ANGEL M.

BUQUIR S12-05

Summative Assessment 2 in General Physics 2

AN EXPERIMENTAL REPORT ON CIRCUITS

A. Objectives

• Differentiate series circuit from parallel circuit in terms of current, voltage and
resistance
• Apply the concepts of Series and Parallel Circuits to verify the results of the
experiment

B. Introduction

A circuit is an electrical network made up of several electrical components that

enables an electric current to circulate around an enclosed, complete loop. The two types
of circuits, namely series circuit and parallel circuit, will be the main emphasis of this
experiment. Series circuits are simple and provide equal current flow through each
component, whereas parallel circuits have multiple pathways for current flow and equal
voltage across each component. Moreover, this report should adhere to Ohm’s
law, stating that the electric current (I) is proportional to voltage (V) and inversely
proportional to resistance (R). In order to provide an overview of the three most
essential variables in this experiment, current (I) is the quantity of charge that is passed
through a conductor in a given amount of time, voltage (V) is the electric pressure that
causes current to flow, and resistance (R) is the defiance a material presents to the
current. It is important to remember that I stands for current in Ampere (A), V for voltage
in Volts (V), and R for resistance in Ohms (Ω).

C. Materials and Procedure (Experimental Design)

Material:

Circuit Construction Kit: DC

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc/latest/circuit-construction-
kit-dc_en.html

Procedure:

A. General Procedure

1. Once the program is loaded, select the “Lab” option between the two choices.

2. Familiarize yourself with the simulation components and their functions.

3. Check all the boxes under the “Show Current/Label/Values Options”

*Note: It is up to you whether you select on the electrons or conventional option, but it
would be better to choose the electrons.

4. Under the “Component Appearance Button”, you could freely select either the real time
appearance or the schematic diagram appearance.
5. Select and drag the required elements through the “Component Selector Tab” to start
building an electric circuit.
*Note: Use the bulb instead of the resistor.
- For Series Circuit: Arrange elements in a single path
- For Parallel Circuit: Arrange elements in a multiple path

6. Use the corresponding measuring devices in the “Measuring Device Tab” to assess
the values of current (ammeter) and voltage (voltmeter).

7. Record your observations and complete the table below.

8. Come up with an analysis and conclusion based on the gathered data.

B. Step-by-step Procedure

B1. Set A: Series Circuit

1. Drag one (1) battery, three (3) light bulbs, and as many wires as you need from the
“Component Selector Tab” to start building a series circuit.
2. Adjust the values of your light bulbs and battery according to your preference (You
MUST use the same values on your Set B: Parallel Circuit).
3. Connect the electrical components to start the flow of electricity.
*See image below for reference*

4. Measure the voltage of the light bulbs by dragging the voltmeter from the “Measuring
Device Tab”, then input the recorded data in your table.
 5. Measure current of the light bulbs by dragging the ammeter from the “Measuring
Device Tab”, then input the recorded data in your table.
6. Input the values of your light bulbs’ resistance in the table.
7. Take a screenshot of the circuit and each of the light bulbs as a proof, then paste it
on to the Results and Discussion section.
8. After recording all the required data in the table, compute the results through:
- Getting the total resistance: RT = R1 + R2 + R3
- Getting the total current: IT = VT/RT
- Getting the current of each resistor: IT = IR1 = IR2 = IR3
- Getting the voltage drop of each resistor: V = I x R
9. Verify the results through Ohm’s Law.
-V=IxR
- I = V/R
- R = V/I

Table #1: Series Circuit

V (V) I (A) R (Ω)
Bulb 1
Bulb 2
Bulb 3
Total

Insert Screenshot of the Circuit:

Insert Computation here:

B2. Parallel Circuit (Write the step-by-step procedure how to construct a parallel circuit.)
1. Drag one (1) battery, three (3) light bulbs, and as many wires as you need from the
“Component Selector Tab” to start building a series circuit.
 2. Adjust the values of your light bulbs and battery according to your preference (You
MUST use the same values on your Set A: Series Circuit).
3. Connect the electrical components to start the flow of electricity.
*See image below for reference*

4. Measure the voltage of the light bulbs by dragging the voltmeter from the “Measuring
Device Tab”, then input the recorded data in your table.
5. Measure current of the light bulbs by dragging the ammeter from the “Measuring Device
Tab”, then input the recorded data in your table.
6. Input the values of your light bulbs’ resistance in the table.
7. Take a screenshot of the circuit and each of the light bulbs as a proof, then paste it on
to the Results and Discussion section.
8. After recording all the required data in the table, compute the results through:
1
- Getting the total resistance: RT = 1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3

- Getting the total current: I = V/R

- Getting the voltage drop of each resistor: VT = VR1 = VR2 = VR3
- Getting the current of each resistor: (I1 = V1/R1), (I2 = V2/R2), (I3 = V3/R3)
9. Verify the results through Ohm’s Law.
-V=IxR
- I = V/R
- R = V/I

Table #2: Parallel Circuit

V (V) I (A) R (Ω)
Bulb 1
Bulb 2
 Bulb 3
Total

Insert Screenshot of the Circuit:

Insert Computation here:

D. Results and Discussion

Table #1: Set A (Series Circuit)

V (V) I (A) R (Ω)
Bulb 1 7.5 V 0.5 A 15 Ω
Bulb 2 10 V 0.5 A 20 Ω
Bulb 3 12.5 V 0.5 A 25 Ω
Total 30 V 0.5 A 60 Ω

Insert Screenshot of the Circuit:

Figure 1.1: Series Circuit

Figure 1.2: Bulb 1

Figure 1.3: Bulb 2

Figure 1.3: Bulb 3

Insert Computation here:

Total Resistance:
RT = R1 + R2 + R3
RT = 15 Ω + 20 Ω + 25 Ω
RT = 60 Ω

Total Current:
IT = VT/RT
IT = 30 V / 60 Ω
IT = 0.5 A

Current of Each Resistor/Lightbulb:

IT = I1 = I 2 = I 3
IT = 0.5 A = 0.5 A = 0.5 A

Voltage Drop of Each Resistor/Lightbulb:

V=IxR
V = I1 x R1
V = 0.5 A x 15 Ω
V = 7.5 V
V = I2 x R2
V = 0.5 A x 20 Ω
V = 10 V
V = I3 x R3
V = 0.5 A x 25 Ω
V = 12.5 V

Verification of Results using Table Method and Ohm’s Law:

 V (V) I (A) R (Ω)
Bulb 1 V1 = I1 x R1 I1 = V1/R1 R1 = V1/I1
V1 = 0.5 x 15 I1 = 7.5/15 R1 = 7.5/0.5
V1 = 7.5 V I1 = 0.5 A R1 = 15 Ω
Bulb 2 V2 = I2 x R2 I2 = V2/R2 R2 = V2/I2
V2 = 0.5 x 20 I2 = 10/20 R2 = 10/0.5
V2 = 10 V I2 = 0.5 A R2 = 20 Ω
Bulb 3 V3 = I3 x R3 I3 = V3/R3 R3 = V3/R3
V3 = 0.5 x 25 I3 = 12.5/25 R3 = 12.5/0.5
V3 = 12.5 V I3 = 0.5 A R3 = 25 Ω
Total VT = IT x RT IT = VT/RT RT = VT/IT
VT = 0.5 x 60 IT = 30/60 RT = 30/0.5
VT = 30 V IT = 0.5 A RT = 60 Ω

Table #2: Set B (Parallel Circuit)

V (V) I (A) R (Ω)
Bulb 1 30 V 2A 15 Ω
Bulb 2 30 V 1.5 A 20 Ω
Bulb 3 30 V 1.2 A 25 Ω
Total 30 V 4.7 A 6.38 Ω

Insert Screenshot of the Circuit:

Figure 2.1: Parallel Circuit
Figure 2.2: Bulb 1

Figure 2.3: Bulb 2

Figure 2.4: Bulb 3

Insert Computation here:

Total Resistance:
1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
15 20 25
1
RT = 47
300

RT = 6.38 Ω

Total Current:
IT = VT/RT
IT = 30/6.38
IT = 4.7 A

Voltage Drop of Each Resistor/Lightbulb:

VT = VR1 = VR2 = VR3
VT = 30 V = 30 V = 30 V

Current of Each Resistor/Lightbulb:

I = V/R
I1 = V1/R1
I1 = 30 V / 15 Ω
I1 = 2 A
I2 = V2/R2
I2 = 30 V / 20 Ω
I2 = 1.5 A
I3 = V3/R3
I3 = 30 V / 25 Ω
I3 = 1.2 A
Verification of Results using Table Method and Ohm’s Law:

V (V) I (A) R (Ω)

Bulb 1 V1 = I1 x R1 I1 = V1/R1 R1 = V1/I1
V1 = 2 x 15 I1 = 30/15 R1 = 30/2
V1 = 30 V I1 = 2 A R1 = 15 Ω
Bulb 2 V2 = I2 x R2 I2 = V2/R2 R2 = V2/I2
V2 = 1.5 x 20 I2 = 30/20 R2 = 30/1.5
V2 = 30 V I2 = 1.5 A R2 = 20 Ω
Bulb 3 V3 = I3 x R3 I3 = V3/R3 R3 = V3/I3
V3 = 1.2 x 25 I3 = 30/25 R3 = 30/1.2
V3 = 30 V I3 = 1.2 A R3 = 25 Ω
Total VT = IT x RT IT = VT/RT RT = VT/IT
VT = 4.7 x 6.38 IT = 30/6.38 RT = 30/4.7
VT = 30 V IT = 4.7 A RT = 6.38 Ω

Discussion/Analysis of Results

As mentioned on the Introduction portion of this study, an electrical circuit is an

electrical network made up of several electrical components that enables an electric
current to circulate around an enclosed, complete loop. Flow of electricity is made
possible through assembling several components such as the battery, resistors
(lightbulbs), and wires. These three (3) components determine a circuit’s voltage, current,
and resistance.

In this experimental report, three (3) lightbulbs were utilized to serve as the resistor
of the circuits and one (1) battery was used as the source of electricity and these
components are connected together with multiple wires. Moreover, this study focused of
two types of electrical circuit, namely “Series Circuit (Set A) and Parallel Circuit (Set B).
To successfully determine the difference between the two aforementioned types of circuit
and be able to correspond to the first objective, both circuits used the same values and
all electrical components were hold constant in the entire study.

Keep in mind that BOTH Set A and Set B used the same values for the bulbs’
resistance (R) and for the battery’s voltage (V).

Set A or the “Series Circuit” has its electrical components arranged in a single path
of electrons to flow. After setting the values for the three (3) bulbs, we needed to solve
for its total resistance using the formula: RT = R1 + R2 + R3. With bulb 1 having 15 Ω, bulb
2 having 20 Ω, and bulb 3 having 25 Ω. These three values were added together which
resulted to 60 Ω. After solving for the total resistance, we need to get the total amount of
current through the formula: IT = VT/RT, wherein we divide the amount of total voltage (30
V) with the total resistance (60 Ω), resulting into 0.5 A. In addition, since this is a series
circuit, the current in each resistor should be equal to every resistor within the circuit,
meaning that all three resistors have a current of 0.5 A. Next, we solve for the voltage
drop across each resistor/bulb using the formula: V = I x R, whereas all current has a
value of 0.5 A and R1 is equals to 15, R2 is equals to 20, and R3 is equals to 25. By
multiplying the current with the corresponding resistors, we get: V1 = 7.5 V, V2 = 10 V,
and V3 = 12.5 V. Lastly, as shown on the computation table for Set A, the total amount of
voltage is solved through the formula: VT = IT x RT or simply VT = V1 + V2 + V3 whereas
the product and sum of 7.5 V, 10 V, and 12.5 V is equals to 30 V.

Right after the computation of the missing data, we verified the results by using the
table method and Ohm’s law wherein:
-V=IxR - I = V/R - R = V/I

Through the table method and Ohm’s law verification, we can say that Set A:
Series Circuit has a total resistance of 60 Ω, current/total current of 0.5/0.50 A, total
voltage of 30 V, and each resistor has a voltage drop of 7.5 V for bulb 1, 10 V for bulb 2,
and 12.5 V for bulb 3.
 Set B or the “Parallel Circuit”, on the other hand, has its electrical components
arranged in a multiple path where each resistor/bulb has its own separate branch. Since
this is a parallel circuit, a different formula and computation for getting the total
resistance shall be used compared to the latter type of circuit:
1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
R1 R2 R3
1
RT = 1 1 1
+ +
15 20 25
1
RT = 47
300

RT = 6.38 Ω
Through the formula above, we got the value for the parallel circuit’s total
resistance which is: 6.38 Ω. After getting the total resistance, it’s now time to solve for the
total current, using the formula: IT = VT/RT wherein we divide the total voltage (30 V) by
the total resistance (6.38 Ω), hence, we get 4.7 A. Furthermore, since this is a parallel
circuit, the voltage in each resistor should be equal to every resistor within the circuit,
meaning that all three resistors have a voltage of 30 V. Next, we solve for the current
across each resistor/bulb through the formula: I = V/R, whereas all voltage has a value of
30 V and R1 is equals to 15, R2 is equals to 20, and R3 is equals to 25. By dividing the
voltage by the corresponding resistors, we get: I1 = 2 A, I2 = 1.5 A, and I3 = 1.2 A. Lastly,
as verified on the computation table for Set B, the total amount of current is verified
through the formula: IT = VT/RT or simply IT = I1 + I2 + I3 whereas the product and sum of
2 A, 1.5 A, and 1.2 A is equals to 4.7 A.

Again, right after the computation of the missing data, we verified the results by using
the table method and Ohm’s law wherein:
-V=IxR - R = V/I - I = V/R

Through the table method and Ohm’s law verification, we can say that Set B:
Parallel Circuit has a total resistance of 6.38 Ω, a voltage/total voltage of 30 V, total current
of 4.7 A, and each resistor has a current of 2 A for bulb 1, 1.5 A for bulb 2, and 1.2 A for
bulb 3.

As a result of all the gathered data and computations, it can be inferred that a
series circuit and a parallel circuit has several differences in terms of their characteristics
(current, voltage, and resistance):

Series Circuit:
- The current flow through every series component is equal.
- The total resistance is equal to the sum of all resistances
- The sum of all the voltage drops is equal to the applied voltage, also determined
as “Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law”.

Parallel Circuit:
- The voltage across every parallel component is equal.
- The total resistance is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocal.
- The sum of all the currents in each branch is equal to the total current, also defined
as “Kirchhoff’s Current Law”.

E. Conclusion

We were able to gather convincing proofs and documentations that various types
of electrical circuits can differ in terms of their current, voltage, and resistance through the
data we collected, calculations we made, and results we verified from the Results and
Discussion section of this experimental report. Despite having constant and identical
values during the entire experiment, Sets A and B's total resistance and total current are
different as a result of different arrangements and structures. The same value of current
goes through every electrical component in Set A, or a series circuit, while in Set B, or a
parallel circuit, the electrical components are arranged in a parallel manner, which is why
the current in this type of circuit divides into a separate branches. Moreover, the
magnitude of this type of circuit is directly proportional to the value of resistance, meaning
that the larger the value of resistance, the larger the voltage drop across that resistor. In
addition, in a series circuit, the voltage/voltage drop that exists across each electrical
component are different from one another because as the current passes through each
resistor, it establishes a different voltage across each individual resistor. However, in a
parallel connection, there are only two sets of electrically common points in the circuit,
and the voltage measured between these sets of common points must always be the
same at all times. This results in the same voltage/voltage drop across the various
electrical components. On top of that, the total resistance in a parallel circuit is always
less than any of the branch resistances because current can flow along multiple path and
not only a single pathway, whereas the total resistance in a series circuit is simply the
sum of each resistance of the components included in that particular electrical circuit. It
is safe to draw the conclusion that Set B's bulbs created a brighter and stronger radiance
than Set A's after considering all the elements in this report. All the collected data were
verified through the table method and the formula and equations under Ohm’s Law. The
results indicate that the experiment's main objectives have been established and
achieved. Applying its principles and confirming it with formulae and equations allowed
us to clearly distinguish the difference/contrast between the two types of circuits (series
circuit and parallel circuit).

F. References

All About Circuits (2020). Simple Parallel Circuits. Chapter 5: Series and Parallel Circuits.
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-5/simple-parallel-
circuits/

A Plus Physics (2017). Electrical Circuits.

https://www.aplusphysics.com/courses/honors/circuits/circuits_def.html
BYJUS. (2018). Difference Between Series and Parallel Circuits with its Practical
Applications in Real Life. https://byjus.com/physics/difference-between-series-
and-parallel-circuits/

Circuit Globe (2020). Difference Between Series and Parallel Circuit.

https://circuitglobe.com/difference-between-series-and-parallel-circuit.html

Flinn, C. (2012). Basic Electricity. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/basicelectricity/front-

matter/introduction/