SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

EE 223 CIRCUIT THEORY

Laboratory 1: Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws
Due date: : ____/____/2024

Total marks: _______ /10

LABORATORY MANUAL

Group: STUDENT NAME ID NO. SIGNATURE

1
2
3
4

Instructor Name: ………………………….….Signature: ……….……………….Date: ___/___/2024

This is Lab 1 which is the first of the four laboratory exercises/practicals in this subject that contributes
towards Assessment Tasks 5 (per the attached AT Table under Lab Manual below) in the EE233 Course
Outline. The Lab 1 is in two parts:

 Part 1: to connect up and investigate the behaviour of voltage and current in a ohmic resistive
element – a fixed-value resistor.

 Part 2: to connect up and investigate the magnitude (levels) of voltages and currents in a basic
DC network.

You have 1 week to complete to complete this lab and submit for marking.

Please read and understand the Lab Manual appended below the Lab Procedures.
 Part 1: Ohms Law

Introduction and Stated Objectives(s)

The following practical exercise is to prove Ohm’s Law and how this is employed in basic circuit
analysis.

Theory
Ohm's law states that the voltage V and current I in an ohmic resistor are directly proportional:
V  I…………………………………………….[1]
Resistors that obey the Ohm's law are called linear or ohmic resistors. In an ohmic resistor the ratio of
the resistor voltage to the resistor current is defined as the resistance R of the resistor and is measured in
ohms represented by the symbol Ω. Hence resistance R is the constant of proportionality to Eqn. [1]
above, as expressed mathematically in Eqn. [2] below. This equation is the terminal equation of a linear
ohmic resistor.
V = R x I………………………………………….[2]

The Practical Exercise

Materials, Equipment and instruments:
1 x fixed-value ohmic resistor, 1 x 1 k variable resistor, a switch, connecting wires, component board,
DC power supply, 1 x ammeter, 1 x voltmeter

Procedures:
1. Confirm the value of the fixed-value R from the color-band code.: ___________________
2. Connect up the circuit shown (Circuit 1). DO NOT SWITCH ON YET! Confirm your connections
with your instructor.
i. Record the DC Supply voltage:_____________________
ii. Note how the ammeter - A, and the voltmeter - V are connected. Set up the meters to
read/measure DC current and DC voltage.
iii. Adjust the variable resistor R1 to one extreme end of its turn.

Circuit 1

3. Switch On power to the circuit.

4. While monitoring the meters, adjust the variable resistor R1, in 10 steps, towards the other extreme
end of its turn, each time measure and record in Table 1 below :
i. I flowing in the circuit with the ammeter.
ii. VR2 across R2 with the voltmeter

R1 position R1 value I VR1 VR2

 amps (A) volts (V) volts (V)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Table. 1

5. Plot a graph of VR2 against I: VR2 on the y-axis and I on the x-axis. From the graph, determine the
gradient (slope) from at least three different positions.
Show samples of the mathematical analysis (working out) in you lab report.

Conclusion:
Compare and discuss the values of the gradients obtained in step. 6 to the value of the resistor as obtained
from the color-band code in step. 1, and how these relate to the stated objective of the practical exercise.
Is the value of R from the V and I measurements - the average of the gradients - within the tolerance
stated on the color-band code of the fixed-value resistor? Explain the reasons for the discrepancies if any.

***
You may attempt a similar exercise using PSpice
 Part 2: Kirchhoff’s Laws.

Introduction
Kirchhoff’s Laws can be used to determine voltages and currents in more complex circuits - networks -
that may have two or more circuit elements and two or more branches.

Theory
Kirchhoff’s Current Law - KCL - states that the sum of all currents at a node is zero.

…………………………………………[3]

Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law - KVL - states that the sum of all voltages within a loop is zero.

………………………..………………[4]
In a DC circuit: The algebraic sum…
In an AC circuit: The phasor sum…

KVL: Procedures:
1. From Part 1 above, and using Ohms Law and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law, complete Table 1 above by
calculating and filling in the values for R1 and VR1.
2. Confirm VR1 and VR2 using the voltage-divider rule.
Show samples of the working out in you lab report.

KCL: Procedures:
3. With the circuit switched off, connect another fixed-value resistor - R3 - in parallel with R2 in Circuit
1 of Part 1.
Determine the value of this resistor from the color-band code: R3 ________________
Your circuit now will be as shown in Circuit 2 below:

Circuit 2
4. Adjust R1 to the mid-range position.
5. You will need to use the same ammeter to measure the three currents required. Switch off power to
the circuit to insert the ammeter in the circuit, each time. Switch back on the circuit again after you
have inserted the ammeter to measure the current.
IT: _____________ I2: _____________ I3: _____________

6. Switch off the circuit and remove the ammeter from the circuit. Restore the circuit without the
ammeter.
7. Switch on the circuit, and with the voltmeter, measure the voltages:

VR1: ______________ VR23:_________________

Conclusions
1. Show and discuss how your calculations in steps 1 and 2 relate to Kirchhoff’s Voltage law.

2. Using the values of the resistors (resistances) and voltage measurements, show and discuss how the
currents determined compared to those measured in step. 5, and how these relate to KCL.

Show samples of the mathematical analysis (working out) in you lab report.

***
You may attempt a similar exercise using PSpice
 LAB MANUAL
Four laboratory exercises contribute to the overall assessments as indicated in Subject Learning Outcome.
The total lab components of your assessment make up 15% of the internal assessment marks as per the table below:
Lab Title/Topic Marks:__/15%
Lab 1: Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws 4%
Lab 2: First-order Circuits and Second-order Circuits 4%
Lab 3: Sinusoidal Steady-state 4%
Lab 4: Introduction to Two-Port Networks 3%

In the lab exercises, you will be working in groups of four.

***
Prior Reading and Resources: Ref: Lecture notes and Textbook

Theory: Ref: Lecture notes and Textbook

Assessment Data: Refer to Assessment Task and Lab Marking Rubrics below.

Assessment Tasks:
Assessment Task (AT)
5 Laboratories There will be four laboratories to be conducted and assessed. Each laboratory will
contribute as indicated in the table above to the total assessment items mark of 15%.
The laboratory activities allow the student to connect up and investigate the responses of
current and voltage in and from both active and passive circuit elements, to gain insight and
understanding of basic circuit topologies.

Assessment Submission Structure and Length

Submit your report on this Laboratory with the discussions of the results in no more than 10 pages.

GUIDE LINES FOR THE EXPERIMENTS AND REPORT PREPARATION

1. Preparation for the experiment:
Before conducting the experiment, the student is required to have read the experiment background and procedure from
the experiment manual and studied the related theory. The lab instructor may, during the experiment, ask students
questions pertaining to the procedure and theory. The lab instructor may give negative points to and even prevent an
unprepared student from conducting the experiment. Tardy students may not be allowed to perform the experiment.
2. Laboratory teams:
The class will be divided in teams of three or four students. The composition of the teams (which students will team up)
is left to the preference of the students, but the lab instructor makes the ultimate decision as to each team’s composition.
Each lab experiment requires a report. The lab reports are due on the next lab meeting. The lab report for the final
experiment is due a week after the final lab meeting.
Each team submits one report per experiment (unless otherwise required). The grade of the report is given to all members
of the team. Late reports are penalized by taking 5 points off per each day past the due date of the report. The other
grade components of the experiments aregiven to the students individually. If a student misses or is dismissed from
an experiment, the grade of that student shall be zero for that experiment.
3. Preparation of the report:
The report must be produced electronically (e.g. using MS-WORD). Tables showing data or results, as well as figures
and graphs should be produced electronically and embedded in themain body (e.g. using MATLAB or MS-Excel,
 MS-Visio). Include captions and titles for figures, graphs and tables as well as numbers for equations. The preferred
language style is the use of the present tense and third person. The report must contain the following sections:
a) Cover page: Include number and title of the experiment, date the experiment was performed and the names of the
team members.
b) Objective: Give a short description of the purpose of the experiment.
c) Theoretical background: Give a brief description of the relevant theory.
d) The experimental procedure: Summarize what was done for each experiment procedure. Do not copy or repeat
the procedure description from the lab manual. Report the measurement and other experimental data. Tabulate
measurements if necessary. Include table number and title over tables.
e) Analysis of experimental data: Analyze the data. Compare with theoretical results. Produce graphs using
MATLAB or MS-Excel and embed the graph figure into the main body of the report. Include figure number
and caption. Label axis. Show units. Tables and graphs should appear inserted in the text close to the place they
are first mentioned and in the same section.Add remarks and calculations on each procedure if necessary.
f) Conclusions: Summarize the experiment and the results. Discuss the factual knowledgegained.
***
Assessment Criteria and Student Feedback
Your report will be marked based on the rubrics as provided in the table below.

Laboratory Marking Rubrics

Criteria Fail: 0-4 Pass: 5-8 Very Good: 9-10

Report Write-up Poor report presentations with poor Good report but not Good report with good
and Presentations figures, no lab title, no objectives of properly presented analysis, structures, good
the lab, no proper procedures being introduction and objectives.
followed and grammatical errors
Equations and Variables and ranges not p roperly Good generation of data Ranges clearly set, values
data values defined, matrices could not be defined but with minor match the variable correctly
in one complete step, solutions without irregularities and clearly
units.

Statement on No proper conclusions or a very vague Explains the principles Clearly state the purpose of
what has been conclusions that doesn’t reach the well but nothing on the this lab and appreciate how
attended objective of the lab results/data from the t h e practical investigation
practical exercises. relate to the theoretical
concepts and principles.

Referencing
Provide reference or citation of sources on information according to the approved school of engineering format.

Sample of Student Assessment Rubric

Laboratory No. 1 Marks Obtained
Name Comment on Assessment Criteria Mark Obtained
Good report with good analysis, structures, good 10
introduction and objectives.
Cool Dude Ranges clearly set, values match the variable correctly 10
and clearly done.
Clearly stated the purpose of this lab and appreciate how 10
scientific programing is necessary.
Total Marks/10 Averaged to 10 10