Experiment # 04

Title:
Study and Implementation of Parallel DC Circuit
Objective:
1. To understand the characteristics of the resistor in the parallel dc circuit
2. To be able to determine the current, the total resistance and the current in each branch of a dc
circuit.
3. To appropriately apply Ohm’s law to troubleshoot the parallel dc circuit.

Theory:
A parallel circuit is formed when two or more resistances areplaced in a circuit side-by-side so that
current can flow through more than one path. The illustration shows two resistors placed side-by-side.
There are two paths of current flow. One path is from the negative terminal of the battery through R 1
returning to the positive terminal. The second path is from the negative terminal of the battery through R2
returning to the positive terminal of the battery.

There are two formulas to determine total resistance for unequal value resistors in a parallel circuit. The
first formula is used when there are three or more resistors. The formula can be extended for any number
of resistors.

The second formula is used when there are only two resistors.

Voltage in a Parallel Circuit:

When resistors are placed in parallel across a voltage source, the voltage is the same across each resistor.
In the following illustration three resistors are placed in parallel across a 12 volt battery. Each resistor has
12 volts available to it.
Current in a Parallel Circuit:
Current flowing through a parallel circuit divides and flows through each branch of the circuit.

Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure below.

+38.2
mA
+20.0

+9.09
mA

mA
+9.09
mA

R1 +2.00 R3 R2
100 Volts 220 +2.00 220 +2.00
Volts Volts
B1

2. Mention number of paths of the current flow in the circuit. _3____

3. Referring to the circuit of fig 4, calculate the total resistance (R T) in the parallel circuit. Then
RT=___540Ω _____.
4. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter R T=_540 Ω _____ .
5. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=___0%______.
6. Calculate current flowing through the resistors (R1, R2 and R3),
7. IT=_38.2 mA ___.
8. I1=__20 mA ____.
 9. I2=__9.09 mA ____.
10. I3=_9.09 mA _____.

11. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 and R3 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=_38.2_____ mA.
I1=__20____ mA.
I2=____9.09__ mA.
I3=__9.09____ mA.
12. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=_______0__ %.
13. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=_____2_____ V,
VR2= IR2*R2=______2____ V,
VR3= IR3*R3=_______2___ V

14. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3) using Digital Multimeter.
15. Calculate the percentage error: Error =_____________0_ %.

Tasks

1. The total resistance of a parallel circuit that has four 20 Ω resistors is _____80__ Ω.
2. Calculate for the following circuits.

Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure below.
 +733
mA

+400

+133
mA

mA
+200
mA
R1 +4.00 R2 R3
10 Volts 20 +4.00 30 +4.00
Volts Volts
(+)

2. Mention number of paths of the current flow in the circuit. _3____

3. Total Voltage applied ___4V________
4. Referring to the circuit of fig, calculate the total resistance (R T) in the parallel circuit. Then
RT=____60_____ Ω.
5. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter R T=__60____ Ω.
6. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=___0______ %.
7. Calculate current flowing through the resistors (R1, R2 and R3),
8. IT=___733___ mA.
9. I1=___400___ mA.
10. I2=__200____ mA.
11. I3=___133___ mA.

12. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 and R3 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=__733____ mA.
I1=__400____ mA.
I2=__200____ mA.
I3=__133____ mA.
13. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=_____0____ %.
14. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=________4__ V,
VR2= IR2*R2=_______4___ V,
VR3= IR3*R3=______4____ V
15. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3) using Digital Multimeter.
16. Calculate the percentage error: Error =______________0____________ %.
 Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure below.

+600
mA
+400
mA

+200
mA
R1 +2.00 R2
5 Volts 10 +2.00
Volts
(+)

2. Mention number of paths of the current flow in the circuit. _2____

3. Total Voltage applied ___2V________
4. Referring to the circuit of fig, calculate the total resistance (R T) in the parallel circuit. Then
RT=____15_____ Ω.
5. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter R T=___15___ Ω.
6. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=______0___ %.
7. Calculate current flowing through the resistors (R1, R2),
8. IT=__600____ mA.
9. I1=__400____ mA.
 10. I2=__200____ mA.

11. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=___600___ mA.
I1=___400___ mA.
I2=___200___ mA.
12. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=____0_____ %.
13. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=____2______ V,
VR2= IR2*R2=______2____ V,
14. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2) using Digital Multimeter.
15. Calculate the percentage error: Error =_____________0_____________ %.

3. Calculate currents flowing through R1 and R2 in the following circuit.

Current across R1 = MAX

Current across R2 = MAX

+MAX
mA
+MAX

+MAX
mA

mA

R1 R2
10 10
24V
Conclusion: