Mapúa University - Intramuros Last Name: Cruz

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer First Name: Cedric

Engineering Middle Name: Marquilencia

EE21L-2 – Basic Electrical Engineering, Lab. Student No: 2016131915

Laboratory Experiment 2
Series, Parallel, and Series-Parallel Circuits

I. Objectives:

1. To demonstrate the characteristics of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits by measuring and
verifying the calculations of the resistance, voltage and current associated with the different resistive
components of a series- parallel circuit.
2. To demonstrate the principle of basic electric circuit Law called Ohm’s Law.
3. To demonstrate the use of basic principles involved in series, parallel and series-parallel circuits.

II. Theoretical Discussion:

Ohm’s Law

A basic electrical law that states if the voltage is kept constant, less resistance results in more current
and more resistance results in less current. It may also be stated as the amount of voltage is directly
proportional to the amount of current in a given circuit.

Circuit Connections:

A. Series Circuit

It is described as a circuit that provides only one complete path for which current could flow wherein
the resistors are simply connected end to end. It may also be defined as a circuit that provides only one path
for current between two points in a circuit so that the same current flows through each series resistor. Fig. 1
is an example of resistors connected in series

Fig. 1
Observations regarding resistances in series can be summarized into 3 cardinal rules:

1. The current in all parts of the series circuit has the same magnitude.
2. The sum of all the separate drops in a potential around a series circuit is equal to the applied emf.
3. The total resistance in a series circuit is equal to the sum of all the separate resistances.

B. Parallel Circuit

It is a described as a circuit connection of two or more resistors that are connected between the
same two node or points. A parallel circuit provides more than one path for current. Each current path is
called a branch. Fig. 2 is an example of resistors connected in parallel.

Fig. 2

Observations regarding resistances in parallel can be summarized into 3 cardinal rules:

1. The total current in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the currents in the separate branches.
2. The potential difference across all branches of a parallel circuit must have the same magnitude.
3. The reciprocal of the equivalent resistance is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the separate
resistances in parallel.

C. Series-Parallel Circuit

A series-parallel circuit contains the combination of both the series and the parallel circuits is shown in Fig.
3.

Fig. 3
 PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 2
SERIES, PARALLEL AND SERIES-PARALLEL CIRCUITS

1. Using MATLAB Simulink, connect the circuit as shown in Fig. 4. Take note of the polarities on the
meter readings.

Fig. 4

Table 1: Use the following circuit parameter values:

Circuit Student No. ending Student No. ending Surname starting Surname starting
Parameters in odd number in even number with A-L with M-Z
R1 430ohms 910ohms
R2 1.1kohms 750ohms
R3 4.7kohms 2.7kohms
R4 560ohms 390ohms
R5 27kohms 47kohms
VS1 5V 7.5V
2. Provide screenshot of your circuit in MATLAB Simulink in Fig. 4

Fig. 5

3. Measure the total resistance of the circuit across the input terminals using the impedance meter in
MATLAB Simulink as the laboratory instructor showed you.

Fig. 6
 Fig. 7

Provide screenshot of your total resistance measurement in Fig. 7

Fig. 8

4. Using the current measurement, measure the current flowing at different branches of the circuit.
Take note of the direction of the currents.

5. Complete the data in Table 2 (computed values) and Table 3 (measured values). Resistances can be
measured by impedance measurement in MATLAB Simulink.

Table 2. Computed Values (provide solutions in Fig. 9)

Computed Values R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 RT

910 Ω 1100 Ω 2700 Ω 560 Ω 47000 Ω 4564.95 Ω

V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 VT
1.2045 V 2.7976 V 0.0330 V 2.77 V 5V
 0.9965 V

I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 IT

0.001095 A 0.001095 A 0.001036 A 5.884 x 10−5A 5.884 x 10−5A 0.001095 A

Fig. 9

Table 3. Simulated Values (provide screenshot from MATLAB Simulink in Fig. 10)
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 RT

910 Ω 1100 Ω 2700 Ω 560 Ω 47000 Ω 4566.21 Ω

V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 VT

Simulated Values
0.9967 V 1.205 V 2.798 V 0.03295 V 2.765 V 5V

I1 I2 I3 I4 I5 IT

0.001095 A 0.001095 A 0.001036 A 5.884 x 10−5A 5.884 x 10−5A 0.001095 A

Fig. 10
Questions and Problems. Computations requires solution.

1. What are the identifying characteristics of a series circuit?

The defining characteristic of a series circuit is that there is only one path for current to flow.
2. What are the identifying characteristics of a parallel circuit?
In a parallel circuit, all components are connected across each other, forming exactly two sets of
electrically common points.
3. What changes occur in the total resistance of a circuit as additional resistors are added
(a) in series, (b) in parallel.
When additional resistance is connected in series, then the total resistance will
increase by that resistance. But when additional is connected in parallel, the total
resistance will decrease.
4. What are the different types of resistances and their purpose?
Although there are different type of reistors but their functions are the same, that is they decrease
the potential energy across any electrical or electronic devices or circuit elements.
5. Why are lamps in a house lighting circuit not connected in series?
If they are connected in series, the current through each will be the same and if one of them is
damaged, then the rest will not get any current consequently and the rest will also stop working
due to no power.
6. A small lamp is designed to draw 300mA in a 6V circuit. What is the resistance of the lamp filament?
7. A battery with an internal resistance of 1.5 ohm is connected in series with resistors R 1 = 3
ohm and R2 = 3.5 ohms if the potential difference across the 3-ohm resistor is 9V. What is the
emf of the battery?

8. Determine the ideal voltage source needed by three resistors connected in series R1 = 6
ohms, R2 = 8 ohms, and R3 = 10 ohms if a required current of 0.5 A flows in the circuit.
9. Determine the total resistance of the circuit in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11