1

University of Cape Town

Department of Physics

PHY1004W
Laboratory
Tuesday 24 August 2010

Simple circuits
(... and using a multimeter)

Work in groups of 2.

This investigation is designed to compliment what you are learning in lectures about simple electrical
circuits: current, potential difference, resistance, etc. You will use a digital multimeter as a voltmeter,
ohmmeter and ammeter. Measuring potential differences and currents in simple circuits will help you
develop an intuitive feel for these concepts. The experiment consists of fourteen parts. Keep a clear written
record of what you do. For each stage draw the circuit you use (use the extra space on the right hand side
of the page.) Measure and record the potential differences and currents as asked, with the correct units.
State your conclusions briefly and clearly and answer all the questions. You will need to show this
activity to a demonstrator before you leave the laboratory today, so write things up neatly as you go along.
The demonstrators will give you a mark between 0 and 10 for your efforts this afternoon.

Using the multimeter:



















The Goldstar DM-9183 is one of the model of multimeters used in the lab. The other models that you might
use are very similar.

Write your name here: _______________________
Ask a demonstrator to sign here when you are finished: __________________ Mark (10 max.): ____
2
For measuring the potential difference between two points, put one lead in COM, the other into V, and
connect the other ends of the leads to the points between which you want to measure the potential
difference. Set the switch to an appropriate range (marked in white) for direct voltage measurement. This is
marked by a V with a bar on top. The multimeter is now a voltmeter.

For measuring resistance between two points, put one lead in COM, the other into V, and connect the
other ends of the leads to the points between which you wish to measure the resistance. Set the switch to an
appropriate range (marked in white) for resistance measurement. The multimeter is now an ohmmeter. For
example the scale marked 200 will measure resistances up to 200 ohms.

For measuring the current in a wire, disconnect that wire. Connect one end to the mA input of the
multimeter, and the other to the COM input. In this way the current is directed through the multimeter. Set
the switch to an appropriate range (marked in white) for direct current measurement, indicated by an A
with a bar on top. The multimeter is now an ammeter. For example with scale 200m currents up to 200
milliamps will be measured.

The tasks:

(1) Using the power supply:
The power supply supplies a potential difference of nominally 3 V, 4.5 V , 6 V, 7.5 V , 9 V or 12 V. If
you connect a wire directly across the output of the power supply (causing a short circuit) then a large
current will be drawn from the power supply and it might break. So dont do this. Also, connecting the
multimeter across the output of the power supply when it is in ammeter mode will also cause a short circuit.
Dont do this either. Set the power supply to 12 V.
Measure the voltage across the output of the power supply.
Does it depend on how well you make the connections?
How sensitive is it?

(2) 1 light bulb : Use the multimeter to measure the resistance of the light bulb.

Does it matter which way round the multimeter leads are put?

(3) 1 resistor : Use the multimeter to measure the resistance of the resistor. Compare this resistance with
the resistance indicated on the resistor.

(4) 1 connecting wire : Use the multimeter to measure the resistance of a short piece of copper wire (use
one of the connecting leads).

3
(5) 1 light bulb in a series circuit:
Connect the power supply and light bulb to form a complete circuit. Measure the potential
difference across the power supply.
Measure the potential difference across the light bulb. Are these the same?

If you change the polarity of the power supply by swopping the output leads around, do these
values change?
Does the brightness of the light bulb change?

Flip through different values of the input voltage of the power supply. What happens to the
brightness of the light bulb as you do this? Explain.

(6) 1 resistor in a series circuit:
Set the power supply to 12 V. Connect the power supply to one resistor to form a complete
circuit. Measure the potential difference across the power supply.
Measure the potential difference across the resistor. Are these the same?

Measure the current in the circuit by using the multimeter as an ammeter.


Calculate the resistance of the resistor by dividing the voltage across it (in volts) by the current
through it (in amperes). This gives the resistance in ohms.


Disconnect the resistor from the power supply and measure the resistance of the resistor by
using the multimeter as an ohmmeter. Do you get the same value?


(7) 1 light bulb in a series circuit (again) : Set up this circuit. From appropriate
measurements on the circuit (you decide what to measure) calculate the resistance of the light
bulb.


Disconnect the circuit and measure the resistance of the light bulb using the multimeter. Do
the results agree? If not, why not? Were the physical conditions of the light bulb the same
during the two measurements?


4
(8) 2 light bulbs in a series circuit :
Connect the two light bulbs in series with the power supply, i.e. in such a way that there is the
same current through each light bulb. Does the light bulb closer to the positive end of the
power supply burn brighter? Why not?


Measure the potential difference across the power supply, and across each light bulb. Is the
sum of the potential differences across the two light bulbs the same as the potential difference
across the power supply?


Measure the current in the circuit at three points: coming out of the power supply, between the
two light bulbs, and going into the power supply. Record these carefully. Is it always the
same?

Is electricity being used up? What is being used up?

Unscrew one of the light bulbs. What happens to the brightness of the other light bulb?

(9) 2 light bulbs in a parallel circuit:
Connect the two light bulbs in parallel, and then connect them across the power supply, i.e. in
such a way that the current divides, some charge flowing through each light bulb, and then
combines again back into the power supply. Do the light bulbs burn equally brightly?


Do they burn as brightly as when they were connected in series? Why?

Measure the potential difference across the power supply, and across each light bulb.
Is the sum of the potential differences across the two light bulbs the same as the potential
difference across the power supply?


Measure the current in the circuit at three points, namely coming out of the power supply, and
through each light bulb. Record these carefully. Are these the same? Is the sum of the
currents through the light bulbs the same as the current leaving the power supply?


Unscrew one of the light bulbs. What happens to the brightness of the other light bulb?
5
(10) 1 resistor and 1 light bulb :
Predict whether the light bulb will burn brighter if the light bulb is connected in series with the
resistor, or in parallel. Write down your prediction.


Only then try it and see. When connected in series, is the brightness of the light bulb affected
by whether the current flows first through the resistor, and then through the light bulb, or the
other way around?

(11) 1 light bulb and 2 resistors : (Set the power supply to 6 V)
There are several ways you could connect these. All in series, all in parallel, the two resistors
in parallel with each other, but in series with the light bulb, and other ways. Which way makes
the bulb burn the brightest? Which way gives (a) the biggest current out of the power supply,
and (b) the biggest current through the light bulb?


Now connect them all in series. Measure the potential difference across each element of the
circuit (power supply, light bulb, resistor) in turn. Do these potential differences add to zero?


Follow the circuit around, always in the same sense, say clockwise. Now do they add to zero?
If they do not, consult a demonstrator. Maybe you got the sign of the potential difference
wrong, or perhaps you have measured the potential difference the wrong way around.


(12) 1 light bulb and 3 resistors : (Set the power supply to 4.5 V)
How can you connect all of these so that the light bulb burns more brightly than it did in step
11, when only two resistors were used?

Connect with all elements in series. Is there any position for the light bulb that makes it burn
more brightly? Some people (doing physics at other universities :) ) argue that the light bulb
closest to the power supply should burn the brightest, since the current gets used up as you go
along the circuit. Is their evidence for this effect?


Connect with all elements in parallel. Is there any position for the light bulb that makes it burn
more brightly?
6
(13) 3 resistors in series :
Connect the resistors in series, and connect to the power supply. Measure the potential
difference across each resistor.

Do these add to the potential difference across the power supply?

Measure the current flowing into each resistor. Are these the same?

Are they the same as the current out of the power supply?

(14) 3 resistors in parallel :
Connect the resistors in parallel, and then connect to the power supply. Measure the potential
difference across each resistor.

Measure the current in each resistor.

Measure the current out of the power supply. Are these the same?

Do the sum of the currents in the resistors equal the current out of the power supply?

For each resistor measure the potential difference across it and the current through it, and
calculate the ratio. Measure the resistance of each resistor using the multimeter. Do you get
agreement?

The resistor colour code:
first band : first significant figure
second band : second significant figure
third band : multiplier
fourth band : tolerance (if no 4th band, tolerance is 20%)

Colour Significant
figures
Multiplier Tolerance
Black 0 1
Brown 1 10 1%
Red 2 10
2
2%
Orange 3 10
3

Yellow 4 10
4

Green 5 10
5

Blue 6 10
6
0.25%
Violet 7 10
7
0.10%
Grey 8 10
8
0.05%
White 9 10
9

Gold 10
-1
5%
Silver 10
-2
10%

AB/240809
2nd band Tolerance code
1st band 3rd band