ME AC-211L – Laboratory Manual

LAB ACTIVITY 2: VERIFICATION OF VOLTAGE AND CURRENT

DIVISION THEOREMS
Name: ________________________________________ Grade
Program & Year: ______________________________
Course Code & Group No.: ______________________

Objectives

1. To determine the total resistance of series and parallel circuits using measured values.
2. To verify the voltage and current division theorems.

Theories
Various resistor connections occur in many circuit applications. In solving electric circuit problems, it is a
customary to simplify the circuit by combining the resistor. Let’s consider the series circuit in Figure 2.1.
Series resistors have the same amount of current flowing through them. Using the Ohm’s Law, we get
𝑣! = 𝑖𝑅! , and 𝑣" = 𝑖𝑅"

Figure 2.1 – Series circuit

Applying KVL to the circuit, we have
−𝑣 + 𝑣! + 𝑣" = 0
Substituting 𝑣! and 𝑣" ,
𝑣 = 𝑖𝑅! + 𝑖𝑅"
Dividing 𝑖 from both sides of the equation,
𝑣
= 𝑅! + 𝑅"
𝑖
From above equation, note that 𝑣 is the total voltage while 𝑖 is the total current, therefore using Ohm’s
law, we can obtain the total resistance as
𝑅# = 𝑅! + 𝑅"
If there are 𝑛 number of series resistors, the total resistance would be the sum of all resistors, i.e

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𝑅# = 𝑅! + 𝑅" + 𝑅$ + ⋯ + 𝑅%
For the circuit in Figure 1, the voltage in each resistor can be obtained using the Voltage Division
Theorem (VDT), i.e.
&! &"
𝑣! = & 𝑣, and 𝑣" = & 𝑣
! '&" ! '&"

Now let us consider a parallel circuit as shown in Figure 2.2. Parallel circuits have the same voltage
which in example is equal to the voltage source.

Figure 2.2 – Parallel circuit

\Using KCL, we obtain
𝑖 = 𝑖! + 𝑖"
The same with the series circuit, we can also apply the Ohm’s law to obtain the relation between the
voltage and current in each resistor, i.e.
𝑣 = 𝑖! 𝑅! , and v= 𝑖" 𝑅"
Substituting to the KCL equation,
𝑣 𝑣
𝑖= +
𝑅! 𝑅"
Dividing 𝑣 from both sides of the equation,
𝑖 1 1
= +
𝑣 𝑅! 𝑅"
Recall that
𝑣
𝑅# =
𝑖
Therefore,
1 1 1
= +
𝑅# 𝑅! 𝑅"
If a 𝑛 number of resistors are connected in parallel, the expression above would become,
1 1 1 1 1
= + + + ⋯+
𝑅# 𝑅! 𝑅" 𝑅$ 𝑅%

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We can also determine the current in each resistor connected in parallel using the Current Division
Theorem (CDT), i.e.
&" &!
𝑖! = & 𝑖, and 𝑖" = & 𝑖
! '&" ! '&"

Procedures

1. In our canvas course, go to the Circuit Simulator section, select Lab and build the circuit in
Figure 2.3

Figure 2.3 – Three resistors connected in series

Note: The simulator does not have save option. Make sure not to reload the page in order not to
lose your circuit!

2. In the upper-right section of the simulator, select show current – conventional.

3. Using the voltmeter measure the voltage drop in each resistor. Take note that the voltmeter must
be connected in parallel to the resistor where its positive (red) terminal must be connected to the
resistor terminal where the current enters. Record the result in Table 2.1.
4. Similarly, using the ammeter measure the current in the resistors. Note also that an ammeter must
be connected in series to the element where current is to be measured. The current direction was
selected to be conventional which means that current is flowing from the positive terminal of the
battery. The ammeter in this simulator only indicates the magnitude of the current.

Table 2.1 – Voltages and current of the resistors of the series circuit

𝑣! 𝑣" 𝑣$ 𝑖

Note: Only one value of current is needed since all resistors are connected in series.

5. Now build the circuit in Figure 2.4.

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Figure 2.4 – Three resistors connected in parallel

6. Using the ammeter, measure the currents as indicated in Figure 2.4. Record the measurements in
Table 2.2.

Table 2.2 – Currents of the parallel circuit

𝑖! 𝑖" 𝑖$ 𝑖

Note: We do not need to measure the voltages of the resistors since they are all connected in
parallel to the source which means that the voltages across them are also 12 V.

Analysis

1. From Figure 2.3 and 2.4, calculate the total resistance of each circuit and compare it the measured
resistance. Show your solution.

Series
______________________________________________________
Parallel ______________________________________________________

Table 2.3 – Total Resistance of the circuits

Circuit Calculated Measured +𝑣,𝑖 -

Series
Parallel

2. Now referring to Figure 2.3, using the VDT, calculate the voltage drops in each resistor and
compare it to the measured voltage drops.

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𝑣! = ________________________

𝑣" = ________________________

𝑣$ = ________________________

Table 2.4 – Voltage drops in each resistor

Circuit Calculated Measured

𝑣!
𝑣"
𝑣$

3. Similarly, referring to Figure 2.4, using the CDT, calculate the current in each resistor and
compare it to the measured values. Hint: Combine the other two resistors in parallel.

𝑖! = ________________________

𝑖" = ________________________

𝑖$ = ________________________

Table 2.5 – Current in each resistor

Circuit Calculated Measured
𝑖!
𝑖"
𝑖$
Discussions

1. In series circuits, is it true that the total resistance is always greater than the largest resistance in
the circuit? Explain.

2. In parallel circuits, is it true that the total resistance is always lesser than the smallest resistance in
the circuit? Explain.

3. In series circuits, using the VDT formula, explain that the largest voltage drop should occur in the
largest resistor.

4. In parallel circuits, using the CDT formula, explain that the largest current can be measured from
the smallest resistor.

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