Name:_________________________________ Period:_______

Lab on DC Circuits
Objectives:
1. To verify Ohms Law
2. To verify that the effective resistance of a series circuit is equal to the sum of the individual
resistors. R
total =
R
eff
= R
1
+ R
2
+ R
3
..
3. To verify that the total voltage is equal to the sum of individual voltage drop V
total =
V
1
+ V
2
+ V
3

4. To verify that the effective resistance of a parallel circuit is equal to 1/R
t
= 1/R
1
+ 1/R
2
+ 1/R
3

Procedure:
Part A.
1. Do a simple circuit with a battery, a bulb, ammeter, voltmeter and a switch.
2. Leave the circuit open until the teacher has checked your circuit.
3. Close the switch once permission is given. Open the switch as soon as the readings are
completed.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 using different voltages of battery. Make at least 3 trials.
5. Record all your current (A) and voltage readings (V).
6. Solve for the resistance and power rating or wattage of your lamp.
Trial Voltage (V) Current (A) Resistance (ohms) Power (watts)




Part B. Connect two resistors in series to a 9-V battery. Connect the ammeter and the voltmeter. Fill-
up the given data table. Repeat the experiment using three resistors.
Two Resistors in Series
Ammeter Reading (I) Voltmeter Reading (V) Computed Resistance (R)
I1 = V1 = R1 =
I2 = V2 = R2 =
Itotal = Vtotal Rtotal =

Three Resistors in Series
Ammeter Reading (I) Voltmeter Reading (V) Computed Resistance (R)
I1 = V1 = R1 =
I2 = V2 = R2 =
I3 = V3 = R3 =
Itotal Vtotal Rtotal
Part C. Connect two resistors in parallel to a 9-V battery. Connect the ammeter and the voltmeter. Fill-
up the given data table. If time permits, you may connect three resistors in parallel.
Ammeter Reading (I) Voltmeter Reading (V) Computed Resistance (R)
I1 = V1 = R1 =
I2 = V2 = R2 =
Itotal = Vtotal Rtotal =

Analysis:
Part A.
1. What happens to the current flowing through the resistor as the voltage increases? Are your
results consistent with Ohms Law?
2. Compare the computed resistance for all trials. Did you get the same resistance for all the
trials? (Remember: You should have used the same bulb for all the trials.) Explain.
3. How are ammeter and voltmeter connected to the circuit? What are some safety precautions
did you consider in using your ammeter and voltmeter?
4. What are the three quantities that constitute Ohms law? Describe each.
5. Is Ohms law a universal law just like Newtons and Coulombs law? Explain.
6. How will you account for the energy loss (heat) in this experiment? Explain.
Part B and C
1. Is the effective resistance in the series circuit equal to the sum of the individual resistors? Is
there a big difference?
2. How are the voltage drops across individual resistors related to the total voltage drop in a
series circuit? Is your data consistent with this?
3. How does the current in the branches of a parallel circuit relate to the total current in the
circuit? Does your data reflect this? Explain and account for the difference.
4. How does the voltage drop across each branch of a parallel circuit relate to the total voltage.
Are your results consistent with this?
5. What happens to the effective resistance as more resistors are added in series with the
circuit? How about for parallel circuit?
6. Give the advantages and disadvantages of using a series circuit? Parallel circuit?
Conclusion: Answers to objective, Sources of Error and Real-life Application for all the parts of the
experiment.