IC555 is a very popular time circuit IC. It can be configured as an astable or monostable multivibrator. The values of frequency and duty cycle are decided by two resistors and a capacitor.
Wire an astable multivibrator circuit using IC555, measure the frequency and duty cycle of the output.
The output waveform is shown below. The frequency and dutycycle can be calculated using the equations given below and compared with the measurements.
The durations of high and low voltage are: T1 = 0.693(R1 + R2)C and T2 = 0.693R2C. Frequency f = (1)/((T1 + T2)) and duty cycle = (T1)/((T1 + T2))
The output waveform is shown in figure. Change the value of resistors or the capacitor, and compare the frequency and duty cycle with the calculated values. Variable resistors may be used to change the frequency and duty cycle.