AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 1
Fall 2020-2021
Section: B5, Group:1
LAB REPORT ON
(a) Study of Ohm’s law using unknown resistances. (b) Determination of the equivalent resistances for series and
parallel combinations of resistors.

Supervised By

Dr. Md. Nurul Kabir Bhuiyan

Submitted By

Name ID Contribution
1.
2. Sakib Al Mahamud 21-45655-3 Experimental Data
3. Nimur Islam Joy 21-45656-3 Procedure and Analysis
4. Istyak Ahmed 21-45658-3 Theory and Apparatus
5. Sakibul Haque Tanmoy 21-45659-3 Result and Discussion

Date of Submission: 9th November 2021

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3,4
2. Apparatus 4
3. Procedure 5
4. Experimental Data 5,6
5. Analysis 6,7,8
6. Result 9
7. Discussion 9
8. References 10

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1. Theory
Theory:
In electrical engineering, Ohm's law is one of the most fundamental relation. Ohm’s Law deals with
the relationship between voltage and current in an ideal conductor. This relationship states that:
The potential difference (voltage) across an ideal conductor is proportional to the current through it.
The constant of proportionality is called the "resistance", R. Ohm's Law is given by:
𝑽 = 𝑰𝑹
Where V is the potential difference between two points which include a resistance R. I is the
current flowing through the resistance.

Rh V
Rx V
Slope = R

A
I
(a) (b)

Figure 4.1: (a) A simple circuit to determine unknown resistance, R x, using Ohm's law,
ammeter (A) and voltmeter (V) to measure current and potential drop in the circuit,
variable resistor, Rh, to adjust current flow in the circuit (b) The slope of the V versus I
graph provides the value of R.

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

𝑅s = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + ⋯ + 𝑅Nn
❑ ❑ ❑
𝑅p = ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ ❑

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4
 Rh
Rh

R1 R1 R2 V
V
R2

A A

(a) (b)

Figure 4.2: Series and parallel connections are shown for two resistors R1 and R2 in (a)
and (b), respectively.

2. Apparatus
 Power Supply

 Variable Resistor

 Ammeter

 Voltmeter

 Unknown Resistors

 Connecting wires

2Procedure
 The circuits are connected as per the circuit diagrams using two unknown resistances (R1 & R2).

 Now the rheostat Rh is adjusted so that a constant current (I) of not more than 1A flows.

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  The rheostat is again adjusted to a different value of current (I) and corresponding potential

difference (V) values are noted down respectively measured by ammeter A and voltmeter.

 The procedure is repeated 10 times to note down different current (I) and voltage (V) readings.

3. Procedure
 The circuits were connected as per the circuit diagrams were using two unknown
resistances (R1 & R2).
 The rheostat Rh was adjusted so that a constant current (I) of not more than 1A flows.
 The rheostat was again adjusted to a different value of current (I) and corresponding
potential difference (V) values were noted down respectively measured by ammeter A
and voltmeter.
 The procedure was repeated 10 times to note down different current (I) and voltage (V)
readings.

42. Experiment Data

Table 1: Voltage current records for R1 and R2

Resistors Current Voltage
I V
(A) (V)
R1 0.1 0.138

0.2 0.23

0.3 0.31

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 0.4 0.45

0.5 0.52

0.6 0.63

0.1 0.27

0.2 0.52

0.3 0.77
R2
0.4 0.91

0.5 1

0.6 1.31

Table 21: Voltage current records for Series and Parallel Combination
Combinations of Current Voltage
R1 and R2
I V
(A) (V)
0.1 0.43
Series Combination 0.2 0.6

0.3 0.96

0.4 1.4

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 0.5 1.62

0.6 2

0.1 0.078

0.2 0.15

0.3 0.22
Parallel Combination
0.4 0.28

0.5 0.38

0.6 0.48

5. Analysis and Calculation

● We had to use EXCEL to plot V versus I graphs. we had to plot 4 graphs.

for R1, R2, R1, and R2 in series and parallel connections.

● Then find the best fit lines to determine the slope of the best fit lines to get the

values of R1, R2, Rs, and Rp.

● In the last, we calculated the values of Rs and Rp by using the

values of R1 and R2 according to the laws of series and parallel of resistances.

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6. Result
Resistance from the graphs
Values in Calculated values of
Resistors Comments
Ohms Rs and Rp in Ohms

R1 0.9914

R2 1.9371

R3 3.2429 2.9285 Slightly Difference

R4 0.7886 0.6557 Slightly Difference

7. Discussion
As can be seen from the data above, The Resistances of the circuits are:
Rp = 2.9285 ohms
Rs = 0.6557 ohms
The main objective of this lab was to design circuits with different combinations of unknown
resistances and determine the equivalent resistances for series and parallel combinations. A
multimeter could be used, which would automatically calculate and display V, I and R values,
instead of an ammeter and voltmeter.

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8. Resources
For further understanding students may go through the following 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

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