Experiment No.
3
Aim: To study IC 555 as an Astable Multivibrator.
Apparatus: The circuit board, Digital Oscilloscope.
Circuit Diagrams:
+5V
RA 8 4
7
RB IC 555 O/P
6 3
2
5 1
C 0.01uF
Component Value: RA= 220Ω, RB= Variable, C= 0.1µF
Theory:
A multivibrator is an electronic circuit used to implement a variety of simple two-state
devices such as relaxation oscillators, timers and flip-flops. Multivibrators find applications in a
variety of systems where square waves or timed intervals are required. The three types of
multivibrator circuits are:
Astable multivibrator, in which the circuit is not stable in either state — it continually switches
from one state to the other.
Monostable multivibrator, in which one of the states is stable, but the other state is unstable
(transient). A trigger pulse causes the circuit to enter the unstable state.
Bistable multivibrator, in which the circuit is stable in either state. It can be flipped from one state
to the other by an external trigger pulse.
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The 555 timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) used in a variety of timer, pulse generation,
and oscillator applications. The 555 can be used to provide time delays, as an oscillator, and as a
flip-flop element.
Fig. Pin diagram of IC 555
Formula:
Procedure :
STEP 1: Connect the components as mentioned: (1-3), (2-4).
STEP 2: Click on 'Check' button to check the connections. If connected connections are wrong, Make
the right connection as per given instruction.
STEP 3: If connections are right, Click on the'Start' button to perform the experiment.
STEP 4: Toggle On/Off button to control the power to the system.
STEP 5: Move the 'Voltage' range slider to fetch values into table.
STEP 6: Click on 'Plot' button to plot the graph.
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Observation Table:
Pulse Time Duty
Obs. Resistance Resistance Capacitance width Calculated Observed
No. (RA KΩ) (RB KΩ) (C µF) (τp ms constant cycle Frequency Frequency
(T msec) (D %)
ec)
1. 1 3.9 0.1
0.1
2. 3 3.9
0.1
3. 5 3.9
0.1
4. 7 3.9
0.1
5. 9 3.9
Calculation:
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Result: The working of IC 555 as an Astable Multivibrator studied successfully.
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