UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

Faculty of Engineering & Computing

Laboratory Report

Title of Experiment: Series and Parallel Connections

Experiment #: 1

Date of Experiment: September 12, 2022

Instructor: Conroy MW. Campbell

Course Name: Electrical Technology (ELE2210)

Program: Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Engineering

Submitted by: Royce Edwards

Date of Submission: September 19, 2022

ID #: 2102392
AIM:

To investigate the properties of a series and parallel resistive circuit.

THEORY:

 Ohm’s Law

Ohm’s Law is the relationship between the current ‘I’ flowing through a resistance ‘R’

and the potential drop across it ‘V’. The current is directly proportional to the potential

difference across the resistance and is inversely proportional to the resistance,

V
I=
R

Circuits consisting of just one battery and one load resistance are very simple to analyze, but

they are not often found in practical applications. Usually, we find circuits where more than two

components are connected together. There are two basic ways in which to connect more than two

circuit components: series and parallel.

 Series Circuit Configuration

First, an example of a series circuit:

Here, three resistors (designated R1, R2, and R3) are linked together in a lengthy chain from one

battery terminal to the next. (It should be emphasized that the subscript labeling, those tiny

numbers below the word "R," have nothing to do with the resistor values in ohms. All they do is

distinguish one resistor from another.) There is only one path for electrons to flow, which is what

distinguishes a series circuit from other types. In this circuit, electrons move from point 4 to

point 3 to point 2 to point 1, then circle back to point 4 in a counterclockwise direction.

 Parallel Circuit Configuration

We have three resistors once more, but this time they create multiple uninterrupted paths for

electrons to flow. There is only one way to get from 8 to 7 to 2 to 1 and then back to 8. Another

one goes from 8 to 7 to 6 to 3 to 2 to 1 and then back to 8 once again. There is also a third route

that goes from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and then back to 8. A branch is any distinct path

(through R1, R2, and R3).

The fact that all components of a parallel circuit are connected to the same set of electrically

common locations is what distinguishes it from other types of circuits. We can see from the

schematic diagram that points 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all electrically common. So are points 8, 7, 6, and

5. Note that all resistors as well as the battery are connected between these two sets of points.

 Series-Parallel Configuration Circuit

Figure 3: Series Parallel Circuit Configuration

For the current to pass through in this circuit, there are two loops: one that goes from 1 to 2 to 5

to 6 and back to 1 again, and another that goes from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 and back to 1. Note

how R1 is traversed by both current pathways (from point 1 to point 2). In this configuration, R1
is in series with the parallel combination of R2 and R3, whereas R2 and R3 are said to be in

parallel with one another.

APPARATUS:

 DC Power Supply

 Work Board

 Digital Multimeter

 R1 – 10KΩ Carbon Resistor

 R2 – 43KΩ Carbon Resistor

 R3 – 100Ω Carbon Resistor

PROCEDURE:

Activity # 1

1. The circuit was connected as shown in figure 1 with the supply set to 5V. The circuit at

point A was opened and the multimeter was used to measure the current at that point.

2. The value of the current was recorded in the table. The procedure was repeated for points

B and C of figure 4.

3. The Ohmmeter was used to measure the total resistance of the circuit and the value was

recorded.
 4. The voltage across each of the resistors R1 and R2 were measured and recorded.

5. The voltage across R1 and R2 (points A and C) were measured.

Figure 4

Activity #2

1. The circuit in figure 2 was connected. The current at the points A, B, and C were

measured and recorded.

2. The voltage across each of the resistors, R1 and R2 was measured and recorded.

3. The Ohmmeter was used to measure the total resistance of the circuit and the value was

recorded.

Figure 5
RESULTS:

A B C

Current Measured 0.096 0.096 0.096

R1 R2 R1 & R2

Voltage Measured 0.957 4.097 5.059

Resistance Measured 9.99 42.77 52.96

Table 1: Showing Results from Activity #1

A B C

Current Measured 0.624 0.118 0.505

R1 R2 R1 & R2

Voltage Measured 5.06 5.06 5.06

Resistance Measured 9.99 42.77 8.09

Table 2: Showing results from Activity #2

Activity #1

Resistance in R1 and R2

Current flowing through R1 = 0.096 A

Voltage across R1 = 0.957 V

V
V = IR => R =
I

0.957
R=
0.09 6

= 9.97 kΩ

b) Current flowing through R2 = 0.096 A

Voltage across R2 = 4.097 V

V
V = IR => R =
I

4. 097
R=
0.09 6

= 42.68 kΩ

Total Resistance = R1 + R2

= 9.97 kΩ + 42.68 kΩ

= 52.65 kΩ
Activity #2

Resistance in R1, R2 and total resistance.

Current flowing through R1 = 0.505 A

Voltage across R1 = 5.06 V

V
V = IR => R =
I

5.06
R=
0.505

= 10.01 kΩ

b) Current flowing through R2 = 0.118 A

Voltage across R2 = 5.06 V

V
V = IR => R =
I

5.06
R=
0.118

= 42.88 kΩ

1 1 -1
Total Resistance (Rt) = ( + )
10.01 42.88

= 8.12 kΩ
DISCUSSION:

Upon completion of Activity #1, the current at point A, B and C was constant throughout the

circuit, this is because in a series circuit configuration current only has one path to flow. In

Activity #1 the sum of the voltage across the resistors R1 and R2 was found to be 5.059 V while

the voltage across point A and C of the circuit (supply voltage) was 10V. Therefore, it can be

said that the voltage in the sum of resistors was less than that of the supply voltage. For Activity

#1 the resistors in the circuit were connected in series. In Activity #1 the total resistance of R1

and R2 was calculated to be 52.65 kΩ while the total resistance of R1 and R2 measured by the

experimenter was 52.96 kΩ. Therefore, it can be said that the calculated result and the measured

result was accurate.

Upon the completion of Activity #2, the individual voltages were constant throughout the circuit

with a value of 5.06 V. The value of the voltage supplied to the circuit was 10V. Therefore, it

can be said that the value of the individual voltages was less than that of the supply voltage. For

Activity #2 the sum of the current at points B and C is equal to the value recorded at point A. In

Activity #2 the resistors in the circuit were in parallel. The calculated value of the total resistance

of R1 and R2 in Activity #2 is 8.12 kΩ while the measured value of the total resistance of R1

and R2 is 8.09 kΩ. Therefore, it can be said that the total resistance measured, and the total

resistance calculated are fairly consistent.

It can be concluded that in a series circuit, the components are connected together sequentially.

Each component in the circuit receives the same amount of current. Each component has a

potential difference, and there is only one path for current to flow. Components are connected

head to head and tail to tail in a parallel circuit. Every component in the circuit receives a distinct

amount of current. There are numerous components necessary for electricity to flow, and the

potential difference among the various components are all the same. The total resistance

calculated and measured from the series circuit is greater than that of the parallel circuit.
 REFERENCES

Kuphaldt, T. R. (2021, March 20). 5.1: What are "series" and "Parallel" circuits? Workforce

LibreTexts. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from

https://workforce.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Electronics_Technology/Book

%3A_Electric_Circuits_I__Direct_Current_(Kuphaldt)/

05%3A_Series_And_Parallel_Circuits/

5.01%3A_What_are_Series_and_Parallel_Circuits

Schultz, M. E. (2007). Grob's Basic Electronics. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.