Physics for Engineers II, PHYS 1422 Lab

Lab 05: Direct-Current Circuits (Resistors in Series and Parallel)

Student Name: Student ID:

Objective
In this lab we will study the equivalent resistances of two fundamental connections of resistors in series and
in parallel and to practice more complicated construction of circuits.

Theoretical Background
A. Series Combination
When two or more resistors are connected together as are the incandescent lightbulbs in Figure 1a, they are
said to be in a series combination. Figure 1b is the circuit diagram for the lightbulbs, shown as resistors, and
the battery. What if you wanted to replace the series combination with a single resistor that would draw the
same current from the battery? What would be its value?

Figure 1: Two lightbulbs with resistances R1 and R2 connected in series. All three diagrams are equivalent.

According to the theory, the same amount of charge passes through both resistors in a given time interval and
the currents are the same in both resistors:

(1)

and the potential difference applied across the series combination of resistors divides between the resistors

(2)

The potential difference across the battery is also applied to the equivalent resistance 𝑅eq in Figure 1c:
 (3)

where the equivalent resistance has the same effect on the circuit as the series combination because it results
in the same current I in the battery. Combining these equations for ∆𝑉 gives

(4)

B. Parallel Combination

Now consider two resistors in a parallel combination as shown in Figure 2. As with the series combination,
what is the value of the single resistor that could replace the combination and draw the same current from
the battery? Notice that both resistors are connected directly across the terminals of the battery. Therefore,
the potential differences across the resistors are the same:

(5)

where ∆𝑉 is the terminal voltage of the battery.

Figure 2: Two lightbulbs with resistances R1 and R2 connected in Parallel. All three diagrams are equivalent.

When charges reach point a in Figure 2b, they split into two parts, with some going toward R1 and the rest
going toward R2. This split results in less current in each individual resistor than the current leaving the
battery. Because electric charge is conserved, the current I that enters point a must equal the total current
leaving that point:
 (6)

where I1 is the current in R1 and I2 is the current in R2.

The current in the equivalent resistance 𝑅eq in Figure 2c is

(7)

where the equivalent resistance has the same effect on the circuit as the two resistors in parallel; that is, the
equivalent resistance draws the same current I from the battery. Combining these equations for I, we see that
the equivalent resistance of two resistors in parallel is given by

(8)

This expression shows that the inverse of the equivalent resistance of two or more resistors in a parallel
combination is equal to the sum of the inverses of the individual resistances. Furthermore, the equivalent
resistance is always less than the smallest resistance in the group.

Procedure
Experiment Procedure (Web Simulation)
A. Series Combination
1. In this experiment we will do the simulation available at the link (Lab)
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab/latest/circuit-construction-kit-dc-
virtual-lab_en.html
2. Click the above to lunch the simulation page that looks like the below image
 Figure 3: A screenshot of the web simulation that is used for this experiment.

3. Built a circuit of two resistors; R1 = 10 Ω and R2 = 5 Ω in series and then connect them to a voltage
source (battery) of 10 Volts. Your circuit should look like the one shown in figure 3. Note that this
circuit is similar to the circuit illustrated in figure 2b.

4. Measure the total current I (measured by the Ammeter), the voltage drops across each resistor
(measured by the Voltmeter) and record all values in table 1.

5. Repeat step 4 for different value of the voltage source by increment of 5 volts as per the table 1.

Req = (V/I) (Ω) Req = R1+R2 (Ω)

V (V) V1 (V) V2 (V) I (A)
Experimental Theoretical
(Battery) (across R1) (across R2) Total Current Value according to Value according
Eq. 3 to Eq. 4

10 6.67 3.33 0.67 14.93 15

15 10.0 5.0 1.0 15.0 15.0

20 13.33 6.67 1.33 15.03 15.0

25

30

35

40

45
 50

55

60

Table 1

B. Parallel Combination

1. Built a circuit of two resistors; R1 = 10 Ω and R2 = 5 Ω in parallel and then connect them to a voltage
source (battery) of 10 Volts. Your circuit should look like the one shown in figure 3. Note that this
circuit is similar to the circuit illustrated in figure 2b.

2. Measure the current I1 and I2 that is passing through R1 and R2 respectively (measured by the
Ammeter), the voltage drops across each resistor (measured by the Voltmeter) and record all values in
table 2.

3. Repeat step 2 for different value of the voltage source by increment of 5 volts as per the table 2.

Figure 4: A screenshot of the web simulation that is used for this experiment.

Req = (V/I) (Ω) Req = (1/R1+1/R2 )-

V (V) I1 (A) I2 (A) I (A) = I1 + I2 1 (Ω)

Experimental Theoretical
(Battery) (across R1) (across R2) Total Current Value according to Value according
Eq. 7 to Eq. 8
 10 1 2 3 3.33 3.33

15 1.5 3.0 14.5 3.33 3.33

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

Results and Conclusion.