Experiment: 2

Experiment name: KVL, and Voltage Divider Rule using Series Circuit.

Objectives:
• Learn how to connect a series circuit on a breadboard.
• Validate the voltage divider rules.
• Verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law.

Apparatus:
1.Trainer board
2.Resistors (3.3 KΩ, 4.7 KΩ and 5.6K)
3.Digital Multimeter (DMM)
4. Connecting Wire

Theory :

According to Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL), the total voltage in a

circuit surrounding any closed loop is equal to zero. alternatively, the
applied voltage or electromotive force within a closed loop is equal to
the algebraic total of the voltage drops (or rises) within that loop.

The voltage across each component in a series circuit can be found

using the voltage divider rule.

The sum of the individual voltage drops across each component in a

series circuit equals the total voltage V total across all the
components.

𝑹𝒐𝒖𝒕
𝑽𝒊𝒏 = 𝑽𝒐𝒖𝒕 ×
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
Circuit Diagram:
Experimental process :

1. Before we start with, we need to determine the resistor values by looking at

their color coding and enter these values in Table 1.

2. Next, we'll precisely measure each resistor's resistance using a Digital

Multimeter (DMM). Table 1 will also contain these measured resistance values.

3. Using the provided formula, we may compute the theoretical resistance

values for each resistor based on the measured resistances, and then determine
the % error.
Percentage Error = {| (Theoretical-Experimental) | / Theoretical value}
*100%

These percentage error values will then be recorded in Table

4. After performing the resistor analysis, we will use the resistors and an
appropriate voltage source to build the circuit shown in Circuit 2.
5. We'll measure the voltage differences across each resistor R1 and the source
VS using the DMM.

Table 2 records these readings as R2, R3, and R3.

6. Next, we will finish Table 3 by entering the voltage values that have been
obtained from the measurements that were made in step 5.

7. Next, we'll gauge the voltage differential Vab between the circuit's points a
and b. We will compute Vab using the voltage division formula and enter both
the computed and measured values in Table 4.

8. Lastly, we'll use the DMM to measure the total load resistance, or Req, after
disconnecting the voltage source from the circuit, and record this number in
Table- 4.

Results :

We collected theoretical, simulated, and real-world data throughout the lab

experiment in order to evaluate the voltage divider rule, compare and assess the
series circuit's performance, and confirm Kirchhoff's voltage law (KVL).

1. Theoretical Value: Based on the known resistance values of the resistors used
in the circuit, the theoretical values were computed. For instance, the theoretical
value of a 3.3 kΩ resistor was 3.3 kΩ. Similarly, KVL and the voltage divider
formula were used to compute the theoretical potential differences across each
resistor.
Vs = 15V, VR1 = 3.64V, VR2 = 5.18 V, VR1 = 6.17V, Vab = 11.36V, and Req
= 13.6 kΩ are the theoretical values.

2.Simulated Values: We simulated the circuit using Multisim software. The

simulated values closely matched the theoretical values since ideal
components were assumed in the simulation.
Simulated values are: Vs = 15V, VR1 = 3.64V, VR2 = 5.18 V, VR1 = 6.17V,
Vab=11.36V, Req=13.6 kΩ.
3.Experimental Values: During the practical experiment, we measured the
resistances of the resistors using a Digital Multimeter (DMM) and recorded
the potential differences across each resistor using the same DMM.
Experimental values are: Vs = 15.10V, VR1 = 3.65V, VR2 = 5.23 V, VR3 = 6.19V,
Vab=11.43V, Req=13.38 kΩ.

Percentage Error:
| (𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍−𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍) |
Percentage Error = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆}

| (15−15.10 |
%Error for Vs = ∗ 100% = 0.67%
15
| (3.64−3.65) |
%Error for VR1= ∗ 100% = 0.27%
3.64
| (5.18−5.23) |
%Error for VR2 = ∗ 100% = 0.965%
5.18
| (6.17−6.19) |
%Error for VR3 = ∗ 100% = .324%
6.17
| (11.36−11.43) |
%Error for Vab = ∗ 100% = 0.616%
11.36
| (13.6−13.38) |
%Error for Req = ∗ 100% = 1.617%
13.6

Reasons for Error:

The main reasons for errors in practical measurements are :
• Tolerance of Resistors:
• Inaccuracies in Measurement:
• Breadboard Connections:
Comparison:
If we observe the simulated ,experimental and theoretical values we can
see that the simulated values matched the theoretical values however
there were some differences in the practical values due to some reasons
mentioned above .

Questions and Answers:

1. The voltage division rule states that in a series circuit, the voltage
across any resistor (or component) is proportional to its resistance
relative to the total resistance of the circuit, multiplied by the total
applied voltage.
2. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) states that the sum of the voltages
around any closed loop in a circuit must be equal to zero.
3.
For table 2:
𝑹
• 𝑽𝑹𝟏 = 𝑽𝑺 × 𝟏
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
𝟑. 𝟑
𝑽𝑹𝟏 = 𝟏𝟓 ×
𝟑. 𝟑 + 𝟒. 𝟕 + 𝟓. 𝟔

𝑽𝑹𝟏 = 𝟑. 𝟔𝟑𝑽

𝑹𝟐
• 𝑽𝑹𝟐 = 𝑽𝑺 ×
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
𝟒. 𝟕
𝑽𝑹𝟐 = 𝟏𝟓 ×
𝟑. 𝟑 + 𝟒. 𝟕 + 𝟓. 𝟔

𝑽𝑹𝟐 = 𝟓. 𝟏𝟖𝑽
 𝑹𝟑
• 𝑽𝑹𝟑 = 𝑽𝑺 ×
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
𝟓. 𝟔
𝑽𝑹𝟑 = 𝟏𝟓 ×
𝟑. 𝟑 + 𝟒. 𝟕 + 𝟓. 𝟔

𝑽𝑹𝟑 = 𝟔. 𝟏𝟕𝑽
All the value that we got from the DMM are almost same as the theoretical
values.
So, we can say that our circuit follows KVL.

4. Showing the steps of calculating Vab:

𝑹𝟐+𝑹𝟑
𝑽𝒂𝒃 = 𝑽𝑺 ×
𝑹𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍
𝟒.𝟕+𝟓.𝟔
𝑽𝒂𝒃 = 𝟏𝟓 ×
𝟑.𝟑+𝟒.𝟕+𝟓.𝟔
𝑽𝒂𝒃 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟑𝟔𝑽
Vab is almost same as the Experimental Value that we got using DMM

So, it verifies the voltage division rule at the terminal a-b.

5. Showing the steps of calculating Req:

𝑹𝒆𝒒 = 𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + 𝑹𝟑
𝑹𝒆𝒒 = 𝟑. 𝟑 + 𝟒. 𝟕 + 𝟓. 𝟔
𝑹𝒆𝒒 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟔𝒌Ω
It matches with our experimental value of equivalent resistance.

Discussion:

In this experiment, we aimed to validate the voltage divider rule and

verify Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) using a series circuit setup on a
breadboard. We utilized resistors with known values (3.3 KΩ, 4.7 KΩ,
and 5.6 KΩ) to construct the circuit and measured the potential
differences across the source and each resistor using a Digital
Multimeter (DMM).

Firstly, we identified the resistors by their color coding and measured

their resistances using the DMM .In the mean time we faced a
problem recognizing the color code of a resistor because the color
were faded that’s why we then measured the resistor using DMM to
know which resistor it is . We then calculated the percentage error
for each resistor by comparing the theoretical resistance values with
the measured values. This step helped us understand the accuracy
of our measurements.

Next, we constructed the series circuit on the breadboard according

to the given Circuit 2. Using the DMM, we measured the potential
differences across the source and each resistor in the circuit and
recorded these readings in Table 2. In this step firstly we were not
able to measured the values properly then our Lab instructor helped
us to measure properly. Then we filled in Table 3 with the recorded
potential difference readings.

To verify KVL, we measured the potential difference Vab across points

a and b in the circuit. We then Vab using the voltage division rule and
compared it with the measured value, recording both in Table 4.
Finally, after disconnecting the voltage source from the circuit, we
measured the total load resistance, (Req), using the DMM and
recorded the value in Table 4.

Through this experiment, we were able to test the voltage divider rule,
confirm Kirchhoff's voltage law, and build a series circuit on a
breadboard. We also learned more about the significance of
measurement accuracy and the various causes of error. We can use
accurate resistors and make sure the measurement devices are properly
connected and calibrated in order to increase accuracy in the following
tests. Overall, this experiment emphasized theoretical ideas and
offered invaluable practical experience with circuit analysis.