Experiment No.

RMS Value of an A.C Sinusoidal Waveform

Rating: _____________

Name: Rolly N. Batao Year & Course: BSECE – 2A

Instructor: Marcellin Jay Panes Group #: __________________

Date Performed: _______________ Date Submitted: ____________

INTRODUCTION:

The root mean square (RMS) value of an alternating current is given by that steady
current(dc) which when flowing through a given circuit for a given time produces the same
heat as produced by the alternating current when flowing through the same circuit for the
same time.

It is also known as the effective or virtual value of the alternating current; the former
term being used more extensively. The RMS value of symmetrical sinusoidal alternating
I max
current is 0.707 maximum value of current or .
√2
The RMS value of an alternating current is of considerable importance in practice,
because the ammeters and voltmeters record the RMS value of alternating current and
voltage respectively. In electrical engineering work, unless indicated otherwise, the values
of the given current and voltage are always the RMS values.

It should be noted that the average heating effect produced during one cycle is ¿ R=
1 2
I x R.
2 ma

OBJECTIVE:

1. To investigate the RMS value of an A.C. Sinusoidal Waveform and the power
consumed by the circuit.

MATERIALS:

5 V DC power supply Potentiometer Bread Board

Multimeter connecting wires Oscilloscope

PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in Figure 1.
2. Set the potentiometer to its mid position.
3. Switch on the power supply unit and set the source voltage to 10DC, as shown on
the voltmeter.
4. Transfer the voltmeter across the potentiometer (mid position and one leg).
5. Set an appropriate time base on the oscilloscope to have a good trace of the
waveform you see on another sheet of paper.

What does this or waveform shows?

The wave form is showing the sine wave to the oscilloscope probe of a straight line
because it is an output of DC source.

6. Now vary the setting of the potentiometer decreasing and then increasing its value.
Notice the waveform on the oscilloscope and its reading or the voltmeter reading.

Does the waveform cross beyond the zero-voltage axis of the oscilloscope or
does it go beyond 0V reading of the voltmeter? What maybe the reason for
this?
As we observe the reading of voltmeter are increased the value of
potentiometer, the waveform rises its axis while the potentiometer are
decreased to the wave form is approximately lies on 0 axis. The main reason
of this is the potentiometer

TP1
+
+

VS1 5 V
VM1 oscilloccope probe

TP2

Figure 1.
7. Now change the source voltage to 10 Vac peak-to-peak at 60 Hz as shown on the
oscilloscope and then draw the trace or waveform you see on another sheet of
paper.

What is the period of the waveform?

0.0167 per seconds

What is the peak voltage?

5V
8. Switch off the power supply unit (both D.C. and A.C. source). Connect the circuit as
shown in the figure 2 (SEE NOTES).
9. Set the potentiometer to its mid position and initially set the slide switch to the left.
10. Switch on the power supply unit and set the D.C. source voltage to 5 V as shown
on the voltmeter. The lamp should be on, but dim. Notice the intensity on the lamp.
11. Switch the slide switch to the right and adjust the potentiometer until the intensity
of the lamp is roughly the same as before.
12. To ensure that the intensity of the lamp is the same for both positions, switch the
slide switch left and right adjusting the potentiometer as the same time, until the
intensity of the lamp is identical for both switch positions.
13. On table 1.1, record the readings of the D.C. and A.C. voltage and current as
shown on the voltmeter, ammeter, and oscilloscope.

14. Switch off the power supply unit.

Figure 2.
Measured Value Calculated Value
RMS * √2
DC Voltage AC Voltage AC Voltage AC Voltage
Peak-to-peak (V) Peak (V) Peak (V)
5V 10V 5V 5V
 Calculated Value
Measured Value

RMS * √2*2 RMS * √2

Table 1.
DC Current AC current AC current AC current
Peak-to-peak Peak
0.25A 0.25A 10V 5V

Angle Yn Yn2

Table 2.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What is the relationship between the peak and peak-to-peak voltages?

The peak-to-peak voltages is equal to a twice peak voltage on DC circuits
2. What can you say about the power consumption of the lamp having the same
intensity for the D.C. and A.C. source?
The intensity for the DC and AC source
3. Based on the results of the Table 1.1, what is the meaning of effective value (or
ROOT MEAN SQUARE RMS value) of the alternating current?
4. Based on the reading on the voltmeter and the peak voltage, what relationship
can you establish? What does the reading on the voltmeter represents?
5. Is the RMS formula applicable for voltage and current parameters?
6. What is the ratio of the peak voltage and the reading of the voltmeter?

REFERENCES:

1. Electric Circuits by Charles Siskind

2. Electrical Circuit Theory and Technology, Fifth edition by John Bird
3. Engineering Circuit Analysis, Eighth Edition by WH. Hayt, JE. Kemmerly, SM.
Durbin
4. Electrical Circuits by Mahmood Nahvi, Ph.D. and Joseph A. Edminister