University of Anbar Lab.

Name: :fundamental of Electric

Experiment No.2
Ohm's law for linear and nonlinear circuit
Object
To study the relation between voltages and currents for linear elements.
Theory
In any electric circuit, the larger charge flows(current), the large amount of
amount of energy converted to heat. This characteristic behavior of materials is
referred to as the resistance of the material to the flow of electrical charge. The
symbol for a resistor is shown in Fig.1

Fig.1
Ohm's law describes the relationship between the terminal voltage and
current of a resistor, and stated as follows: -
The ratio of potential difference (V) between any tow points on a conductor
to the current (I) flowing between them is constant, if the temperature of the
conductor dose not change in the words: R=V/I
 V: is the potential difference and measured in volt (V).
 I: is the current flowing through the conductor and measured in
Ampere(A).
 R: is the resistance of the conductor and measured in Ohm(Ω).
Ohm's Law for Linear Elements
The Fig.2 shows the linear (straight-line) graph between the voltage drop
and the current flow through affixed resistance (R=20 Ω) & (R=40 Ω).
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 University of Anbar Lab. Name: :fundamental of Electric
circuit
College of Engineering
Experiment no.:
Dept. of Electrical Engineering Lab. Supervisor:

Fig.2
 Non-linear resistance: the incandescent lamp
The V/I characteristic of Fig.2 is that of a so-called perfect resistor, an ideal
device which keeps a constant and unaltered resistance in all physical conditions.
In practice all materials have a V/I charstristics which is intrinsically non-linear
and dependent on parameters such as temperature, mechanical stress, age, etc.…
In most case it is desirable that the resisters used in electronics have values which
are as constant as possible, and therefore these components are mode out of
materials selected for this purpose. In certain other cases a non-linear V/I
catachrestic may turn out useful for specific purposes.
We shall examine some of these devices, starting, from a common incandescent
lamp, which allows us understand the meaning of non-linear I/V charstristics.
Set up the equipment's as shown in Fig.3

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 University of Anbar Lab. Name: :fundamental of Electric
circuit
College of Engineering
Experiment no.:
Dept. of Electrical Engineering Lab. Supervisor:

Fig.3
A variable voltage generator is used to power an incandescent lamp. The voltage
is changed in steps from 0 to 12V and the current in the lamp is measured and
recorded at each step.
The result plotted in a graph appear as in Fig.4

Fig.4
The reason of the progressive bending of the charstristics resides in the
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT of the material of which the filament is made.
The temperature coefficient in this case is positive:
 If the supply voltage is increased, the filament receives more power and
therefore its temperature rises.
 The resistance of the filament increases for rising temperature and the
filament drains less current than if the resistance remained constant.
Let's just note that a positive temperature coefficient for an incandescent lamp is
very healthy for the lamp itself, consider the case of a hypothetical negative
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 University of Anbar Lab. Name: :fundamental of Electric
circuit
College of Engineering
Experiment no.:
Dept. of Electrical Engineering Lab. Supervisor:

temperature coefficient lamp connected to the mains. An accidental rise in the

Procedure
1. Connect the circuit shown in Fig.5

Fig.5
2. Increase the applied voltage from the D.C power supply from (0 – 10) V, in
step of (2)V, measure the current through the (1KΩ) resistor in each step
and record the measured result in the second column of table.1.
Power supply I measured I calculated Error
(volt) (mA) (mA) %
0
2
4
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University of Anbar Lab. Name: :fundamental of Electric
circuit
College of Engineering
Experiment no.:
Dept. of Electrical Engineering Lab. Supervisor:

6
8
10
Table 1.a
3. For non-Linear resistance.
Power supply I measured R calculated
(volt) (mA) (Ω)
0
2
4
6
8
10
Table 1.b
Discussion
1. Plot a graph from the measured data of table.1, to show the relationship
between V & I.
2. Calculate the slope and resistance value from the graph above.
3. From the graph above, is the relationship between V&I linear or non-
linear?
4. From the result shown in Fig.6, find the resistance and slope value

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University of Anbar Lab. Name: :fundamental of Electric
circuit
College of Engineering
Experiment no.:
Dept. of Electrical Engineering Lab. Supervisor:

Fig.6
5. Can you tell me, what is the difference between number (2) and number
(4)?