AC MEASUREMENT

EX P ER I M ENT # 2
Freshman Lab
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
Objectives
Create AC voltage signals using a function generator.
Measure AC voltage signals using a digital oscilloscope.
Determine the RMS value of periodic voltage signals.
Analyze an AC circuit measuring the signal frequency,
period, amplitude, and DC offset.
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
Outline
AC Current
Period measure
Frequency measure
Peak amplitude (volt)
Peak-to-peak value (volt)
Least count and error
Root Mean Square RMS measure


GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
AC current
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
Time varying
AC voltage toggles between positive and negative
AC current too changes direction

Function Generator is used to generate AC Current.
Oscilloscope usually is used to display and measurement.
Also DMM can be used to measure AC current voltage.

i (t)
t
AC signal
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
Amplitude
+V
p
(peak)
Amplitude
-V
p
(peak)
Period (T)
V
pp
(peak-to-peak)
Volts
i (t)
Ti me
(sec)
Offset
(+ve, -ve)
R.oot M.ean S.quare
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
is the square mean root of the arithmetic mean (average)
of the squares of the original values

(or the square of the function that defines the continuous
waveform).
R. M. S. stuff
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
In the case of a set of n discrete values
For a continuous Signal, with interval T1<t <T2 is
RMS for a function over all time is
R. M. S. continue
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
The RMS over all time of a periodic function is equal to the
RMS one period of the function.

The RMS of a continuous signal can be approximated by
taking the RMS of a series of equally spaced samples of one
period of the signal.

Conclusion: RMS does not depend on frequency, but on
Amplitude (Vpeak) and wave shape;
It can be determined without calculi. (check the tables)
DMM AC Measurements
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
when measuring the RMS value, the DMM ignores any DC
offset in the signal.

The (effective) true VRMS ( ) ( )
2 2
V DC V AC V
RMS
+ =
VRMS for various waves
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
Sinusoidal wave
Square wave
Triangular wave
DC p
V t
T
V t v + = ) sin( ) (
2
( )
2
2
2
DC
p
RMS
V
V
V +
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

< +
< +
=
T t
T
V V
T
t V V
t v
DC p
DC p
2
:
2
0 :
) (
2 2
) ( ) (
DC p RMS
V V V + =

< +
|
|
.
|

\
|
< +
|
|
.
|

\
|

< +
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
T t
T
V T t
T
V
T
t
T
V
T
t
T
V
T
t V t
T
V
t v
DC
p
DC
p
DC
p
4
3
:
4

4
3
4
: )
2 4
4
0 :
4
) (
/
(
/
/
) (
( )
2
2
3
DC
p
RMS
V
V
V +
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
AC Electrical Power
GENG 250, Marwan Alakhras
In AC, the power is computed from the effective (RMS)
voltage and current.