Measure Theory, EENG1

Practical 2: Measuring a resistance

Grading
Objectives:
Calculate random expanded uncertainties related to electrical instruments (DMM).
Determine the reliability of Ohm’s law for a given resistor.
Study systematic errors due to the experimental method when measuring a resistance.

Equipment & materials

A variable voltage source, three resistors: R1 = 100 Ohms, R2 = 1 kOhms & R3,, 5 banana connecting wires,
1 connecting plate, A yellow ammeter, a red voltmeter.
1. Calculation of U(R) from one single experiment
Draw below the circuit diagram used to get the R1 value with one unique experiment, connecting a voltage
source, an ammeter and a voltmeter that measures VR1. Considering that the “mA” port is used for currents
less than 300 mA, calculate VSmax here if Pmax of resistors is 2 Watts.. Perform the unique experiment with any

√2 ∗ 100 14.14 . We have to keep the source voltage below 14.14 V. In

VS value between 0 & VSmax.
P=V2/R =>
order to be in the safe side (not to burn the resistor), the maximum source voltage is kept <10 V during
measurements
VSmax = 14.14 V
Use the datasheet of the electrical instruments to calculate the half-width “a” for VR1 and IR1.
Deduce X = X ̅ ± U(X) at 95% for X = VR1, IR1 and R1.

Measured VR1 a(VR1) =0.2%+3d U(VR1) at 95% (k=2) 0000

'$%/ ' $% . # '$%

∗
VR1 = 4.726 V a(VR1) =0,2%*4.726+3*0.001 =0.012 V 0.014V VR1 = 4.73 ± 0.02 V
√

Measured IR1 a(IR1) =2%+2d U(iR1) at 95% ($%/ 0000

($% . # ($%
k∗a I
1.34mA
√3
IR1 = 48.2 mA a(IR1) =2%*48.2+2*0
*0.1=1.16 mA IR1 = 48.2 ± 1.4 mA
Calculated U(R1) # $%
' ∆' - ∆( -
& & )* , . * ,
R1 = 98.1 ± 2.8 Ω

( ' (
U(R1) = 2,74Ω

2. Estimation of the reliability of Ohm’s law

Repeat the procedure for 4 other VS values (between 0 & VSmax) and summarize the results in the table below.

6 y = 9,896E-02x -
Experiment VR1 (V) U(VR1) (V) IR1 (mA) U(IR1) (mA) R1 (Ω) U(R1) (Ω)
( 5 2,369E-02
VR1( V)

R² = 9,999E-01
4
#1 1,464 0,007 15,01 0,58 97,535 3,781 3
#2 2,449 0,009 25,13 0,81 97,453 3,167 2
1
#3 3,372 0,011 34,2 1,02 98,596 2,961
0
#4 4,269 0,013 43,29 1,23 98,614 2,820 0 20 40 60
Current (mA)
#5 5,273 0,016 53,61 1,47 98,359 2,711
Estimate the “most reliable” R1 An answer could be: of the experiment #5=98.359 Ω is most reliable because
the uncertainty is the smallest
Discuss about the reliability of Ohm’ss law here: V is proportional to I with a proportionality constant of R (within
the uncertainties). We then verify Ohm’s law.
 3. Study of systematic errors induced by the expermimental method
Rather than measuring V across R1 as before (short derivation), we can measure V across the voltage source
directly (long derivation). Draw this new circuit below. Compare the values measured for both set-up.
set

Set-up VR1 (V) IR1 (mA) R1 (Ω)

SD 2,814 29,17 96,47
LD 3,002 29,39 102,14
The measured voltage by voltmeter, VR1 is smaller on SD than on LD.

Explain the difference between both VR1 values. Which one is not the true value, inducing a systematic error?
On SD, VR1 measured with voltmeter corresponds to the voltage drop on R1. On LD, the measured VR1 corresponds to the voltage
drop not only on R1 but also on RA (RA =the internal resistance of ammeter). Since RA and R1 are in serial connection, the voltage
measured by voltmeter on LD corresponds to i(RA+R1). On LD, the calculated resistance is then not the true value of R1.
A systematic error is induced by the internal resistance of ammeter
amme when voltmeter is on LD position.
What is the resistance of the ammeter Rm A here (rough estimation)? R1(LD)-R1(SD)=5,67Ω.
(SD)=
The internal resistance of ammeter is small (Ideal
Ideal ammeter has zero internal resistance).
For which type of resistors R the systematic error could be negligible? High resistors compared to RA.(R>>RA).
In such a case, we can neglect the internal resistance of ammeter
Discuss also about IR1 values: which one is not the true value and why? Why are both values similar here?
On SD, the current measured by ammeter is not the current flowing on R1 since a part of it is derivated through
t the voltmeter
(internal resistance of voltmeter RV). On SD, R1 and RV are parallel (Req=R1RV/R1+RV). We then have to consider the internal resistance
of voltmeter. On LD, the current measured by ammeter is also the true current on R1. Both SD and LD current values are similar
because the current through RV is (should be) very small.
What is the resistance of the voltmeter RV here? On SD, VR1=IR1*Req Req= 96.47 Ω.
If we take R1≈100 Ω, Rv≈2733 Ω. This calculated internal
internal resistance of voltmeter is small compared to the value given in the user’s
guide (10 MΩ) by the constructor of voltmeter.
For which type of resistors R the systematic error could be negligible? R<<Rv

To confirm the previous answers, study two other situations: with R2 instead of R1 with both mA then µA ranges,
then with R3 instead of R2 (you may check the consistency of the R3 value by using the colour coding).

Set-up IR2 (mA) VR2 (V) R2 (Ω)

( RmA (Ω) IR2 (µA) VR2 (V) R2 (Ω) RµA (Ω)
SD 3,09 3,002 1000 971,52 2074 2,002 1000 965,28
LD 3,019 3,08 1000 1020,21 2072 3,019 1000 1457,05

Set-up VR3 (V) IR3 (µA) R3 (Ω)

SD 29.92 19.9 =VR3/(IR3*1E-6)=1,50E+6
=VR3/
LD 29.93 16.9 1,77E+6

R3=1,75 MΩ.

On SD, the measured voltage is the voltage on R1 but the current measured with ammeter is not the current on R1.
On LD, the current measured by ammeter is the current on R1 but the voltage is not the voltage drop over R1.
SD can be used if R<<Rv (keep in mind that the internal
internal resistance of voltmeter is in the range of MOhms) and LD can be used if
R>>Ra (keep in mind that the internal resistance of ammeter is a few Ohms) to determine R value.