INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

EE052
PRINCIPLES OF EE1 LAB

Lab 5

Frequency and
Phase Shift Measurement

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Principles of EE1 Lab 1-7

 INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

I. OBJECTIVES
After completing this experiment, you should be able to:
1. Graphically represent complex number (phasor diagram).
2. Use an oscilloscope to measure the frequency and phase shift of periodic
waveforms.
3. Calculate equivalent impedance a circuit using the oscilloscope.
4. Verify theoretical relations among frequency, impedance, voltage, and current in
an AC network.

II. INTRODUCTION
This laboratory will explore the effects of an AC source on electric circuits. With AC
circuits, capacitors and inductors will prove to be more challenging than they might be in DC
circuits. These capacitors and inductors are energy storage elements that behave differently
depending on the frequency of the source. Therefore, an AC circuit designed for 60 Hz cannot
be used in radio frequency (RF goes from 90 kHz to 110 MHz), or microwave circuits (up to
300 GHz). This concept must be clear understood in order to successfully design electronic
circuits.
In AC circuits, the value of the circuit impedance can change depending on the
frequency of the source. The impedance of an inductor is jωL Ω, and the impedance of a
capacitor becomes (jωC)-1 Ω. These values will change with ω, which is the frequency of the
AC source. Thus, a circuit could go from a small impedance to a large impedance or vice
versa just by changing the frequency of the input signal.
When the AC circuit has capacitors and inductors, not only the magnitude of the
impedance changes but also its phase. Therefore, the impedance of an AC circuit can change
from being inductive to capacitive or vice versa depending on the frequency of the source.

This laboratory will analyze the impedance change of simple AC circuits when the
frequency of the power source is changed.

III. PRE-LABORATORY
Part A: RC Circuit and Transient Simulation

Principles of EE1 Lab 2-7

 INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

R1
I
100
V1
C1
10 V 1.0uF
1kHz
0Deg

Figure 1 – RC circuit
1. Using any circuit analysis technique, find the voltage drop across the resistor R1, the
voltage drop across the capacitor C1 and the mesh current I for the circuit shown in
Figure 1. Complete Table 1 (see Laboratory Data Section). Note: All these values are
complex number; so you must calculate amplitude and phase. Assume R1 = 100 Ω, C1
= 1 μF, f = 1 KHz and V1 = 10 V.
2. Draw a phasor diagram to scale showing the source voltage V1, the voltage drop
across the resistor R1, the voltage drop across the capacitor C1 and the mesh current
calculated I of the circuit shown in Figure 1. Use the source voltage (also called input
voltage) V1 as your reference. Calculate the phase shift between the input voltage V1
and the voltage drop across the resistor R1. Calculate the phase shift between the input
voltage V1 and the voltage drop across the capacitor C1.
3. State module and phase of each phasor.
4. Plot the waveform of current i(t) (the current in time domain)

Part B: RLC Circuit and AC Sweep Simulation

R1 L1
100 47uH
V1
10 V C1
20kHz 1.0uF
0Deg

Zin
Figure 2 – RLC circuit
1Vac
0Vdc 5. For the circuit shown in Figure 2, do the following:
a. Find the input impedance Zin and determine at which frequency, ω in rad/s, |XL| = |
XC| Ω. Do this symbolically. Do not use any specific value.
b. For this value of ω when |XL| = |XC| Ω, what is the phase shift between the applied
voltage V1 and the loop current I1? What does this imply?
c. Using the equation obtained in part a, calculate the frequency in Hertz at which |
XL| = |XC| Ω, assuming R1 = 100 Ω, C1 = 1 μF, L1 = 47 µH.
d. Using the input impedance equation obtained in 6a, and R1 = 100 Ω, C1 = 1 μF, L1
= 47 µH, complete Table 2 of Laboratory Data Section.

Principles of EE1 Lab 3-7

 INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

IV. EQUIPMENT AND PARTS LIST

 Dual-trace oscilloscope, voltage probe and differential voltage
probe.
 Sinusoidal waveform generator.
 100 Ω resistor, 1 μF capacitor, 47 μH inductor.
 Breadboard and connecting wires.

V. PROCEDURES
Part A: RC Circuit and Transient Simulation
The purpose of this section is the determination of the magnitude and the phase shift of
several waveforms and how they relate to the results obtained during the Pre-Laboratory.
1. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1.
2. Connect the voltage probe in Channel 1, and the differential voltage probe in Channel
2.
3. Stimulate the circuit using a sinusoidal waveform generator set to an amplitude of 10
V peak and a frequency of 1 KHz. Connect the voltage probe (i.e., oscilloscope
channel 1) across the input voltage source to make sure that the sinusoidal waveform
generator is generating the desire amplitude and frequency. Next, connect the
differential voltage probe (i.e., oscilloscope channel 2) across the capacitor C 1.
a. Using the oscilloscope measuring features (i.e., measure menu) measure the peak-
to-peak amplitude of both waveforms as well as the frequency of the input voltage
V1 (i.e., channel 1).
i. Base on the measured values, calculate the proper amplitudes taking into
account any probe gain. Compare these results to the ones obtained in the
Pre-Lab to make sure that they are in agreement within a reasonable error.
ii. Show your instructor the waveforms, and then draw it in scale on your paper.
b. Using the oscilloscope measure the time delay (or time difference) between the
input voltage V1 (i.e., channel 1) and the voltage drop across the capacitor C 1 (i.e.,
channel 1). Change the horizontal scale if necessary to improve the accuracy of
your measurement.
i. Base on the measured values calculate the proper phase shift. Compare these
results to the ones obtained in the Pre-Lab to make sure that they are in
agreement within a reasonable error. Is it leading or lagging?
ii. Using these values and the values obtained in 3a, determine the complex
number (magnitude and phase) the represents the input voltage V 1 and the
voltage drop across the capacitor C1 and complete Table 1 (see Laboratory
Data Section).
iii. Show your instructor the waveforms, and then draw it on your paper.
4. Using the same procedure describe in 3 measured the voltage drop across the resistor
R1. Note: Make sure of follow the entire procedure describe above including the
saving of all waveforms and the completion of Table 1 in Laboratory Data Section.
5. The mesh current is measured indirectly by measuring the voltage across the resistor
R1 since it can be estimated by dividing this voltage drop by the resistor value (i.e., I

Principles of EE1 Lab 4-7

 INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

=VR1/R1). In addition, since the impedance presented by the resistor R 1 has no phase
(i.e., the imaginary part is equal to zero), the phase of the mesh current I is equal to the
mesh of the voltage drop across the resistor R1. Using the measured resistor voltage
drop and the above mentioned technique calculate the mesh current and complete
Table 1 in Laboratory Data Section.

Part B: RLC Circuit and AC Sweep Simulation

The purpose of this section is the determination of the input impedance Zin, how it changes
with respect to frequency and how it relates to the results obtained during the Pre-Lab. The
input impedance Zin is measured indirectly by measuring the input voltage V 1 and the mesh
current I. Next, the input impedance Zin is calculated using Ohms law.
6. Construct the circuit shown in Figure 2. Stimulate the circuit using a sinusoidal
waveform generator set to an amplitude of 10 V peak and a frequency of 20 KHz.
Connect the voltage probe (i.e., oscilloscope channel 1) across the input voltage source
to make sure that the sinusoidal waveform generator is generating the desire amplitude
and frequency.
a. Connect the differential voltage probe (i.e., oscilloscope channel 2) across the
resistor R1 and measure the voltage drop across this resistor using the measuring
feature of the oscilloscope. Draw this waveform on your paper.
b. Calculate the mesh current I by dividing the voltage drop across R 1 by the resistor
value.
c. Measured the time delay between the input voltage V 1 (i.e., channel 1) and the
voltage drop across the resistor R1 (i.e., channel 2). Change the horizontal scale, if
necessary, to improve the accuracy of your measurement. Draw this waveform on
your paper.
d. Using this value calculate the mesh current phase shift and determine the complex
number (magnitude and phase) the represents the mesh current. Complete Table 2
of the Laboratory Data Section.
7. Repeat the entire process above for the different frequencies give in Table 2 (i.e., 21,
22, 23, 24, 25 KHz). Note: Make sure of follow the entire procedure describe above
including the saving of all waveforms.
8. Measure the frequency in Hertz at which |X L| = |XC| Ω by adjusting the frequency of
the sinusoidal waveform generator until the input voltage V 1 and the voltage drop
across the resistor R1 are in phase. Write these values, and draw this waveform on
your paper.

VI. POST - LABORATORY

The lab report is a written document where you compare your calculation and simulation
results obtained in the Pre-Laboratory section with the measurements taken during the
Laboratory section. This document must contain your theoretical calculations, your simulation
results and your measurements.

Part A: RC Circuit and Transient Simulation

Principles of EE1 Lab 5-7

 INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

Compare the measurements obtained during the lab for the RC circuit with the theoretical
analysis and the calculation results obtained during the Pre-Laboratory section. Make sure of
explaining any possible differences and what might be their causes.

Part B: RLC Circuit and AC Sweep Simulation

Compare the measurements obtained during the lab for the LRC circuit with the theoretical
analysis and the simulation results obtained during the Pre-Laboratory section. Make sure of
explaining the following points:
1. Did the input impedance Zin change in any way from the lower frequency to the higher
frequency (i.e., magnitude and phase)? How could this impedance be viewed at 20
KHz and 25 KHz?
2. Is there a point where |X L| = |XC|? If so, at which frequency? Compare this frequency
with the one obtained analytically and using simulation. Explain any possible
differences and what might be their cause.
3. Compare the calculated, simulated and measured input impedance. Explain any
possible differences and what might be their cause.
Finally, draw a general laboratory conclusion based in your theoretical analysis, simulations
and comparison of calculated, simulated and measured values.

Principles of EE1 Lab 6-7

 INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (EE)

Laboratory Data Section

Table 1: RC Circuit and Transient Simulation

Calculations Measurements
Variable
Magnitude Phase Magnitude Phase
[V] [deg] [V] [deg]
V1

VC1

VR1

I [A] [A]

Table 2: RLC Circuit and AC Sweep Simulation

Frequency Calculations Measurements

[KHz] Magnitude Phase Magnitude Phase
[Ω] [deg] [Ω] [deg]
1

10

22

40

100

140

Useful equations:

Principles of EE1 Lab 7-7