EE 075 - Electrical Circuits and Sensors

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Lab 1 - Breadboards and Resistance
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Name: ______________________________________
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Partner: ____________________________________
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Date: ____________
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TA: ________________________________________


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 EE 075
Lab 1 - Grade Sheet
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Lab Grade: __________ (90 maximum)
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Presentation Grade: ________ (10 maximum)
(organization, clarity, neatness)
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Total: _____________
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Grader’s Comments:


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1 Laboratory Exercise
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1.1 Purpose
This exercise is designed to acquaint you with wiring and analyzing circuits on a
breadboard. You will work with the breadboard, a DC voltage source, and
resistors. You will practice reading resistor color codes and solve for voltage and
current values using Ohm’s Law and Kirchoff’s Laws. Then, you will read a
schematic and wire circuits on the breadboard, and compare the measured currents
and voltages with the calculated values.
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1.2 Related Reading
Textbook: Chapter 2
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1.3 Equipment
1.) Breadboard
2.) Digital Multimeter (DMM)
3.) Jumper wires
4.) Resistors: 10 kΩ and 1 kΩ
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1.4 Introduction
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1.4.1 Breadboard
Throughout the semester, our circuits will be assembled on a breadboard. The
breadboard is used to make connections between electrical components. When a
wire is slipped into a hole, it is held by a pinch-fit. As shown in Figure 1, the
numbered vertical columns of 5 holes are connected together, thus serving as our
circuit nodes. This connection however, does not bridge the middle horizontal gap
to the other set of numbered columns; they are separate. In addition, the columns
of holes, the top and bottom edges each have two long horizontal rows that are
connected and labeled with red and blue strips.

Figure 1. Solderless Breadboard

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1.4.2 Digital Multimeter (DMM)
The DMM will be used to measure resistance, current, and voltage. The parameter
that we intend to measure will determine the DMM dial setting and the terminals
into which the leads are inserted. The procedure for taking each measurement will
be explained in later sections.
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1.5 Experimental Data and Results
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1.5.1 Resistors
You are given two resistors of different values. Using a color code chart,
determine the resistance values of each resistor. Measure each resistance value
using the DMM by using a resistance dial setting and connecting the DMM leads
to ends of the resistor. Complete Table 1.
Resistor Color Bands Theoretical Value Measured Value % Difference
(Color Code)

Table 1. Resistance

1.5.2 Ohm’s Law

In this section, we will verify Ohm’s Law. Using the schematic in Figure 2,
calculate the voltage and the current. Record these values in Table 2.

Figure 2. Schematic for Ohm’s Law.

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Next, the schematic in Figure 2 will be connected on the breadboard with the
following procedure:
(1) Put the red lead and black lead of the battery snap on two separate rails.
(2) Connect the 9V battery to the snap.
(3) Connect the 10 kΩ resistor with the red wire of the battery and a new
rail.
(4) Connect a solid wire between the resistor (opposite side that the battery
is connected) and the black lead of the battery.
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Voltages are potential energy differences measured across the element. The DMM
is connected in parallel to the element. Ohm’s Law is verified by measuring the
voltage with the following procedure:
(1) Set your DMM to measure voltage
(2) Place the meter leads across the resistor and record the voltage
measurement in Table 2.
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Figure 3 provides a pictorial representation of the circuit and voltage measurement.

Figure 3. Pictorial diagram for measuring voltage.

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Since current flows through the resistor, it is measured in a different manner from
voltage. Currents are kinetic energy flows through elements. The meter must be
placed in series with the element. You must break the circuit and re-complete it
with the DMM to measure the current. The schematic in Figure 4 illustrates where
the DMM must be placed to measure the current.

Figure 4. Schematic to measure current.

Measure the current with the following procedure and record the results in Table 2.
(1) Set the DMM to measure 20 mA and make sure the leads are in the
correct position to read the current.
(2) Remove the solid wire between the resistor and the battery.
(3) Place the positive side of the meter (red lead) on the resistor (side
opposite to battery).
(4) Place the negative side of the meter (black lead) on the black end of the
battery snap wire.
Figure 5 provides a pictorial diagram of measuring current.

Theoretical (Ohm’s Measured % Difference

Law)

Resistance (kΩ)

Voltage (V)

Current (A)

Table 2. Ohm’s Law

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 Figure 5. Pictorial diagram for measuring current.

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1.5.2 Series Combinations of Resistors
We will now consider Ohm’s Law for the series combination of two resistors.
Using the schematic in Figure 6, calculate the voltage drop across each resistor and
the current through the resistors. Record your results in Table 3.

Figure 6. Series combination. 7

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Confirm Kirchoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) around the loop:
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V R1+ V = VR2 TOTAL
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_______ + ________ = ________
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Connect the 1 kΩ resistor in series with the 10 kΩ resistor and measure the voltage
across each resistor, both resistors, and the current though the resistors. Record
your results in Table 3.

Theoretical Measured % Difference

Voltage drop across

R1

Voltage drop across

R2

Voltage drop across

R1 and R

Current through R
and R

Table 3. Series combination of resistors.

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1.5.3. Parallel Combinations of Resistors
We will now consider Ohm’s Law for the parallel combination of two resistors.
Using the schematic in Figure 7, calculate the voltage drop across each resistor and
the current through each of the resistors. Record your results in Table 4.
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 Figure 7. Parallel combination of resistors

Confirm Kirchoff’s Current Law at the node:

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I R1 + I = IR2 TOTAL
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_______ + ________ = ________
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Connect the 1 kΩ resistor in parallel with the 10 kΩ resistor and measure the
voltage across each resistor and the current though each resistor. Record your
results in Table 4.

Theoretical Measured % Difference

Voltage drop across

R1

Voltage drop across

R2

Current through R

Current through R

Table 4. Parallel combination of resistors.

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1.6 Discussion Questions and Conclusion
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(1) Are your measured resistance values within the range of the resistor?
Explain.
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(2) Did your measured results verify the theoretical values found by Ohm’s
Law and Kirchoff’s Laws? Explain.
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(3) Explain the effects of a series combination of resistors on voltage and
current.
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(4) Explain the effects of a parallel combination of resistors on voltage and
current.
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 (5) Write a conclusion paragraph discussing your observations and lessons
learned from the lab.

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