Northwest Vista College Physics II

Natural & Physical Sciences

PHYS – Date:
Names:

Lab Submission Checklist:

 Make sure that your final lab submission has the following parts before the deadline. Please
see lab procedure for requirements for each part.

1. +20 points, Data Tables – completed with tolerance or % error at 10% or less
 +5 points, Data Table 1 – Resistor Tolerance Check
 +5 points, Data Table 2 – Resistors in Series
 +5 points, Data Table 3 – Resistors in Parallel
 +5 points, Data Table 4 – Resistors in Series-Parallel
2. +25 points, Virtual Resistors in Series & Parallel – all questions answered in at least two
complete sentences, unless otherwise instructed or calculations are necessary.
 +5 points, Data Table 5 – Virtual Resistors in Series
 +5 points, Data Table 6 – Virtual Resistors in Parallel
3. +12 points, Equivalent Resistance Calculations – handwritten equivalent resistance
calculations from the Analysis Questions with correct units and appropriate SF for the
following resistor combinations:
 Resistors in Series
 Resistors in Parallel
 Resistors in Series-Parallel
 Resistors in Parallel-Parallel
4. +20 points, Analysis Questions
 all post-lab analysis questions answered in at least two complete sentences, unless
otherwise instructed
5. +3 points, Multi-Part Conclusion – conclusion answered as instructed

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

Data Table 1 – Resistor Check Values.

Listed Measured Within [5%]
Resistor
Color Bands Resistance Resistance Tolerance?
#
( ) ( ) [ Yes / No ]
1 Yellow, purple, black, gold 47.0 47.1 Yes
2 Brown, black, brown. gold 100.0 99.2 Yes
3 Red, red. Yellow, gold 220 217 Yes
4 Brown, black, red, gold 1.0 0.988 Yes
5 Brown, black, brown, gold 100 100.2 Yes

Data Table 2 – Resistors in Series.

Calculated Equivalent Measured Equivalent
Data Run % error
Resistance Resistance from V-I slope
UNITS!  Ohms Ohms %
1 1220 1200
2 1100 1070
3 1047 1020
4 320 310
5 200 194

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

Data Table 3 – Resistors in Parallel.

Calculated Equivalent Measured Equivalent
Data Run % error
Resistance Resistance from V-I slope
UNITS!  Ohms Ohms %
1 50.0 48.4
2 68.8 66.3
3 180 174
4 90.9 87.7
5 32.0 31.0

Data Table 4 – Resistors in Series-Parallel.

Calculated Equivalent Measured Equivalent
Data Run % error
Resistance Resistance from V-I slope
UNITS!  Ohms Ohms %
1 132 128
2 270 261
3 280 271
4 227 220
5 148 134

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
 Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

0
Part 5 – Virtual Resistors Connected in Series

1. Click on the given PhET simulation link and then click on ‘Lab’ from the opening screen,
shown below.
 https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-ac/latest/circuit-construction-kit-ac_en.html

2. You should see a screen with different electric components and tools on both sides like the
image below.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

3. For this part of the lab, you will be connecting resistors of the same resistance together in
series. Create the circuit shown below using a 10-Ω resistor and set the battery voltage to
18-volts.

4. Turn the circuit on and measure the voltage across the resistor, or its voltage drop. This is
the amount of energy per unit charge that the resistor uses in the closed circuit.
5. Then add the current meter to measure the current on both sides of the resistor to find the
total current flowing through the resistor.
6. Record both values in Data Table 5.
7. Then add another 10-Ω resistor [and some wire] in series with the first one. Once again,
measure the voltage drop across the resistor and measure the total current between the
resistors. Record these values in Data Table 5.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

8. Add one more 10-Ω resistor in series with the other two and record the voltage drop across
the resistor & total current between each resistor in Data Table 5.

9. Then predict what would happen if you had four of the 10-Ω resistors connected in series
and record their values in Data Table 5 as well. You may show some calculations if you
want.
 Question or Calculations: Please explain your reasoning for your predictions in at
least two complete sentences or you may also show your calculations as well.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

Data Table 5.

Battery Voltage, ΔV = 18 V

# of Voltage Drop across 1st Total Current Equivalent

Resistors Resistor (V) (A) Resistance (Ω)

1 [to be measured] [to be measured] [to be calculated]

2 [to be measured] [to be measured] [to be calculated]

3 [to be measured] [to be measured] [to be calculated]

4 [to be predicted] [to be predicted] [to be predicted]

 Question: What pattern do you see in the voltage drop measured across the first
resistor? Please explain your observations in terms of what is expected from components
connected in series and in at least two complete sentences.

 Question: Is the total current between each resistor different or the same? Please
explain your observations in terms of what is expected from components connected in series
and in at least two complete sentences.

10. Next, calculate for the equivalent resistance of each combination of resistors using the
∆V Battery voltage
formula for Ohm’s law, R= = then put these values the last right
I Total Current
column in Data Table 5. You do not have to show your calculations for the equivalent
resistance values this time.
 Question: What pattern do you see in the equivalent resistance? Is it getting bigger or
smaller? Please explain your observations and answer in at least two complete sentences.
You may use data to help explain your answer.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

11. Suppose that each set of resistors in series were connected to a light
bulb, what do you predict would happen to the brightness of the
light bulb as more resistors are added in series? Please explain
your answer.
*You may use the PhET simulation to figure this out, but it is a
bit tricky!

Part 6 – Virtual Resistors Connected in Parallel

1. Now you will be connecting the 10-Ω resistors together in parallel. But you’ve already
done the first circuit [one branch]. Copy your data from the first line in Data Table 5 into
the first row of Data Table 6.

Data Table 6.

Battery Voltage, ΔV = 18 V

# of Voltage Drop across Total Current Equivalent

Resistors Bottom Resistors (V) (A) Resistance (Ω)
[from 1st row of Data Table [from 1st row of Data [from 1st row of table
1
5] Table 5] 5]

2 [to be measured] [to be measured] [to be calculated]

3 [to be measured] [to be measured] [to be calculated]

4 [to be predicted] [to be predicted] [to be predicted]

2. Then, change your previous circuit into two 10-Ω resistors connected across different
branches, or in parallel, as shown in the image below.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

3. Turn the circuit on and measure the voltage drop across the resistor on the bottom branch
and measure the total current of the circuit. Record these values in the Data Table 6.
4. Then connect another 10-Ω resistor in parallel to the previous circuit, like the image shown
below. Turn the circuit on and record its values in the table.

 Question: What happened to the voltage drop on the bottom bulb as you added more
branches to the circuit? Please explain your observations in terms of what is expected from
components connected in series in at least two complete sentences.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

5. Now predict what would happen if you had four 10-Ω resistors of the same resistance
connected in parallel and record their values in Data Table 6 as well. You may show some
calculations if you want.
 Question or Calculations: Please explain your reasoning for your predictions in at
least two complete sentences or you may also show your calculations as well.

6. Next, calculate for the equivalent resistance of each combination of resistors using the
∆V Battery voltage
formula for Ohm’s law, R= = . You do not have to show your
I Total Current
calculations for the equivalent resistance values.
 Question: What pattern do you see in the equivalent resistance? Is this what is
expected? Please explain your answer in at least two complete sentences. You may use data
or calculations in your explanation.

 Question: What happened to the total current as you added more branches to the
circuit? How did this affect the equivalent resistance of the circuit? Please explain your
answer in terms of what is expected from components connected in parallel in at least two
complete sentences.

12. Suppose that each set of resistors in parallel were connected

to a light bulb, what do you predict would happen to the
brightness of the light bulb as more resistors are added in
different branches connected in parallel? Please explain your
answer.
*You may use the PhET simulation to figure this out, but it is a bit tricky!

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
 Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

Analysis Questions:
 Please answer the following questions in at least two complete sentences, unless otherwise
indicated.

Equivalent Resistance Ranking

1. Assume that all the resistors shown above have equal values, rank the following resistor
combinations from least to greatest equivalent resistance. Please put the letters only!
Ranking 

2. Please show your handwritten solutions in calculating the equivalent resistance of the four
resistor combinations above. Please include this in your lab submission.
3. From your V-I graphs, you may notice [from using the multi-coordinates tool] that the x-
intercept, or the measured current value at zero voltage, is not zero at all. Where do you
think this ‘extra’ current comes from? Please give and defend your best hypothesis.

4. Assuming all resistors involved are the same ohm value, which of the following
combinations yields the smallest equivalent resistance? Please highlight or select only
one answer.
the resistors all connected in series
Written by Chuck Hunt
modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

the resistors all connected in parallel, in four distinct branches

two resistors connected in series then connected to two in parallel
two branches in parallel with two resistors each, connected in series

5. Assuming all resistors involved are the same ohm value, which of the following
combinations yields the largest equivalent resistance? Please highlight or select only one
answer.
the resistors all connected in series
the resistors all connected in parallel, in four distinct branches
two resistors connected in series then connected to two in parallel
two branches in parallel with two resistors each, connected in series

6. Based on your observations and/or the theory, how does connecting resistors in series
affect the equivalent (or total) resistance? Please highlight or select all correct answers.
it increases the total current in the circuit
it decreases the total current in the circuit
it increases the voltage drop across each resistor
it decreases the voltage drop across each resistor
it increases the equivalent resistance
it decreases the equivalent resistance

7. Based on your observations and/or the theory, how does connecting resistors in parallel
affect the equivalent (or total) resistance? Please highlight or select all correct answers.
it increases the total current in the circuit
it decreases the total current in the circuit
it increases the voltage drop across each resistor
it decreases the voltage drop across each resistor
it increases the equivalent resistance
it decreases the equivalent resistance

8. In a closed circuit, which physical quantity remains constant no matter how many electric
components are connected in series? Please highlight or select only one answer.
Written by Chuck Hunt
modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
 Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

the current in the whole circuit

the voltage drop across each component
the equivalent [total] resistance of the circuit
the power dissipated throughout the circuit

9. In a closed circuit, which physical quantity remains constant no matter how many electric
components are connected in parallel? Please highlight or select only one answer.
the current in the whole circuit
the voltage drop across each component
the equivalent [total] resistance of the circuit
the power dissipated throughout the circuit

10. From your experience with this lab, what among the lab equipment and the procedure do
you think gives the most error/uncertainty? Please explain the source of error.

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College
Northwest Vista College Physics II
Natural & Physical Sciences

Multi-Part Conclusion
State at least one thing/thought you learned about each of the following items that you will
remember after this lab is over:
 Resistors (or light bulbs) in series
 Resistors (or light bulbs) in parallel
 What did you think of using PASCOTM’s modular circuit system?
Each answer must be in the form of one sentence. You can state any similarities, differences,
observations, patterns, pros, cons, applications, etc.

Resistors in Series  

Resistors in Parallel  

Modular Circuits  

Written by Chuck Hunt

modified & revised by J.E.C. Alquiza
Northwest Vista College