Experiment 4: Voltage Relationships in Series

RL and RC Circuit
Vinod Krishnan A/L K. Arvindra Dass
Student ID: I15009181
Name of course Electrical Circuits
Name of programme: Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering
The distance between the corresponding zero points
Abstract- An inductor consists of a coil of wire
was then measured. The distance D was also
wrapped around a magnetic flux that can store
measured. The phase angle was then calculated.
energy in the form of a magnetic field while a
The whole process is then repeated with the 1200
capacitor is a component that consists of 2 electrical
resistor replacing the 4700 resistor. The whole
conductors separated by a dielectric material which is
process is repeated once again with the inductor
used to temporarily store electrical energy. A resistor
being replaced with at a capacitor with 0.47F.
inductor circuit (RL circuit) is an electric circuit
composed of resistors and inductors driven by a
voltage or current source while a resistorcapacitor
circuit (RC circuit) is an electric circuit composed of
resistors and capacitors driven by a voltage or current
source. In this experiment, the objective is to find to
study and prove the theoretical and experimental
values of the Vrms of the AC voltage supply, the phase
angle and the relationship between the VR, VC, VL,
and the V applied. In order to this an oscilloscope is
needed. Using the oscilloscope, the phase angle is able
to found. The VR, VC and VL is found by using a
multi-meter. As the percentage error of the values are
between 0% and 2.5%, the values are accepted.

I. Introduction
The objective of this experiment is to measure the
phase angle, between the applied voltage, V and
the current I in a series RL and RC circuit, and to
verify experimentally the relationship between the
applied voltage, the Voltage VR across R, the
Voltage VL across L and the voltage VC across C.
The experiment was conducted with a Fluke 25
digital multi-meter, wires, 2 resistors with a
resistance of 1200 and 4700, an oscilloscope
and an AC power supply.
II. Methodology
Before the experiment was carried out, all
equipment was tested and was found to be in
working order. For the RL circuit, the circuit was
then built as shown in Figure 2-1. S1 was closed
and the ac supply of the circuit was set to be 10V
rms. Channel 1 and channel 2 input jacks of the
oscilloscope was connected as shown in the
diagram. The oscilloscope was then turned on and
was set to channel 1. Channel 1 of the oscilloscope
is the voltage reference channel. The horizontal and
vertical controls were then used to center the
waveform on the screen. The oscilloscope was then
switched to channel 2. Channel 2 is the current
channel. The vertical control to center the
waveform on the screen. The oscilloscope was then
switched to the dual channel mode. Both channel 1
and channel 2 signals was displayed on the screen.

Figure 2-1 Circuit for RL circuit

III. Data and Analysis
The values of D, d and the phase angle for the RL
circuit containing the 4700 resistor was then
measured on oscilloscope and recorded in table 3-1.
The voltage across the resistor and the inductor was
then measured using a multi-meter and recorded in
table 3-2. The process was then repeated with a
1200 resistor.
Table 3-1 Measurement taken on an Oscilloscope
(RL circuit)
Resistor, Width of
Distance
Phase

Sine
Between
Angle ,
Wave D,
Zero
degrees
cm
Points d,
cm
1200
10
2
72
4700
10
1
36
Table 3-2 Voltage of the RC circuit
Resistor,
Applied
Voltage
Voltage

Voltage,
across
across
V
Resistor,
Inductor,
VR
VL

1200
10

3.2

9.6

10

4700

The inductor in the circuit was then replaced with a

capacitor. The values of D, d and the phase angle
for the RC circuit containing the 4700 resistor
was then measured on oscilloscope and recorded in
table 3-1. The voltage across the resistor and the
inductor was then measured using a multi-meter
and recorded in table 3-2. The process was then
repeated with a 1200 resistor.
Table 3-3 Measurement taken on an Oscilloscope
(RC circuit)
Resistor
Width
Distance
Phase
,
of Sine Between Angle ,
Wave
Zero
degrees
D, cm
Points d,
cm
1200
10
1.5
54
4700
10
0.6
21.6
Table 3-4 Voltage of the RC circuit.
Resistor, Applied Voltage
Voltage

Voltage,
across
across
V
Resistor, Capacitor,
VR
VC
1200
10
6.0
8.0
4700
10
9.6
3.6

V = VR 2 +VL 2
VR=V

R
Z

VL=V

XL
Z

As shown in Table 2-2, for the 1200 resistor, we

can see that the value of the applied voltage is 10V
while VL is 9.6V and VR is 3.2V. To calculate the
theoretical value, we use the formula:

V = VR 2 +VL 2
V =10.12 V
To find the percentage error we use the formula:

TheorecticalExperimental
Experimental
10.1210
10

X 100%

X 100% = 1.2%

As the percentage error is less than 5% the values is

accepted.
Voltage applied when R is 4700V:

V = VR 2 +VL 2
V =10 V
We then compare the values and find the
percentage error.

1010
10

X 100% = 0%

There is no percentage error present, thus the

values are accepted.
For RC circuit:

V = VR 2 +VC 2
VR=V

R
Z

VL=V

XC
Z

Figure 3-1 Result on oscilloscope

To prove the validity of all the values measured, we
must use the formulas given to find the theoretical
value and compare them with the experimental
value.
For RL circuit:

As shown in Table 2-4, for the 1200 resistor, we

can see that the value of the applied voltage is 10V

while VC is 8V and VR is 6V. To calculate the

theoretical value, we use the formula:

V = VR 2 +VC 2
V =10 V
The percentage error was then calculated.

1010
10

IV Conclusion.
From the experiment, we can see the reactions in a
RL circuit and a RC circuit. . As the percentage
errors of all values lie between 0% and 2.5%, all
the values were accepted. This means that the
experiment was able to verify experimentally the
relationship between R, L and V applied in the RL
circuit and the relationship between the R, C and V
applied in the RC circuit.

X100% = 0 %

IV. References
1.

Bird, John (2010). Electrical and

Electronic Principles and Technology.
Routledge. pp. 6376. ISBN
9780080890562. Retrieved 2013-03-17.

2.

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/ind
uctor
http://www.electronicstutorials.ws/inductor/lr-circuits.html
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/rcimp.html

As there is no percentage error, all the values are

accepted.
When R is 4700:

V = VR 2 +VC 2

3.

V =10.25 V

4.

The percentage error was then calculated.

10.2510
10

X100% = 2.5%

As the percentage error is less than 5%, the values

are accepted.