Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

National University of Sciences and Technology

(NUST)

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)

Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Submitted By: Muhammad Amaan Raza

Registration No: 465416

Submitted To: Ms. Sania Shaheen

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Assessment Rubrics for EE-103 Electrical Engineering Lab

Excellent (9-10) Good (7-8) Fair (4-6) Poor (1-3)
Introduction Complete and Nearly complete, Some introductory Very little
and Theory well written; missing some minor information, but still background
provides all points missing some major information
necessary points provided, or
background information is
principles for the incorrect
experiment
Experimental Well-written in Written in paragraph Written in paragraph Missing several
Procedure paragraph format, format, important format, still missing important
all experimental experimental some important experimental
details are covered details are covered, experimental details details or not
some minor details written in
missing paragraph format
Results: data, All figures, All figures, graphs, Most figures, graphs, Figures, graphs,
figures, graphs, tables are tables are correctly tables tables contain
graphs, correctly drawn, drawn, but OK, some still errors or are poorly
tables, etc. are numbered and some have minor missing some constructed, have
contain problems or could important or required missing
titles/captions. still be improved features titles, captions or
numbers, units
missing or
incorrect, etc.
Discussion All-important Almost all the results Some of the results Very incomplete or
trends and data have been correctly have been correctly incorrect
comparisons have interpreted interpreted and interpretation of
been interpreted and discussed, only discussed; partial but trends and
correctly and minor improvements Incomplete comparison of data
discussed, good are needed. understanding of indicating a lack of
Understanding of results is still evident. understanding of
results is results.
conveyed.
Conclusion All-important All-important Conclusions regarding Conclusions
conclusions have conclusions have major points are missing or missing
been clearly been drawn, could be drawn, but many the important
made, student better stated are misstated, points
shows good indicating a lack of
understanding understanding
Report All sections in All sections in order, Sections in order, Sections out of
Formatting, order, well formatting generally contains the minimum order, too much
structure and formatted, very well, allowable handwritten copy,
referencing readable. But could still be Amount of sloppy formatting.
References improved. handwritten copy, No referencing at
provided References provided, formatting is rough all.
appropriately but not entirely but readable.
Improper
References

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Contents

Introduction: ....................................................................................................... 4

Objectives: ......................................................................................................... 4

Tools and Equipment: ........................................................................................ 4

Related Theory: .................................................................................................. 5

Lab Task: ........................................................................................................... 6

Procedure: .......................................................................................................... 6

Result: ................................................................................................................ 9

Conclusion: ...................................................................................................... 10

Reference: ........................................................................................................ 10

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Introduction:

In electrical engineering, understanding the behavior of series and parallel circuits is

fundamental. These circuits demonstrate different properties when resistors are connected in
various configurations. In this lab, two circuits were designed: one with three resistors and
another with five resistors. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the theoretical and
experimentally determined voltage drops across each resistor and calculate the deviation
(percentage error)

Objectives:

 To construct and analyze series and parallel circuits.

 To determine the theoretical equivalent voltage and experimentally measure the
voltage drops across each resistor.
 To calculate the deviation between the theoretical and experimental voltage values
by determining the percentage error.

Tools and Equipment:

 Multimeter

 DC Power Supply

 Resistors

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

 Breadboard

 Connecting Wires

Related Theory:
Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s law defines the relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) in a
circuit:
V=IR
This fundamental principle helps calculate the expected voltage drop across resistors in both
series and parallel circuits.

Series Circuit:
In a series circuit, the current is the same through each component, while the voltage divides
across the resistors according to their resistance values. The total resistance is the sum of the
individual resistances:
𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝐑 𝟏` +𝐑 𝟐 +⋯+𝐑 𝐧

Figure 1: Series Circuit

The voltage drop across each resistor can be calculated using:

𝐕𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 = I×𝐑 𝐞𝐪

Parallel Circuit:

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each resistor is the same, while the current divides
based on the resistance of each branch. The total resistance is found using the reciprocal
formula:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +⋯+
𝐑 𝐞𝐪 𝐑 𝟏 𝐑 𝟐 𝐑𝐧

Lab Task: Series and Parallel Circuit

Figure 2: Circuit 1 Figure 3: Circuit 2

Procedure:
 As in the “figure 2” the circuit 1 was set up using resistors R₁, R₂, R₃ on the breadboard
 A voltage source was applied, and the current through the circuit was measured.
 The voltage drop across nodes (a&b, b&c, c&d) was recorded using a multimeter.
 As in the “figure 3 Circuit 2” was setup on the breadboard using five resistors (R₁, R₂,
R₃, R₄, R₅
 The same procedure of measuring current and voltage drop across each resistor was
followed.
 Using the measured current, the voltage drop across each resistor was calculated
experimentally and compared with theoretical values.
 The percentage deviation between the theoretical and experimental values was
calculated

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

For Circuit 01:

|𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥−𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥|
Percentage Error = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥

Table 1 for Circuit 1

R (kΩ) 𝐈𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐦𝐀) 𝐄𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 (𝐕) 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩

𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟔𝟔𝟓 1.76 10 a&b 7.73

𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟓 1.058 10 b&c 0.6658

𝐑 𝟑 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟗 0.72 10 c&d 1.673

𝐑 𝟒 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟐 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟖 10 ∑ 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟗𝟏

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= +
𝐑 𝐞𝐪 𝟏 𝐑𝟐 𝐑𝟑 + 𝐑𝟒

𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝐑 𝐞𝐪 𝟏 + 𝐑 𝟑 + 𝐑 𝟒

𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝟕. 𝟐𝟓𝟏𝟕

𝐕th = Ith 𝐑 𝐞𝐪

𝐕𝐭𝐡 = 𝟗.8623 V
|𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥−𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥|
Percentage Error = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥

Percentage Error = 2.09

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

For Circuit 02:

Table 2 for Circuit 2

R (kΩ) 𝐈𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐦𝐀) 𝐄𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 (𝐕) 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩

𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟔𝟔𝟓 1.78 10 a&b 4.74

𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟐 1.023 10 b&c 0.55

𝐑 𝟑 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 1.03 10 c&d 4.78

𝐑 𝟒 = 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟏𝟖 10 ∑ 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎. 𝟎𝟕

𝐑 𝟓 = 5.46 0.846 10

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +
𝐑 𝐞𝐪 𝟏 𝐑𝟐 𝐑𝟑 𝐑𝟒

𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝐑 𝐞𝐪 𝟏 + 𝐑 𝟏 + 𝐑 𝟓

𝐑 𝐞𝐪 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓𝟗𝟏

𝐕th = Ith 𝐑 𝐞𝐪

Ith = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟒𝟔
𝐕𝐭𝐡 = 𝟗.8 V
|𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥−𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥|
Percentage Error = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥

Percentage Error = 2.755

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Result:

Table 3 for Circuit 1

R (kΩ) 𝐈𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐦𝐀) 𝐄𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 (𝐕) 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩

𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟔𝟔𝟓 1.76 10 a&b 7.73

𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟓 1.058 10 b&c 0.6658

𝐑 𝟑 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟗 0.72 10 c&d 1.673

𝐑 𝟒 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟐 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟖 10 ∑ 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟗𝟏

Table 4 for Circuit 2

R (kΩ) 𝐈𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐦𝐀) 𝐄𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 (𝐕) 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩

𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟔𝟔𝟓 1.78 10 a&b 4.74

𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟐 1.023 10 b&c 0.55

𝐑 𝟑 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 1.03 10 c&d 4.78

𝐑 𝟒 = 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟏𝟖 10 ∑ 𝐕𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎. 𝟎𝟕

𝐑 𝟓 = 5.46 0.846 10

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 Lab 05: Series and Parallel Circuit

Conclusion:
In this experiment, the behavior of resistors in series and parallel configurations was explored.
The results showed that the theoretical and experimental values were generally in agreement,
with minor deviations. These deviations could be attributed to instrumental errors or variations
in resistor values. The lab successfully demonstrated key principles of Ohm’s law and circuit
analysis.

Reference:
[1] IEEE Standard 141™-1993, "IEEE Recommended Practice for Electric Power
Distribution for Industrial Plants (IEEE Red Book)," The Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers, Inc., 1994.
[2] R. Dorf and J. Svoboda, Introduction to Electric Circuits, 9th ed., Wiley, 2013.
[3] A. Hambley, Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications, 7th ed., Pearson,

2017.

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