Experiment 2: Multimeter
Laboratory Report
Carlos Libao, Denise Morales, Aura Obligar, Rion Ofilas, Francesca Pelayo
Department of Chemistry
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines
Abstract approximately equal to the quantity
The multimeter or digital voltmeter measured.
is the fundamental device used to measure In physics, a multimeter could be a
voltage using an analog to a digital portable device that is helpful for basic fault
converter. The underlying concept behind detection and field service work or a bench
digital multimeters is analog to digital instrument that can measure a very high
converters. The purpose of this experiment level of accuracy. They could be used to
is to determine how a multimeter works and solve electrical problems in a wide range of
how each measurement differs from one industrial and household equipment such as
another. electronic devices, motor controls, domestic
appliances, power supplies, and wiring
1. Introduction systems.
A multimeter or multitester, also
known as a volt/ohm meter or VOM, is an 2. Theory
electronic measuring device that A multimeter is a device that can be
incorporates numerous measurement used to measure electrical values in a circuit
functions in one unit. Standard multimeters or in various components. As the name
may include characteristics such as the suggests it can serve as multiple different
capacity to measure voltage, current, and meters such as an ammeter for measuring
resistance. the current or electrical flow in Amperes
Multimeters could use analog or (A), an ohmmeter for resistance measured in
digital circuits — analog multimeters and Ohms (Ω), and as a voltmeter for measuring
digital multimeters. Analog instruments are Volts (V). The multimeter can also
typically based on a microammeter whose determine the values of electrical
pointer moves over a scale calibration for all components before connecting them in a
the various measurements that could be circuit. The multimeter works by turning the
created; digital instruments normally show dial to indicate what the user wants to
digits but may show a length bar measure, a set of values can also be found
for adjusting the range. After turning the dial
two probes can be placed against the battery. The voltage was then shown in the
component or the circuit to be measured. voltmeter.
The probes are colored to distinguish them
from one another, the black probe is for the For the third part, the current flowing
negative and the red colored one is for the in the circuit was measured by dragging the
positive. wires, battery, bulb, and ammeter in the
center of the simulator. These materials
3. Methodology were assembled. There are two wires
In this experiment, a virtual connected to the battery, one on the positive
laboratory simulator was used. The materials end and one on the negative end. The wire
used were bulb, battery, wires, ammeter, and connected to the positive end was also
voltmeter. In the first part of the experiment, connected to the electrical foot contact of
the resistance of the bulb was measured by the bulb. On the other hand, the wire
dragging the bulb in the center then when connected on the negative end of the battery
the bulb was clicked, its resistance showed was also connected to the right side of the
below the simulator. ammeter then the wire connected to the left
side of the ammeter was also connected to
the base contact wire of the bulb. The bulb
was lit then the current was shown in the
ammeter.
For the second part of the
experiment, the voltage of the battery was
measured. To measure the voltage of the
battery, a voltmeter and a battery were
placed in the center of the simulator. Then
the red probe of the voltmeter was placed in
the positive end of the battery then the black
probe was placed in the negative end of the On the last part of the experiment,
the current, voltage, and resistance were
measured altogether by using the same
materials in the third procedure, only this
time there was a voltage used. The materials
used were assembled. There are two wires
that were connected in the ammeter, the first
wire was connected to the electrical foot
contact of the bulb and the other wire was Resistance Voltage Current
connected to the positive end of the battery.
The wire that was connected to the negative B 12.0 Ω
end of the battery was also connected to the
C 9.00 V
base contact wire of the bulb. The red probe
of the voltmeter was placed to the wire D 12.0 Ω 14.0 V 1.17 A
connecting the positive end of the battery,
the ammeter and the electrical foot contact Table 2 shows the measurement
of the bulb. While the black probe was acquired from connecting multimeters. From
placed to the wire connecting the negative the current and voltage measured, the
end of the battery and the base contact wire resistance was calculated using the formula
of the bulb. The current of the flow was R = VI , where V for the voltage and I for
shown in the ammeter and the voltage was the current in amperes. The computed value
determined through the voltmeter. By was compared with the measured value by
clicking the bulb it’s resistance showed in getting the percent error.
the bottom of the simulator. Table 2. Measurement collected from
connecting Multimeters
Curre Volta Resistance (Ω) %
nt (A) ge (V) Error
Comp Measu
uted red
1.87 15.0 8.02 8.00 0.25%
A V Ω Ω
5. Conclusion
In this experiment, Ohm’s law
(I=V/R) and the relationship between
voltage, current, and resistance were
examined. Ohm's Law deals with the
4. Results and Discussion
relationship between voltage and current in
Table 1 shows the measurement of
an ideal conductor. This relationship states
the resistance that was collected from the
that the voltage across an ideal conductor is
bulb, the voltage measured from the battery,
proportional to the current through it. The
and the current that was flowing. Different
constant proportionality is called the
resistance and voltages were used in part B,
resistance. The point of this experiment is to
C, and D.
establish the relationship between current
Table 1. Measurement of Resistance,
and voltage. We determine that the higher
Current, and Voltage using Multimeter
the resistance, the current decreases, as long
as the voltage stands the same.
6. References
Science Buddies. (2020, April 1). How to
Use a Multimeter. Science Buddies.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/scie
nce-fair-projects/references/how-to-u
se-a-multimeter.
