Technological University of the Philippines

College of Industrial Technology

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Name: Instructor’s Name: Ms. Jen Andador
Course
Year: Section: Schedule: Time:
:

Learning Activity No. 5

Title: Resistor in Series

I. Objectives:
At the end of the laboratory activity, the students should be able to:
1. Find the equivalent resistance of several resistors.
2. Replace a set of resistors by their equivalent resistance and observe the effect on
the circuit.

II. Materials, Instrument and Software Simulation Needed

20 pcs of 1/4 watts resistor with different value
Analog Multi-Tester
9 volts Battery
2 pcs 1.5 v Battery
Bread Board
Connecting Wire
NI Multisim

III. Introduction

Series Connection
In series connection, current has only one path to flow in. Two resistors are in series if the
node between them is not connected to anything else. Now look at these connections.

A R1 R2 B

For this connection R1 and R2 are clearly series.

R1
A

R2

B
Resistors in a series connection like the one below is equal to one resistor with value equal to
the summation of all resistors.
R1 R2
A A

B
R5 R4
R3
= B
Req

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 Req = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4+ R5
Example:
Find Req for the circuit 300 Ω
A
860 Ω
3.3 kΩ
B

Req = 300 Ω +860 Ω +3.3 kΩ

= 0.3 kΩ +0.86kΩ +3.3 kΩ
= 4.46 kΩ

100 Ω 470 Ω
A
860 Ω
3.3 kΩ 2.2 kΩ
B

Req = 100 Ω +470 Ω +860 kΩ +2.2 kΩ+3.3 kΩ

= 0.1 kΩ +0.47 kΩ +0.86kΩ+2.2 kΩ +3.3 kΩ
= 6.93 kΩ
IV. Procedure
1. Assemble the connection as shown below, then assigned a resistance value for
each resistor.
2. Measure the equivalent resistance (Req) by measuring the resistance between the
points A & B. (Note: In measuring equivalent resistance, remove the voltage source)
3. Calculate Req for connection.
4. Calculate error and record your result in the table.
5. Repeat steps (1-4) for the connections for circuit diagram no. 2-4.

A B
1. R eq (calculated)  
R eq (Measured)  
Relative Error  

A
R eq (calculated)  
R eq (Measured)  

jandadorB
Relative Error  25
|
Page
 2.

A
3.
R eq (calculated)  
R eq (Measured)  
Relative Error  
B

A
4. R eq (calculated)  
R eq (Measured)  
Relative Error  
B

1. For the data table below, using the different resistance value and voltage supply
measured and compute for the voltage dropped across the circuit.
2. Compute for the percentage error using the formula

Computed Value−Measured Value

% Difference = x 100
Measured Value
Data Table

Voltage Drop Across each Resistor

Activit Resistor Percentage
y No. No. Computed Value Measured Value Difference

1 503mV 528.409mV 0%
1
2 970mV 971.591mV 0.2%

1 670mV 670mV 0.30%

2 2 720mV 720mV 0%

3 1.61V 1.608V 0.1%

1 810mV 807.692mV 0.30%

2 1.91V 1.885V 1.32%

3
3 2.54V 2.513V 1.07%

4 3.84 3.795V 1.19%

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 1 1.04V 1.05V 1.010%

2 1.86V 1.867V 0.004%

4 3 2.3V 2.304V 0.17%

4 2.25V 2.304V 0.62%

5 3.3V 3.509V 6.33%

V. Evaluation

A. Multiple Choice. Write only the letter of your answer on the line before the sentence.

__C__1. Three 20 kΩ resistors R1, R2, and R3 are connected in series across an applied voltage
of 120 V. what is the voltage crop across each resistor?
a. 10 Vb. 20 V c. 40 V d. 30 V

___B__2. Two resistors are connected in series across 24 V supply and a current of 3 A flows in
the circuit. If one of the resistors has a resistance of 2 ohms, determine the value of
the other resistor.
a. 10 ohms b. 6 ohms c. 5 ohms d. 12 ohms

___C__3. A 12 V battery is connected in a circuit having three series-connected resistors

having resistances of 4Ω, 9 Ω and 11 Ω. Determine the total resistance and the
potential difference across the 9 Ω resistor.
a. 42 Ω; 9 V b. 24 Ω; 8 V c. 24 Ω; 4.5 V d. 42 Ω; 5.4 V

_____4. A three resistor is connected in series across a 100 v source. What is the value of R3?

B. Conclusion

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