ST.

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Physics 104

Series & Parallel Circuits

Spring 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to observe the behavior of current & voltage for two resistors connected in
series and in parallel, and to measure the equivalent resistance of these pairings. You will also observe the effect of a
short circuit and an open circuit on a pair of light bulbs.

Recall that voltage is measured across a circuit element, and current is measured through the element. When
assembling circuits, first connect all the circuit elements, then the ammeter, and then connect the voltmeter last.
This will ensure that the circuit is connected properly for your measurements. Always record meter settings and
calculate % difference when comparing measurements. Remember to pull on the end connectors, not the wires.

Experiment

1. RESISTORS IN SERIES: The goal in this section is to determine how current, voltage and resistance behave for
resistors in series

a. Predictions:
i. What is the relationship between the voltages across resistors in a series circuit?
ii. What is the relationship between the currents through resistors in a series circuit?

b. Measuring Resistance:
i. Set the voltmeter so that it becomes an ohmmeter, allowing you to measure
resistance directly. Choose a scale setting to read with the greatest precision
Figure 1: Direct
for your resistors. measurement of
ii. Measure the resistance of each resistor, R1 and R2, without connecting them to resistance
a circuit (Figure 1).
iii. Use a short wire to connect the two resistors together in series (don’t connect the resistors to any
voltage source or other meters just yet). Use the ohmmeter to measure the equivalent resistance,
Req, for the pair of resistors.
iv. Calculate R1 + R2, the sum of the individual measurements, and then calculate the % difference
between this sum and Req. When finished, switch your ohmmeter back to a voltmeter.

c. Measuring Voltage: A
i. Circuit set up: Connect an ammeter and two resistors in
series as shown in Figure 2. Draw this circuit diagram in R1
your journal. V
ii. Choose an ammeter setting so that current is displayed to R2
one-hundredth of a milliampere, and then set the voltage
on the power supply until the current reads 1.00 mA on the
ammeter. Figure 2: Resistors in Series

iii. Choose a voltmeter setting so that voltage is displayed to one-hundredth of a volt and measure the
voltage at these three locations. Show the position of the voltmeter in you circuit diagram for each
measurement:
a) Across the pair of resistors, V (as shown in Figure 2)
b) Across each resistor, V1 and V2.
c) Across the power supply, Vp.

SLU Physics Series & Parallel Circuits Department of Physics

Revised: 1/9/2023 1 of 4 Canton, NY 13617
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Physics 104

iv. What is the algebraic relationship between the voltages you just measured in (a) and (b)? Use this
relationship and your measured values to find an appropriate value to compare to your measured
value of V.
d. Measuring Current:
i. Set up: Remove the voltmeter from the circuit. Check that the current is still set to 1.00 mA.
ii. Turn off the DC power supply by turning off the switch (don’t turn down the voltage), and move
the ammeter between the two resistors. Turn on the power supply, and record the current.
iii. Repeat once again, this time moving the ammeter between the negative (–) terminal and the pair of
resistors.
iv. Draw a circuit diagram that shows the position of the ammeter as it was moved around the circuit.
v. What algebraic relationship were you expecting between these measured currents? Use this
relationship and your measured values to find an appropriate value to compare to your measured
value of I.

2. RESISTORS IN PARALLEL: The goal in this section is to determine how current, voltage and resistance behave for
resistors in parallel

a. Predictions:
i. What is the relationship between the voltages across resistors in a parallel circuit?
ii. What is the relationship between the currents through resistors in a parallel circuit?
A
b. Measuring Voltage:
A1 A2
i. Circuit set up: Turn the voltage knob on the power supply down
to zero and turn it off. Connect the two resistors in parallel, and
then place the ammeter in position A (Figure 3). Turn on the R1 R2
power supply, and adjust the voltage knob until the total current,
I through the circuit is 10.00 mA.
Figure 3: Resistors in parallel
ii. Measure the voltage at the following positions, without changing
the DC power supply setting. Show the position of the voltmeter in you circuit diagram for each
measurement:
a) Across resistor 1, V1
b) Across resistor 2, V2
c) Across the power supply, V
iii. What algebraic relationship were you expecting between the three voltages just measured? Use
this relationship and your measured values to find an appropriate value to compare to your
measured value of V.
c. Measuring Current:
i. Circuit set up: Remove the voltmeter from the circuit, and set it aside. Turn off the power supply
(again without turning down the voltage), and move the ammeter to position A2. Turn the DC
power supply back on.
ii. Measure I2, the current through resistor 2.
iii. Again turn off the DC power supply without turning down the voltage, and move the ammeter to
position A1. Check with your instructor that the meter is connected correctly, and then turn on the
DC power supply.
iv. Measure I1, the current through resistor 1.
v. What is the algebraic relationship between I and the currents just measured? Use this relationship
and your measured values to find an appropriate value to compare to your measured value of I.

SLU Physics Series & Parallel Circuits Department of Physics

Revised: 1/9/2023 2 of 4 Canton, NY 13617
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Physics 104

d. Measuring Resistance:
i. Set up: Turn off the power supply. Disconnect the two resistors from the rest of the circuit, but
leave the resistor pair connected to each other.
ii. Use the ohmmeter to measure the equivalent resistance, Req, for the pair of resistors. Check with
your instructor that you are measuring this correctly and draw a diagram showing this
measurement.
iii. Calculate the equivalent resistance of the parallel resistors using the equation below (R1 and R2 are
the measured resistances from Experiment 1b, part ii). Compare the calculated equivalent
resistance to Req just measured.
1 1 1
 
Req R1 R2

3. OPEN CIRCUITS: You will now qualitatively examine the effect of an open circuit (a break in the current path) on
a pair of light bulbs. Represent the illumination state of bulbs in your circuit diagram as shown in Figure 4.
(a) BULB ON
a. Series:
i. Circuit set up: NO METERS ARE NECESSARY FOR THIS CIRCUIT, so set the
meters aside, and turn them off. You have two small DC bulbs of the same
wattage. Connect these two bulbs in series. Draw a circuit diagram, and then
increase the voltage on the power supply until the built-in meter reads 7.0 V.
ii. Unscrew one of the bulbs and remove it. What happens? Screw this bulb (b) BULB REMOVED
back in, then unscrew the other. Record your observations.
iii. Use your circuit diagram to briefly explain your observations. Represent the (c) BULB OFF
bulb that was unscrewed by omitting it from the diagram and leaving a gap
in its place (Figure 4b).
Figure 4: Illumination
b. Parallel: state of bulbs

i. Circuit set up: Turn off the DC power supply using the power button, leaving the voltage set to 7.0
V. Connect the two bulbs in parallel, draw a circuit diagram, and turn on the DC power supply.
ii. Unscrew one of the bulbs and remove it. What happens? Screw this bulb back in, then unscrew the
other. Record and briefly explain your observations, describing the appearance of the bulbs at each
step.
iii. Compare the appearance of the bulbs connected in parallel to their series connection. Why do you
think the bulbs are brighter during one of these connections?

Thought Question: Based upon your observations, do you think the light bulbs in your house are wired in
parallel or series?

SLU Physics Series & Parallel Circuits Department of Physics

Revised: 1/9/2023 3 of 4 Canton, NY 13617
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Physics 104

4. SHORT CIRCUITS: You will now qualitatively examine the effect of a short (a current path with zero resistance) on
a pair of bulbs. NO METERS ARE NECESSARY FOR THIS CIRCUIT
IMPORTANT NOTE: HAVE YOUR INSTRUCTOR CHECK YOUR CIRCUIT BEFORE TURNING ON THE DC POWER SUPPLY!
a. Bulbs in Series:
i. Circuit set up: Connect the two light bulbs, A and B in series
(Figure 5). Your instructor will show you how to connect a
knife switch across one bulb. Draw a diagram of this circuit.
ii. Make sure the switch is open, then turn on the DC power supply
(set to 7.0 V) and observe the results. Figure 5: Knife switch & series bulbs

iii. Close the switch (Figure 6) and record your observations. Draw
arrows on your circuit diagram to show the path that current will follow when
the switch is closed.
iv. You should notice that something happens to each bulb when the Figure 6: Closed knife switch
switch is closed. Briefly describe and explain what you observe.

b. Bulbs in Parallel: IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS EXPERIMENT CANNOT BE PERFORMED WHEN THE BULBS ARE CONNECTED IN
PARALLEL! UNPLUG THE DC POWER SUPPLY FROM THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET BEFORE PROCEEDING!

i. Unplug the DC power supply's power cord before connecting this circuit. Connect the two
bulbs in parallel, and include a knife switch to short out one of the bulbs.
ii. Draw a circuit diagram with a closed switch. Also show the path that current will follow when the
switch is closed.
iii. Briefly explain why you can't turn the DC power supply on.

Discussion:

 Were your predictions from Experiment 1a and 2a correct? Summarize what you observed about the
voltages and currents of resistors in series. Likewise, what did you observe about voltages and currents of
resistors in parallel?
 Also summarize what you observed about the equivalent resistance of a pair of resistors connected in series
and in parallel.
 Briefly summarize your observations for connecting bulbs in parallel and series. Explain why the bulbs are
brighter when connected one way versus the other.

SLU Physics Series & Parallel Circuits Department of Physics

Revised: 1/9/2023 4 of 4 Canton, NY 13617