Tennessee State University

College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
ENGR 2001
CIRCUITS I LAB
Section 02

Lab Experiment #1
Statistics and Error Analysis

Vance Willis
Lab Partner: Tish Spalding
Instructor: Dr. Carlotta A. Berry

Lab Performed: September 8, 2005

Report Submitted: September 15, 2005

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this experiment was to perform a number of resistance measurements
to various resistors using various ohmmeters. Once this data was accumulated, a
number of statistical calculations were performed to determine the mean, mode,
median, variance, and standard deviation of the measured values. The data was
presented in both scatter plots and histograms, and an error analysis was performed.
Part A of the experiment tested the consistency of the ohmmeters used in the lab,
which proved to be relatively accurate with an error less than 1% from one meter to the
next. Part B of the experiment tested the resistors themselves, which showed all
samples tested to be well within their published tolerance of 5%.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
I.

Objective

II.

Theory

III.

Equipment

IV.

Apparatus

V.

Procedure

VI.

Graphs

VII.

Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations

Appendix A

Data

Appendix B

Formulas and Sample Calculations

Appendix C

References

I.

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment was to take several resistance measurements
using digital multimeters, record the data, and analyze the results.

II.

Theory:
There are two types of errors which can occur in a lab experiment:
1) Systematic errors which are identifiable and correctible. An example
of a systematic error would be an instrument which was not properly
calibrated.
2) Random errors are not identifiable and typically cannot be corrected.
An example of a random error would be an operator error while
making a measurement.
Experiment Part A:
Any instrument or device has an inherent error in its measurements. This error
prevents an instrument from being infinitely accurate. However, the error within a
piece of test equipment should be relatively small, to prevent erroneous
conclusions made from measurements with that device. If a resistor is kept at
the same ambient temperature and measured with a number of different
ohmmeters, one can interpret the results as the error within the meters
themselves. The data collected from several resistors measured on several
multimeters will be presented in scatter plots and histograms, as well as
analyzed for percent error. The results will show the consistency of the
multimeters measurements.
Experiment Part B:
Resistors are typically manufactured to a specific tolerance range. For example,
the resistors tested in this experiment were specified by the manufacturer to have
a tolerance of 5% maximum. The data collected from sample resistors will be
presented in scatter plots and histograms, as well as analyzed for percent error.
The actual error will be compared to the resistors maximum rated tolerance to
ensure they are within specification.

III.

Equipment:
Tektronix Digital Multimeter
Resistors (1 k, 15 k, 22 k, 3.3 k)
Leads
Alligator Clips

IV.

Apparatus:
The apparatus used to measure the resistance of the resistors consisted of a
Tektronix digital multimeter (in ohmmeter mode), wire leads, and alligator clips
attached to the leads on the resistor being tested (see Figure 1). For
measurement of the 1 k resistors, the meter was placed in 0-2 k range. For
measurement of the 3.3 k and 15 k resistors, the meter was placed in the 020 k range. For measurement of the 22 k resistors, the meter was placed in
the 0-200 k range.

Figure 1
(Lab Apparatus)
V.

Procedure
Experiment Part A:
1. Select a 1 k resistor and record the tolerance as indicated by the
appropriate color band.
2. Take resistance measurements using 10 different digital multimeters and
record the results.
3. Perform an error analysis for the measured versus marked values of the
resistor (using color bands to determine marked resistance).
4. Calculate the mean, mode, median, variance, and standard deviation for the
measurements.
5. Plot the results in both a scatter plots and histograms.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 using a 15 k, 22 k, and then a 3.3 k resistor.
Experiment Part B
1. Select 10 different 1 k resistors and record the tolerance as indicated by the
appropriate color band.
2. Use a digital multimeter to measure the resistance of each resistor and record
the results.
3. Perform an error analysis for the measured versus marked values of the
resistors (using color bands to determine marked resistance).
4. Calculate the mean, mode, median, variance, and standard deviation for the
measurements.
5. Plot the results in both a scatter plot and histogram.

Graphs
Experiment Part A:
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 show the results of the resistor measurements using 10
different digital multimeters for the 1 k, 15 k, 22 k, and 3.3 k resistors,
respectively. Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 show the same results presented in
histograms.
1k Scatter Plot

15k Scatter Plot

14.85
Resistance ()

Resistance ()

0.995
0.994
0.993
0.992
0.991
0.99
0

14.8
14.75
14.7
14.65

9 10 11

Sam ple #

9 10 11

Sam ple #

Figure 2
(1 k Measurement Results)

Figure 3
(15 k Measurement Results)

3.3k Scatter Plot

22k Scatter Plot

3.3

21.82
21.8
21.78
21.76
21.74
21.72
21.7
21.68

Resistance ()

Resistance ()

VI.

9 10 11

Sam ple #

3.29
3.28
3.27
3.26
3.25
0

9 10 11

Sam ple #

Figure 4
(22 k Measurement Results)

Figure 5
(3.3 k Measurement Results)

4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

15k Resistor Histogram

Number of Resistors in Range

Number of Resistors in Range

1k Resistor Histogram

0
.990.991

.991.992

.992.993

.993.994

.994.995

5
4

3
2

0
14.65-14.70 14.70-14.75 14.75-14.80 14.80-14.85
Resistance Range ()

Resistance Range ()

Figure 6
(1 k Measurement Results)

Figure 7
(15 k Measurement Results)

3.3k Resistor Histogram

Number of Resistors in Range

4
3
2
1

1
0

0
21
.6
8.2
1.
21
70
.7
021
.7
21
2
.7
221
.7
21
4
.7
421
.7
21
6
.7
621
.7
21
8
.7
821
.8
21
0
.8
021
.8
2

Number of Resistors in Range

22k Resistor Histogram

6

4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2

4
3
2

1.5
1
0.5
0

1
0
3.25-3.26 3.26-3.27 3.27-3.28 3.28-3.29 3.29-3.30
Resistance Range ()

Resistance Range ()

Figure 8
(22 k Measurement Results)

Figure 9
(3.3 k Measurement Results)

Experiment Part B:
Figure 10 shows the results of the measurement of 10 different k resistors
using the same multimeter. Figure 11 shows the same data presented in a
histogram.
1k Resistor Scatter Plot
1000

Resistance ()

995
990
985
980
975
970
0

10

12

Sam ple #

Figure 10
(1 k Measurement Results)
1k Resistor Histogram

Number of Resistors in Range

4.5

4
3.5

3
2.5

2
1.5

1
0.5

0
970-975 975-980 980-985 985-990 990-995
Resistance Range ()

Figure 11
(1 k Measurement Results)

9951000

Results, Conclusions and Recommendations

The measurements done as part of part A of the lab experiment, which were of
the same resistors measured with different multimeters, clearly showed the error
which is apparent in any instrumentation used in an experiment. The error was,
however, below 1%, which is probably a typical result from one instrument to
another (see Table 1). Test equipment such as digital multimeters typically have
an accuracy ranging from 0.1% to 1%. Most of this error is attributable to meters
which may have been in need of calibration, as manufacturers typically
recommend a recalibration annually. Part of this error could also be due to the
age of some of the instruments used. These errors are all of the systematic type.
A possible source of random type errors during this experiment could have been
a mistakenly chosen range on the instrument (using the 0-20 k range to
measure a 1 k resistor, for example), resulting in a fewer number of significant
figures in the accuracy of the reading. This, however, should have been avoided
during the measurements.
Nominal Resistance (k)

15

22

3.3

Tolerance (%)

5%

5%

5%

5%

0.8%
0.8%
0.8%
0.6%
0.6%
0.7%
0.8%
0.9%
0.9%
0.6%

1.7%
1.9%
1.6%
1.7%
1.7%
1.6%
2.0%
1.7%
1.5%
1.1%

1.4%
1.4%
1.4%
0.9%
0.9%
1.0%
1.4%
1.4%
1.0%
1.0%

1.2%
1.2%
0.9%
0.9%
0.9%
0.8%
0.9%
1.2%
0.8%
0.3%

0.99243
0.992
0.992
0.0000
0.0012

14.7534
14.74
14.75
0.0013
0.0360

21.746
21.7
21.74
0.0024
0.0488

3.2697
3.27
3.27
0.0001
0.0092

Error Analysis (%)

VII.

Lab Station 1
Lab Station 2
Lab Station 3
Lab Station 4
Lab Station 5
Lab Station 6
Lab Station 7
Lab Station 8
Lab Station 9
Lab Station 10

Mean
Mode
Median
Variance
Standard Deviation

Table 1
(Error and statistical analysis for measurement of 1 k, 15 k, 22 k, and 3.3 k
resistors using ten different multimeters)

The measurements done as part of part B of the lab experiment, which were of
a series of 1 k marked resistors measured with the same multimeter, proved
that the resistors under test were also well within their specified tolerance of 5%.
In fact, the largest error was only 2%, less than half of the allowable error,
according to the resistor manufacturers specifications (see Table 2).

Sample #

Measured
Resistance
()

Nominal
Resistance
()

Tolerance
(%)

Error (%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

989
990
992
980
998
997
997
996
995
994

1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000

5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%

1.10%
1.00%
0.80%
2.00%
0.20%
0.30%
0.30%
0.40%
0.50%
0.60%

992.8
997
994.5
29.5111111

Mean
Mode
Median
Variance
Std.
Deviation

5.43241301

Table 2
(Error and statistical analysis for measurement of ten 1 k resistors using the
same multimeter)

10

APPENDIX A
Data

15

22

3.3

Tolerance (%)

5%

5%

5%

5%

0.992
0.992
0.992
0.994
0.994
0.9933
0.992
0.991
0.9905
0.9935

14.74
14.72
14.76
14.74
14.75
14.763
14.7
14.75
14.776
14.835

21.7
21.7
21.7
21.8
21.8
21.78
21.7
21.7
21.79
21.79

3.26
3.26
3.27
3.27
3.27
3.272
3.27
3.26
3.274
3.291

Resistance Measurements
(k)

Nominal Resistance (k)

Lab Station 1
Lab Station 2
Lab Station 3
Lab Station 4
Lab Station 5
Lab Station 6
Lab Station 7
Lab Station 8
Lab Station 9
Lab Station 10

Table 3
(Resistance measurements for 1 k, 15 k, 22 k, and 3.3 k resistors using ten
different multimeters)

Sample #

Measured
Resistance
()

Nominal
Resistance
()

Tolerance
(%)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

989
990
992
980
998
997
997
996
995
994

1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000

5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%

Table 4
(Resistance measurements for ten different 1 k resistors using the same
multimeter)

11

APPENDIX B
Formulas, Sample Calculations, and Error Analysis
Formulas:
% error =

theoretical measured
theoretical

(percent error)

*100

x1 + x 2 + ... + x n 1
= xi
n
n

x=

(mean)

s2 =

1
( xi x ) 2

n 1

(variance)

s=

1
( xi x ) 2

n 1

(standard deviation)

Calculations:
Example calculations shown here are for 1 k resistors in experiment part A.

% error =
x=

1 0.992
1

*100 = 0.8%

0.992 + 0.992 + 0.992 + 0.994 + 0.994 + 0.9933 + 0.992 + 0.991 + 0.9905 + 0.9935
= 0.99243
10

s2 =

3 (0.992 0.99243) 2 + 2 (0.994 0.99243) 2 + (0.9933 0.99243) 2 + (0.992 0.99243) 2 + ...

10 1
... + (0.991 0.99243) 2 + (0.9905 0.99243) 2 + (0.9935 0.99243) 2

s = 1.482 10 6 = 0.001218

12

= 1.482 10 6

APPENDIX C
References
Alexander, Charles K. and Matthew Sadiku, Fundamentals of Electric Circuits, 2nd
Edition, McGraw Hill, 2004.

13