ELEC 205 – Lab #5

AC Circuits


Requirements:
(1) Arriving on time (within the first 15 minutes of the session)
(2) Having done the pre-lab
(3) Answering to one question that explores a random aspect of the video tutorials
(4) Completing all the measurements and writing on this “report”
(5) At the end of the lab session:

(a) Turning off all equipment

(b) Turning knobs of the voltmeter all the way counterclockwise
(c) Cleaning surface of the workbench
(d) Cleaning floor around and below the workbench
(e) Connecting the multimeter red probe to the “volts” socket
(f) Tucking the chairs neatly under the table of the workbench




This Section is to be filled out by the TA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name Student # 1 2 3 Total (10)

Individual 1 Pre-lab 2/10

Group 2 Completing the experiment 7/10
Group 3 Cleaning work area and resetting instruments 1/10

TA Name: _________________________


Date: _________________________ Lab section: _________________________
 ELEC 205 – Lab #5
AC Circuits
The main objective of this lab experiment is to make you familiar with measuring the
properties of the AC circuits.

WARNING: Always power off the power supply before changing (connecting or
disconnecting) anything (with the exception of the voltmeter) to your circuit.

NOTE: For safety reasons, you need to wear goggles at all times in the lab, as well as
toe covered shoes. (No sandals, nor bare feet allowed in the lab either, nor very high
heel shoes)

Figure 1
ELEC 205 – Lab #5
A) Pick up the following components from your kit:

1. 1 KΩ resistor (1)
2. 2 KΩ resistor (1)
3. 3 KΩ resistor (1)
4. 100nF capacitor (1)
5. 100mH inductor (1)
6. Breadboard, long nose pliers, wire stripper, wire clipper
7. Power Supply cables (one red, one black)

B) Impedance

• Connect the circuit in Figure 1 to a signal generator.

• Set the signal generator to a sine wave with magnitude of 5 V and frequency of
47.8Hz (Why?).

• Use one oscilloscope probe to display the voltage from the signal generator.

• Use the other oscilloscope probe to display the voltage across the 1KΩ resistor.

• What is the phase shift between the two signals?

• Based on your measurements, calculate the current through the 1KΩ resistor,
and from there, calculate the input impedance of the circuit.

• Compare your results with the ones calculated in the pre-lab.

Zin

Calculated

Measured

• What could be the possible sources of error?

C) Voltage and Current of a Capacitor in AC Circuits

• Use one oscilloscope probe to display the voltage across the capacitor.

• Use the other oscilloscope probe to display the voltage across the 3KΩ resistor.

• Measure the phase shift between the two signals. What conclusion do you make
from this?

D) Inductors in AC Circuits

• Use one oscilloscope probe to display the voltage from the signal generator.

• Use the other oscilloscope probe to display the voltage across the inductor.

• Compare your results with the ones calculated in the pre-lab.

VL (Max) ϕ (Phase Shift)

Calculated

Measured

• What could be the possible sources of error?