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Phys102 (8) Lab Report Week5

The report details an experiment investigating current and voltage in a parallel circuit with 1kΩ and 2.2kΩ resistors powered by a 12V DC source. Results showed discrepancies between theoretical and experimental values, particularly in voltage readings, attributed to measurement errors or non-ideal conditions. The experiment confirmed the principles of parallel circuits and highlighted the importance of accurate measurements in circuit analysis.

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8 views3 pages

Phys102 (8) Lab Report Week5

The report details an experiment investigating current and voltage in a parallel circuit with 1kΩ and 2.2kΩ resistors powered by a 12V DC source. Results showed discrepancies between theoretical and experimental values, particularly in voltage readings, attributed to measurement errors or non-ideal conditions. The experiment confirmed the principles of parallel circuits and highlighted the importance of accurate measurements in circuit analysis.

Uploaded by

ar.ashurian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Title: Gauss's Law Experiment Report

1. REPORT DATE: May 15, 2025


2. REPORT TYPE: Technical Report
3. DATES COVERED: May 2025
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE: Investigation of Current and Voltage in a Parallel Resistor Circuit
5a. AUTHOR(S): Arda Fuat Gurel
5b. STUDENT ID(S): 240208440

1. Executive Summary
This experiment investigates the behavior of current and voltage in a parallel DC circuit
consisting of two resistors: 1kΩ and 2.2kΩ. The circuit was powered by a 12V DC source.
The total current and individual branch voltages were measured using a multimeter.
Theoretical values were calculated using Ohm’s Law and the parallel resistance formula.
Results showed a noticeable discrepancy between theoretical and measured values,
particularly in voltage readings, which ideally should be equal across parallel branches.
This discrepancy is attributed to measurement errors or non-ideal experimental
conditions. Overall, the experiment provided practical insights into current division and
reinforced the importance of accurate measurements in circuit analysis.

2. Introduction
2.1 Background

In a parallel circuit, components are connected across the same two points, creating
multiple paths for current to flow. According to Ohm’s Law (V = IR) and the principles of
parallel circuits, the voltage across each branch remains the same, while the total current
is the sum of the branch currents. The equivalent resistance of parallel resistors is always
lower than the smallest individual resistance and is calculated using the formula:

This experiment aims to validate these principles by analyzing a simple parallel circuit
composed of a 1kΩ and a 2.2kΩ resistor connected to a 12V DC source.
2.2 Objectives
• To construct a parallel resistor circuit using 1kΩ and 2.2kΩ resistors powered by a
12V DC source.
• To measure the total current, individual branch voltages, and branch currents using
a multimeter.
• To compare theoretical and experimental values and analyze possible sources of
discrepancy.

2.3 Overall Approach


The experiment involved setting up a parallel circuit using two resistors (1kΩ and 2.2kΩ)
connected across a 12V DC power supply. A digital multimeter was used to measure the
total current drawn from the power supply, as well as the current and voltage across each
resistor branch. The theoretical values were calculated prior to the experiment using
Ohm’s Law and the parallel resistance formula. The experimental data were then
compared to the calculated values to evaluate the accuracy of measurements and identify
potential sources of error, such as connection issues or instrument limitations.

3. Experiment Results
The theoretical and experimental results obtained from the parallel resistor circuit are
summarized below:
Measurement Theoretical Value Experimental Value
Total Current (Itotal) 0.0158 A 0.017 A

Voltage across 1kΩ resistor (V₁) 12.0 V 11.4 V

Voltage across 2.2kΩ resistor


12.0 V 11.3 V
(V₂)

Current through 1kΩ resistor (I₁) 0.012 A 0.011 A

Current through 2.2kΩ resistor


0.00545 A 0.006 A
(I₂)
As shown in the table, the experimental measurements are generally close to the
theoretical values. The voltages across both resistors are slightly lower than expected,
which may be due to contact resistance, wire losses, or inaccuracies in the measurement
device. The total current measured (0.017 A) is slightly higher than the calculated value
(0.0158 A), and the branch currents are within a reasonable margin of error.

4. Conclusion
This experiment successfully demonstrated the principles of parallel resistor circuits. The
theoretical and experimental values for current and voltage were found to be in close
agreement, with minor discrepancies attributed to measurement errors or circuit
imperfections. The voltage across both resistors remained nearly equal, confirming the
expected behavior of parallel connections. Additionally, the total current measured
matched the sum of the branch currents, verifying the current division rule. Overall, the
experiment reinforced the practical application of Ohm’s Law and parallel circuit analysis.

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