Ain1

To measure resistance. l'Oltage (AC/D C), rnrrent (AC) and check continuity of a given circuit using multimeter.
\pp,n·atu..,
Carbon resistors of differe nt values ranging from I OQ to I OMQ and a multimeter.

ThPor·~
Colour coding of resistors.
A colour code is used to indicate the resistance value and its percentage reliability.

-())))) 0-- A B C D

The resistor has a set of concentric rings A, B, C, D on it with their significant value as in Table.
To read the value of carbon resistance, the following sentence is found to be of great help :
BB UO\ ( t I J.q, Ill•\• I\ (,,Ht<f \\ 1ft

The bold face latters in the above sentence correspond to the colour Black, Brown, Red, Orange. Yellow, Green,
Blue, Violet, Grey and White respectively. The colours of first two bands A and B corresponds to figures O, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
6, 7, 8, 9 and the colour of the third band corresponds to multipliers I0°, 102 , 103, 104, 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 and 109
respectively. If the colour of the fourth band is gold. the tolerance is 5%, in case the colour is silver, the tolerance is I O'-k.
In case, there is no fourth band, then its tolerance is 20%.
 Table
)\

Colour Number Multiplier Colour Tolerance . 1 ,

Black 0 l Gold 5%
Brown 1 IO I Silver IO%
Red 2 102 No Colour 20%
Orange 3 103
Yellow 4 104
Green 5 105
Blue 6 106
Violet 7 107
Grey 8 108
White 9 109
How to calculate the value of resistance
1. First two bands from the end indicate the fi rst two significant figure of resistance in ohm.
2. The third band indicate the decimal multiplier.
3. The last band stands for the tolerence in percent.
l\ Iultimeter
A mu ltimeter is an instrument which can measure alternating voltages and
cunents, direct voltages and cu1Tent, resistances. So it is a combination of ammeter,
voltmeter hence it is also called Avometer. It has separate circuits for voltage, curren t
and resistance measurement and only the meter movement is common. A selector
switch is employed to set up the required circuit for a desired measurement.
Generally the voltage measurement range is 0 to 300V and current range is
fro m Oto 3A and resistance from Oto 20m Q. If AC ranges, measurement are possible
for 50Hz to 10 KHz and they are calibrated for a purely sinusoidal signal. The
complete AVO METER in a bakelite casing is shown in the Fig. 18.
For measurement of resistances a dry cell of I .SY is fitted in the multi meter.
Two test leads, one black and other red with metallic pins for connections and testing okc 5
oo~ ZERO OHM
250
60 G
are provided. The following switches are provided on the fro nt panel : \5V 0
50 ©
z
(a ) Range Switch S. It is in the centre of the lower part of multimeter and can
CONVERT ON O 50 u A AC 1KV
be turned in any direction to set the instrument for proper range. 0 0 0 0 0
(b) Function Switch F. It is normally located on the left of S and its func tion
is to set the instrument for various measurements. For example for d.c. Fig. 18
measurement it is put on d.c. for a.c. measurements it is put on a.c.
(c) Zero Ohm Switch Z. It is located on the 1ight of S. To use this switch the two test leads wires· are put in proper
.. . . d .
positions (black lead wJre 1s connected to common or - ve socket an red lead w1re to +ve socket) Th
. th 1 .
. h 1.s ad'Justed to give zero on e mu t1meter scale. . e test
leads are short circuited and zero ohm sw1tc
(d) In addition there are few other metallic sockets in the instrument which can be used for various othe1_1estmgs .
of electJical equipments.
(i ) Measurement of Resistance :
1 Connect the black lead wire to the negative or common socket and red lead wire to the +ve soc ket. Set the
· .. . . .
pos1t1on of funct10n switch to resistance.
2 Connect the two metallic pins with each other and see that the pointer on multimeter gives zero . ct·1
·
· pointer is not giving zero ohm resistance, · the zero oh_m switc
adjust ·
· h• ti·11 th e pomter iea 11 0° · If the
stands at zero.
3 ActJ· ust the position at R x I and connect the two lead pomts to the unknown resistance and k
· read .ing. ta e a rouoh o

4. If the reading is too small then adjust range switch todR x I Optolsition, R x 100 position or R x I 000 positi 1·11
the reading on the multimeter scale can be measure accura e Y· on 1
Note that while adjusting the switch to R x JO, Rx JOO or R x JOOO zero resistance scale ha · l
5. s a ways to be
checked.
 6. The unknown resistance has value multiplied by 10, JOO or I000 depending upon the range switch R x 10, R x
100 or Rx 1000 used.
7. Also find the value of resistors by colour code.
Observations

Colour Code of Resistance Resistance Multimeter Difference

S.No. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Reading
colour colour colour colour R(in Q) R'(in Q) (R-R') Q
1.
2.
3.
4.
Result
Within limits, the resistance obtained by two methods agree.
(ii) :For voltage measurement.
(a) A.C. Voltage :
l. Adjust the Switch F to a.c.
2. Make connection of the black lead wire with common or -ve socket and the red lead wire with a. c. socket.
3. If the order of the voltage to be measured is not known, then place the range switch to the maximum value of
a.c. voltage.
4. Now put the two pins to the source whose voltage is to be measured and take a rough order of the voltage of the
source.
5. Adjust the range switch so that, the value of voltage is measured with high accuracy with most of the scale of
multimeter coming within the range of measurement. However, if a.c. voltage from the mains is to be measured,
then put range switch of 250V and take the reading on the multimeter.
(b ) D.C. Voltage :
I. Adjust the switch Fon d.c.
2. Again if the order of d.c. voltage to be measured is not known, then put the range switch on maximum d.c.
voltage and take a rough reading.
3. Adjust the range of the multimeter so that the d. c. voltage can be measured with higher accuracy by making
use of maximum scale of the multimeter.
Observations
Voltage measurements

Sources of S.No. Voltage between Multimeter Difference

e.m.f. the terminals reading
(V) (V') (V - V') in volt
AC source l.
2.
3.
D.C. source l.
2.
3.
 Resul t
Within the limits, the value of AC/DC voltage agrees.
(iii ) Alternating Current
1. Set the switch Fon a.c.
2. Connec t the black lead to common or - ve socket while red lead to a.c.
socket.
3. Adjust the range of the current so that measurement of a.c. is done with
high accurac y with maximum use
the scale so that error in readings is minimized.
(iv) Checki ng continuity of given circuit
A circuit is continuous when there is no break in the connecting wires so that
current can flow :
1. Set the switch S on MQ and set pointer at zero i.e. it gives maximu
m deflection.
2. Now touch the two leads of the multimeter to the two selected points A
and B as shown in Fig. 19.
3. The full scale deflection indicates continuity.
------ ------ - -- - ---- -,
I R I
I I
I I
A I I
I I
Multimete r I
mA :

~ - ,----~\/\/\/\/\/\~
I
I K I
L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _I

Fig. 19

Preca ution s
1. For measuri ng a.c., d. c. or resistance, the fu nction switch should be placed accordin
gly.
2. Always connect black lead wire so - ve common socket and red to positive socket.
3. For exact measurements use the appropriate range switch.
4. Do not touch the test lead while making measurement.
5. For measuring small values of currents or resistances, appropriate range switche
s should be used so that the
errors in taking reading are minimised.

Aim
To assemb le a househo ld circuit comprising three bulbs, three ON/OF F switches
, a fuse and a power source.
A ppara tus
Electric power source, three bulbs, three ON/OFF switches, a fuse and flexible
wires.
T h e ory
. Household power supply is 220V and 50 Hz frequency and household electric
circuit is a constant voltage circuit
All home appliances/gadgets are always connected in parallel to get the voltage
220 V for each appliances e.g. bulbs,
fans, tubes, 5A and 15A etc. Fuse (overload protection) is always connected in
series in live wire.
Pro cedur e
l. Draw the neat circuit diagram and connect the various components accordin
g to the circuit diagram (Fig. 20).
2 _ The bulbs are connected with switches in parallel with one end with red wire and other end with black wire-

32 MODER N'$ abc OF PRACT ICAL PHYSICS (.)(II)

 Main Supply
220 V

Live wire

Fuse

B1

B,

Fig. 20

3. Fuse is connec ted with live wire.

Obse rv ation s
are made off, the bulbs go off.
When switch es are made on bulbs glow accordingly, and switches
Prec autio ns
I . All bulbs are to be connec ted in parallel.
2. Fuse is always connec ted in series to the circuit in live wire.
3. Use only flexibl e connec ting wire in ac circuit.

Aim
To assemb le the components of a given electric circuit.

Appa ratus
wires, a resistor.
A voltmeter, an ammet er, battery, one way key, rheostat, connec ting

Theo ry
ted in series with the resistor along with a
For making a simple circuit of above appara tus, the ammeter is connec
connected in paralle l in the circuit as shown in
rheostat to change the curren t in the circuit and a voltmeter is always
Fig. 21.
B K
Proce dure + I Ir=----< --- ~
I . Draw the neat circuit diagram .
er in
2. Make the connec tions as shown in Fig. 21 by connecting ammet
series and voltme ter in parallel.
R
3. Switch on the circuit by putting plug in key K.
4. To find the value of R see Expt. No. A- 1.

Preca ution s
Same as in Expt. A- I. Fig. 21

33
---- ------------
ACTIVITIES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
L,Jlct~v.itf , G) Fig. 23

Aim
To draw the diagram of a given open circuit composing at least a battery, resistor/rheostat, key, ammerer and
voltmeter. Mark the components that are not connected in proper order and correct the circuit and also the circuit
diagram.
Apparatus
An ammeter, a voltmeter, battery, rheostat, one way key, resistor, connecting wires and sand paper.
Theory
While making a circuit, the ammeter is always connected in series and voltmeter in parallel in the circuit. Positive
terminals of battery are connected to positive of the terminal of voltmeter and ammeter and negative terminal of the
battery is connected to negative terminal of voltmeter and ammeter. Rheostat is connected in series in the circuit.
Procedure
I. Draw the circuit diagram as in figure 24 and make the connections as per the circuit diagram.
+ 11~ 1---,
+ I I ~K K

R R

Fig. 24 Fig. 25

2. Inersert the plug in key Kand find the value of current (I) and potential (V) in ammeter and voltmeter respectively,
but ammeter and voltmeter show no deflection an the circuit is not connected properly.
3. Now make the connection as shown in Fig. 25. Now on inserting the plug in key K, we find that both ammeter
and voltmeter show deflection.
Result
Circuit diagram 24 is not connected properly and circuit diagram 25 is properly connected. One can easily see the
wrong connections by comparing these two diagrams.

ACTIVITIES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35