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Wentworth Institute of Technology

ELEC2250 Network Theory I

Laboratory Exercise #1

Resistors and Analog Breadboard

Objectives:

 To understand how to read the resistor color codes.

 To understand how to use a digital multimeter to measure resistance.
 To understand how to use a digital multimeter to measure resistance.
 To become familiar with analog breadboard.
 To learn how to use a power supply

Equipment and Parts:

6 Resistors
Digital multimeter (DMM on the bench)
A set of banana/clip leads
Analog breadboard
Bag of wires

Outcomes:

- No lab report is due for this experiment.

- Enter the calculated/measured results and response to questions as the edit to this
document. The revised document is due on Blackboard in the Lab #1 folder or you
may hand the report to me before the next period starts.

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Background:

A resistor is often included in a circuit to regulate the current level that flows through it. It
imposes opposition to the flow of charge, or current. The resistance value, measured in Ohms
(Ω), dictates the level of opposition. The greater the resistance level, the more opposition
imposed by the resistor. For most fixed resistors, whose resistance does not change, color bands
are printed on the package to indicate its resistance level. The figure below shows an example of
the color bands of a resistor. Be aware that the 1st band is closer to the end of the resistor
compared to the 4th one, and the distance between the 3rd and 4th bands is greater than the other
neighboring ones.

1st significant figure Tolerance

2nd significant figure Decimal multiplier

The above table lists the value each color represents and how to apply them to determine the
resistance level. For the example resistor, the nominal resistance level Rnominal is determined by
the first three bands, which is calculated as 20×101 = 200 Ω. The tolerance represented by the 4th
band specifies the range in percentage, within which the resistance value is guaranteed to be by
the manufacturer. The lower limit can be calculated by Rnominal × (1 – tolerance) and the upper

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limit by Rnominal × (1 + tolerance). In this case, the range of the resistance level is between 200 Ω
× (1 – 5%) = 190 Ω and 200 Ω × (1 + 5%) = 210 Ω.

Pre-lab exercises:

1. The following resistors will be provided in the lab. Determine which resistor falls in the
range of resistances specified in the first column of Table 1. Fill in correct colors and
resistance values according to the color code (Column 2 and 3).

Orange White Black Gold Brown Green Green Silver

Gold Red Orange Orange Yellow Violet Brown Gold

Gold Yellow Blue Green Brown Green Orange Gold

2. Using the tolerance given by band 4, calculate the minimum and maximum resistance
values. Fill in the determined tolerance and calculated values in Column 4, 5 and 6 in
Table 1.
Table 1.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Color
% Min Max Measure
Range in Code
Band Colors Toleran Value Value d Value
Ohms Value
ce (Ω) (Ω) (Ω)
(Ω) (Ω)
1 2 3 4
11 – 100
110 – 1k
1.1k –
10k
11k –
100k
110k –
1M

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1M –
22M

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Procedures:

1. Measure the resistance of the provided resistors using the digital multimeter (DMM). Fill
in the measured resistance values in Column 7 in Table 1.

2. Compare the measured resistance value with the range determined in the pre-lab exercise
(column 5 and 6), is there any resistor whose resistance is outside of the range?

3. Analog breadboard is a construction base for assembling electronic circuit. All the
sockets appear from top to be isolated, however some of them are electrically connected
underneath. If 2 sockets are electrically connected, short circuit is established and electric
current can freely flow between them. If there’s no electric connection between sockets,
an open circuit is formed and electric current won’t flow. Use DMM to determine the
pattern of open and short circuits on the breadboard. On the image below (Figure 1),
draw a line through the sockets that are electrically connected. Draw enough lines to
demonstrate the trend.

Figure 1. Analog breadboard

4. Place a 1K ohm resistor into the breadboard. Connect another 1K ohm resistor into the
breadboard where one end of the second resistor is connected to one end of the first
resistor.
5. Adjust the power supply for 5 volts DC.

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6. Connect a cable from the power socket of the supply to one end of the first resistor (not
the one connected to the other resistor).
7. Connect a cable from the Ground socket of the supply to one end of the second resistor
(not the one connected to the other resistor).
8. Use the DMM to measure the voltage between the resistors.
What is the voltage?