Experiment Description

Experiment

Experiment DL13    Maximum Power Output and Efficiency of a DC Circuit

Objectives
  • Study the variation of power output from a DC circuit with the resistance of the device
  • Study the variation of efficiency from a DC circuit with the resistance of the device
  • Determine the conditions in which the power output from a DC circuit is the maximum
Description
In this activity, you will use a variable resistor to represent a device that gives useful power output. You will use a Voltage Sensor to help calculate the useful power output, while the Interface output voltage and current gives the power input.

In this experiment, you will vary the resistance and see how the useful power output varies with the resistance. You will also study how the efficiency varies with the resistance.
Apparatus
Science Workshop 750 Interface [1]
Voltage sensor [1]
variable resistor (0 - 500 ohm) [1]
100 ohm resistor [1]
AC/DC Electronics Lab (alternative) [1]
Experiment