AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIvERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF

PHYSICS

PHYSICS 1 - LAB

Summer: 2021-2022

LAB REPORT ON

Study of Ohm’s law using unknown resistances and determination of the equivalent resistances for
series and parallel combinations of resistors.
 (a) Study of Ohm’s law using unknown resistances.
(b) Determination of the equivalent resistances for series and parallel combinations of resistors.

Theory:

Ohm's law states that at a constant temperature the current through a conductor between two points
is directly proportional to the voltage across those two points. Introducing the constant of
proportionality, the resistance, one arrives at the usual mathematical equation that describes this
relationship:

𝑽 = 𝑰𝑹

Where I is the current and V is the potential difference across the resistance R.

Figure 6.1: (a) Simple circuit to determine unknown resistance, Rx by using Ohm’s law,
ammeter (A) and voltmeter (V) are used to measure the current and potential drop in the
circuit, variable resistor, Rh is used to change the current flow in the circuit (b) Slope of the V
vs. I graph gives the value of R.

When N number of resistors are connected in series and parallel connections their equivalent
resistances Rs and Rp are calculated by the following two equations:

𝑹𝒔 = 𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝑹𝑵

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + +⋯+
𝑹𝒑 𝑹𝟏 𝑹𝟐 𝑹𝑵

Figure 6.2: Series and parallel connections are shown for two resistors R1 and R2 in (a) and (b),
respectively.
 Apparatus:
 Power supply,
 variable resistor,
 ammeter,
 voltmeter,
 unknown resistors and
 Connecting wires.

Procedure:

At first we have constructed above circuits with 2 unknown resistances (R1 & R2). Using rheostat Rh we have
chosen current not more than 1 A. Then we Vary Rh to select 10 different currents through the circuit as measured
by the ammeter (A). Lastly, we measured the corresponding potential differences (V) in the voltmeter.

Experimental Data:
Table 6.1: Voltage current records for R1 and R2

Current Voltage
Resistors I V
(A) (V)
0.1 0.138
0.2 0.23
0.3 0.31
R1 0.4 0.45
0.5 0.52
0.6 0.63
0.1 0.27

0.2 0.52
R2
0.3 0.77

0.4 0.91

0.5 1

0.6 1.31
Table 6.2: Voltage current records for series and parallel connections.

Combinations of Current Voltage

R1 & R2 I V
(A) (V)

0.1 0.43

0.2 0.6

0.3 0.96
Series Combination
0.4 1.4

0.5 1.62

0.6 2
 0.1 0.078

0.2 0.15

.03 0.22

Parallel Combination
0.4 0.28

0.5 0.38

0.6 0.48
Analysis and Calculation:
 We have used EXCEL to plot V versus I graphs. We have to plot 4 graphs for R1, R2, R1 and R2
in series and parallel connections.
 We found the best fitted lines and determined the slope of the best fitted lines to get the
values of R1, R2, Rs and Rp.
 Lastly we calculated the values of Rs and Rp by using the values of R1 and R2 according to the
laws of series and parallel combinations of resistors.

Result:

Table 6.3: Values of R1, R2, Rs and Rp .

Resistances from the graphs Calculated Values of Rs Comments

and Rp in Ohms
Resistors Values in Ohms Percentage Difference
between Rs is 3.61
R1 1.0061
R2 2.0087
Percentage Difference
Rs 3.0509 3.0148 between Rp is 1.79
Rp 0.6524 0.6703

So, The laws of ohm’s are

verified in our
experiment because the
percentage difference is
very low.
 Discussion:

We observed that when voltage V=0 then the reading of ammeter is zero. That means
the current through the wire is zero. Now, one cannot calculate the resistance for this data
because one cannot measure the opposition faced by the current until the current flows.

While taking data we can see that for the last two data currently have not increased as
much as first three observations. This is because of the increase in resistance of the wire due
to heating. Here current flow through the wire causes Joule’s heating. Although voltage and
current was measured using digital multi-meter, reading was fluctuating, and it was difficult
to take exact reading. The connecting wires that are used were thick copper wire.
To avoid the introduction of external resistance, the connections were tightened. For making
connections, we used the circuit diagram.

For making the current entry from the positive terminal and exit from the negative
terminal, the ammeter was connected in series. For avoiding heat and change in the
resistance value of the resistor, we make the current flow while taking the readings.

The total experiment is done with great accuracy and under the instruction of our
respected teacher.

Resources:

 Fundamental of Physics (10th Edition): Ohm’s Law (Chapter 26, page 756-759)
 Video Links:
➢ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh3XGz7hgU4
➢ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxYn74Yhkpk
➢ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c1z4pLsI_w