Introduction:

In this experiment we measured the current and the voltage across a

variable resistance using the voltmeter-ammeter method , in this
method we used two galvanometers with specified range discussed
later on , three decade boxed the first one is used as the variable
resistance Rx, the second and the third are the shunt and series
resistances for the ammeter and the voltmeter.
We must know how to convert the galvanometer into a voltmeter or
an ammeter.
To convert a (PMMC) into a voltmeter we connect a series resistance
with it, the value of this resistance changes according to the value of
Rx.
The same work is taken for the ammeter but the resistance of the
ammeter should be connected in parallel with it.
We will study two cases which have different circuits, different
calculated and measured values.

Objectives:
Studying permanent magnetic coil, PMMC, instruments
characteristics.
Measuring resistance by voltmeter ammeter method.
Studying the difference of both cases.

PMMC characteristics (Galvanometer specifications):1) Ammeter:RA=100

Ifsd=300A

2) Voltmeter:RA=2700

Ifsd=300A

The values of the DBR are used to convert the PMMC to ammeter is
calculated as the following:

The value of Rsh represents the value of DBR connected in parallel to

the PMMC and can be calculated by:
300A*(100)=Rsh*(3mA-300*A)
By calculating to find Rsh it can be found that its equal to 11.11 K.

And to find DBR connected in series to the PMMC :

The equation:
10-300A*2700=300*A*Rs
And we find that DBR value = 30.633K

Now , For the readings that will be taken from the ammeter and the
voltmeter we have a scale factor as follows:

For the Ammeter : the Full scale deflection 0 - 300

The designed range
0-2
So, we will divide the reading of the ammeter by 150.
For the voltmeter : the Full scale deflection 0 - 300
The designed range
0 - 10
So, we will divide the reading of the voltmeter by 30.

Case 1:
In this case we connected the circuit shown below

In this case we firstly calculated the values of I a , which is equal to:

I=V/Rx
For the voltage value of 10V and resistances of 5,10,50,100,500 and
1000 K,
The expected values of Ia = 10/5=2A and the same for the other
resistances.
We also connected the series and parallel resistances of the ammeter
and the voltmeter , and we have the results shown in the table below:

Rx(K)
expected Ia(mA)
measured Ia(mA)
DRB(A)
measured voltage across
resistance(V)

5
2
1.5
11.11

10
1
0.85
11.11

50
0.2
0.3

100
0.1
0.25

500
0.02
0.2

1000
0.01
0.19

10

10

10

10

10

calculated value of Rx(Rx')

4.298

19

23.44

29.7

measured value of Rx(Rx')

calculated percentage of
error (e%)
measured percentage of
error

6.66

7.538
11.76
4

10
28.86
6

33.33

40

50

100

14.04

24.62

48.68

73.71

94.22

97

33.2

17.64

33.34

60

90

90

The value of the calculated Rx (Rx) can be found :

Rx=Vv/ Ia= Vv/Vv/ (Rx/ Rv )
=Rx Rv / ( Rx + Rv )
The value of the measured Rx is found by : V(measured) / I(measured)

*We can find the error using the equations below :

E%=(Rx-Rx)//Rx this equation is used for calculating the error for
both measured and calculated values but note that Rx changes for
each case.
*To derive the final equation of the error :
E%=(Rx-Rx)//Rx
=Rx-(RxRv/(Rx+Rv))/(Rx)
=(Rx(Rx+Rv)-RxRv)/(Rx+Rv)*1/Rx
=Rx/(Rx+Rv)*100%

If we plot e% versus Rx for the calculated values:

And for the measured values:

Note that there is a high percentage of error due to I think that this
method is used for measuring small values of Rx .

Case 2:
In this case we connected the circuit shown below:

This case is used for measuring small values of Rx so the error is

expected to be small and it is as shown later on
*Ra=100||100= 50 for the first two cases.
Ra=100 for the other cases
Note that in this case in order to calculate Rx :
Rx=Rx+Ra
Also the error is equal to :
(Rx-Rx)/Rx which is also equal to
(Ra/Rx)*100%
The other calculated values are the same as case1
The results are shown in the table below:

Rx(K)
expected Ia(mA)

5
2

10
1

50
0.2

100
0.1

500
0.02

1000
0.01

measured Ia(mA)
DRB(A)
measured voltage across
resistance(V)

1.25
11.11

0.6
11.11

0.18

0.09

0.019

0.009

10

10

10

10

10

calculated value of Rx(Rx')

5.05

10.05

50.1

measured value of Rx(Rx')

calculated percentage of
error (e%)
measured percentage of
error

16.66

50

100.1
111.1
1

500.1
526.3
1

10
1000.
1
1111.
11

.5

.2

.1

.02

.001

11.1

5.26

11.11

60

66.6

As we see in this case the error is smaller than the values that was
found in case1
The required plot of e% versus Rx (measured error):

And the required plot for e% versus Rx (calculated error):

Results and Discussion:

1- What are the values of the series and shunt resistances
that you needed to use to convert the ammeter and
voltmeter to the required new scales? Show all the
calculations.
The calculation are shown in the PMMC characteristics section
above.
2- Plot the percentage error (e%) versus Rx for cases 1 and 2.
repeat this calculated percentage error and measured
percentage error.
The graphs of each case is shown above .
3. Derive the expression for the error (e%) for both Case I and
II.
The derivation is shown above for each case.

4. Discuss the effect of Rv and Ra on measuring voltages and

currents
Because the voltmeter and the ammeter have internal
resistance that when we connect them to the circuit , they
have loading effect on it, so when we connect the ammeter to
the circuit its internal resistance will affect its reading causing
an error and according to the equation:
Imeas.=V/(RX+RA)
The value of the measured current will not be effected only by
Rx but also the internal resistance of the ammeter.
The same thing is for the voltmeter, its internal resistance is in
parallel so when we read the value of the voltage across a
certain resistance, it will be affected by Rv.
5- when will use each for each the configurations (i.e., case 1
and case 2)?
For measuring small values of Rx , case 1 is used.
For measuring large values for Rx, case 2 is used.
This is shown by the error difference between each cases.

6- what can be done if you do not have any idea regarding the
value of Rx?
For the first case:
Start with calculations:
Voltmeter: Vfsd=RV*Ifsd= 1300*100=0.13volts
Ammeter:
Vfsd=RA* Ifsd =75*1mA=0.075volts
We calculate the voltage on RX by subtracting the voltage drop
on the ammeter's resistance:
10-.075= 9.925volts
If 1mA is in the ammeter and 100A in the voltmeter then I
passing through the resistance = 1mA-100A=90mA
So this results in RX= 9.925/90m= 11.027k
And this result is close to the real value which is 10k.
For the second case:

1mA is passing through RX and the ammeter and the voltage

drop on the both equals the voltage of the source, so:
RX+75=10/1m
RX=9.925k
This is also close to the real value of RX.
7- what is the minimum possible full scale deflection (FSD) of
the current galvanometer?
And what is the maximum possible FSD?
min. = 0
max. =300A
8- Repeat the same analysis in 6 above for the voltmeter
galvanometer.
min.= 0
max.= 10V

9- What is the voltmeter sensitivity for both galvanometers

above in .v?

1) The Voltmeter sensitivity=

meter/range of voltmeter
=
=
=

total resistance of the

R-Total/ V-fsd
100k/10
10000/V

2) The Voltmeter sensitivity= total resistance of the

meter/range of voltmeter
=100/10
=10/V

10- Can the voltage galvanometer be used as an ammeter?

Explain.
Yes we can by connecting the reconnecting the resistances , in
the voltmeter they are connected in series bur in the ammeter
they must be connected in parallel
11- Can the current galvanometer be used as an voltmeter?
Explain.
Yes we also can do this by reconnecting the resistances , the
same as before we connect the parallel resistance in the
ammeter to a series resistance in the voltmeter

12- While you were changing the value of RX in cases 1&2

above, did you notice that the voltmeter reading was
changing? Explain.
In both cases the change in the voltmeters reading was barely
noticeable , almost if there wasnt any change, that is because
the voltage across Rx isnt effected by changing its value
because when we change the resistance, the current will
change so that the value of the voltage remains the same
which is equal to the value of the sources voltage.

Conclusion:
In this experiment we learned how the resistances of the ammeter and the voltmeter are
connected, we also learned that the first case is used for small values of Rx and the
second case is for large values.
We also learned how to use the decade boxes in practice after taking it in the
measurement course, it is also very important to notice the effect of the internal
resistances of the ammeter and the voltmeter and how the effect the readings, and how
they causes errors.

By taking this experiment we applied the subjects taken in the course such as error
calculating and Rx calculations in real work which allows us to understand these
equations more effectively.