Methodology

The equipment needed are: 5 resistors, ammeter, voltmeter, circuit board, wires/connectors and
power supple. The exercise is divided into three parts. Part A is for resistors in series connection. The three
resistors (R1, R2, R3) are plugged into the circuit board and their respective resistances (R) is measured.
The resistors are linked in series and the resistance of the connection is obtained. The power supply is then
connected to the system and the individual and total current (I) is measured to calculate for the expected
value of the voltage (V) across the resistors and the total voltage. Actual individual and total voltage was
also measured using the voltmeter. The second part (Part B) is the parallel connection. The method is the
same as in the first part but the voltages are measured first instead of I. The known values of R and V were
used to compute for the expected values of I and the actual values are obtained using the ammeter. Part C is
the series-parallel connection. R1 and R2 are connected in parallel and R3 is connected in series with the
two. The method is the same as in Part A. After recording all the measurements, the circuit was turned off
and the multimeter was disconnected

Results and Discussion

Table 4.1 Resistors in series
R
I(ave) V(ave)
R1 10.15 0.053 0.55
R2 20.26 0.053 1.112
R3 30.76 0.053 1.697
Req 60.6 0.053 3.3697

V(expected)
0.53795
1.07378
1.63028
3.2118

% error
2.23%
3.56%
0.04%
0.05%

In this part where in the resistors have been connected in series, we have
determined that the current that have passed through each resistor have been constant
through out the circuit.
Table 4.2 Resistors in Parallel
R
V(ave) I(ave)
R1 12.48 3.427 0.2746
R2 20.26 3.427 0.1692
R3 30.76 3.427 0.1114
Req 6.42 3.427 0.5338

I(expected)
0.2745
0.1692
0.1114
0.5338

% error
5.43%
8.22%
8.44%
5.21%

Table 4.3 Resistors in Series-Parallel combination

R
V(ave) I(ave) I(expected) % error
R1 12.48 0.668 0.076 0.0535
42.06%
R2 20.26 0.668 0.076 0.3297
6.06%
R3 30.76 2.675 0.085 0.08696
2.30%
Req 38.33 3.345 0.106 0.08726
21.42%