Mapúa Institute of Technology

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

EXPERIMENT 2
Analysis of Resistive Network: Series-Parallel Circuits

Marasigan, Neil Darren P.

EE21L- B16

Date Performed: 9 May 2015

Date Submitted: 16 May 2015

Engr. Jose Ferlino P. Raymundo

Instructor
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS

V 1=14.19 V I 1=0.0665 A R1=V 1 / I 1

14.19 V
R 1=
0.0665 A
= 213.383 Ω
V 2=0.491V I 2=0.0665 A R2=V 2 /I 2

0.491 V
R 2=
0.0665 A
= 7.38 Ω
V 3=0.016V I 3=0.0605 A R3=V 3 /I 3

0.016 V
R 3=
0.0605 A
= 0.26 Ω
V 4 =0.026 V I 4=0.00635 A R4 =V 4 /I 4

0.026 V
R4 =
0.00635 A
= 4.09 Ω
V 5=0.012V I 5=0.00635 A R5=V 5 /I 5

0.012 V
R 5=
0.00635 A
= 1.89 Ω
V T =14.81V I T =0.206 A RT =V T /I T

14.81V
RT =
0.206 A
= 224.78 Ω
DISCUSSION
A direct current circuit is an electrical circuit that consists of
any combination of constant voltage sources,
constant current sources, and resistors. In this case, the circuit
voltages and currents are independent of time. A particular circuit
voltage or current does not depend on the past value of any
circuit voltage or current. This implies that the system of
equations that represent a DC circuit do not involve integrals or
derivatives with respect to time.
DC circuits operate by Ohm’s Law which states that
the current through a conductor between two points is directly
proportional to the potential difference across the two points.
Introducing the constant of proportionality, the resistance, and
one arrives at the usual mathematical equation that describes
this relationship:
V =IR
where I is the current through the conductor in units
of amperes, V is the potential difference measured across the
conductor in units of volts, and R is the resistance of the
conductor in units of ohms.
If there are more than one electrical devices present in a
circuit with an energy source, they can be connected in many
different ways with the simplest being the series and parallel
connections.
In a series connection, each device is connected in a manner
such that there is only one pathway by which charge can traverse
the external circuit. Each charge passing through the loop of the
external circuit will pass through each resistor in consecutive
fashion.
Here, the current is the same all through out and the sum of the
voltage drops across each resistor is equal to the voltage source.
Additionally, the total resistance in the circuit is equal to the sum
of the individual resistances in the resistors meaning as you
increase the number of resistors, its total resistance increases as
well.
In contrast with the series connection, the parallel
connection has its own separate branch such that the charge can
flow in more than one path.

The current through the circuit in a parallel connection is not

equal to the total current because some of the charge might go to
one path and the other to another path. But the sum of the
current through each resistor is equal to the total amount of
current in the circuit. In case of the voltage, the voltage drops
across each resistor is equal to the battery voltage.
The last case is the combination circuit which is a
combination of both series and parallel circuits. The circuit
diagram might be more complicated but it can be simplified by
knowing which resistors are in series and which are in parallel.
Understanding the characteristics of series and parallel circuits is
the key in simplifying resistors in a circuit.
CONCLUSION
In the experiment, we were instructed to make a series-
parallel connection based on the diagram given. By knowing the
characteristics of a series and parallel connection, we were able
to compute the resistance and compare it to the measured
resistance. By following Ohm’s Law, the computed data in the
experiment agreed with the measured data in the experiment.
A combination circuit is just both series and parallel circuit
combined together. This circuit, however, can be simplified by
knowing the basic principles involved in both series and parallel
connections. By applying this principles, the experiment was
made easier and the data was easily obtained.
Some of the voltmeters and ammeters were necessary
because if the circuit were to be simplified, it can be shown that
some of these instruments might not be necessary anymore since
the current flowing through this resistor is the same of that
resistor, for example.
A possible source of error for this experiment might be the
resistors. Some resistors might be damaged and it might
significantly change the results obtained giving erroneous
answers. Additionally, the type of resistor might also cause some
error because some resistors have low tolerance meaning there
might be a greater than 3% difference in its actual resistance
value.
I think one way to improve the experiment is to use the
computer software associated in the experiment. It might be good
to see how the simulations work and how would the data obtained
in the simulation compare to the data we obtained using the
circuit trainer kit.
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
1. What are the identifying characteristics of a series circuit?
A series circuit is a circuit in which each device is connected in a
manner such that there is only one pathway by which charge can traverse
the circuit. Each charge passes through each resistor in a consecutive
fashion. Since there is only one path for the charge to travel, this means that
the current is the same all through out. Additionally, the voltage across each
resistor in a series circuit are not the same since it experiences a voltage
drop once it passes a resistor but the sum of these voltage drops will be
equal to the given voltage source of the circuit.
2. What are the identifying characteristics of a parallel circuit?
A parallel circuit is a circuit that provides more than one path for
current to flow. Nonetheless, when taken as a whole, the total amount of
current in all the branches when added together is the same as the amount
of current at locations outside the branches. Furthermore, the voltage drop
across each resistor is equal to the voltage source of the circuit. This is
because current does not pass through each resistor, rather it passes
through one resistor in parallel thus the entire voltage drop across that
resistor must match the voltage source.
3. What changes occur in the total resistance of a circuit as additional
resistances are added (a) in series, (b) in parallel?
a) When additional resistances are added in a series circuit, its total
resistance increases as well since the total resistance is equal to the sum of
all the resistance in the circuit.
b) In the case of parallel circuits, the total resistance decreases when more
resistances are added. This is because the actual amount of current always
varies inversely with the amount of overall resistance, as stated in Ohm's
Law.
4. What are the different types of resistances and their purpose?
(Assuming the question is asking for types of resistors)
Carbon composite resistor is a type of resistor commonly used in electrical
circuits because it is very cheap but it has large tolerances compared to
other types of resistors due to its manufacturing process. Another type is the
film type resistor, which have a much closer tolerance of less than 1%. This
type of resistor achieve a much higher ohmic value compared to the other
types.
5. Why are lamps in a house lighting circuit not connected in series?
Because if one of the lamps fail, all the other lamps will also fail
because they are in series with one another. This is because there is only
one path for the current and if one lamp fails, then current won't be able to
flow to the other lamps.
6. A small lamp is designed to draw 300mA in a 6 V circuit. What is the
resistance of the lamp filament?
I = 300 mA = 0.3 A V=6V R =?
By Ohm’s Law:
R = V/I = 6 V / 0.3 A = 20 |
7. A battery with an internal resistance of 1.5| is connected in series with
resistors R1 = 3|, R2 = 3.5| if the potential difference across the 3| resistor is
9 V. What is the emf of the battery?
VR1 = 9 V R1 = 3| R2 = 3.5| RVS = 1.5|
IT = I1 = I2 = I3 = VR1/R1 = 9 V / 3| = 3A
RT = R1 + R2 + RVS = (3 + 3.5 + 1.5)| = 8 |
VT = ITRT = (3A) (8|) = 24 V
8. Determine the ideal voltage source needed by three resistors connected in
series R1 = 6|, R2 = 8| and R3 = 10| if a required current of 0.5A flows in the
circuit.
RT = 6 + 8 + 10 = 24| IT = 0.5A V =?
V = ITRT = (0.5A) (24|) = 12 V
9. Determine the total resistance of the circuit below.
( 40| ) (10| )
=8| (40 | resistor and 10 | resistor in parallel)
40| + 10|

4.5| + 1.5 | = 6 | (4.5 | and 1.5 | resistor in series)

4 | + 8 | = 12 | (4 | and 8 | resistor in series)

( 12| )( 6| )
=4| (6 | and 12 | resistor in parallel)
12| + 6|

25 | + 5 | = 30 | (25 | and 5 | resistor in series)

4|+5|=9| (4 | and 5 | resistor in series)

( 9| )( 18| )
=6| (9 | and 18 | resistor in parallel)
9| + 18|

14 | + 6 | = 20 | (14 | and 6 | resistor in series)

( 20| )( 30| )
= 12 | (20 | and 30 | resistor in parallel)
20| + 30|

RT = 1 | + 12 | + 2 | = 15 |
REFERENCES
 Parallel Circuits.” The Physics Classroom.
Retrieved from
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Less
on-4/Parallel-Circuits
 Ohm’s Law. Hyperphysics.
Georgia State University. Retrieved from
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmlaw.html
 Resistors and types of resistors. Circuits Today.
Retrieved from
http://www.circuitstoday.com/resistors-and-types-of-
resistors
 Types of Resistor. Electronics Tutorials.
Retrieved from
http://www.electronicstutorials.ws/resistor/res_1.html
 FINAL DATA SHEET
Experiment 2: Series – Parallel Circuits
Marasigan, Neil Darren P. 9 May 2015
EE21L / B16 Group No.
5
Table 2.1 Measured Values
Measur R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 RT
ed 217.3 | 7.7 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 227.3 |
Values
V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 VT
14.19 V 0.491 V 0.016 V 0.026 V 0.012 V 14.81 V
I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 IT
0.0665 A 0.0665 A 0.0605 A 0.0064 A 0.0064 A 0.206 A

Calculat R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 RT
ed 213.383 7.38 | 0.26 | 4.09 | 1.89 | 224.78 |
Values |