Electricity

Investigation #2: Voltage, Current and Equivalent Resistance

Introduction: This portion of the lab will be completed using an online PhET interactive
simulation for circuit construction kits created by a team at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. The link to this simulation is:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/circuit-construction-kit-dc/latest/circuit-
construction-kit-dc_en.html

Select the Lab option on the simulation. The screen should look like this:

On the left-hand side of the screen there is a list of circuit elements including a
wire, battery, lightbulb, resistor, and a switch. These circuit elements can be
placed on the work surface (to the right) by clicking and dragging the elements to
the position they are needed.

In this experiment resistors will be used instead of bulbs. The resistors in the
simulation have a resistance that can be varied. By clicking on the resistor once it
is placed on the workspace, the resistance can be changed to values from 10.0
 to 120.0 . The resistance is measured in units of Ohms [].
An ammeter will be used to measure the current. To measure the current through
a circuit element the ammeter must be connected in series with the circuit
element. This means that the circuit must be broken using the scissors in the
simulation, then the ammeter (on the right-hand side) must connect the two side
of the circuit. The images below demonstrate how to use an ammeter to measure
the current running through the resistor.

© 2014 by Mangala Joshua Mesa Community College Page 11.2.1

Mesa, Arizona 85202
By convention, the direction of the current is from the positive terminal of the
battery to the negative terminal through the circuit. Current is measured in
amperes [A].

A voltmeter is used to measure the voltage drop across the terminals of the
battery or any circuit element that has a current through it. To measure the
voltage across a circuit element the voltmeter must be connected in parallel
across the circuit element. The positive terminal of the voltmeter should be
connected to the terminal of the circuit element that is electrically closer to
positive terminal of the battery. The images below demonstrate how to use the
voltmeter to measure the voltage across the resistor.

The circuit diagram below shows how to attach the voltmeter and ammeter in
order to measure current through and voltage across a resistor in a circuit.
 The voltage across a circuit element is related to the current running through a
circuit element. The equation that relates these two quantities is know as Ohm’s
Law and can be written as:
I=V/R or V=IR (1)

Objectives ● Learn how to measure current through and voltage across a circuit element.
● Investigate how current is divided at a junction.
● Explore the idea of equivalent resistance for resistors connected in series and
parallel in a circuit.

Part I Connect the following circuit containing two batteries, two resistors, a switch and
several wires.

Click on the batteries and use the slider at the bottom of the PhET to change the
voltage to 1.5 V. Click on the resistors and use the slider at the bottom of the
PhET to change the resistance to 20 .

First connect the circuit without the ammeter and the voltmeter, as shown. Then
break the circuit at the place you want to measure the current and insert the
ammeter. To measure the voltage across two points, connect the voltmeter across
those points.

Question 1.1 Measure the current through the circuit at:

point A point B point C

0.08A 0.07A 0.08A

Question 1.2 How do the three currents compare to each other?

Current through A and C point is same. Ideal current through B is also same but
in this case it is not same.
Question 1.3 Measure the voltage across:
Resistor R1 Resistor R2 Both resistors The batteries
(between points (between points (between points (between points
A and B) which B and C) which A and C) which D and E) which
equals VAB equals VBC equals VAC equals Vbat

1.5V 1.5V 3.0V 3.0V

Question 1.4 How does VAB compare to Vbat?

Vab is half as compare to the Vbat.

Question 1.5 What is the relationship between Vbat, VAB and VBC?

Vbat voltage is double as compare to Vab and Vbc. Vbc and Vab are same.
 Definition Suppose that the two resistors in the previous circuit are replaced by a
single resistor which has the resistance that leaves the current thru the
battery unchanged. The resistance of this single resistor is called the
equivalent resistance (Req). The equivalent resistance can be calculated as:
Req = Vbat / current (2)
Question 1.6 Use the definition above to calculate the equivalent resistance for the circuit
above.

The Equivalent resistance 37.5 ohm.

Question 1.7 What is the relationship between Req, R1 and R2?

Req is almost equal the sum of R1 and R2 resistance.

Suppose that the resistance of R2 is changed to 40  while the resistance of R1 is

still 20.

Question 1.8 Calculate the equivalent resistance for the new circuit? Hint: use your answer
to question 1.7. Show your work.

The equivalent resistance of the new circuit is 60ohm.

Question 1.9 Calculate the current thru the new circuit? Hint: Use equation 2. Show your
work.
As Req=60 ohm and Vbat=3.0V.
So, I=3/60=0.05 A

So, the current is 0.05A

Question Calculate the voltage across: (Hint: Use equation 1. Show your work.)
1.10 resistor R1? resistor R2?
1.0V 2.0V

Question Setup the circuit and measure each of the quantities you calculated in the
1.11 previous three questions.
Current Voltage across Voltage across Equivalent
R1 R2 Resistance
0.05A 1A 2A (Vbatt/current)

60ohm
Question Did the experimental results agree with your calculated values?
1.12 Yes, experimental results are same as calculated values.
Questio Write what you learned about currents, voltages and the equivalent
n 1.13 resistance in a circuit where two resistors are connected in series to a
battery.

In series circuits, equivalent resistance is the sum of the individual circuit.

In series circuit, the voltage is divides across each resistor. In series
circuit, current flow same through each resistor.

DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR

BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER.
 Part 2 Connect the following circuit. Set both resistances to 20 .

Question 2.1 Measure the voltage across:

resistor R1 resistor R2 The batteries (point a to
d) (VAD)
3.0V 3.0V 3.0V

Question 2.2 What is the relationship between the three voltages you measured in the
previous question?
All three voltages are same.

Question 2.3 Measure the current through:

point A (i.e., IA) point B (i.e., IB) point C (i.e., IC) point D (i.e., ID)

0.3A 0.15A 0.15A 0.3A

Question 2.4 What is the relationship between the currents at point A, B, and C?

Current through point is the sum the of current B and C.

Your answer to question 2.4 illustrates conservation of charge. The current

entering a junction (IA) should equal the current exiting a junction (IB + IC).

Question 2.5 Use equation 2 to calculate the equivalent resistance for the circuit.

The equivalent resistance is 10ohm.

Note For resistors connected in parallel, the equivalent resistance, Req, can be
calculated as:
1/Req = 1/ R1+ 1/R2 (3)
 Question 2.6 Use equation 3 to calculate the equivalent resistance from the values of R1 and
R2.

The equivalent resistance is 10ohm.

Change the resistance on resistance box R1 to 40. Leave the resistance of

resistance box R2 at 20 .

Question 2.7 Use equation 3 to calculate the new equivalent resistance.

The equivalent resistance is 13.33ohm.

Question 2.8 Write the voltages across:

resistor R1 resistor R2 The batteries (across
point A and D) (VAD)
3.0V 3.0V 3.0V

Question 2.9 Calculate the current thru point (Use equation 1. Show your work):
point b (i.e., IB) point c (i.e., IC) point a (i.e., IA = IB +
IC )
0.075A 0.15A 0.225A

Question Use an ammeter to measure the current thru point:

2.10 point b (i.e., IB) point c (i.e., IC) point a (i.e., IA = IB +
IC )
0.08A 0.15A 0.22

Question Use a voltmeter to measure the voltage across:

2.11 resistor R1 resistor R2 The batteries (across
point A and D) (VAD)
3V 3V 3V

Question Use equation 2 to calculate the equivalent resistance.

2.12 As Vbat=3V and current=0.22A
So, Req=3/0.22=13.63ohm

Question Compare your calculated values in question 2.7 through 2.9 to your measured
2.13 values in questions 2.10 thru 2.12. Comment on how well your calculated and
measured values compare.

The resistance calculated and experiment values are slightly different. Voltage
values are same and the current values are also slightly different.
Question Write what you learned about currents, voltages and equivalent resistance in
2.14 a circuit where two resistors are connected in parallel to a battery.

In parallel circuits, equivalent resistance is always less than the individual

resistance. In parallel circuit, voltage always remain same across each
resistor but the current is divided depending on the resistance value of each
branch.