Series and Parallel Resistors

Joshua Main-Smith

Partner: Edoardo Franco Vianelli

Lab Section 18

TA: Thomas Bersano

We explored the properties of series resistors and parallel resistors by experimenting with three

different circuit diagrams. The first one was a series resistor circuit, the second a parallel resistor

circuit, and the third a combination of series and parallel resistors. We found that the current

between series resistors remained constant, and the voltage between parallel resistors remained

constant. Also, we found that there was more power dissipated as the number of parallel resistors

increased.
I. Introduction

The purpose of this lab was to understand the difference between resistors that are

connected in series and resistors that are connected in parallel. We understand this by

calculating the voltages and currents of the resistors, and using the principles

discussed below of adding resistors in series and parallel. Further, we were required

to connect the components of resistors, cables, power supply, ammeter and voltmeter

in a way that matched the circuit diagrams presented. We then predicted what the

current and voltage would be for each resistor by calculating said current and voltage

beforehand.

II. Experiment

The equipment contained within the experiment included a power supply, switch,

cables, resistors, an ammeter, and a digital multimeter (DMM). When taking samples

of the ampere and voltage for each resistor, we only took the reading once and waited

a few seconds before concluding what the reading was. We measured each resistor

systematically, in the clockwise direction for each circuit (unless otherwise noted).

The first circuit diagram is shown below. This circuit is in a series combination. The

way that this is determined is there is not junction in between any of the resistors.1
 Circuit 1

When calculating the total resistance in a series resistor combination, one uses the

equation shown in Eq. (1), where R1 can represent 10 Ω, R2 can represent 3 Ω, etc.1

(1)

The second circuit is shown below. This circuit is in a parallel combination. The way

one can determine this is to observe that there is a junction between each resistor. The

result being the voltage having no resistor to impede its path when travelling to each

resistor.1
 Circuit 2

To determine the total resistance of a parallel combination circuit is shown in Eq. (2).

Notice to determine the total resistance, the inverse of (1/R_total) must be found.1

(2)

Below is the third and last circuit of our experimentation. To reduce this circuit, we

began from the right and noticed that the 3 Ω and 12 Ω resistors were in series. After

combining these two resistors, we then took note that the 24 Ω, 30 Ω and (3 Ω + 12

Ω) resistors were in parallel. Then, what we had left was a circuit that contained a 10

Ω resistor and a 7.05 Ω resistor in series. We used equations (1) and (2) to determine

the series and parallel resistor values, respectively.1

Resistance is how much electrical current is impeded from flowing through a

conductor. The amount that electrical current is “blocked” from flowing

through a conductor. The equation for resistance is shown in the equation

V
below, in Eq. (3), where R is resistance (in ohms, Ω = ).2
A

∆V (3)
R=
I

The power dissipated by the lightbulb can be found using the equation below

(4), where P is power dissipated, in watts (W).2

P = I∆V (4)
III. Results and Discussion

The data that was collected for this lab is included in the Series and Parallel Data

Sheet, which can be seen at the end of this report. The sheet includes the calculations

for what we should expect the ampere, voltage, and power dissipation to be. The

sheet also includes what we measured, with the percent difference right beside it.

With this, we are able to calculate the power dissipated at each resistor.

Discussion/Conclusion. Observing the data, there are a few conclusions we can come

to. First, when measuring the voltage/current from each resistor (both parallel and

series), the measured value and the calculated value were fairly similar (a low percent

difference). The one exception being the 15 Ω resistor, which was slightly off from

the calculated value as compared to the others. The reason for this may be due to that

particular resistor being tightened differently than was intended.

An interesting observation is the total power (in watts) dissipated when comparing the

series and parallel resistor circuits was greater with the second circuit (the parallel

resistors) than with the first circuit (the series resistors). The third circuit, which had a

combination of series resistors and parallel resistors, was calculated to have a total

power dissipation that was more than circuit 1, but less than circuit 2. This leads me

to tentatively conclude that series resistors dissipate less power than parallel resistors.

We can also conclude that the equations used to determine the current and voltage

accurately reflect the measured values of current and voltage of the resistors.
IV. References
1
Series and Parallel Resistors, “Lab 5 (PHYS 202),” (25 May 2012) doi:

http://physwiki.physics.wsu.edu/mediawiki-1.19.16/index.php/Series_and_Parallel_Resistors

Randall D. Knight, “Current and Resistance,” Chapter 30 in Physics for Scientists and

Engineers – A Strategic Approach, Third Edition (Addison Wesley, San Francisco,

2013).
2
Randall D. Knight, “Fundamentals of Circuits,” Chapter 31 in Physics for Scientists

and Engineers – A Strategic Approach, Third Edition (Addison Wesley, San

Francisco, 2013).