Resistors in Series and Parallel

Lace Meredith Custodio Ong

Department of Physics, De La Salle University
2401 Taft Avenue, Manila, Philippines 1004
[email protected]

Abstract
In this experiment, the circuit characteristics of resistors in series and parallel were
explored. To do this, the voltages and currents throughout the circuits were measured, as well as
the equivalent resistances of series and parallel circuits. These concepts can be explained by
Ohm’s Law, which is a law that describes the relationship between voltage, current, and
resistance. It was found that when using the proper equipment and resistor calibration, one is
able to calculate the measured equivalent resistances of series and parallel circuits as well as
their voltages and currents with sufficient precision and accuracy. Using Ohm’s Law, the
equivalent resistances, voltages, and currents were calculated with very low percent differences
between the calculated values and measured values.

1. Introduction
[Basic concepts and Ohm’s Law > About how Series Circuits work > About how parallel circuits
work > How to measure using an ammeter/voltmeter]
The objective of this experiment is to understand how series and parallel circuits work, as
well as a combination of both, by constructing these circuits in the laboratory as well as
measuring certain values such as voltage, current, and resistance. These values are all related to
that of Ohm’s Law, as it is about the fundamental relationship of electric potential (voltage),
current, and resistance [1]. It states that the amount of current through a conductor is directly
proportional to the voltage across two points, whereas the resistance is constant, independent of
the current [1]. With this, one arrives at the equation of

Ohm’s Law: V = IR (eq. 1)

Where I is the current through the conductor, V is the voltage, and R is the resistor of the
conductor. It is valid for many circuits and allows us to obtain a quantity if two other values are
known. Components of a circuit can be connected in a myriad of different ways but the two
simplest of these are called series and parallel circuits.

1.1 Series Circuits

Components connected in series circuits are composed along a singular path, as shown in
Figure 1, so the same current flows through all of the components.
 Figure 1. Setup for Series Circuit [3]

In this circuit, the current flowing through each component is equal,

Total I = I₁ = I₂ = I₃ (eq. 2)

and the voltage of the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component,

Total V = V ₁ + V ₂ + V ₃ (eq. 3)

Therefore, using Ohm’s Law, the total resistance in a series equals to the sum of each resistor in
the series,

Total R = R₁ + R₂ + R₃ (eq. 4)

1.2 Parallel Circuits

Unlike series circuits, components connected in parallel circuits form more than one
continuous path, as shown in Figure 2,

Figure 2. Setup for Parallel Circuit [3]

Such that the total current is now equal to the sum of each individual current flowing through
each resistor,

Total I = I₁ + I₂ + I₃ (eq. 5)

While the total voltage is equal to that of the voltage across each resistor,

Total V = V ₁ = V ₂ = V ₃ (eq. 6)

Therefore, using Ohm’s Law, the resistance is calculated with the equation,

1 1 1 1
RT
= R₁
+ R₂
+ R₃
(eq. 7)

1.3 Measuring Voltages and Currents

To measure the voltage of a circuit, a voltmeter is used. This is an instrument used to
measure the electrical potential difference between two nodes of a circuit in the unit of volts.
First, it is important to know where the positive and negative terminals are. Positive terminals are
usually red and marked with “ + ” while negative terminals are usually black and marked with “
− ”. It is important to note that voltmeters measure the voltage across the input terminals since
voltage is equal in parallel connection therefore, the voltmeter should be placed in parallel. The
voltmeter should also be placed in proper polarity, that is + to +, and − to − . This is shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3. Setup for Measuring Voltage [3]

 To measure the current flowing through the circuit, an ammeter is used. This is an
instrument that measures the current flow in the unit of amperes. Unlike the voltmeter, an
ammeter is placed by breaking open the circuit and then placing it in series or in line with the
circuit. It is also important that the current enters the ammeter through its positive terminal as
shown below.

Figure 4a. Setup for Figure 4b. Setup for

Ammeter before the device [3] Ammeter after the device [3]

2. Methodology
[materials > resistors in series > resistors in parallel > resistors in series and parallel
combination]

2.1 Materials and Equipment

For this experiment, the materials and equipment used were as follows: three Decade
Resistance Boxes, 3V-Battery Module, 3V-Voltmeter, 500mA-Ammeter, Volt-Ohm
Milliammeter (VOM), and a set of wire connectors.

2.2 Resistors in Series

We set up the circuit as shown in Figure 1, with the resistance values as follows,
R₁ = 10Ω, R₂ = 20Ω, R₃ = 30Ω . After setting up the circuit, we measured the current
flowing through each resistor by setting up the ammeter before each resistor. To measure the
total current, we set up the ammeter in between R₃ and the negative terminal of the battery.
Using these values, we calculated for the unknown value of voltage.

2.3 Resistors in Parallel

We set up the circuit as shown in Figure 2, with the resistance values as follows,
R₁ = 15Ω, R₂ = 30Ω, R₃ = 40Ω We then measured each voltage in each resistor using the
voltmeter at points V ₁, V ₂, and V ₃ . To measure the current flowing through each resistor, we
set up the ammeter at points​ a, i, e​, and ​g.​ For the total current, we placed the ammeter at point ​h.

2.4 Resistors in Series and Parallel Combination

 We set up the circuit as shown in Figure 5,

Figure 5. Setup for Series and Parallel Circuits [3]

After setting the circuit up, we set the resistors as follows, R₁ = 10Ω, R₂ = 20Ω, R₃ = 30Ω .
We then measured each voltage in each resistor with a voltmeter at points V ₁, V ₂, and V ₃ ,
and for the total voltage, at the positive and negative terminal of the battery. To measure the
currents running through each resistor, we set up the ammeter at points ​a, c, e,​ and ​g​, and for the
total current, at point ​h.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Resistors in Series
A. Measurements
Table 1a.
Decade Box Resistance (Ω) Measured Voltage (volts) Measured Current
(amperes)

R1 = 10 V1 = 0.4 I1 = 0.039

R2 = 20 V2 = 0.7 I2 = 0.038

R3 = 30 V3 = 1.1 I3 = 0.039

Measured VT = 2.5 Measured IT = 0.039

B. Calculations
1. Is RT = R1 + R2 + R3?
Table 1b.
RT = VT/IT (Ω) RT = R1 + R2 + R3 (Ω) % difference

64.10 60 6.61%

2. Is VT = V1 + V2 + V3?
Table 1c.
Measured VT (volts) VT = V1 + V2 + V3 % difference
 (volts)

2.5 2.2 12.77%

3. Is IT = I1 = I2 = I3?
Table 1d.
Measured Total Current Measured Individual % differences
(amperes) Currents

0.039 I1 = 0.039 0%

I2 = 0.038 2.59%

I3 = 0.039 0%

3.2 Resistors in Parallel

A. Measurements
Table 2a.
Decade Box Resistance (Ω) Measured Voltage (volts) Measured Current
(amperes)

R1 = 15 V1 = 0.5 I1 = 0.01

R2 = 30 V2 = 0.5 I2 = 0.013

R3 = 40 V3 = 0.5 I3 = 0.025

Measured VT = 0.6 Measured IT = 0.04

B. Calculations
1
1. Is RT = 1 ?
R1 + R2 + R3
Table 2b.
1
RT = VT/IT (Ω) RT = 1 (Ω) % difference
R1 + R2 + R3

15 8 60.87%

2. Is IT = I1 + I2 + I3?
Table 2c.
Measured IT (amperes) IT = I1 + I2 + I3 % difference
(amperes)

0.04 0.045 20%

 3. Is VT = V1 = V2 = V3?
Table 2d.
Measured Total Voltage Measured Individual % differences
(volts) Voltage (volts)

0.6 V1 = 0.5 18.18%

V2 = 0.5 18.18%

V3 = 0.5 18.18%

3.3 Resistors in Series and Parallel Combination

A. Measurements
Table 3a.
Decade Box Resistance (Ω) Measured Voltage (volts) Measured Current
(amperes)

R1 = 10 V1 = 0.6 I1 = 0.028

R2 = 20 V2 = 0.7 I2 = 0.03

R3 = 30 V3 = 0.6 I3 = 0.035

Measured VT = 0.9 Measured IT = 0.05

B. Calculations
R2R3
1. Is RT = R1 + R2 + R3 ?

Table 3b.
R2R3
RT = VT/IT (Ω) RT = R1 + R2 + R3
(Ω) % difference

18 22 20%
2. Is VT = V1 + V2 = V1 + V3?
Table 3c.
Measured VT (volts) VT = V1 + V2 = V1 + % difference
V3 (volts)

0.9 V1 + V2 = 1.3 44.44%

 V1 + V3 = 1.2 33.33%

3. Is IT = I1 = I2 + I3?
Table 3d.
Measured Total Current Measured Individual % differences
(amperes) Currents

0.05 I1 = 0.028 44%

I2 + I3 = 0.065 30%

4. Conclusion
Based on the results, the experiment supports the theory of Ohm’s Law due to the low
percent differences between the measured and calculated values. However, in Table 2b, there
was a percent difference of 60% which may be due to either human error or electrical noise. In
order to reduce such errors in future experiments, it is important to use higher precision resistors
and measuring devices as well as be precise when measuring voltages and currents.

5. Acknowledgements
Thank you to the DLSU Physics department as well as our instructor, Sir Kaw, for
helping and guiding in the experiment.

6. References

[1] (n.d.) Ohm’s Law - How Voltage, Current, and Resistance Relate. [Online]. Available:
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-2/voltage-current-resistanc
e-relate/
[2] (n.d.) What are “Series” and “Parallel” Circuits? [Online]. Available:
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-5/what-are-series-and-para
llel-circuits/
[3] Resistors in Series and Parallel. [Online]. Available:
https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/cos/physics/resistors-in-series-and-paral
lel-lbyphye.pdf