CIRCUITS1 LABORATORY

L21

DC POWER

Group Members: Submitted to:

1. Alemania, Hazel Andreah V. Engr. Maria Angelica C. Gorospe
2. Balangue, Keneth A.
3. Espinar, Jan Lislie E.
4. Intoy, Paul Joseph P.
5. Lim, Charlemagne
6. Paralejas, Emmanuel L.

SCORE

JUNE 25, 2019

I. Objectives
 To familiarize and analyze what is dc power in a circuit.

 To exercise our knowledge on the different methods on how to solve using the
formula of dc power and,

 To appreciate the advantages of using dc power formula and compare it on the

other formulas.

II. Introduction
 Power is a measure of how much work can be performed in a given amount of
time. Work is generally defined in terms of the lifting of a weight against the pull
of gravity. The heavier the weight and/or the higher it is lifted; the more work has
been done. Power is a measure of how rapidly a standard amount of work is done.

 Power as a Function of Voltage and Current

 In electric circuits, power is a function of both voltage and current. Not
surprisingly, this relationship bears a striking resemblance to the “proportional”
horsepower formula below:

 In this case, however, power (P) is exactly equal to current (I) multiplied by
voltage (E), rather than merely being proportional to IE. When using this
formula, the unit of measurement for power is the watt, abbreviated with the
letter “W.”
 In an open circuit, where voltage is present between the terminals of the source
and there is zero current, there is zero power dissipated, no matter how great that
voltage may be. Since P=IE and I=0 and anything multiplied by zero is zero, the
power dissipated in any open circuit must be zero. Likewise, if we were to have a
short circuit constructed of a loop of superconducting wire (absolutely zero
resistance), we could have a condition of current in the loop with zero voltage,
and likewise, no power would be dissipated.

 Direct Current (DC) is the constant flow of Electric Charge from high to low
Potential. In the history of electrical science, conventional Current was defined as
a flow of Positive Charge.
III. Procedures (Step-by-step)
As far as we know, the total power in a circuit is given by the formula 𝑃𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐼𝑇 × 𝑉𝑇 =
𝑉𝑇2
𝐼𝑇2 × 𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅𝑇
in which 𝐼𝑇 , 𝑅𝑇 , 𝑉𝑇 are the total current, resistance and voltage respectively. As
an example, in figure 3.1 we need to simplify it in terms of 𝐼𝑇 , 𝑉𝑇 and 𝑅𝑇 . (Note: to avoid
unnecessary discrepancies in this experiment we would use the rational value of each result if
posible.)

R1 R2 R4

VS 250Ω 100Ω
R3
300Ω
R5
25V 150Ω 350Ω

Figure 3.1

I. The first step is to get the total voltage of the circuit. In figure 3.1 we can see that the total
voltage is 25 volts since it is the only source in the circuit. This implies that 𝑉𝑇 = 𝑉_𝑆 = 25 𝑉.

II. The total resistance 𝑅𝑇 can be calculated by using the Ohm’s law. In this example, we would
first get the resistance value in each branch. In the 1st branch, we can see that the 250 Ω
resistor is connected in series with 100 Ω. This implies that 𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻1 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 = 250 Ω +
100 Ω = 350 Ω.

Next, we can see that in figure 3.1 the 𝑅3 resistor is placed in the second branch alone. So,
𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻2 = 𝑅3 = 150 Ω.

In the third branch, 𝑅4 is connected in series with 𝑅5 implying that 𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻3 = 𝑅4 + 𝑅5 =

300 Ω + 350Ω = 650 Ω.
R_BRANCH1 R_BRANCH3

VS 350Ω 650Ω
R_BRANCH2
25V 150Ω

Figure 3.2

Furthermore, we can now get the total resistance 𝑅𝑇 by combining the resistor value in
branches two and three. Hence, the 2 resistors are connected in parallel so we use the
product-over-sum to get its equivalent resistance 𝑅𝑒𝑞.
𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻2 × 𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻3 650Ω × 150Ω
𝑅𝑒𝑞 = = = 121.875Ω
𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻2 + 𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻3 650Ω + 150Ω
 R_BRANCH1
VS 350Ω Req
25V 121.875Ω

Figure 3.3

Now we can get the total resistance by simply adding the 350 Ω to the 𝑅𝑒𝑞 since the two
resistors are connected in series.

𝑅𝑇 = 𝑅𝐵𝑅𝐴𝑁𝐶𝐻1 + 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 350Ω + 121.875Ω = 471.875Ω

R_T

VS 471.875Ω
25V

Figure 3.4

III. Based on figure 3.4, we now have the total voltage 𝑉𝑇 and total resistance 𝑅𝑇 . With the use of
power formula, we can now get the total power in the circuit.

𝑉𝑇2 (25𝑉)2 200

𝑃𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = = = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 ≈ 1.3245𝑊
𝑅𝑇 471.875Ω 151

Moreover, we can also get the total current 𝐼𝑇 by dividing the total voltage by the total
𝑉 25𝑉
resistance (Ohm’s Law) and use it to get 𝑃𝑇 . 𝐼𝑇 = 𝑅𝑇 ⟹ 𝐼𝑇 = 471.875Ω
𝑇
8
⟹ 𝐴𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠 ≈ 52.9801𝑚𝐴.
151

2
8 200
𝑃𝑇 = ( 𝐴) × (471.875Ω) = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 ≈ 1.3245𝑊
151 151

8 200
𝑃𝑇 = ( 𝐴) × (25 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠) = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 ≈ 1.3245𝑊
151 151

The total power in a circuit can also be achieved by getting the summation of the power in each circuit
branch. Formally 𝑃𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + ⋯ + 𝑃𝑛 = Σ𝑃𝑛 wherein n is the number of branches with a resistive
load. In the figure 3.1, we can use the Kirchhoff’s Voltage law and Kirchhoff’s Current law to evaluate the
current flowing and voltage drop in each resistor. Recall that Kirchhoff’s Voltage law (KVL) is the
summation of voltage in a loop is equal to zero and Kirchhoff’s Current law (KCL) states that the current
flowing into a node is equal to the current leaving the node. Hence, the KCL equation at the junction of
𝑅2 , 𝑅3 and 𝑅4 is:

𝐾𝐶𝐿: 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 + 𝐼3
And the KVL equations at loops 1 and 2 are

𝐿𝑜𝑜𝑝1 : −25𝑉 + (350Ω)(I1 ) + (150Ω)(𝐼2 ) = 0

𝐿𝑜𝑜𝑝2 : (−150Ω)(𝐼2 ) + (650Ω)(𝐼3 ) = 0
By solving the linear equations, we now have:
8
𝐼1 = 𝐴 ≈ 52.9801𝑚𝐴
151
13
𝐼2 = 𝐴 ≈ 43.0464𝑚𝐴
302
3
𝐼3 = 𝐴 ≈ 9.9338𝑚𝐴
302
At the table 3.1 we can see the voltage drop, the current flowing and the power in each resistor. (Recall
the formula Ohm’s law and the Power formula)

𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 Ω 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝐴) 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 (𝑉) 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 (𝑊)

Branch 1
250 Ω 52.9801𝑚𝐴 13.24503311 V 0.7017236085 W
100 Ω 52.9801𝑚𝐴 5.298013245 V 0.2806894434 W
Total 0.9824130521 W
Branch 2
150 Ω 43.0464𝑚𝐴 6.456953642 V 0.2779483356 W
Total 0.2779483356 W
Branch 3
300 Ω 9.9338𝑚𝐴 2.98013245 V 0.02960396474 W
350 Ω 9.9338𝑚𝐴 3.476821192 V 0.03453795886 W
Total 0.03453795886 W
Total Power ≈ 1.3245𝑊

Table 3.1

Observe that the summation of the power in each branch are equal to the total power. Hence, if the
resistors in each branch of the circuit are only connected in series then the total power in that circuit is
equal to the summation of the power in each resistor.
ACTIVITY

R1 R2 R3

50Ω 25Ω 150Ω

R4 R5 R8 R9

V1 250Ω 50Ω 150Ω 300Ω

R12
12V 1.0kΩ
R6 R7 R10 R11

50Ω 250Ω 600Ω 250Ω

R1 R2 R_equivalent3

50Ω 25Ω _____

V1 R_equivalent1 R_equivalent2
12V __________ _______

Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2

1. In the figure 4.1, solve for the equivalent resistance one.

𝑅𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡1 =

2. Determine the resistance equivalent three in the figure 4.1

𝑅𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡2 =

3. Determine the equivalent resistance three:

𝑅𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡3 =

4. Find the total resistance 𝑅𝑇 , total voltage 𝑉𝑇 and the total current 𝐼𝑇 .

𝑅𝑇 = 𝐼𝑇 =
𝑉𝑇 =
5. With the use of power formula, calculate the total power across the circuit.

𝑃𝑇 =
6. Find the current, voltage drop and power in each resistor and place it the table below. (Hint: Use
KVL and KCL).

Resistance value Current Voltage drop Power

7. In figure 4.3, calculate the power in each branch that have a resistive value.

R1 Branch 1 R2 Branch 3 R_equivalent3

50Ω 25Ω Branch

_____ 4

V1 R_equivalent1 R_equivalent2
12V Branch 2
__________ _______
Branch 5

Figure 4.3

𝑃𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ1 =
𝑃𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ2 =
𝑃𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ3 =
𝑃𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ4 =
𝑃𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ5 =
8. Recall that the total power in a circuit is equal to the summation of the power in each branch.
Now, sum up the power in each branch. Is it the same as the result in number 5?
𝑃𝑇 =

9. Assume that the total voltage is doubled. What would be the new total power in the circuit?

𝑃𝑇𝑛𝑒𝑤 =

ACTIVITY 2

Figure 5.1

1. In the figure 5.1, solve for the current in R1.

𝐼𝑅1 =
2. Solve for the current in R2 in figure 5.1.
𝐼𝑅2 =

3. Solve for the current in R2 in figure 5.1

𝐼𝑅3 =

4. Find the total resistance for the parallel circuit, 𝑅𝑇 , total voltage 𝑉𝑇 and the total current 𝐼𝑇 .

𝑅𝑇 = 𝐼𝑇 =
𝑉𝑇 =
5. Find the current, voltage drop and power in each resistor and place it the table below.

Resistance value Current Voltage drop Power

6. With the use of power formula, calculate the total power across the circuit.

𝑃𝑇 =

7. In figure 5.1, calculate the power in each branch that have a resistive value.

𝑃𝑅1 =
𝑃𝑅2 =
𝑃𝑅3 =
 8. Getting total power in a circuit is equal to the sum of the power dissipated by the individual
resistors. If summing each branch in number 7, will it be the same as number 6?
𝑃𝑇 =

ACTIVITY 3