[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

Philippine Normal University, Manila

College of Science
Department of Physical Science
BASIC ELECTRONICS

LABORATORY ACTIVITY
PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CIRCUIT
Submitted by:
John Isaac Enriquez, CPHYS
Joselyn Ojeda, BSE Physics
Submitted to:
Dr. Antriman Orleans
I. OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this activity is to build a practical potentiometer circuit and use it to measure unknown voltages.
II. MATERIALS
PARTS BIN
PART

QUANTITY

DESCRIPTION

Variable Power
Supply

A device that converts AC to adjustable DC voltage.

9V Batteries

Can be used as an alternative DC source if variable

power supply is not available

9V Connector

Can be used to connect 9V batteries in series

100 k Shaft Type

Variable Resistor

An electrical component that is used to vary the

amount of current that flows to a circuit. Electrical
resistance can be set from 0 to 100 k.

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

500 Slide Type

Variable Resistor

An electrical component that is used to vary the

amount of current that flows to a circuit. Electrical
resistance can be set from 0 to 500 .

500 resistors

An electrical component that implements electrical

resistance.

Alligator Clips with

Wires

10

A mechanical device used to make temporary

electrical connection.

1.5 V AA Battery

To be used as standard voltage

Assorted Batteries

Batteries having different voltages

TOOLS
PART

Digital Multimeter

QUANTITY

DESCRIPTION

A device that is used to measure voltage, current and

resistance.

III. THEORY
An accurate way of comparing two potential differences uses the potentiometer circuit as shown below. A
potentiometer measuring instrument is essentially a voltage divider created by resistors connected in series.

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CIRCUIT

where

= standard voltage
= 12 V power supply unit
= 100 k variable resistor
= unknown voltage

and

and

= 500 resistors
= 500 variable resistor
= ammeter

As a consequence of Ohms law and Kirchhoffs current law, the voltage across each resistor is proportional to its
resistance and to their common current. Therefore the equivalent resistance of any number of resistors in series equals
the sum of their individual resistances. Varying the resistance make it possible to predict the voltage on a loop.
Analyzing the circuit using the principle of voltage divider and Ohms law will reveal a mathematical relationship that will
make it possible to accurately compare the standard voltage with the unknown voltage. If the readings on the two
ammeters/galvanometers are zero, then
=
where is the tap number of the resistor switch.

IV. PROCEDURE

PART 1: TESTING THE COMPONENTS

500 LINEAR TRACK

VARIABLE RESISTOR
(SLIDE TYPE)

Set the multimeter knob to 2000 ohmmeter.

Attach the terminals of multimeter to the two terminals of
potentiometer (one to the outer side, the other to the inner
side). Sliding the control towards one end should give you a
resistance reading of 0 . Sliding it to the other end will give
you a reading of its maximum resistance of about 500 .

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

100 k LINEAR TRACK

VARIABLE RESISTOR
(ROTARY TYPE)

Set the multimeter knob to 200 k ohmmeter.

Attach the terminals of multimeter to the two terminals of
potentiometer (one to the outer side, the other to the
center). Sliding the control towards one end should give you a
resistance reading of 0 . Sliding it to the other end will give
you a reading of its maximum resistance of about 100 k.

500 RESISTORS

Set the multimeter knob to 2000 ohmmeter.

Attach the terminals of multimeter to the two terminals of
the resistors. Each resistor should give of a reading of 500
10

9V BATTERIES

Set the multimeter knob to 200 V voltmeter. Attach the

terminals of multimeter to the appropriate terminals of
battery connector. Connect the battery connector to the 9V
cell. The voltmeter reading should be around 9 V.

PART 2: CONSTRUCTING THE POTENTIOMETER CIRCUIT

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF PART 2

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

Connect 7 identical resistors in series either by

soldering or splicing their ends.

Connect one end of the resistors to one of the inner

side terminal of 500 linear track variable resistor.

Connect the opposite outer side terminal of the 500

linear track variable resistor to one of the outer sides
of 100 k linear track variable resistor

Construct the battery bank by attaching the battery

connector to each cell and connecting the two cells in
series. Attach alligator clip wires to the positive and
negative terminals.

Connect the positive terminal of battery to the middle

terminal of the 100 k linear track variable resistor.

Connect the negative terminals of 9V and 1.5

batteries to one of the terminals of a 500 resistor.

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

Connect the positive terminal of 1.5 V battery to one

of the electrodes of multimeter. Connect the other
electrode to the other end of 500 resistor.

Finally, connect the other end of the resistors in series

to the same end of 500 resistor where one of the
electrodes of multimeter is connected.

PART 3: CALIBRATING THE CURRENT OF THE CIRCUIT

Set the multimeter to 20 mA ammeter.

Rotate the 100 k linear track variable resistor until the reading
on the multimeter is 0.00 mA.

Detach the 1.5 V battery and multimeter from the circuit. Our
circuit is now ready to measure unknown voltages.

PART 4: MEASURING VOLTAGES USING THE POTENTIOMETER CIRCUIT

6

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF PART 4

Connect the positive terminal of

multimeter to the negative terminal of the
battery.

Using the alligator clip, connect the positive

terminal of the battery to the 100 k linear
track variable resistor, at the same terminal
where the 500 linear track variable
resistor is connected.

Slide the controller of 500 linear track

variable resistor all the way towards the
direction of the alligator clip connected to
the outer side. This will set its resistance to
0

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

Set the multimeter to 20 mA ammeter.
Using alligator clip wire, connect the
negative terminal of the multimeter to the
node connecting two 500 resistors (the
one closest to the 500 variable resistor).
Take note of the reading.

Continue tapping the terminal to the other

nodes until the reading is a negative
number closest to zero. Record the number
of 500 resitors bypassed.

Slide the controller of the 500 variable

resistor towards the direction of its
opposite end. You should notice that the
current is increasing. Stop sliding when the
reading is exactly 0 mA.

Finally, connect the multimeter to the two

terminals of the 500 variable resistor. Set
the multimeter to 2000 ohmmeter.
Record the resistance.

Repeat the procedures above for the second and third unknown voltage sources. Record the data on the table below.
V. DATA

Unknown
Voltage
1
2
3

= ________

, = ________

()

, = ________, = ________
Percent
( )
Difference

Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013

AVE =

Deviation

MAD =

[PRACTICAL POTENTIOMETER CURCUIT] PNU-COS-DPS Basic Electronics

VI. ANALYSIS
1. Prove mathematically that when resistors are connected in series, the equivalent resistance is the sum of all the
individual resistances. (Hint: The amount of current flowing in series circuit is constant.)

2. Show mathematically that when 1 and 2 are zero, the unknown voltage is related to standard voltage by the
equation =

4. Do you think that the assumption that the resistors are perfectly identical had an effect on the accuracy of the
experiment? Justify your answer.
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5. List some practical uses of potentiometer device.
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VII. CONCLUSION
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VIII. RECOMMENDATION
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Practical Potentiometer Circuit | JI Enriquez 2013