EXPERIMENT NO.

109 RESISTORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL

INTRODUCTION

A simple circuit consists of a resistor connected to a source by wires. A switch may also be included in the
simple circuit. If there are two or more resistors in the circuit, they may be connected in series or in parallel. .

In this experiment, you will analyze series and parallel connections of resistors. You will determine the
current passing through a resistor and the voltage across each resistor.

OBJECTIVES

1. To measure the current flowing through resistors connected in series.

2. To measure the voltage across resistors connected in parallel.
3. To apply Ohm’s law in series and parallel connections of resistors.

MATERIALS

2 pcs resistor box

1 pc voltmeter
1 pc ammeter
8 pcs connecting wires
1 pc digital multi-meter
3 pcs battery

THEORY
Ohm's law states that the current I  through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to
the voltage V across the two points. Introducing the constant of proportionality, the resistance R, Ohm’s Law can be
expressed as a mathematical equation that describes this relationship.

Lo
at To
(eqn. 1)
V L
Electrical resistance is a measure of howI=
much opposition a material offers to the flow of electric current.
R
Voltage is defined as the amount
at T of work done or the energy required in moving a unit of positive charge from a
region of lower electric potential to a region of higher electric
L potential. Voltage is also called potential difference.

The change in length ΔL is the difference of the final length from its i
Figure 1

ΔL=L−Lo (eqn. 1)

58
 Figure 1. Simple Electric Circuit
Resistors in Series

When resistors are connected in series, the current that flows through all the resistors is the same.
I1 = I2 = ……= In

As the current flows around the circuit, there is a voltage drop as the current flows through each
resistor. The sum of the voltage drops across all resistors is equal to the voltage across the battery.

V =V 1 +V 2 +. .. . .+V n

The resistance of a combination of resistors in series (equivalent resistance) is equal to the sum of
the individual resistors.

R=R 1 +R2 +. . .. .+Rn

Resistors in Parallel

When resistors are connected in parallel, the current flowing through the battery is equal to the sum
of the currents flowing through the individual resistors.

I = I1 + I2 + ……+ In

The voltage across each individual resistor is equal to the voltage across the battery.

V =V 1 =V 2 =. .. ..=V n

The equivalent resistance of resistors connected in parallel is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the
reciprocals of the individual resistors.

[ ]
−1
1 1 1
R= + +. .. ..+
R1 R 2 Rn

PROCEDURE
A. Resistors in Series
59
1. Connect two resistor boxes, R1 = 10 and R2 = 15, in series with each other and three batteries
 Wire B

A B B C
Resistance Box Resistance Box

R1 R22

+ - + - + - Wire C
Wire A
A C

B. Resistors in Parallel

1. Connect two resistor boxes, R1 = 10 and R2 = 15, in parallel with each other and in series with
three batteries with each battery has emf = 4V (Figure 3). NOTE: In Figure 3, points A, B, and C
are all connected to each other and to the positive
60 terminal of the battery. Points D, E, and F are all
connected to each other and to the negative terminal of the battery.
 Wire 3
C
Resistance Box

R22

Wire 2

B
Resistance Box

Wire 1 R1

+ - + - + -
A F

GUIDE QUESTIONS: (For Group Report)

1. (a) In Part A procedure 2, how do the values of I, I 1, and I2 compare with each other? Why is this
h
the case?
_________________________________________________________________________________
61
_________________________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________________________

EXPERIMENT NO. 109: RESISTORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL

TABLE 1. RESISTORS IN SERIES

R1 =  R2 =  RT = 
Experimental Computed Percentage Difference

Voltage Across Battery (V) V (VT) V %

62
 Voltage Across R1 (V1) V (V1) V %

Voltage Across R2 (V2) V (V2) V %

Current Flowing through R1 (I1) A

Current Flowing through R2 (I2) A
Total Current (I) A (IT) A %

Computed Values:

IT = VT / RT = _______________________________________

V1 = IT R1 = _________________________________________

V2 = IT R2 = _________________________________________

EXPERIMENT NO. 109: RESISTORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL

TABLE 2. RESISTORS IN PARALLEL

R1 =  R2 =  RT = 
Experimental Computed Percentage Difference

Voltage Across Battery (V) V (VT) V %

Voltage Across R1 (V1) V

Voltage Across R2 (V2) V
Current Flowing through R1 (I1) A (I1) A %

63
 Current Flowing through R2 (I2) A (I2) A %

Total Current (I) A (IT) A %

Computed Values:

IT = VT / RT = ________________________________________

I1 = VT / R1 = _________________________________________

I2 = VT / R2 = _________________________________________

NOTE:
Use the
link below
for the
virtual set-

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab/
latest/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab_en.html

64