NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

551 M.F. Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

EECKT11L
Experiment #03
MIDTERM

Name: Arvin C. Rebujio

Section: ELE 191

Date Submitted: September 29, 2000

Instructor: Engr. Christian L. Pao
Simulation Experiment 3
Characteristics of Series and Parallel DC Circuit

• OBJECTIVES
At the end of this experiment, students should be able to:
• Measure the currents along the resistors in series and parallel dc circuit
• Measure the voltage drop across the resistors in a series and parallel dc circuit

• COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs)

• ability to use appropriate techniques, skills, and modern tools necessary for
engineering practice to be locally and globally competitive

• BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Series Circuit
A series circuit is a circuit that contains only one path for current flow. The basic
circuit has only one lamp, and the series circuit has three lamps connected in series. The
current in a series circuit must flow through each lamp to complete the electrical path in the
circuit. Each additional lamp offers added resistance.
The circuit in which have DC series source and the resistors are connected end to
end so that same current flow through them is called a DC series circuit. In the series circuit
the resistor R1, R2, and R3 are connected in series across a supply voltage of V volts. The
same current ‘I’ is flowing through all the three resistors. If V 1, V2, and V3 are the voltage
drop across the three resistor R1, R2, and R3 respectively, then Let R be the total resistance
of the circuit then, Total resistance = Sum of the individual resistance.
 In such type of circuit all the lamps are controlled by the single switch and they
cannot be controlled individually. The most common application of this circuit is for
decoration purpose where a number of low voltage lamps are connected in series.

Figure 1. Comparison of Basic and Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit
The circuit which have DC source and one end of all the resistors is joined to a
common point and other end are also joined to another common point so that current flows
through them is called a DC parallel circuit.
Figure 2 shows a simple parallel circuit. In this circuit the three resistor R1, R2, and R3
are connected in parallel across a supply voltage of V volts. The current flowing through
them is I1, I2 and I3 respectively. The total current drawn by the circuit. Let R be the total or
effective resistance of the circuit, then Reciprocal of total resistance = sum of reciprocal of
the individual resistance.
 Figure 2. A Typical Parallel Circuit

• EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS/DEVICES/PROGRAMS

QUANTIT EQUIPME SPECIFICATIONS

Y NT

Personal
Computer • With internet Connection
1 unit / Tablet /
Smart • Can open simulation program
Phone

Links for the simulation program:

Simulation
Software • https://www.falstad.com/circuit/
1 unit for
• https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/filter?subjects=elec
Electrical
tricity-magnets-and-circuits&sort=alpha&view=grid
Circuits
• any other relevant simulation programs not indicated here can
 be used

• PROCEDURE
Series Circuit
• Construct the circuit illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Series Circuit

• Set the value of voltage to <last three digits of your student number> V.
• Measure the value of voltage across each resistor. Record the values on Table 1.
• Measure the value of current in each resistor. Record the values on Table 1.

Parallel Circuit
• Construct the circuit illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Parallel Circuit

• Set the value of voltage to <last three digits of your student number> V.
• Measure the value of voltage across each resistor. Record the values on Table 2.
• Measure the value of current in each resistor. Record the values on Table 2.
• DATA TABLE
 TABLE 1
Resistor Resistance (Ω) Current (mA) Voltage Drop (V)
R1 200 254 50.8
R2 300 254 76.2
R3 500 254 127
RTOTAL 1000 254 254

TABLE 2
Resistor Resistance (Ω) Current (mA) Voltage Drop (V)
R1 200 1.27 A 254
R2 300 846.667 mA 254
R3 500 508 mA 254
RTOTAL 96.774 2624.667 mA 254

Simulation software used:

Brief details about the simulation program:
The simulation software is very convenient and eaasy to use.

Screenshots:
• QUESTIONS
• What have you noticed about the current along the series circuit?

The flow of current through each components is also the same in a series circuit.

• What is the relationship of the voltage drop to the resistance in the series circuit?

The voltage drop through a resistor is directly proportional to the value of the resistor
in a series circuit.

• What will happen if you remove one of the resistors in the series circuit?
The total
power resistance
source of thethe
will remain circuit
same willand
be will
reduced. But the powered
not affect circuit. supply by the

• What have you noticed about the voltage along the parallel circuit?

That the voltage in a parallel circuit is all the same or equals to each other.

• What is the relationship of the current along the resistors of the circuit to the actual
resistance?

The current in a circuit is directly proportional to the difference in the electrical

potential impressed by its ends and inversely proportional to the total resistance
given by the external circuit.
• What will happen if you remove one of the resistors in the parallel circuit?
The current will be split which is inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit.
The ac battery or power source will be consumed faster if the one resistor is removed.

• OBSERVATIONS
I observed that the current flowing in a series circuit is all the same, and the voltage
across the circuit is the sum of the individual voltage drops across each component. I also
observeed that if you remove one of the resistors in the parallel circuit is that that the
current will be split and that it is inversely proportional to the resistance of the circuit.

• CONCLUSIONS
I therefore conclude that in this particular activity it shows that Ohm’s Law is very
important in the lives of engineers and other daily lives of humans as it shows how the
voltage and current will behave. I also conclude that in a series circuit the current is equal to
all sides . That is also the same in parallel but not particularly voltage because in parallel
circuit the value of voltage is equal to all sides.

• PICTURE EVIDENCES
________________________________________

This photo shows thatin a series circuit the amount or the value of current is all the same,
and that the value of resistance is directly proportional to the value of the voltage in the
circuit.

________________________________________
 ________________________________________

This photo shows that in a parallel circuit the value of voltage is all the same, and that the
resistance of the circuit is inversely proportional to the current of the electrical circuit.

________________________________________