Department of Electrical Engineering

The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

Program: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Semester: II

Subject: EE-121 (Linear Circuit Analysis) Date:

Lab No 2: MEASURING METHODS OF RESISTANCE

Objectives:
 To understand about the resistance measurement through color coding and multi meter

Name: Muhammad Saad Roll No: BEE-FA19-010

Rubrics
Performance Lab Report

Description Total Obtained Description Total Obtained

Marks Marks Marks Marks
Experiment 10 Organization/ 05
Related Structure
knowledge
Data Analysis 10 Data 05
Presentation
Total Marks Total Marks
Obtained Obtained

Remarks(if any):- ____________________________

Signature:-__________________________________
 Department of Electrical Engineering
The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

THEORY:
DEFINITION:
A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as
a circuit element.
EXPLANATION:
 In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide
voltages, bias active elements, and terminate transmission lines, among other uses. High-power
resistors that can dissipate many watts of electrical power as heat, may be used as part of motor
controls, in power distribution systems, or as test loads for generators. Fixed resistors have
resistances that only change slightly with temperature, time or operating voltage. Variable
resistors can be used to adjust circuit elements (such as a volume control or a lamp dimmer), or
as sensing devices for heat, light, humidity, force, or chemical activity.
Resistors are common elements of electrical networks and electronic circuits and are ubiquitous
in electronic equipment. Practical resistors as discrete components can be composed of various
compounds and forms. Resistors are also implemented within integrated circuits.
The electrical function of a resistor is specified by its resistance: common commercial resistors
are manufactured over a range of more than nine orders of magnitude. The nominal value of the
resistance falls within the manufacturing tolerance, indicated on the component.
The behaviour of an ideal resistor is dictated by the relationship specified by Ohm's law:
V= IR
Ohm's law states that the voltage (V) across a resistor is proportional to the current (I), where the
constant of proportionality is the resistance (R). For example, if a 300 ohm resistor is attached
across the terminals of a 12 volt battery, then a current of 12 / 300 = 0.04 amperes flows through
that resistor.
Practical resistors also have some inductance and capacitance which affect the relation between
voltage and current in alternating current circuits.
The ohm (symbol: Ω) is the SI unit of electrical resistance, named after Georg Simon Ohm. An
ohm is equivalent to a volt per ampere. Since resistors are specified and manufactured over a
very large range of values, the derived units of milliohm (1 mΩ = 10−3 Ω), kilohm (1 kΩ =
103 Ω), and megohm (1 MΩ = 106 Ω) are also in common usage.

Series and parallel resistors

 Department of Electrical Engineering
The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

The total resistance of resistors connected in series is the sum of their

individual resistance values.

The total resistance of resistors connected in parallel is the reciprocal of the sum of the
reciprocals of the individual resistors.

For example, a 10 ohm resistor connected in parallel with a 5 ohm resistor and a 15 ohm resistor
produces 1/1/10 + 1/5 + 1/15 ohms of resistance, or 30/11 = 2.727 ohms.
A resistor network that is a combination of parallel and series connections can be broken up into
smaller parts that are either one or the other. Some complex networks of resistors cannot be
resolved in this manner, requiring more sophisticated circuit analysis. Generally, the Y-Δ
transform, or matrix methods can be used to solve such problems.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING:

V=IR
I=V/R

SIMULATION MODELING:

Don’t have any simulation modeling

APPARATUS/COMPONENTS REQUIRED:
 Department of Electrical Engineering
The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

1. Different Valued Resistors.

2. Multimeter.

PROCEDURE:

RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT BY MULTIMETER

 Resistance is never measured by an ohm-meter in a live network, due to the possibility of 
damaging the meter with excessively high currents and obtaining readings that have no meaning.
 Always start with the highest range of the instrument and switch down to the proper range
successively.
 Use the range in which the deflection falls in the upper half of the meter scale.
 Try to ascertain the polarity of dc voltages before making the measurement.
 Whenever measuring the resistance of a resistor in a circuit, note whether there are any other
resistive elements that could cause an error in the reading. It may be necessary to disconnect one
side of the resistor before measuring.
 Check the zero and ohms adjustments each time the range is changed.
 When making measurements, grip the test prods by the handles as close to the lead end as
possible. Do not allow the fingers to touch the prod tips while measuring.
 Keep the instruments away from the edge of the workbench, and away from heat and
dangerous fumes. 
 There is no zero adjustment on a DMM, but make sure that R=0 ohm when the leads are
touching or an adjustment internal to the meter may have to be made. Any resistance above the
maximum for a chosen scale will result in an O.L. indication. The ranges are usually marked as
multiples of R.

RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT BY COLOR CODING

 The resistance of many resistors can be determined by reading a series of colored bands
imprinted on the resistor body. In this scheme called “Resistor Color Code” each color represents
a different decimal digit.
 The first three bands of the color code are used to specify nominal value of the resistance,
and the fourth, or tolerance band, gives the percent deviation from the nominal value that the
actual resistor may have. 
 Due to manufacturing variations, the actual resistance may be anywhere in a range equal to
the nominal value plus or minus a certain percentage of that value.
 Department of Electrical Engineering
The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

OBSERVATIONS & READINGS:

 Department of Electrical Engineering
The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad

PRECAUTIONS

 Pay full attention in lab.

 Use tools properly.

CONCLUSION:
In this lab, we have learnt about resistors in a clear and brief manner.