NAME

: CLEMENT KOO CHUN LOONG

MATRIC NUMBER

: BK15110059

GROUP MEMBERS

: 1)MD. AKMAL FAQIHUDDIN

2)SAIDATUL
AZMI

ATIQAH

LAB SESSION

: 3 (FRIDAY)

LAB NUMBER

: 2

LAB TITLE

: RC CIRCUITS

LECTURERS NAME

: LIAU CHUNG FAN

Objective

BINTI

1) To determine the value of resistor in RC Circuit.

2) To connect the resistor and capacitor in parallel and observe its
changes.
3) To obtain the time constant of an RC Circuit, =RC.
4) To identify physical values of Black Box in the series RC Circuit.
Procedure
In the experiment, it is divided into three parts which are
Determining the RC Circuit Configuration, Measuring Time
Constant of an RC Circuit and Identifying Physical Values in a RC
Circuit Black Box.
First part : Determining the RC Circuit Configuration

R
R
C
C

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

The first part (Step 1) of the experiment was about the RC circuit
configuration. The circuit which consisted of an Ohmmeter, a Capacitor
and a Resistor constructed as shown in Figure 1 where the resistance
value and the capacitance value given were 5 K and 220 F
respectively. We connected all the components in series connection on
the breadboard.
Then, as for the first part (Step 2), the Ohmeters position did not
change at all but we only changed the connection of the capacitor and
the resistor in parallel connection on the breadboard.

Second part : Measuring Time Constant of an RC Circuit

R = 10K
C = 0.1 F
Vin is generated by pulse train

FIGURE 3

Line extrapolation with a

slope equal to V0 (t) at t = T1

Output
Voltage
Input
Voltage
Voltage

0
T1

T
T2 - T1

FIGURE 4
The experiment of the second part was about measuring time constant
for the RC Circuit as constructed in Figure 3.
Time constant,

=RC

The resistor value and capacitor value used were 10 K and 0.1 F
respectively. We had calibrated the oscilloscope first to maintain the integrity

of the experiment. By using the suitable mode, the oscilloscope and the
function generator was set. We connected the circuit as shown in Figure 3 on
the breadboard, with Vin was generated by pulse train. We set the pulse
amplitude to 1-V and increased the pulse width while the oscilloscope
displayed the Vin and Vo on the screen. Then, we sketched the response and
extrapolated it as the line extrapolation with slope equal to V 0(t) at t=T1 (as
shown in Figure 4) and we measured the time constant when the voltage, V
equals to V=0.63 V using a ruler. Finally, we tabulated all the data recorded in
a table.

Third part : Identifying Physical Values in a RC Circuit Black Box

FIGURE 5

In the third part of the experiment, we were provided one black box
that containing the unknown resistor and capacitor connected in series. By
using two different values of resistors, where R1=5 K and R2=10 K, we
constructed the circuit. We measured the time constant through the use of
oscilloscope. When we use R1, we get the first equation. When we use R2,
we get another equation. The values of resistance, R B and capacitance, CB
solved using simultaneous equation.

Results
Determining the RC Circuit Configuration
As for the first experiment, the observation depends on Figure 1 and
Figure 2. The results are as below :
No
.
1)

Step

Observation

Step 1

2)

Step 2

In Figure 1, the value of resistor cannot be measured because

it was still in the circuit and also the value of resistor decreased
slowly.
In Figure 2, the value of the resistor decreased rapidly. It
indicates that the capacitor is charging.

Measuring Time Constant of an RC Circuit

3) For Step 4 until Step 5 is sketch to sketch the response and
extrapolate.
The graph :

FIGURE 6
The calculation :

To find = T2 T1 = ?
T2 : (0.6 2m)s = 1.2 ms

Compare : = RC

= T2 T1
= 1.2 ms

= (10K)(0.1)
= 1 ms

4) For Step 6 : = T2 T1 = ?
The graph :

FIGURE 7
The calculation :
To find the value of

= T2 T1 = ?

= T2 T1
= ( 0.4 2m)s
= 0.8 ms
5) For

Step 7, the number of time constants required for the capacitor to

fully charged up is
Number of time constants = 6 time constants

Identifying Physical Values in a RC Circuit Black Box

As for the third part of the experiment, the calculation to obtain the
resistance and capacitance RB and CB experimentally is :
Resistor
R1
R2

Value
5 K
10 K

The calculation :
R1 = 5 k

R2 = 10 k

= 5
5 = RC
5 = (5k + RB + 50)C
5 = (5.05k + RB)C
C=

= 7
7 = RC
7 = (10k + RB + 50)C
7 = (10.05k + RB)C --------------------

5
----------------------
5.05 k + R B

Substitute Equation into Equation :

7 = (10.05k + RB) 5.05 k + R

B

7 =

( 10.05 k + RB ) 5
5.05 k + R B

7( 5.05 k + R B
0.03535 +

7( RB

5 ( 10.05 k + R B )

= 0.05025 +

2( RB = 0.0149
RB
So the value of CB ,

CB =

= 7.45 k

5
5.05 k + 4.75 k

CB = 4

10-10 F

5 ( RB

Analysis
For the last part of the experiment which is part three, the values
obtained experimentally are good agreement with the actual values.
Discussion
The experimental values are not perfectly the same compared to the
actual values as 0.5 of resistance exists in power supply used.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the value of resistor in RC circuit was determined. The
changes when the resistor and capacitor connected in parallel were
observed. The time constant, =RC of the RC circuit was obtained. Lastly,
the physical values of Black Box in a series RC circuit were identified.