Angelica P.

Cano
PHYS 193 H-1L

August 17, 2015

2012-40545
Resistance Measurement

Step 1:
Using a standard multimeter, I measured five resistors with the following values: 20
, 100 , 470 , 2.2 K, 2.2 M. The resistance of each resistor was measured 50 times.
The mean, standard deviation and variance was obtained and summarized in the table
below.
Resistor
20

Mean
20.0978

Standard deviation
0.02894682

Variance
0.0008379

100

99.7600

0.440778532

0.194286

470

468.564

1.532073425

2.347249

2.2 K

2.19208

0.006533555

0.00004269

2.2 M

2.25854

0.044146884

0.001948947

The resistances of the five resistors were then measured using different scales of the
multimeter. Ideally, the measurements should not vary in value. But because of the
limitations

of

the

device,

the

obtained

values

are

slightly

different.

Resistance

measurements in the ohm scale are more precise and accurate than measurements in the
kiloohm and megaohm scale. Measurements in larger scales (kilo, mega etc.) are estimated
values and tend to be less precise when measuring low resistance components. It is advised
to use appropriate scales that are suitable to the component of interest. When measuring
low resistance components, the ohms scale will give more accurate readings; with high
resistance components it is suggested to use larger scales.
Step 2:
Using a digital DC power supply and two multimeters one used as an ammeter and
one used as a voltmeter- the IV readings of the resistors are obtained. For each IV reading,
the Resistance values were obtained and the relevant parameters were summarized in the
table below.

Resistor

Standard deviation

Variance

20

Mean value of
computed R
19.61224

0.46696

0.218051

100

104.638

2.874659

8.263667

470

468.00

3.87113

14.98565

2.2 K

2.245

0.00349

0.0000122

2.2 M

1.92

0.70280781

0.493939

Step 3:
The IV readings was repeated 50 times for each resistor value. The graphs below
show the linear relationship of voltage and current. This is also described as the ohmic
behavior of common commercial resistors.
0.01

0.02

0.01

0.01

0.01
Current (A)

Current (A)

0
0

0.01
100 ohms

20 ohms

Linear (100 ohms)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Voltage (V)

10

12

Voltage (V)

2.50E-02

8.00E-06

2.00E-02

6.00E-06

1.50E-02
Current (A)

Current (A)

1.00E-02
470 ohms
5.00E-03

Linear (470 ohms)

0.00E+00

4.00E-06

2.00E-06 Linear (2.2 megaohms)

2.2 megaohms
0.00E+00

Voltage (V)

8 10 12

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Voltage (V)

Resitor
20

Slope (1/R)
0.053483

Intercept
0.00796

R2
0.999305

100

0.001

8.67362E-19

470

0.002153

5.59218E-05

0.999842429

2.2 K

0.000451

1.29223E-05

0.99860989

2.2 M

5.4338E-07

9.67E-08

0.99945862

0
0
2.2 kiloohms
0
Current (A)

Linear (2.2 kiloohms)

0
0
Linear (2.2 kiloohms)
0 1 2

Voltage (V)

Step 4:
Why should an ideal voltmeter have infinite resistance?
Every measuring device impacts or interferes with the system it is measuring. The
effects, however, can be minimized by good device design and connections. A voltmeter is a
device to measure the applied voltage in an electronic circuit. It is always connected in
parallel with the circuit components under test. An ideal voltmeter should have infinite
resistance. Because it is connected in parallel, the current passing through it will still be
accounted for in the measurement of total circuit current. A voltmeter with infinite
resistance will not draw current away from the circuit [1].

Why should an ideal ammeter have zero resistance?

An ammeter is a current measuring device. Ideally, it should have zero resistance
because it should have zero potential difference between its terminals. Meters are also
circuit elements, meaning they should have the corresponding electrical properties suitable
to their functions. Ammeters are connected in series with the component under test. It
should have zero or at least negligible resistance so that it would not greatly affect the total
current of the circuit. Real ammeters, however, have a small finite resistance [1].
Explain the principle of Four point Kelvin probe resistance measurements.
The Four point Kelvin probing method is a resistance measuring technique that uses
separate pairs of current-carrying and voltage-sensing electrodes to give more accurate
readings than the common two terminal sensing method. It is named after William
Thomson, Lord Kelvin who invented the Kelvin bridge in 1861. This method is usually used
in measuring sheet resistance of thin films and measuring low resistance values [2].
There are two pairs of two-wire connections the current leads and voltage leads.
The current is supplied using the current leads, generating a voltage drop across the
resistance of the component under test. The voltage leads are then made to be adjacent to
the component under test. The current leads are usually connected as the outside pair, while
the voltage leads are the inside pair [2].
References
[1]

Chapter 8 - DC Metering Circuits: Voltmeter Impact on Measured Circuit. All About

Circuits. www.allaboutcircuits.com August 14, 2015

[2]

Measurement Accuracy and Kelvin Probing. Pdf file downloaded from accuprobe,
accessed using google search. August 14, 2015ss