The Current and Voltage Divider I.

Objectives After performing this experiment, the student should be able to: - Briefly understand how a potentiometer can be used as a voltage divider - Know the effects of loading in a voltage divider network - Know experimentally the current and the voltage divider rules - Know the effects of shorting out the component in series and parallel circuits

Procedures 1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure and then apply 6V DC to the established circuit after having the circuit connections checked. Turn on the power supply and record the current measured on table 1-A. 2. Now turn off the power and connect the ammeter to measure current in the 15 ohms branch as shown in the figure 1-2. Then turn on the power and record the current measured in the 15 ohms resistor on the same table (1-A). Repeat step 2 for the 330 ohms branch. 3. Now connect the circuit shown in the figure. Note that closing switch S causes a short circuit to be placed in parallel with the 15 ohms resistor. Set the power supply to 10 V, record the current in each meter with the switch opens and again with the switch closed on the table 1-B 4. Connect the 15 ohms and a 220 ohms resistor in series circuit as shown in the figure. Adjust the power supply to produce 12 V then applies to the circuit. Measure and record voltage across the 15 ohms resistor. The connect the voltmeter across the 220 ohms resistor, measure and record the voltage across it on the table 1-C 5. Connect the circuit shown in the figure. Set the power supply for 12 V and measure the voltage across all the pairs of terminals listed in the table 1-D. Record all the measured values in the same table. 6. Using the switch connected on the circuit shown in the figure, the 220 ohms resistor represents the equivalent resistance of another circuit that can be connected to the voltage divider by closing the switch. Set the power supply to 10 V and measure the voltage across the 10 ohms resistor with the switch closed and again with it open. Record the measured values on table 1-E. Connect a jumper wire (short circuit) across the 220 ohms resistor and repeat step 6. 7. It is possible for a meter itself to load a circuit to illustrate this, connect the circuit shown in the figure. Use a VOM for the voltmeter in the figure. With the power supply adjusted to 2v, measure and record the voltage across the 1k ohms resistor. Use Table 1-F. 8. Apply 10v DC power to the circuit shown in the figure 1-8 with 10k ohms potentiometer connected in the circuit. Rotate the potentiometer shaft back and forth through its full range and observe the effect on the measured voltage. Record your observations, including the minimum and maximum voltage measured on the table 1-G. 9. Now connect a 500 ohms resistor in series with the potentiometer as shown in figure 1-9 and repeat step 8. Use Table 1-H.

VI. Questions Reminders: In all calculations involving resistance values, use the actual (measured) resistance values of the resistor you used, not nominal values. 1. Compare the current measured in step 1 of the procedure with the theoretical total current that should flow into the parallel combination of resistor. 2. Compare the currents measured in steps 2 and 3 with the theoretical currents found by using the current divider rule. 3. Compare the measured voltages in step 4 with theoretical values found by using the voltage divider rule. Kirchoffs Current and Voltage Laws After performing this experiment, the student should be able to: - Distinguish the polarities of voltage drops around a closed loop. - Distinguish or identify junctions in an actual circuit where Kirchoffs Curent Law can be applied II. Equipments and Required Parts

VOM Breadboard Socket Ammeter Voltmeter

1/4w Resistors 2(15) 10 470 220 330 470

150