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 pc resistor box
s
1 pc voltmeter
1 pc ammeter
8 pc connecting wires
s
1 pc digital multi-meter
3 pc battery
s

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

V L
I= (eqn. 1)
R
at T
L
Electrical resistance is a measure of how much opposition a material offers to the flow of
The change in length ΔL is the difference Figure
of the final length from its i
electric current. Voltage is defined as the amount of1 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 potential.
ΔL=L−L o (eqn. 1)
Voltage is also called potential difference.
 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 + R 2+.....+ R n

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 R2 Rn
PROCEDURE
A. Resistors in Series

1. Connect two resistor boxes, R1 = 10 and R2 = 15, in series with each other and three
batteries (Figure 2).
2. To measure the total current I flowing through the circuit, disconnect wire A and
replace it with the ammeter (When using an ammeter, its positive end should be
connected to the positive side of the battery). To measure the current I1 flowing
through R1, disconnect wire B and replace it with the ammeter. To measure the
current I2 flowing through R2, disconnect wire C and replace it with the ammeter.
CAUTION: When using the ammeter, never connect it across a battery or across the two ends of a resistor
as it will cause a short circuit. An ammeter is a low resistance device and will easily break when a large
amount of current passes through it.

3. To measure the total voltage V across the battery, connect the positive of the voltmeter
to point A and the negative to point C. To measure the voltage V1 across R1, connect
the positive of the voltmeter to point A and the negative to point B. To measure the
voltage V2 across R2, connect the positive of the voltmeter to point B and the negative to
point C.

Wire B

A B B C
Resistance Box Resistance Box

R1 R22

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

Figure 2. Series Connection Setup

B. Resistors in Parallel

1. Connect two resistor boxes, R 1 = 10 and R2 = 15, in parallel with each other and in
series with three batteries (Figure 3). NOTE: In Figure 3, points A, B, and C are all
connected to each other and to the positive terminal of the battery. Points D, E, and F
are all connected to each other and to the negative terminal of the battery.
2. To measure the total voltage V across the battery, connect the positive of the voltmeter
to point A and the negative to point F. To measure the voltage V1 across R1, connect
the positive of the voltmeter to point B and the negative to point E. To measure the
voltage V2 across R2, connect the positive of the voltmeter to point D and the negative
to point C.
3. To measure the total current I from the battery, disconnect wire 1 and replace it with
the ammeter. To measure the current I1 flowing through R1, disconnect wire 2 and
replace it with the ammeter. To measure the current I2 flowing through R2, disconnect
wire 3 and replace it with the ammeter.

Wire 3
C
Resistance Box

R22

Wire 2

B
Resistance Box

Wire 1 R1

+ - + - + -
A F

Figure 3. Parallel Connection Setup

 EXPERIMENT NO. 109 : RESISTORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL

Name Group No.

Course/Year Seat No.
Subject/Section Date

TABLE 1. RESISTORS IN SERIES

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

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

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

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

Current Flowing through
(I1) A
R1
Current Flowing through
(I2) A
R2
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

Name Group No.

Course/Year Seat No.
Subject/Section Date

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 %
(I1) A (I1) A
R1
Current Flowing through %
(I2) A (I2) A
R2
Total Current (I) A (IT) A %

Computed Values:

IT = VT / RT = ________________________________________

I1 = VT / R1 = _________________________________________

I2 = VT / R2 = _________________________________________

Approved by:

Instructor Date