DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS, AND CHEMISTRY

PHYS182: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY

Experiment No. _
Series and Parallel Circuits

NAME: DATE:

COURSE, YEAR & SECTION: INSTRUCTOR:

Objective
To further verify and understand Ohm’s law in a networks of resistors
Theory
Series connection means there is only one path for the current to go through. Resistors connected in series will
have the same current passes through them.
Rules for Series
1. Total (equivalent) resistance is the sum of individual resistances.
2. Current is the same everywhere in the circuit and equals voltage of the dry cell divided by the
equivalent resistance.
3. Voltage drops across each resistor equals the current times the value of that resistor. Sum of
individual voltage drops equal to the voltage of the dry cell.
Voltage VT=V1+V2+V3+…+Vn
Current IT=I1=I2=I3=...=In
Resistance RT=R1+R2+R3+…+Rn

Parallel connection in the other hand describes a connection of which current will pass through multiple
path- that is, the resistors are connected directly to the source.
Rules for Parallel
1. Voltage drops across each resistors equals voltage of the dry cell.
2. Total current is voltage of the dry cell divided by total resistance. Current through each resistor
is voltage of battery divided by individual resistance. Total Current is the sum of individual
current in each branches
3. Total resistance is the reciprocal of sum of reciprocals of the individual resistances.
Voltage VT=V1=V2=V3=...=Vn
Current IT=I1+I2+I3+…+In
Resistance 1 1 1 1 1
= + + +⋯+
𝑅𝑡 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3 𝑅𝑛
Procedure
Part 1: Series Connection
1. Go to: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/circuit-construction-kit-ac-virtual-lab
2. Click on AC Virtual Lab
3. Check the tick box to show current, electrons, labels, and values.
4. From the left side, drag three resistors (5Ω,10Ω, and 15Ω) and a battery (9V). To change the
resistance or voltage value, just tap on the element and edit to desired value.
5. Drag some connecting wires and connect the resistors in series to a 9V battery. Refer to the figure
below.
6.

7. Drag a voltmeter and measure the voltage drop across each resistor. Record the reading as voltage in
Table 1(To use the voltmeter, simply connect the probe to each side the resistors as shown
below)
 8. Drag an ammeter and measure the current through each resistor. Record the reading as current in
Table 1 (To use the ammeter, simply connect it in series to the resistor whose current is
being measured, as shown below)

Part 2: Parallel Connection

1. In the same window, click the restart found at the bottom right side of the virtual lab.
2. From the left side, drag three resistors (5Ω,10Ω, and 15Ω) and a battery (9V).
3. Drag some connecting wire and connect the resistors in parallel to a 9V battery. Refer to the figure
below

4. Drag a voltmeter and measure the voltage drop across each resistor. Record the reading as voltage in
Table 2 (To use voltmeter, simply connect the probe to each side the resistors as shown
below)
 5. Drag an ammeter and measure the current through each resistor. Record the reading as current in
Table 2 (To use the ammeter, simply connect it in series to the resistor being measured, as
shown below)

Part 3: Series and Parallel

1. In the same window, click the restart found at the bottom right side of the virtual lab.
2. From the left side, drag three resistors (5Ω,10Ω, and 15Ω) and a battery (9V).
3. Drag some connecting wire and connect the resistors in parallel to a 9V battery. Refer to the figure
below

4. Drag a voltmeter and measure the voltage drop across each resistor. Record the reading as voltage in
Table 3. (To use voltmeter, simply connect the probe to each side the resistors)
 5. Drag an ammeter and measure the current through each resistor. Record the reading as current in
Table 3. (To use the ammeter, simply connect it in series to the resistor being measured, as
shown below)

Data and Results

Table 1: Series
Resistor # Resistance, Ω Voltage, V Current, A
R1
R2
R3
Total

Sample Computation
Table 2: Parallel

Resistor # Resistance, Ω Voltage, V Current, A

R1
R2
R3
Total

Sample Computation

Table 3: Series & Parallel Combination

Resistor # Resistance, Ω Voltage, V Current, A

R1
R2
R3
Total

Sample Computation
Question
Determine the voltage drop and current through each resistors if the voltage of the battery is equal to the
last-two-non-zero digit of your ID number. Support your answer with detailed computation.

Resistance, Ω Voltage, V Current, A

1
3
5
7
10
13
17
TOTAL= TOTAL= TOTAL=
Computation: