1

EECE 315, Lab Report

Number (i.e. Lab Lab 2
01)
Name
Andrea Coetzer
Student ID

005639830

Date

02/09/2015

Collaborators

Geovani Ramirez

Circle one
Pre / Class

Mon / Tue

Apparatus Diagram:

Measurement 1: Varying Resistance

In our first experiment applied a 5V DC voltage source to a circuit
containing a diode and a resistor. Using a decade box, we varied the
resistance from 1k to 1M. We measured the voltage (VD) and the
current (iD) across the resistor and then plotted VD vs. iD on a log normal
graph.
Measurement 2: Varying Voltage
For our second measurement we had the same diode circuit with a
resistor. For this measurement the resistance stayed at a constant 2k
while the voltage source varied from -0.5V to -1.5V DC. This result was
then plotted on a VD vs. iD log normal graph as well.
Measurement 3: Half-Wave Rectifier
Keeping the circuit the same, we replaced the 5V DC source with a peak
to peak voltage of 10V AC. The frequency was set to 1kHz and the output
was captured from the oscilloscope the generated the voltage.
Measurement 4: Half-Wave Rectifier with RC filter
In the final experiment, the set up was identical to measurement 3 with
the addition of a 0.1F capacitor in parallel with the resistor. The peak to
peak voltage remained 10V AC and the frequency remained 1kHz.

Results:
Measurement 1 & 2:

MEASUREME
NT 1

V_S
(V)

R_ACTU
AL
(KOHMS
)

R (KOHMS)

V_R
(V)

V_D
(V)

5.19

2.03

4.5

0.69

5.19

4.74

4.54

0.65

5.19

10

9.99

4.57

0.62

5.19

20

19.96

4.61

0.58

5.19

50

49.994

4.66

0.53

5.19

100

100.66

4.69

0.5

5.19

200

201.55

4.73

0.46

5.19

500

504.96

4.77

0.42

5.19

1000

1002

4.8

0.39

I_D (A)
0.0022
17
0.0009
58
0.0004
57
0.0002
31
9.32E05
4.66E05
2.35E05
9.45E06
4.79E06

MEASUREME
NT 2
V_S

V_R (mV)

V_D

-0.52

-3.5

-0.5165

-1

-4.5

-0.9955

-1.51

-0.87

-1.50913

I_D
0.000
25
0.000
49
0.000
74

R_ACTU
AL
2030
2030
2030

3
0
0
0
0

Measurement 1
Measurement 2

0
0
-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0
0
0

Measurement 3:

Measurement 4:

0.5

Discussion:
In measurements 1 & 2, the results that were calculated show what was
expected. In measurement 1, the current does not rise much until it hits
around 0.6V and then it rises rapidly. In both measurements, as the
resistance increased, the diode's voltage and current decreased rapidly. My
results from the lab experiment and my graph from the pre lab looked very
similar in shape.
In measurements 3 & 4, we obtained the exact same results. The added
capacitor in measurement 4 was supposed to filter the wave form and
slightly drop the peak to peak voltage but our results did not show that.
This could have been because the capacitor was not properly connected to
the circuit.
Conclusion:
The purpose of this lab was to learn the characteristics of diodes and
what steps to take in order to analyze them. In order to determine the
voltage and current across the diode, we assume it is in forward bias which
means the voltage of the diode is at least 0.6V or greater. KVL, KCL and
Ohms Law can then be used the analyze the circuit. In addition, we
became familiar with the diode rectifier circuit's output.