Kathmandu University

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

BASIC ELECTRICAL LAB (ENGG 103)

EXPERIMENT 3:- MEASUREMENT OF AVERAGE AND RMS VALUE OF

DIFFERENT SIGNAL WAVEFORMS
Objectives: i) Familiarization with function of function generator and oscilloscope.
ii) Measurement of average and root mean square value of (Sinusoidal,
triangular and square) signal waveform.
Materials and Equipments Required:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Digital multi-meter
Function Generator
Breadboard
Probes [3]
Resistors ( 1K, 10K)

Theory:
In alternating current (AC, also ac) the movement (or flow) of electric charge periodically
reverses direction. An electric charge would for instance move forward, then backward, then
forward, then backward, over and over again. In direct current (DC), the movement (or
flow) of electric charge is only in one direction.
Average value: Average value of an alternating current is expressed by that steady DC
current which transfer across any circuit the same charge as is transferred by that AC during
the same time period.
Root Mean Square (RMS) Value: The RMS value of an alternating current is expressed by
that steady DC current which when flowing through a given circuit for given time produces
same heat as produced by that AC through the sane circuit for the same time period. In the
common case of alternating current when I(t) is a sinusoidal current, as is approximately true
for mains power, the RMS value is easy to calculate from the continuous case equation above.
If we define Ip to be the peak current, then in general form

Where t is time and is the angular frequency ( = 2/T, where T is the period of the wave).
For a sinusoidal voltage,
.
,

The factor

is called the crest factor, which varies for different waveforms. For a triangle

wave form centered about zero.

For a square wave form centered about zero

Circuit Diagram:

Fig 1. Circuit connection

Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the circuit diagram of fig. 1.
2. Set the value of frequency in 100 Hz in the function generator.
3. Adjust the ground of channel 1 and 2 of Cathode Ray Oscilloscope and then set
it into DC mode.
4. Connect CRO across the load in DC mode and observe the waveform. Adjust
the DC offset of function generator.
5. Note down the amplitude and frequency.
6. Set the multimeter into AC mode and measure input voltage and voltage
across point AB. This value gives RMS value of sinusoidal AC.
7. For average voltage measurement set multimeter into DC mode and measure
voltage.
8. Repeat experiment for different frequency and different peak to peak
voltage.
9. Measure the RMS and Average value of DC signal also where instead of
function generator you can use DC supply.
NOTE: Multimeter is designed to measure the RMS value of sinusoidal signal only so there
can be slight error while measuring RMS value of different signals.

Observations:
i)
Draw the waveform of voltage across resistor 10 K for (Sinusoidal, Triangular
and Square wave input of 1 KHz with peak to peak voltage 6V.

T/4

T/2

3T/4

5T/4

3T/2

7T/4

2T

Figure 1: Waveform from function generator (Sine wave)

i)
ii)
iv)

Peak to Peak Value:.

Peak Value: ...iii) Average Value .
RMS Value:..., (from calculation) ..( from measurement)

T/4

T/2

3T/4

5T/4

3T/2

7T/4

2T

Figure 2: Waveform from function generator (Square wave)

i)
ii)
iv)

Peak to Peak Value:.

Peak Value: ....iii) Average Value ..
RMS Value:..., (from calculation) ..( from measurement)

T/4

T/2

3T/4

5T/4

3T/2

7T/4

2T

Figure 3: Waveform from function generator (Triangular wave)

i)
ii)
iv)

Peak to Peak Value:.

Peak Value: ....iii) Average Value ..
RMS Value:..., (from calculation) ..( from measurement)

T/4

T/2

3T/4

5T/4

3T/2

7T/4

2T

Figure 4: Waveform from function generator (Pulsating DC waveform)

i)
ii)
iv)

Peak to Peak Value:.

Peak Value: ....iii) Average Value ..
RMS Value:..., (from calculation) ..( from measurement)

Table 1: Measurement of average and RMS voltage for AC signal.

Type of Waveform
Sinusoidal
Peak voltage
(Input)

Frequency

2V
4V
6V
2V
4V
6V
2V

100 Hz
100 Hz
100 Hz
1000 Hz
1000 Hz
1000 Hz
10 KHz

4V

10 KHz

6V

10 KHz

Avg.

Square

RMS

Avg.

Triangular
RMS

Avg.

RMS

Measure the RMS voltage across 10K resistor and 1K resistor

Peak voltage
(Input)

V1= Peak Voltage across 1K V2= Peak Voltage across 10 K

resistor
resistor

2V
4V
6V
8V

Table 2: Measurement of average and RMS voltage for DC signal.

Type of Waveform
Pure DC
Peak voltage
(Input)
2V
4V
6V

Avg.

RMS

Pulsating
DC Pulsating
(Sinusodial)
(Square)
Avg.
RMS
Avg.

DC
RMS

Conclusions and Inference:

Exercises:
1) Calculate the RMS value (using integration approach) for (any one peak value) of
sinusoidal square and triangular wave.
2) For same peak to peak value which signal has highest RMS value?
3) Which signals have same RMS and peak value?
4) Which signal has same RMS and average value?
5) Verify the voltage divider rule for resistive circuit.

Instructors Signature

Performance Date

Submission Date