LAB REPORT

Lab Number: 2
Name: Muhammad Adeel Younus
Degree: 37
Discipline: Mechanical Engineering
Syndicate: B
Group Number: 5
Registration Number: 7995
Due Date: 7th March 2016
Date Of Submission: 7th March 2016
Experiment Number: 1
Title: Parallel and Series Combination of
resistors.
Experiment Number : 2
Title: Wheatstone bridge experiment

EXPERIMENT# 1

Objective:
To observe the effect of parallel and series arrangement on current and voltage
across resistors.

Components Used:
1. Connecting Wires
2. Resistors
3. Battery
4. Digital Multimeter

Theory:
Current in a series circuit remains constant and same
throughout the circuit and the voltage is divided among the
resistors attached depending on their ratings. In parallel
arrangement the current in divided into the loops but the
voltage across the loops remains the same. This is all in
accordance to the KCL and KVL laws. In this experiment we use
these ideas to see the effects on voltage and currents of the
series and parallel combination of resistors.

Task 1: Series Combination.

Procedure Followed:
1. Determine the resistances of 3 resistors
using a Resistor Color Chart and record
their values.
2. Then measure the resistance of 3 resistors
individually using a Digital Multimeter
(DMM) note their values.
3. Connect the 3 resistors in series with a power supply set to
8.6V on a breadboard. Then record the voltage across each

resistor using the DMM and record them on

the table.
4. Calculate the equivalent resistance and I o. Calculate the
current across each of the resistors using the formula I=V/R

Table (Theoretical and Lab Values):

R1
(measur
ed)
R2
(measur
ed)
R3
(measur
ed)

6.78k

4.68k

2.18k

R1
(Col
or)
R2
(Col
or)
R3
(Col
or)

6.8k

4.7k

2.26k

V1
(measur
ed)
V2
(measur
ed)
V3
(measur
ed)

4.36
V
2.96
V
1.3V

I1
(measur
ed)
I2
(measur
ed)
I3
(measur
ed)

0.64
A
0.64
A
0.64
A

Questions
1. Are the voltages V1, V2 and V3 equal to each other? Why
or why not?
No, the voltages are not the same because there is voltage
drop across every resistor as current passes through but since
the current does not get divided so it remains the same
throughout.
2. Calculate the total voltage V = V1 + V2 + V3. Explain
why it has the value it does.
4.36V + 2.96V + 1.3V = 8.62V. This value is almost equal to
8.6V which is the input voltage. According to kirchoffs voltage
law (KVL) the total energy I,e the total work i.e the sum of
voltage drops and rise is equal to 0.

3. Use Ohms Law to calculate the current through each

resistor (e.g. V1 = I*R1, so I1 = V1/R1). For this
calculation, use the measured value of the resistances.
Record these calculated values in the table above. Is
the result what you expected? Why?
a. I1 = V1/R1 = 0.64 A
b. I2 = V2/R2 = 0.64 A
c. I3 = V3/R3 = 0.64 A
The result of the experiment almost matches the actual values
which means that there was minimal error.
Task 2: Parallel Combination
Procedure Followed:
1. Determine the resistances of 2 resistors using
a Resistor Color Chart and record their values.
2. Measure 2 resistors individually using a
Digital Multimeter (DMM) which has a built in
Ohmmeter and record their values.
3. Connect the 2 resistors in parallel with a
power supply set to 12V on a breadboard.
Then record the voltage across each resistor
using the DMM and record them in a table.
4. Calculate the equivalent resistance of the circuit based on
measured values of R1 & R2.
5. Measure the equivalent resistance using a DMM
6. Use Ohms Law, with your measured value of R eq, to calculate
the total current in the circuit.
Table (Both Lab and Theoretical Values):
R1
(measur
ed)
R2
(measur
ed)
Req

6.78k

R1
(color)

6,8k

2.18k

R2
(color)

2.2k

1.64k

Req

1.66k

V1
(measur
ed)
V2
(measur
ed)

8.47V

8.47V

I1
(Measur
ed)
I2
(Measur
ed)
Itotal

0.012 A

0.038A

0.05A

(measur
ed)

(calc)

Questions
1. Are the measured values of R1 and R2 equal to the
values calculated using the color code chart? How much
do they differ (calculate percent error)? Is this within
the specified tolerance?
Since the resistors have s gold band they have a 5%
tolerance which means the resistors should be in between
the range of 0.95-1.05M. Our resistors were not within
the tolerances therefore the resistors were probably
faulty or damaged as they were supposed to be in range.
Their percentage error is 8.6% and 8.4% respectively for
R1 and R2.
2. Is your measured value of Req similar to your calculated
value? Explain.
Our value of Req is a bit deviated from the calculated
value because the resistors were below the tolerance.
3. Are V1 and V2 equal to each other? Explain.
V1 and V2 are equal to each other because the voltage is
the same in a parallel circuit.
4. Are I1 and I2 equal to each other? Explain.
The current gets divided in a parallel arrangement and
therefore I1 and I2 are different from one and other.
5. Compare Itotal to the I1 and I2. What do you notice?
I1 and I2 sum up to make Itotal. In other words, Itotal=I1+I2

Task 3: Series Parallel Combination Circuit

Procedure Followed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Write down the color code resistor values in a table

Measure their resistances using a DMM
Calculate Req using the colour codes and measured values both
Connect the circuit to a 12V source
Measure the voltage across R1, R2 and R3
Table(Both lab and theoretical data):

R1
(measured
)
R2
(measured
)
R3
(measured
)
Req
(measured
)

6.78k

2.18k

4.68k

6.32k

R1
(color
code)
R2
(color
code)
R3
(color
code)
Req
(color
code)

9.30V

6.8 k

V0
(measured
)
V1

2.2 k

V2

2.17V

4.76 k

V3

6.13V

6.92k

V1+V2

8.30V

2.17V

Questions.
1. Are the voltages V1, V2, and V3 equal to each
other? Why or why not?

V2 and V3 are equal to each other because they are

in parallel. V1 is not equal to them simply because
its in series.
2. Calculate the total voltage V= V1+V2. Explain why
it has the value it does. How does this sum
compare with V0? Is it the same as V1+V3? Why or
why not?
V= V1+V2 = 6.13+2.17 =4.34V. This is not equal to V =
V1+V3 = 4.34V
Because the voltage is branched between R2 and R3
and therefore the sum will always be equal of them.
This sum is close to V0 but not quite because in real
life the values are not always perfect but according
to KVL, V was supposed to equal V0.
3. Use Ohms Law to calculate the current through
each resistor. (e.g. V1=I1*R1, so I1=V1/R1). For
this calculation use the measured value of the
resistances. Record these calculated values in the
table above. Is the result what you expected? Why?
Since the value of R2 and R3 are equal and they are
in parallel, it was expected that their respective
currents would be equal to each other. And I1 was
expected to be less than I2 and I3.

EXPERIMENT#2
Objective:
To determine the resistivity of a material.

Apparatus:
1.

Wheatstone bridge

2.

Galvanometer

3.

Jockey

4.

DMM

5.

Audio Generator

6.

Screw Gauge

7.

Resistor

Theory:
Resistance of a Wire:
The resistance of a wire can be found using the following formula
R= (L)/A, where
L= length of wire
A= cross-sectional area of wire

= resistivity of metal of the wire

Wheatstonebridge:

Wheatstone bridge is an apparatus used to find the precise

resistance using another resistor. This is done in the form of
calculation from a relation
R1/R2=L1/L2
The Wheatstone bridge operates this way on a balanced bridge
position and this is what we will be finding in this lab.
Resistance of a wire is its physical parameter. It depends upon
Length, Area and Resistivity property. Resistance is a very important
factor while working with circuits and electrical components of any
kind. It can help regulate flow of current. However, it can also prove
to be a nuisance as many times resistance is unwanted in circuits.
Engineers have to work around this problem by countering it with
other components and great energy sources or by designing circuits
where resistance is optimum.
Resistivity is an equation constant. It always remains the same for a
specific material. Resistivity, as stated earlier is the reason behind
resistance. Copper and Aluminum are the materials that offer least
resistivity. As a result these materials are used for wires in homes,
factories and offices.

Procedure to be followed:
Set up as shown in the figure

 Make clean and tight connections, placing the unknown

resistance wire X in the gap between A and B. Connect one
end of the galvanometer to the point B and the other end to
the sliding jockey. Place the resistance box in the gap between
A and C. A battery or an audio generator is joined across A and
C. If you are using audio generator, adjust its frequency to zero
so that it acts as a DC power supply.
Now turn on the audio generator and adjust its frequency to
zero, adjust the voltage to 3V and connect it with the wheat
stone bridge using leads.
Connect the jockey with the wire and u will observe some
deflection. Make sure that the contact area of jockey with the
wire is minimum so that it offers less resistance. This could be
achieved when the jockey is placed perpendicular to the wire.
Move the jockey to and fro and note the deflection. If the
deflection occurs in both the directions then your connections
are correct otherwise not.
On the resistance box, select a resistance compatible with the
unknown resistance of the wire. When you done are selecting
the resistance, touch the jockey on the wire and search out a
point where the galvanometer shows no deflection. That point
is known as balance point or null point.
Adjust the resistance on the resistance box so that the balance
point is near about the center of the wire. Note the position of
the balance point.
Slightly change the value of the resistance box and note the
new position of the balance point.
Repeat the above procedure at least three times and calculate
the resistance by formula Rx = R0 l1/l2
Measure the diameter of the wire with the screw gauge at
least at three different points and hence find the radius of the
wire.
Calculate the specific resistance of wire by the formula = Rx
r2/L.

Observation and Calculation:

TABLE ONE : MEASUREMENTS / RESISTANCES
Wire
No.
5
(copper
)
4
(nichro
me)

Run #

R0

L1

L2

()

(cm)

(cm)

()

1
2
3
1
2
3

1.48

40
40
40
0.45
0.43
0.39

60

2.49
2.72
3.03
0.91
0.94
0.91

1.48
1.48
0.9
0.8
1.0

0.767
0.55
0.57
0.61

Rx

Avg. of Rx
<Rx> ()
2.74
0.90

TABLE TWO : RESISTIVITIES

Wire
No.

Metal

Copper

Nichro
me

Length
(cm)
12.5
40

Diameter
(mm)
0.84
0.87

CrossSection
Area
(m2)
5.54x10-7
0.059x10

-7

<Rx>
()

1.13

438x10

2.37

200x10

-8

-8

Question 1:
Yes, it is possible but unlikely. Since the resistance is dependent on
resistivity (a constant), the length and the area of the wire, the
resistance can vary IF the length and cross sectional area of the

wire change. Since its obviously highly unlikely that the area and
length changes, the resistance is very unlikely to change.

Question 2:
An uncertainty of one would make the whole measurement less
accurate by one thousandth part of a meter. It may seem negligible
but in Physics, the smallest bits of uncertainties can make a big
difference.

Ds