Name: Aaliyah Senior

Lab #: 10

Date: January 16, 2022

Title: Series and Parallel circuits

Aim: To investigate current and voltage in a series and parallel circuit

Apparatus/materials: battery, ammeter, voltmeter, connecting wires, bulbs.

Part A- current in series circuit

C B

D 3 2

Circuit diagram for a series circuit

Procedure:

1. The circuit was set up as shown in the diagram above

2. The current I, was recorded on the ammeter across the battery.
3. The current was recorded on the ammeter across positions A,B,C and D.
4. The voltage across each resistor was recorded. The circuit was set up i.e. 1,2,3, across 3
and 2 as well as across the battery.
5. The results were placed in a table.

Results:
Ammeter position Current reading Voltmeter position Voltmeter reading

A 0.60 1 9.0

B 0.60 2 9.0

C 0.60 3 9.0

D 0.60 2 &3 18.0

battery
Part B- Current in Parallel circuit

Circuit diagram

cProcedure

1. The PHET website was visited and the dc circuit construction kit was accessed:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab/latest/circuit-
construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html
2. The circuit diagram was set up as shown above with the ammeter A at different positions
such as across the battery and at positions B,C and D across each bulb and in turn record
the reading at each position.
3. The voltmeter was used to record the voltage
4. the position of the voltmeter was changed to record the voltage across each bulb.

Results:
Ammeter position Current reading (A) Voltmeter position Voltage reading (V)

B 0.45 1 9.0

C 0.45 2 9.0

E 0.45 3 9.0

F 0.45 2&3 18

G 0.45 battery

H 1.35

I 1.35

Data Analysis:

A series circuit comprises a path along which the whole current flows through each

component. In a series circuit, the current that flows through each of the components is the

same, and the voltage across the circuit is the sum of the individual voltage drops across each

component. When two or more components are connected in series, the total potential difference

of the supply is shared between them. This means that if you add together the voltages across

each component connected in series, the total equals the voltage of the power supply; In a series

circuit, the current is the same at each resistor.

A parallel circuit comprises branches so that the current divides and only part of it flows

through any branch. The value of the current leaving the battery entering junction 1 is 1.44 A,

The value of the current leaving junction 1 is 1.44 A and the value of the current entering

junction 2 is 0.36 A. The value of current in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the

individual branch currents. When resistors are connected in parallel, they have the same potential

difference across them.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, In a series circuit, the same amount of current flows through all

the components placed in it. On the other hand, in parallel circuits, the components are

placed in parallel with each other due to which the circuit splits the current flow and the

voltage across components connected in parallel is the same as the supply voltage for

each component.In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the

same, and the total current is the sum of the currents flowing through each component.