Performance-Based Assessments for DC Circuit Competencies

I recommend a supply voltage of 12 volts, a potentiometer value of 10 kΩ, a capacitor value of 0.1 μF, and a loading resistor (R₁) of 1 MΩ. Use a DMM so as to not load the circuit any more than necessary. If you wish to choose different capacitor/resistor values, I strongly suggest choosing them such that the time constant (τ) of the circuit significantly faster than 1 second.

An extension of this exercise is to incorporate troubleshooting questions. Whether using this exercise as a performance assessment or simply as a concept-building lab, you might want to follow up your students’ results by asking them to predict the consequences of certain circuit faults.