I-V curve

General laboratory experiments can be performed using core functionalities offered by the PSLab hardware device like Programmable Voltage Sources, Programmable Current Source, Analog to Digital Converter, Frequency Counter, Function Generators, etc. In this post we will  have a brief look on a general laboratory experiment and how we can perform it using the  PSLab Android App and the PSLab hardware device. We are going to take Zener I-V Characteristics Curve experiment as an example to understand how we can perform a general experiment using the PSLab device. First, we will  look at the general laboratory experiment and it's format. Then we will see how that experiment can be performed using the PSLab Android App and the PSLab Hardware Device. Experiment Format of General Experiment in Laboratory AIM: In this experiment, our aim is to observe the relation between the voltage and the corresponding current that was generated. We will then plot it to get the dependence. Apparatus: A Zener Diode A DC Voltage Supplier Bread Board 100 ohm resistor 2 multimeter for measuring current and voltages Connecting wires Theory: A Zener Diode is constructed for operation in the reverse breakdown region.The relation between I-V is almost linear in this case, Vz = Vz0 + Iz * Rz , where Rz is the dynamic resistance of the zener at the operating point and Vz0 is the voltage at which the straight-line approximation of the I-V characteristic intersects the horizontal axis. After reaching a certain voltage, called the breakdown voltage, the current increases drastically even for a small change in voltage. However, there is no appreciable change in voltage accompanying this current change. So, when we plot the graph, we get a curve which is very near to the x-axis and nearly parallel to it until a particular potential value, called the Zener potential, is reached. After the Zener potential Vz value, there will be a sudden change and the graph becomes exponential. Procedure: Construct the circuit as shown in figure below Now, start increasing the voltage until a reading in the multimeter for current can be obtained. Note that reading. Now, start increasing the input voltage and take the corresponding current readings. Using the set of readings observed,  construct a V vs I graph. This graph gives us the I-V characteristics. The slope of the curve at any point gives the dynamic resistance at that voltage. Result: The Characteristic curve has been verified after plotting V-I data points on the graph. Experiment format in PSLab Android App We have a ViewPager that renders two fragments: Experiment Doc- It consists of information like the Aim of experiment, Schematic, Output screenshot that we will get after the experiment has been performed. Experiment Setup- It consists of the setup to configure the PSLab device. This fragment is analogous to the experiment apparatus of the laboratory.   Below is a gif showing the experiment doc of the Zener I-V experiment which is to be performed using the PSLab device. It consists of a schematic and…