Laboratory Activity 5

Resistors in Series and Parallel

Name: Lawrence H. Salvador Date: May 03, 2023

Section: 1-BSEcE-A

I. Objectives
1. To identify the difference in the voltage, current and resistance of resistors in series and parallel.

II. Procedure

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

construction-kit-dc_en.html

A. Resistors in Series

1. In the simulation, click on Lab.

2. Assemble the circuit shown below:
3. Change the value of the resistance by clicking on the resistor and changing the value.
4. Change the voltage by clicking the battery and changing the value to any voltage of your choosing.
Write the value in Table 1 below.
5. Measure the currents (�1 , �2 , �3 ) along the resistors and record them in Table 1. Also measure the
total current in the circuit (�) and record it in Table 1.
6. Measure the voltages (�1 , �2 , �3 ) along the resistors and record them in Table 1.
7. Solve for the equivalent resistance using the equation:
��� ���
�= → ��� =
��� �

Table 1. Resistors in Series

Resistance (Ω) Current (A) Voltage (V)
�1 = 10.0 �1 = 1.33 �1 = 13.33
 �2 = 15.0 �2 = 1.33 �2 = 20.00
�3 = 20.0 �3 = 1.33 �3 = 26.67
��� = 45.0 � = 1.33 ��� = 60.o

B. Resistors in Parallel

1. Assemble the circuit shown below:

2. Change the value of the resistance by clicking on the resistor and changing the value.
3. Change the voltage by clicking the battery and changing the value to any voltage of your choosing.
Write the value in Table 1 below.
4. Measure the currents (�1 , �2 , �3 ) along the resistors and record them in Table 1. Also measure the
total current in the circuit (�) and record it in Table 1.
5. Measure the voltages (�1 , �2 , �3 ) along the resistors and record them in Table 1.
6. Solve for the equivalent resistance using the equation:
��� ���
�= → ��� =
��� �

Table 2. Resistors in Parallel

Resistance (Ω) Current (A) Voltage (V)
�1 = 10.0 �1 = 6.00 �1 = 60.0
�2 = 15.0 �2 = 4.00 �2 = 60.0
�3 = 20.0 �3 = 3.00 �3 = 60.0
��� = 4.62 � = 13.0 ��� = 60.0

III. Questions
1. For resistors in series, how is each current (�1 , �2 , �3 ) related to the total current (�)? Explain and
� � �
write an equation describing this relationship. Note that �1 = �1 , �2 = �2 , �3 = �3.
1 2 3

� = �1 = �2 = �3

�1 �2 �3
�= = =
�1 �2 �3
In a series circuit, the current through each component is the same and proportional to
the total current. The current through an individual component can be calculated by dividing
the total current by the number of components. Adding more components increases the total
resistance, reducing the total current, according to the voltage divider rule.

2. For resistors in series, how is each voltage (�1 , �2 , �3 ) related to the total voltage (��� )? Explain and
write an equation describing this relationship.

When resistors are connected in series, the same current flows through each resistor.
According to Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, the total voltage across the series resistors is equal to
the sum of the voltage drops across each individual resistor. This relationship can be expressed
mathematically as
 ��� = �1 + �2 + �3

where V is the total voltage across the series resistors, and V1, V2, andV3 are the
voltage drops across each individual resistor. By using Ohm's Law, we can express the voltage
drop across each resistor as
�1 = � × �1 , �2 = � × �2 , �3 = � × �3

Substituting these equations and simplifying, we get

� = � (�1 + �2 + �3 ) ;

� ∝ ���

which shows that the voltage drop across each resistor is proportional to its resistance,
and the total voltage across the series resistors is proportional to the sum of their individual
resistances

3. Using the equations you have in #1 and #2, solve for the value of the equivalent resistance ��� in
���
terms of �1 , �2 , and �3 . Start your solution with ��� = �
. Write your solution in a piece of paper
and attach a photo of it below:
4. Is your answer in #3 consistent to the value ��� you calculated in Table 1?

Yes, the answer in #3 is consistent to the value of calculated in Table 1. To calculate the
total resistance in series circuit, you add up the resistance values pf each individual component
in the circuit.

5. For resistors in parallel, how is each current (�1 , �2 , �3 ) related to the total current (�)? Explain and
write an equation describing this relationship.

1
�∝
���

In a parallel circuit, the current through each resistor is inversely proportional to its
resistance. The total current is the sum of the individual currents through each resistor. To find
the current through a resistor, use Ohm's Law.

� = �1 + �2 + �3

�1 �2 �3
�= + +
�1 �2 �3

For example, in a circuit with resistors of 10, 20, and 30 ohms and a total current of 5
amps, the current through each resistor would be 0.5A, 0.25A, and 0.1667A, respectively.

6. For resistors in parallel, how is each voltage (�1 , �2 , �3 ) related to the total voltage (��� )? Explain
and write an equation describing this relationship.

In a parallel circuit, each resistor has the same voltage as the total voltage of the circuit,
because they are connected directly across the voltage source. The voltage across each resistor
can be calculated using Ohm's Law, which states that the voltage is equal to the current
multiplied by the resistance.

��� = �1 = �2 = �3

��� = �1 �1 = �2 �2 = �3 �3

7. Using the equations you have in #4 and #5, solve for the value of the equivalent resistance ��� in
���
terms of �1 , �2 , and �3 . Start your solution with ��� = �
. Write your solution in a piece of paper
and attach a photo of it below:
8. Is your answer in #7 consistent to the value ��� you calculated in Table 2?

Yes, the answer in #7 is consistent to the value of calculated in Table 2. The reciprocal
of the total resistance (1/R_total) is equal to the sum of the reciprocals of the individual
resistances (1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 + ...). Once you have calculated the sum of the reciprocals of the
individual resistances, you can take the reciprocal of that sum to obtain the total resistance