the meter in series with the circuit.
Schematic Diagram
Actual Diagram
Actual Current
____________________
Using R1
____________________
Using R2
____________________
Using R3
6. Obtain a light bulb and use your multimeter to find the resistance of it.
Resistance = __________________
7. Obtain a 9 V battery and use your multimeter to find the voltage of it. (Make sure the dial on your meter is set to find voltage
this time)
Voltage = _____________________
8. Use the equation V = IR to find the predicted current that should run through your light bulb when it is connected to the battery.
V is 9 Volts, and R is the resistance found in question # 6.
Theoretical Current = ____________
9. Construct the circuit shown below with a 9V battery, 2 alligator clips, a switch, and a light bulb. MUY IMPORTANTE!!
Before hooking your meter into the circuit, plug the red lead into the 10 A hole on the meter; the far left one. You then have to
turn the dial to the 10A setting when reading the current. (This is because the mA hole is fused at 200 mA. We will be drawing close to that and we’ll
blow our fuse if we exceed 200 mA. This is to protect the delicate electronics inside needed to measure small currents.)
10. Turn the dial on the multimeter to the 10 A and measure the current going through it.
Actual Current = _________________
11. Is the actual current and the theoretical current the same? Why do you suppose that is?