LAB REPORT (Q.

4)
General Physics
Series and Parallel Circuits

Kankamol Bongkot-Olarn
1107

Table of Content

Objectives 1
Materials 2
Procedure 3-6
Analyze 7
Conclude and Apply 8

Objectives
 ■ Describe the relationship among current, poten- tial difference, and resistance in a series
circuit.
■ Summarize the relationship among current, potential difference, and resistance in a
parallel circuit.
■ Collect data for current and potential differ- ence using electric meters.
■ Calculate resistance in a lightbulb from current and potential-difference data.

Materials

- Low-voltage power supply

- Two light sockets

 - Two small light bulbs
- Ammeter or multimeter (0–500-mA scale)

- Voltmeter or multimeter (0–30-V scale)

- Ten copper wires

- Clips

Procedure

1. Wire two lightbulb sockets in series with an ammeter and a low-voltage power supply. Observe the
correct polarity when wiring the ammeter.

- Observation: No light because the circuit is uncomplete

2. Screw the lightbulbs into the sockets. Turn on the power supply. Adjust the power control so that the
bulbs are dimly lit.

- Observation: The lights are dimly lit because the circuit is complete and the electrons are flowing
around.

3. Unscrew one of the bulbs. Record your observations in the data table.

- Observation: The lights are off because the wire is not connected properly to the circuit. No more
electron flow

4. Screw in the bulb again and find the potential difference across both sets of bulbs by placing the
positive probe of the voltmeter on the positive end of the circuit and the negative probe on the negative
end of the circuit. Record your data in the data table.

- Observation: Once the bulb is screw in again, the electrons started flowing and the potential
difference is 5.00 volt
5. Find the potential difference across each individual light bulb by placing the positive probe of the
voltmeter on the positive end of a bulb and the negative probe on the negative end of the bulb. Record
your data in the data table. Repeat for the other bulb in series.

- Observation: Both has the same amount of potential difference which is 2.50 volt because the
current and battery are still the same

6. Place the ammeter at various locations in the series circuit. Record these currents in the data table.

- Observation: When the ammeter is placed at various locations, the current for the whole circuit
still remains the same which is 0.25 Ampere.

7. Wire the two lightbulb sockets in parallel with the low-voltage power supply and in series with an
ammeter.

- Observation: Lights are off. No more electron flow

8. Screw the lightbulbs into the sockets. Turn on the power supply. Adjust the power control so that the
bulbs are dimly lit. Record the current shown on the ammeter in the data table.

- Observation: Lights are back on, with current 1 Ampere.

9. Check the potential difference across the entire circuit and across each lightbulb. Record the values in
the data table.

- Observation: The potential difference across the entire circuit is 5 Volt

10. Place the voltmeter probes across one of the lightbulbs. Now unscrew one of the lightbulbs. Record
your observations of both lightbulbs, and record the current and potential difference read by the meters in
the data table.
 - Observation: Because It is connected in parallel not series, the other light bulb that is not being
unscrew is still working with the voltage 5.00 Volt and 0.5 Ampere.

11. Return the lightbulb you removed in the previ- ous step to its socket. Now unscrew the other
lightbulb. Record your observations of both lightbulbs, and record the current and potential difference
read by the meters in the data table.

- Observation: As mentioned before in number 10 but number 11 with different light bulbs,
everything would be the same if there are no changes in the circuit.
Analyze

1. Calculate the resistance of the pair of lightbulbs in the series circuit.

V=IR

R=V/I

5/0.25 = 20 ohm

2. Calculate the resistance of each lightbulb in the series circuit.

V=IR

R=V/I (2 light bulbs)

5/0.25 = 20 → /2 because only need to calculate for 1

10 ohm

3. How does the resistance of the pair of light- bulbs compare to the individual resistance of
each lightbulb?

The pair of lightbulbs appeared to have more resistance than the individual one. The resistance
doubled it’s amount.

4. How does the potential difference across the individual lightbulbs compare to the potential
difference across the pair of lightbulbs in the series circuit?

The pair of lightbulbs would be greater compared to the individual because it doubled it’s
amount.

5. Calculate the resistance of each of the light- bulbs while they are in the parallel circuit. How
does this compare to the resistance calculated for the bulbs in the series circuit?

1/R1 + 1/R2

1/10 + 1/10

1/5

R=5

Conclude and Apply

1. Summarize the relationship among current, potential difference, and resistance in a series circuit.
 -To summarize the relationship of current, potential difference and resistance. It could be
concluded with the formula V=IR . While V is the voltage, I is the current and R is the
resistance or potential difference. I, the current flowing through a circuit is directly
proportional to the voltage, v, and inversely proportional to the resistance, r.
2. Summarize the relationship between current and potential difference in a parallel circuit.
- Current, I and potential difference, V are directly proportional to each other.