Name: Michelle Galedo
Class: ESN104(A) 8:00-12:00 PM
Date: 7/05/2024
Fill In The Blanks- Lab Report (DC Circuits)
Question: (What question is this lab trying to answer?)
Do Kirchhoff's loop rule and Kirchhoff's junction rule hold true in an electrical circuit?
Hypothesis: (Predict: What is your answer to the question and why do you think that is
the answer? If…Then…)
Based on the fundamental principles of electrical circuits, we hypothesize that Kirchhoff's
Current Law (KCL) and Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) will be upheld in our constructed
circuits. This stems from the laws of conservation of charge and energy. The total current
entering a junction must equal the total current leaving (KCL) because charge cannot be
created or destroyed. Similarly, the sum of voltage drops across a closed loop must be zero
(KVL) as energy is conserved. While slight deviations due to measurement errors or instrument
resistance are anticipated, we expect the collected data to closely align with these laws,
verifying their applicability in the circuits we build.
Materials: (List everything you need to complete the experiment. Include quantities!)
PASCO Basic Modular Circuits Kit 1
PASCO Wireless Current Module 1
PASCO Wireless Voltage Sensor 1
Procedure: (A detailed numbered list of steps describing to someone how to complete
the experiment.)
Part 1 – Resistors in Series
1. Assemble the circuit as shown in Figure 1, using the 33-Ω and 100-Ω resistors.
2. Connect the wireless voltage sensor leads across the battery in your circuit (red to
positive; black to negative).
3. Make sure the current module is connected with the + side connected to the resistors
and to the batteries. See Figure 1.
4. Connect both sensors to the data collection system, and then create two digits displays: one
showing voltage, and the second showing current.
5. Begin recording data, and then close the switch allowing charge to flow for several seconds.
6. Record the voltage across the battery and the current through the circuit below in Table 1.
7. Remove the voltage sensor leads from the battery and connect them across the 33-Ω resistor,
being mindful of the polarity of the circuit (red to positive; black to negative).
8. Record the voltage across the 33-Ω resistor in Table 1.
9. Repeat the same data collection steps for the 100-Ω resistor. Record the voltage in Table 1.
Open the switch when finished
Part 2 – Resistors in Parallel
10. Assemble the circuit as shown, using the 33-Ω and 100-Ω resistors. Connect the voltage
sensor leads across both resistors. See Figure 2.
11. Make sure the current module is connected with its + side connected on the resistor
side and - on the battery side. See Figure 2.
12. Close the switch, wait a few seconds, and then record the voltage and current (Iout)
in Table 2. Open the switch.
13. Remove the current module and replace it with a corner module and clips. Remove
the straight wire module next to the 33-Ω resistor and connect the wireless current
module in its place. See Figure 2.
14. Close the switch, and then record the current through the 33-Ω resistor in Table 2.
Open the switch.
15. Repeat the same data collection steps for the 100-Ω resistor. Record the current in
Table 2.
16. Remove the wireless current module and replace the straight wire module and clips.
Remove the SPST switch module next to the negative terminal of the battery and connect
the wireless current module in its place.
17. Close the switch and record the current (Iin) in Table 2.
Data: (Make a table of the observations and data you collected during the experiment.
If needed you may also need to make a graph of the data.)
Table 1: Circuit with two resistors in series
Parameter Measured Value
Voltage across battery 2.874V
Voltage across 33 Ω 0.698V
Voltage across 100 Ω 2.136V
Current through entire circuit 5.708A
2
Table 2: Circuit with two resistors in parallel
Parameter Measured Value
Voltage across entire circuit -0.381V
Current through entire circuit (Iout) -0.109A
Current through entire circuit (Iin) -0.108A
Current through 33 Ω -0.082A
Current through 100 Ω -0.082A
Conclusion: (Refer to your hypothesis or descriptive templates and examples)
The laboratory experiment on DC circuits aimed to investigate the fundamental
principles governing electrical circuits, focusing on the conservation of charge and
energy, the voltage drops across circuit components, and the balance of currents at
circuit junctions. Analysis of data collected from resistors in series and parallel
configurations showed that while the total charge and energy in the circuit are
conserved, the sum of voltage drops across components does not equal zero, consistent
with Kirchhoff's laws. Additionally, the equality of currents entering and leaving
junctions supported the conservation of charge within the circuit. Despite significant
percent errors between theoretical and measured values, the experiment provided
valuable insights into the application of Kirchhoff's rules and Ohm's Law. It
emphasized the importance of accurate data collection and analysis for reliable results
in circuit experiments.
