DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER AND

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING
EEEN 211: FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING

LAB 1
LAB TITLE: RESISTORS IN SERIES AND PARALLEL
CIRCUIT
MODULE: EEEN 211
NAMES AND STUDENT IDs:
OLEBOGENG RATLHOGO 20000158
AOBAKWE ADAM 20000487
LAB INSTRUCTORS:
NONOFO DITSHEGO
ONKEMETSE TSHENYEGO
RESISTORS IN SERIES

INTRODUCTION
Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. It is
measured in Ohms (Ω). Ohms law states that current flow through a conductor
between two points is directly proportional to the voltage and the constant of
proportionality is resistance. Resistors are used to measure resistance in an
electrical circuit.

OBJECTIVES
i. To calculate the equivalent resistance of a series resistance circuit and
compare it to the measured value.
ii. To figure out how much current flows through each resistor in a series
resistance circuit.
iii. To determine voltage in each resistor in a series resistance circuit.
iv. To use the circuit current and voltage to calculate the equivalent
resistance of a series resistance circuit.
v. To show how Kirchhoff’s voltage law works.

MATERIALS
 One DC voltage supply
 One multimeter
 Three 0-10V dc voltmeters
 Three 0-5mA dc multimeter
 Assorted resistors

THEORY
Two or more electrical circuits are said to be in series if the electric current (I) is the
same throughout all the elements in the circuit. The sum of resistance values of each
individual resistor in a series circuit gives the equivalent resistance (Req) of the
circuit. Equivalent resistance of resistors in series is given by:
Req= R1+R2+R3+…...
After determining the equivalent resistance (Req) in a series circuit, Ohm’s law is
applied to find the common current (I) in all resistors, voltage (V) applied across the
series resistor combination is divided by the equivalent resistance (Req). Current is
given by:
I=V/R eq
Kirchhoff’s voltage law states that the algebraic sum of all voltage drops must be
equal to the algebraic sum of all voltage rises around any closed circuit in an electric
circuit. This means that the sum of voltage drops across the series resistors in Fig.
3.1 must add up to the voltage applied across the series resistance combination.
Therefore, using Kirchhoff’s voltage law and Ohm’s law
V= V1 + V2 + V3 Where V1 = IR1, V2 = IR2 and V3 = IR3

Fig. 3.0 Resistors in Series – Equivalent Resistance

PROCEDURE
The electrical circuit in Fig. 3.0 was connected and the multimeter was used to
measure the equivalent resistance (Req) of the series circuit. The measured
resistance was then recorded. After measuring, the equivalent resistance (Req) of the
series resistors between terminals a-b was calculated and compared to the
measured one.
After that, the electrical circuit in Fig. 3.1 was connected and the currents I ab, Icd and
Ief and the voltages Vbc, Vde and Vfg were recorded. The source current (I) was then
calculated using the equivalent resistance (Req) calculated in Fig. 3.0 and the value
of the voltage source V. The calculated source current was then compared to current
Iab. Currents Iab, Icd and Ief were also compared to each other. From there current in
resistor one (IR1) was calculated using voltage across R1, current in resistor two (IR2)
was calculated using voltage across R2 and current in resistor three (IR3) was
calculated using voltage across R3. After all these calculations of currents, the
currents IR1, IR2 and IR3 were compared to each other.
The equivalent resistance (Req) of the series circuit was calculated using current Iab
and voltage V and it was compared to the Req measured in Fig. 3.0. The sum of
voltages Vbc, Vde and Vfg was calculated. After that, the relationship of the sum of the
voltages and voltage V was found and used to confirm Kirchhoff’s Voltage law.
Lastly, the relationship between the voltages across R1, R2 and R3 and the resistance
values of each resistor was found.

RESULTS
STEP 1: Measured Req

STEP 2: Calculated Req

QUESTION 3.0
The measured resistance and calculated resistance values are the same.
STEP 3:
MEASURED CURRENTS AND VOLTAGES
Iab =2.0mA Icd =2.0mA Ief =2.0mA
Vbc =2.0V Vde =4.0V Vfg =6.0V

STEP 4: SOURCE CURRENT

QUESTION 3.1
a. Current source (I) and current Iab are the same
b. Currents Iab, Icd and Ief are the same because current in a series circuit is equal
throughout the circuit.

STEP 5: CURRENT IN R1
V 2.0 V
IR1 = = = 0.002A= 2mA
R 1000Ω

STEP 6: CURRENT IN R2
V 4.0 V
IR2 = = = 0.002A= 2mA
R 2000Ω

STEP 7: CURRENT IN R3
 V 6.0 V
IR3 = = = 0.002A= 2mA
R 3000Ω

QUESTION 3.2
Currents IR1, IR2 and IR3 are the same because current in each resistor in a series
circuit are the same.

STEP 8:
12V
Req = =6000Ω=6kΩ
0.002 A

QUESTION 3.3
The calculated Req in step 8 and the measured one in step 1 are the same.
STEP 9: SUM OF VOLTAGES
V= Vbc + Vde + Vfg = 2.0 V + 4.0V + 6.0V = 12.0V

QUESTION 3.4
a. V is determined by the sum of all the voltages across all the resistors in a
series circuit, that is V = Vbc + Vde + Vfg. This confirms Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
as it states that the sum of all the voltages across the series resistors is equal
to the voltage across the series resistance combination.
b. The total voltage supply is divided amongst all the resistors. Since voltage is
directly proportional to resistance, it was seen in the experiment that when the
resistance increases the voltage also increases. The 1kΩ resistor had a
voltage of 2.0V, the 2kΩ resistor had a voltage of 4.0V and the 3kΩ resistor
had a voltage of 6.0V.

DISCUSSION
The results that were obtained from calculations are highly accurate because they
are the same as the measured ones. The sources of errors that might have affected
the results would be failing to connect the multimeters correctly based on polarity.
This was minimized by ensuring that one checks the polarity of the multimeters
before running and measuring the voltage, current and resistance. It is highly
recommended to perform the experiment more than once for accuracy and
verification of results.
CONCLUSION
The results of this experiment verify and confirm the theory behind it. The measured
equivalent resistance in a series circuit was equal to the calculated one. It was
proved that current in a series circuit is the same throughout the resistors in a series
resistance circuit. It was also shown that the voltage across each resistor in a series
circuit is equal to the voltage source. Ohm’s law was also applied to calculate the
equivalent resistance. Lastly, Kirchhoff’s voltage law was applied and confirmed.

REFERENCES
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-5/what-are-series-and-parallel-
circuits/

https://learnelectricity.ausgrid.com.au/
RESISTORS IN PARALLEL

INTRODUCTION
Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. It is
measured in Ohms (Ω). Ohms law states that current flow through a conductor
between two points is directly proportional to the voltage and the constant of
proportionality is resistance. Resistors are used to measure resistance in an
electrical circuit.

OBJECTIVES
i. To calculate the equivalent resistance of a parallel resistance circuit and
compare it to the measured value.
ii. To figure out how much current flows through each resistor in a parallel
resistance circuit.
iii. To determine voltage in each resistor in a parallel resistance circuit.
iv. To use the circuit current and voltage to calculate the equivalent
resistance of a parallel resistance circuit.
v. To show how Kirchhoff’s voltage law works.

MATERIALS
 One DC voltage supply
 One multimeter
 Three 0-20V dc voltmeters
 Three 0-5mA dc multimeter
 Assorted resistors

THEORY
Two or more electrical circuits are said to be in parallel when two or more circuit
elements are separately connected between the same two points and the voltage is
the same across all of them. A parallel circuit allows current to flow in more than one
direction. A branch is the name given to each current path in a parallel circuit. A
node is the point where the branches connect. The sum of the inverses of the
individual resistors equals the inverse of the equivalent resistance of a series of
resistors in parallel. Therefore in Fig. 4.0.
 1 1 1 1
= + +
Req R 1 R 2 R 3

In the parallel resistance circuit in Fig. 4.1 one can also use Ohm’s law to find the
equivalent resistance (Req) by dividing the voltage (V) applied across the parallel
resistors by the total currents entering the parallel resistance combination (Iab).
Therefore,
V
Req=
Iab

Kirchhoff’s current law states that any junction (node) in an electric circuit, the
algebraic sum of all the currents entering the node must equal the algebraic sum of
all the currents leaving the node. This means that the sum of the currents in parallel
resistors in Fig. must equal the total currents entering the parallel resistance
combination (Iab). Therefore, using Kirchhoff’s current law and Ohm’s law,
Iab = Ibc + Ibd +Ibe

Where,
V V V
Ibc= , I bd= , Ibe=
R1 R2 R3

Fig. 4.0 Parallel Resistors – Equivalent resistance

PROCEDURE
Step1: Connect the circuit in Fig 4.0 Using the multimeter to measure the equivalent
resistance of the parallel circuit and record the equivalent resistance.
Step2: Calculate the equivalent resistance (Req) of the parallel resistance.
Step3: Connect the circuit in Fig.4.1. Record currents Iab, Ibc,Ibd and Ibe , and voltages
Vcg ,Vdg ,and Veg .
Step4: Based on the equivalent resistance (Req) calculated in step 2 and the value of
the source, Calculate the source current Iab
Step5: Based on the voltage across R1 and the resistance of R1, calculate the current
in resistor R1 (Ibc)
Step6: Based on the voltage across R2 and the resistance of R2, calculate the current
in resistor R2 (Ibd)
Step7: Based on the voltage across R3 and the resistance of R3, calculate the current
in resistor R3 (Ibe)
Step8: Based on the circuit current (Iba) and voltage V, calculate the equivalent
resistance (Req) of the parallel circuit.
Step9: Calculate the sum of currents Ibc, Ibd, and Ibe)
RESULTS
STEP 1:

STEP 2:
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= + + = + + =2500 Ω=2.5 kΩ
Req R 1 R 2 R 3 5000 Ω 10000 Ω 10000 Ω

QUESTION 4.0
The measured resistance and calculated value are the same.
STEP 3:
Current Values Voltage Values
Iab 4 mA Vcg 10V
Ibc 2 mA Vdg 10V
Ibd 1 mA Veg 10V
Ibe 1 mA

QUESTION 4.1
a. Voltages Vcg, Vdg and Veg are the same.
b. Voltages across each resistor in a parallel circuit are equal.

QUESTION 4.2
V 10 V
a) Iab= = 4mA
R 2.5Ω

QUESTION 4.3
V 10V
a) Ibc= = =2mA
R 5Ω
b) The current is the same as the current measured in step 3.

QUESTION 4.4
V 10V
a) Ibd= = =1mA
R 10Ω
b) The current is the same as the current measured in step 3.

QUESTION 4.5
V 10V
a) Ibe= = =1mA
R 10Ω
QUESTION 4.6
a) The calculated equivalent resistance in step 8 is the same as the measured
equivalent resistance in step 1.
QUESTION 4.7
a) The sum 0f Ibc,Ibd , and Ibe add up to current ab (Iab ) which is the main source .
b) Yes the result confirm Kirchhoff’s current law ,if we add all the current found at
a junction in a network they will all add up to zero .
That is;
 Iab -Ibc,-Ibd -Ibe =0
4-2-1-1=0

DISCUSSION
The results that were obtained from calculations are highly accurate because they
are the same as the measured ones. The sources of errors that might have affected
the results would be failing to connect the multimeters correctly based on polarity.
This was minimized by ensuring that one checks the polarity of the multimeters
before running and measuring the voltage, current and resistance. It is highly
recommended to perform the experiment more than once for accuracy and
verification of results.

CONCLUSION
The results of this experiment verify and confirm the theory behind it. The measured
equivalent resistance in a parallel circuit was equal to the calculated one. It was
proved that current in a series circuit is determined using ohm’s law in a parallel
resistance circuit. It was also shown that the voltage across each resistor in a
parallel circuit is equal to the voltage source. Ohm’s law was also applied to
calculate the equivalent resistance. Lastly, Kirchhoff’s current law was applied and
confirmed.

REFERENCE
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/chpt-5/what-are-series-and-parallel-
circuits/

https://learnelectricity.ausgrid.com.au/