SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

Rev.1.2012

LABORATORY MANUAL

Physics Department
Faculty of Science and Mathematics
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
35900 Tg. Malim, Perak DR
www.upsi.edu.my

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

SFE 1023

By:
Tn. Hj. Shaharudin Ali
En. Ahmad Kamal Arifin
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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

Tn. Hj. Noor Azman Razalee

Dr. Mohd. Ikhwan Hadi Yaacob
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

EXPERIMENT 1
Introduction to Electronics Instrumentation
& Passive Components

EXPERIMENT 2
DC Current and DC Voltage Measurement

EXPERIMENT 3
Ohm’s Law

EXPERIMENT 4
Capacitor – Time Constant of an RC Circuit

EXPERIMENT 5
Magnetic Field Mapping

For further information:

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

E-mail us at shaharudin@fsmt.upsi.edu.my/ noor.azman@fstmt.upsi.edu.my/

ahmad.kamal@fsmt.upsi.edu.my/ ikhwan.hadi@fsmt.upsi.edu.my. Or visit us at
http://fsmt.upsi.edu.my/fizik

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris may make changes to its products at any time. Universiti Pendidikan
Sultan Idris has no liability arising from your use of any information, device or circuit described herein.
UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS MAKES NO WARRANTIES HEREIN.
EXPERIMENT 1 : INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRONICS
INSTRUMENTATIONS & PASSIVE COMPONENTS

1.1 Objective

● To introduce basics electronics instrumentations such as Analogue Voltmeter,

Analogue Ammeter, Digital Multimeter and Analogue Multimeter.
● To introduce passive electronic components such as resistors, variable resistor,
capacitors, inductors, batteries, switch, breadboard and magnets.

1.2 Apparatus

1. Voltmeter & Ammeter

2. Digital & Analogue Multimeter
3. Resistors & Variable resistor/Rheostat
4. Capacitors
5. Inductors/Coils & Magnets
6. Batteries, Switch and Breadboard

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

1.3 Procedures

1. Your instructor will introduce and demonstrate several basic electronics

instruments which are available in the lab.
2. You will be asked by your instructor to demonstrate your competency in using the
instruments.

1.4 Analysis

1. Determine the resistance of several resistors using colour code as in Table 1.

2. Determine the resistance of several resistors using analogue and digital
multimeters
3. Monitor resistance variation of rheostat using multimeter.
4. Measure battery’s voltage using analogue voltmeter and digital multimeter.

Table 1: Resistor colour code

1.5
Res
ults
and
Con
clus
ion

In your
report, you

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

must include the articles related to these instruments and components which you found in
the internet. Jot down the website link as references.

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

EXPERIMENT 2: DC CURRENT AND DC VOLTAGE

MEASUREMENTS

2.1 Objective

● To set up a circuit based on a given circuit diagram

● To incorporate the ammeter and voltmeter correctly in a circuit
● To determine the total resistance of resistors in series and parallel

2.2 Apparatus

1. 6V Battery
2. 300 Ω rheostat, 3 X 100 Ω resistors
3. Switch
4. Ammeter & Voltmeter
5. Breadboard
6. Banana connectors and Crocodile connectors

2.4 Procedures

1. Set up the circuit as shown in Figure 1 below. Connect the three resistors in
series.
2. Use the circuit to study the variation of V with I, where V is the reading of the
voltmeter and I is the reading of the ammeter.
3. Plot V-I graph. From your graph, deduce the total resistance of resistors in series
in the circuit.
4. Connect up the circuit as shown in Figure 2.
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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

5. Repeat step (2) and (3).

6. From your graph, determine the total resistance of resistors in parallel in the
circuit.

Figure 1

Figure 2

2.5 Analysis

Determine the slope of each graph.

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

2.6 Results and Conclusion

Please attach the result together with the conclusion.

EXPERIMENT 3: OHM’S LAW

3.1 Objective

● To determine the resistance by using Ohm’s law

● To assemble resistors in series and in parallel
● To state the effect of series and parallel connections of resistors to the equivalent
resistance

3.2 Apparatus

1. 3 resistors (100Ω, 220Ω & 1kΩ)

2. 6V Battery
3. Ammeter and Voltmeter
4. Switch & Breadboard
5. Banana connectors and crocodile clips

3.3 Theories

Ohm’s law states that:

At constant temperature, the potential difference, V across a conductor is directly
proportional to the current, I that flows through it. The constant of proportionality is
known as resistance of the conductor denoted by R

Mathematically,

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

For resistors arranged in series, the equivalent resistance is:

For resistors arranged in parallel, the equivalent resistance is:

3.4 Procedures

PART A – Colour Coding

1. Select three resistors and determine its resistance value using color coding
technique as in Table 1 of Experiment 1.
2. Observe and record the colour of the bands on resistors P. Q. and R in Table 2.
3. Determine the resistance value of resistors P. Q, and R and their tolerance.

Table 2

PART B – Range and Sensitivity of Voltmeter and Ammeter

4. Observe the ammeter and the voltmeter provided.
5. Sate the measuring unit, measuring range, value of the smallest division and the
uncertainty for both meters.
6. Record the data in Table 3.

Table 3

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

PART C – Ohm’s Law

7. Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 3 using resistor P. Close the circuit
(switch ON).

Figure 3

8. Record the readings of the voltmeter and ammeter.

9. Calculate the resistance of resistor P by using Ohm’s law.
10. Replace resistor P with resistor Q and then resistor R and repeat steps (7) to (9).
11. Complete Table 4.
Table 4

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

PART C – Equivalent Resistance

12. Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 4. Close the circuit (switch ON).
13. Record the readings of the voltmeter and ammeter.
14. Calculate the equivalent resistance by using Ohm’s law.
15. Calculate the equivalent resistance by using equation.
16. Set up the apparatus as shown in Figure 5. Close the circuit (switch ON).
17. Record the readings of the voltmeter and ammeter.
18. Calculate the equivalent resistance by using Ohm’s law.
19. Calculate the equivalent resistance by using equation.
20. Complete Table 5

Figure 4 Figure 5

Table 5

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

3.5 Analysis

1. What is the importance of choosing the correct measuring range?

2. Compare the values of P, Q and R in Table 2 with their corresponding values in
Table 4. Comment on discrepancy if any.
3. Compare the experimental value with the theoretical value of the equivalent
resistance in Table 5. Give comment.
4. Conclude about the equivalent resistance when two resistors are connected:
(i) In series
(ii) In parallel

3.6 Results and Conclusion

Please attach the result together with the conclusion.

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

EXPERIMENT 4: CAPACITOR – TIME CONSTANT OF RC

CIRCUIT

4.1 Objective

● To determine the time constant and the capacitance of a capacitor using an RC

circuit.

4.2 Apparatus

1. 6V Battery
2. Switch & Breadboard
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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

3. Stopwatch
4. 100 kΩ resistor
5. 2 capacitors labeled C1 and C2
6. Wire jumpers and connectors
7. DC microammeter

4.3 Theories

Theory:
The total charge, Q on each plate of a capacitor during the discharging processes varies
with time, t as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6
During the charging process:

During discharging, the magnitude of the current, I varies with time as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7

During the discharging process:

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

where Qo = the initial amount of charge stored in the capacitor

Q = the amount of charge at time, t
RC = time constant, τ

The magnitude of the discharge current is:

Evidently at time. t = τ, the magnitude of the discharge current is 0.37 of its initial or
maximum value, 0.37Io.

4.4 Procedures

Note: Before starting or repeating this experiment, makes sure that the capacitors are
fully discharged. This can be attained by short circuiting the capacitors.

1. Set up the circuit as shown in Figure 8 with switch S opened.

Figure 8

2. Read the microammeter for Io, with switch. S closed and record Io.
3. Open switch S and short circuit the capacitor using a connecting wire so that the
capacitor is fully discharged.

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

4. Close switch S again to charge the capacitor so that the microammeter reading is
back to Io.
5. Open switch S and start the stopwatch simultaneously. Observe the reading of the
microammeter. When the current reaches a certain value, stop the stopwatch.
Record the readings of the current, I and the time, t respectively.
6. Repeat steps (4) and (5) for other values of I and t. Record your readings and
tabulate the values for both I and t.
7. Now add capacitor C2, to the circuit as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9
8. Repeat steps (3) to (6) to obtain the readings of the microammeter and the
stopwatch, I’ and t’. Record the readings and tabulate I’ and t’.
9. Plot graphs of I against t and I’ against t’ using the same axes.

4.5 Analysis

1. From the graphs, determine the time constants τ and τ’ of the RC circuits in Figure
3 and Figure 4 respectively.
2. Calculate the capacitance of the two circuits using equations τ = RC . Note that
the result obtained for circuit in Figure 3 is for C and the result for circuit in
Figure 4 is the effective capacitance, C when capacitors C1 and C2 are in parallel
combination.
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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

3. Write the relationship of C1, C2 and C and hence, determine the value of C2.

4.6 Results and Conclusion

Please attach the result together with the conclusion.

EXPERIMENT 5: MAGNETIC FIELD MAPPING

5.1 Objective

● To measure and mapping magnetic field of solenoids.

● To study relationship between magnetic field and current.

5.2 Apparatus

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

1. Solenoids (300, 600, 900 and 1200 turns)

2. Rheostat
3. DC power supply
4. Ammeter
5. Pasco magnetic sensor & USB link
6. Meter ruler

5.3 Theories

Magnetic field is defined as region around a magnet where a magnetic force can be
experienced. Magnetic field lines are used to represent a magnetic field. By convection,
magnetic field lines leave the North pole and enter the South pole of a magnet.

The number of lines per unit cross sectional area is proportional to the magnitude of the
magnetic field. Magnetic filed lines do not intersect one another. A solenoid is an
electrical device in which a long wire has been wound into a succession of closely spaced
loops with geometry of a helix. The magnitude of the magnetic field intensity at the
centre/midpoint/inside of N turn solenoid is given by:

B = µoNI / l
N/l=n
B = µonI
The magnetic field intensity at the end of N turns solenoid is given by:
B = 0.5 µonI

5.4 Procedures

1. Connect a circuit as shown in Figure 10.

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

Figure 10
2. Switch ON the power supply and set the voltage to 8VDC.
3. Adjust the rheostat until the current flowing through the circuit is I = 2.5A.
4. Setup the sensor by connecting to the computer through USB port.
5. Placed the sensor inside and across at one end of the solenoid as shown in Figure
11.

Figure 11
6. Measure and record the magnetic field along the axis of the solenoid at 0.5 cm
apart until the sensor is outside the other end of the solenoid.
7. Place the sensor outside and about 0.2 cm at one end of the solenoid as shown in
Figure 12 and repeat step 6.

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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

Figure 12
8. Adjust the rheostat for I = 2.0 A and 1.0 A and repeat step 6 only.
9. Repeat step 1 to 8 using 600, 900 and 1200 turns solenoids.

5.5 Analysis

1. Plot the magnitude B against the distance.

2. Explain the shape of the magnetic field inside and outside the solenoid.
3. Explain the effect of current on the production of magnetic field inside the
solenoid.
4. Does the magnitude of magnetic field at the end of the solenoid is equal to a half
of B at the centre of the solenoid?
5. Calculate the magnetic field at the centre of the solenoid in unit Tesla.

5.6 Results and Conclusion

Please attach the result together with the conclusion.

Physics Department
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 SFE1013 – Electricity & Magnetism

Faculty of Science & Mathematics

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak, MALAYSIA

LABORATORY MANUAL
SFE1013-Electricity & Magnetism

For further information:

E-mail us at shaharudin@fsmt.upsi.edu.my/ noor.azman@fstmt.upsi.edu.my/
ahmad.kamal@fsmt.upsi.edu.my/ ikhwan.hadi@fsmt.upsi.edu.my.
Or visit us at http://fsmt.upsi.edu.my/fizik

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris may make changes to its products at any time. Universiti Pendidikan
Sultan Idris has no liability arising from your use of any information, device or circuit described herein.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris makes no WARRANTIES HEREIN.

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