MAPÚA UNIVERSITY

Department of Physics

Experiment 102-2
SERIES-PARALLEL
CIRCUITS

Name: _____________________________________
Program / Year : ____________ Criteria Percent SCORE
Sample Computations 5%
Course Code /Section :_______ Data Sheets 5%

Student No: _______________ Graphs, Figures and

Tables
5%

Error Analysis 5%
Group No: ____ Seat No: ____ Answers to Questions 10%
Analysis / Interpretation 30%
Date of Performance: of Results
Conclusion 20%
_________________________ Application 10%
Presentation 10%
Date of Submission: TOTAL 100%

_________________________

___________________________________
Instructor
 EXPERIMENT NO. 102-2 SERIES-PARALLEL CIRCUITS

INTRODUCTION

The series circuit and parallel circuit is the basic connection present in a circuit that you can see
inside a simple electronic gadget. Resistors, voltages and currents are always a part of analyzing a
simple circuit either connected in series or in parallel.

In this experiment, you will study the rules on series circuit and voltage circuit. Specially, you
will be able to determine the voltage across each resistors and the current flowing through the
combination of series circuit and parallel circuit. You will be able to investigate the relationship
between the voltages across each resistor and the total voltage in a series circuit and in a parallel
circuit. You will also be able to look into the relationship between and the current flowing through each
resistor and the total current.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the total current flowing through a series circuit and parallel circuit.
2. To determine the voltage across each resistors and the current flowing through a series circuit -
parallel circuit.
3. To investigate the relationship between the voltages across each resistor and the total voltage.
4. To investigate the relationship between the current flowing through each resistor and the total
current.

MATERIALS

3 pcs Resistance Boxes

5 pcs 1.2v Batteries
12 pcs Connecting Wires
1 pc Volt –ohm – milliammeter (VOM)
1 pc Ammeter

EQUIPMENT CARE

For the VOM. Make sure that the knob is in the voltage selection when measuring voltage and in the
current selection when measuring current.

Do not connect your circuit to the power source while you are assembling them.

Use resistors with resistance ranging from 10 Ω to 100 Ω.

THEORY

Ohm’s Law

“The potential difference V across a particular sample of material is proportional to the current (i)
through the material, provided that the temperature and other properties of the material remain
constant.”

Electric Current is the rate of flow of electric charges in an electric conductor.

Electric Voltage is defined as the amount of work done or the energy required in moving a unit of
positive charge from a lower potential to a higher potential. It is called potential difference (PD). When
you measure voltage you must have two points to compare, one of them being the reference point.
When measuring the voltage drop for a circuit component it is called measuring the potential across
that component.

Resistance measures how much the flow of electric current is opposed.

Resistors In Series

When resistors are connected in series, only one current flows through all the resistors. For this
reason:

The sum of the voltage across each individual resistor is equal to the voltage across the battery.

The resistance of a combination of resistors in series (equivalent resistance) is equal to the sum of the
individual resistors.

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.

The voltage across each individual resistor is equal to the voltage across the battery.
The equivalent resistance of resistors connected in parallel is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the
reciprocals of the individual resistors.

Standard Resistor Values and Color

Components and wires are coded with colors to identify their value and function.
PROCEDURE
I. Resistance, Current and Voltage Measurement.
1. Set the resistance of the decade resistance box to 110 Ohms.
2. Using the Ohmmeter, attach both ends of the probe to each of the terminals of the
Resistance Box. Record the readings.
3. Connect the Resistance box in series with 5 batteries connected in series. Measure the
voltage across the decade resistance box and the current. Calculate the resistance using
Ohm’s Law and Record in Table 1.
4. Repeat step 1, 2 and 3 using different values of resistances.

II. Series and Parallel Measurement

5. Connect the circuit as shown below:

B

E
Figure 1

6. Set the resistance values of components A,B, C and D with different values ranging 20 and
80 Ohms and record this on table A.
7. Connect the VOM across the resistors one at a time to measure the voltages across each
component.
“In measuring voltage turn the selector knob so that the pointer points to the desired range of
voltage.”

8. Insert the ammeter along the branch of each of the components A, B, C, D and E.

“In measuring the current set the maximum level of current going down until a current reading is
between the desired range.”

9. Determine the resistance of each component using Ohms Law.

10. Calculate the Total Resistance and compare it with the theoretical values.
GUIDE QUESTIONS

Calculate the current and voltages of each of the following components. Calculate the total
Resistance of the network.
 EXPERIMENT NO. 102-2 : SERIES PARALLEL CIRCUITS

Name Group No

Program/Year Seat No

Subject/ Section Date

DATA AND RESULTS

Resistor Measurement
Table 1: Given Resistances
Resistor Voltage Current
Indicated Measured Computed V mA

Table 2: Given Currents

Resistor Voltage Current
Component Measured Computed V mA
A
B
C
D
E

Approved By:

Instructor Date