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Name Matriculation Number Date

Name of Lab Partner(s) Group Submission Deadline


Name of Demonstrator(s)
Reminders
Before leaving the laboratory, make sure the demonstrator on duty initial on your data
table(s) together with the date!
Submit a complete laboratory report of yours, i.e., laboratory worksheet together with
Excel spreadsheet(s) within ONE week after your laboratory session to level 1 Physics
laboratory (S12-04-02) before 5.00 pm daily (see the above submission deadline). In
the event that the above submission deadline falls on a public/school holiday or you
have a medical certicate due to illness, the submission deadline will be the next school
day during ofce hours (9 am 5 pm).
RC Circuits
Part A: Basic Operations of Oscilloscope
1A. TIME/DIV =
1A. VOLTS/DIV =
1B. TIME/DIV =
1B. VOLTS/DIV =
1C. TIME/DIV =
1C. VOLTS/DIV =
Demonstrators signature / Date
Physics level 1 laboratory Page 1 of 14 Semester II, 2013/14
PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 2 of 14
2A. TIME/DIV =
2A. VOLTS/DIV =
2B. TIME/DIV =
2B. VOLTS/DIV =
2C. TIME/DIV =
2C. VOLTS/DIV =
Demonstrators signature / Date
Question A-1 In the grid labeled 2A, how many complete cycles are sketched in your g-
ure? From your sketch, what is the period of the wave? Using this period, calculate the
frequency of the wave for this sketch. Is it in agreement with the frequency used for this part
of the experiment
3A. TIME/DIV =
3A. VOLTS/DIV =
3B. TIME/DIV =
3B. VOLTS/DIV =
Demonstrators signature / Date
Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14
PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 3 of 14
Question A-2 In your own words, explain why these two sketches in 3A and 3B appear as
they do. They both have the trigger level zero, but one has a positive trigger slope and the
other has a negative trigger slope.
4A. TIME/DIV =
4A. VOLTS/DIV =
4B. TIME/DIV =
4B. VOLTS/DIV =
4C. TIME/DIV =
4C. VOLTS/DIV =
Demonstrators signature / Date
Question A-3 Explain the appearance of sketches 4A, 4B and 4C. They all have a positive
trigger slope, but the trigger level of 4A is zero, the trigger level of 4B is positive and the
trigger level of 4C is negative.
Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14
PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 4 of 14
Generator (V) Voltmeter (V) Oscilloscope (V)
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
Data Table 1: Sine wave.
Demonstrators signature / Date
Analysis A-1 For your data in Data Table 1, perform a linear least squares t to your data
with the peak voltage read on the oscilloscope as the vertical axis and the voltage read on the
voltmeter as the horizontal axis. Plot a graph of the peak voltage read on the oscilloscope
against the voltage read on the voltmeter. Also show on the graph the straight line that was
obtained by the linear least squares t to the data as well as the error-bar of your data.
Gradient: (units)
y-intercept: (units)
Coefcient of determination:
Question A-4 For a sine wave, an alternating current voltmeter measures a root-mean-
square value. Show that the peak value measured on the oscilloscope should be 1.414 times
the voltmeter readings for the sine wave.
Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14
PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 5 of 14
Analysis A-2 Use percentage discrepancy to compare your experimental value for the ratio
(root-mean-square value : peak value) for the sine wave with the theoretical value. Show your
work.
% discrepancy = %
Generator (V) Voltmeter (V) Oscilloscope (V)
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
Data Table 2: Square wave.
Demonstrators signature / Date
Analysis A-3 For your data in Data Table 2, perform a linear least squares t to your data
with the voltage as read on the voltmeter as the vertical axis and the peak voltage read on the
oscilloscope as the horizontal axis. Plot a graph of the voltage as read on the voltmeter against
the peak voltage read on the oscilloscope. Also show on the graph the straight line that was
obtained by the linear least squares t to the data as well as the error-bar of your data.
Gradient: (units)
y-intercept: (units)
Correlation coefcient:
Question A-5 Determine the relationship between the root-mean-square and peak values for
the square wave. Show your work.
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Analysis A-4 Use percentage discrepancy to compare your experimental value for the ratio
(root-mean-square value : peak value) for the sine wave with the theoretical value. Show your
work.
% discrepancy = %
Part B: The RC Time Constant
C = (units)
Resistance R () Time constant (s)
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Data Table 3
Demonstrators signature / Date
Question B-1 The oscilloscope used to measure the voltage across capacitor, in general,
will not be an ideal voltmeter, i.e. it will not have innite resistance. We can then model the
oscilloscope as an ideal voltmeter in parallel with an internal resistance r. Sketch the resultant
RC circuit and show that the voltage across the capacitor during charging is now given by
V =V
0

r
R+r

1e

(R+r)t
RrC

Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14


PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 7 of 14
Analysis B-1 Perform a suitable linear least squares t to your data: time constant and re-
sistance R so that the internal resistance of the oscilloscope can be determined. Plot a suitable
linear graph for your data. Also show on the graph the straight line that was obtained by the
linear least squares t to the data as well as the error-bar of your data.
Independent variable x:
Dependent variable y:
Gradient: (units)
y-intercept: (units)
Coefcient of determination:
Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14
PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 8 of 14
Analysis B-2 Determine an experimental value for the capacitance C of the capacitor from
your results of your linear least squares t above. Compare it with the manufactured value
using percentage discrepancy. Show your work.
Experimental value: C =
% discrepancy = %
Analysis B-3 Determine an experimental value for the internal resistance r of the oscillo-
scope from your results of your linear least squares t above. Show your work.
Experimental value: r =
Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14
PC1143: RC Circuits Laboratory Worksheet Page 9 of 14
Capacitor Resistance R () Time constant (s)
C and C
unknown
in series
C and C
unknown
in parallel
Data Table 4
Demonstrators signature / Date
Analysis B-4 Determine experimental values for the unknown capacitance C
unknown
. Show
your work.
In series: C
unknown
=
In parallel: C
unknown
=
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Question B-2 Compare the precisions of your measurements for the unknown capacitance
C
unknown
. State clearly what quantity you used to compare their precisions. Show your work.
Provide a possible reason if their precisions differ too much.
SUMMARY: Results, Discussion, and Conclusion
In this section, you are required to submit a handwritten summary. Write within the space
provided to you and your summary must NOT exceed 800 words. It should consist of the fol-
lowing: Results, Discussion and Conclusion. You may refer to the uploaded sample summary
for reference concerning what to write. Note that you should not only analyze your results,
but also discuss their implications. State clearly where you think your uncertainties come
from and how they may have affected your results. Suggest any appropriate changes to the
experiment that you think may improve your results.
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Last updated: January 16, 2014 1:42 pm (NSY)
Physics level 1 laboratory Semester II, 2013/14

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