UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

LAB REPORT PHY 150

SEMESTER OCT 2020 – FEB 2021

EXPERIMENT 3
“DC Circuit”

No. Name UiTM Number Group

1 RAIHAN BINTI ISMAIL 2019250678
2 NURUL HANANI BINTI ABD HADI 2019217144 RAS1203A
3 NOR IFTIHA BINTI ABDUL AZIZ 2019217292

INSTRUCTOR :

Objective /1

Procedure /2

Results / Data Obtained /2

Analysis of Data /2

Discussion /2

Conclusion /1

TOTAL 10

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1.0 OBJECTIVES

1. To calculate the current and voltage for simple DC circuit

2. To research series connection of resistors
3. To determine parallel of resistor

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Ohm’s law says that 𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅 which is the potential difference (voltage) between the two ends of the
material is directly proportional to the current flows through the material. For a simple DC circuit
shown in Figure 1, using the stated ohm formula, the resistance R = V/𝐼.

Figure (1)

Where V is the potential difference between two points (voltage applied).in volts ( 𝑉), and 𝐼 is the current
flows, Ampere (A). R is the resistance, ohm (Ω).For parallel combination of resistors as shown in figure
𝑉 𝑉
2,the current can be calculated using 𝐼1 = and 𝐼2 = and then the total using 𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 .While
𝑅1 𝑅2

voltage can be found with 𝑉𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑦 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 and the equivalent resistance can be determined by
1 1 1
using = + .
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅1 𝑅2

Figure (2)

For series combination resistors as shown in figure 3, current can be calculated using formula
𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 .Voltage can be found using 𝑉𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2 .Lastly, the equivalent resistance for
the series combination is given by 𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 where flows across R1 and R2 is the same.

Figure (3)

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3.0 PROCEDURE

3.1 PART I: MEASURING THE CURRENT AND THE VOLTAGE IN SIMPLE DC CIRCUIT
First, Phet interactive simulation website is visited by clicking on the link below.
The time working on the simulation is took to get familiar with the function of each
part. On the battery symbol is clicked in the bottom right of the screen and show
current (conventional) is clicked on, then a simple DC circuit contains of a battery,
resistance, switch, and wires is constructed as shown in figure (4). The voltmeter
from the right second box is selected and the two terminals is connected with the
end points of the resistor.

Figure (4)

Then, the Ammeter is dragged and it is connected with the circuit in series. The
reading of the voltmeter V1 is recorded in the data analysis, table 1. The reading of
the Ammeter I1 is recorded on the table 1. Then, values are clicked on and the
resistance R is recorded in table 1. The battery is clicked on and the voltage is
changed to 20 v. The steps 6, 7 and 8 are repeated, then the results V2, I2, R is
righted in table 1. The voltage is changed to 30 v and steps 6, 7 and 8 are repeated.
And our result is righted in table 1. A screen shot is made to our circuit and it is
pasted in our report.

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3.2 PART II: SERIES CONNECTION OF RESISTORS
First another resistor is grabbed and it is connected in the circuit in series as shown
in figure (5).

Figure (5)

The power supply output is adjusted to 120 Volts. And the two resistance to be R1
=20 𝛺, R2 =30 𝛺. (You can change the magnitude of the resistors and the voltage by clicking
on each element you want to change and then edit from the box shown below in the
simulation). Then, the voltmeter is connected across the resistance R 1 to measure the
voltage drop V1. After that, the voltmeter is connected across the resistance R2 to measure
the voltage drop V2. The voltmeter is connected across the power supply (or across the two
resistances) to measure the total voltage V total. V1 and V2 is calculated and it is compared
to the total voltage across R1 and R2 (step 5). Next, the electric current I is measured using
the Ammeter before R1, between R1 and R2, after R and our results are commented. The
product of I × R1 is compared with the value V1. The product of I × R2 is compared with the
value V2. Our screenshot is pasted in our lab report.

3.3 PART III: PARALLEL CONNECTION OF RESISTORS.

The circuit is connected shown in figure (6).

Figure (6)

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 The of the power supply (battery) is adjusted to 120 Volts. Then, the voltage V1 is
measured across R1 using the voltmeter. The voltage V2 is measured across R2
using the voltmeter. V1 and V2 is compared to the output from the power supply V
total (battery). After that, the current I1 is measured through R1 using the ammeter.
The current I2 is measured through R2 using the Ammeter. The total current in the
circuit I total is measured. I1 + I2 is calculated and it is compared to what we got
before this. Our data are recorded in our lab report. Last but not least, the graph is
pasted in our lab report.

4.0 RESULT AND CALCULATIONS

4.1 PART I: MEASURING THE CURRENT AND THE VOLTAGE IN SIMPLE DC CIRCUIT

Table 1

𝑉
Trial V (v) 𝐼 (𝐴) 𝑅 (𝛺) 𝑅𝑐𝑎𝑙. =
𝐼

1 10 1.00 10 10

2 20 2.00 10 10

3 30 3.00 10 10

4 40 4.00 10 10

5 50 5.00 10 10

Potential, V (v) vs Current, I (A)

60

50 R² = 1
potential,V (v)

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Current, I(A)

Graph 1

5
 V=IR

𝑉
R=
𝐼

R= gradient of the graph

Δ𝑦
Gradient of the graph =
Δ𝑥

𝑦 −𝑦
= 𝑥2 −𝑥1
2 1

50−10
=
5−1

40
= 4

=10 Ω

4.2 PART II: SERIES CONNECTION OF RESISTORS

Table 2

Trial V total (v) V1 (v) V2 (v) R1 (Ω) R2 (Ω) R total (Ω) I1 (A) I2 (A) 𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 (A)

1 40 16 24 20 30 50 0.8 0.8 0.8

2 60 24 36 20 30 50 1.2 1.2 1.2

3 80 32 48 20 30 50 1.6 1.6 1.6

4 100 40 60 20 30 50 2.0 2.0 2.0

5 120 48 72 20 30 50 2.4 2.4 2.4

1- 𝐼 (before R1) =2.40, 𝐼 (between R1 & R2) =2.40, 𝐼(afterR2) = 2.40

2- 𝐼 × 𝑅1 = 2.4 x 20 = 48 V1 = 48 v
3- 𝐼 × 𝑅2 = 2.4 x 30 = 72 V2 = 72 v
4- 𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2
5- 𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2
6- 𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2

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 Potential, V (v) vs Current, I (A)
140

120 y = 12.001x
100
potential,V (v)

80

60

40

20

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Current, I(A)

Graph 2

V=IR

𝑉
R=
𝐼

R= gradient of the graph

Δ𝑦
Gradient of the graph = Δ𝑥

𝑦2 −𝑦1
=
𝑥2 −𝑥1

120−40
= 2.4−0.8

80
= 1.6

=50 Ω

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 4.3 PART III: PARALLEL CONNECTION OF RESISTORS.

Table 3

Trial V1 (v) V2 (v) V total (v) I1 (A) I2 (A) I total (A) R1 (Ω) R2 (Ω) R total (Ω)

1 40 40 40 2 1.33 3.33 20 30 12

2 60 60 60 3 2.00 5.00 20 30 12

3 80 80 80 4 2.67 6.67 20 30 12

4 100 100 100 5 3.33 8.33 20 30 12

5 120 120 120 6 4.00 10.00 20 30 12

𝑉𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉1 = 𝑉2

𝐼𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2

1 1 1
= +
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅1 𝑅2

1 1 1
= +
𝑅𝑒𝑞 20 30

1 1
=
𝑅𝑒𝑞 12

𝑅𝑒𝑞 = 12 Ω

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 Potential, V (v) vs Current, I (A)
140

120 y = 50x
100
potential,V (v)

80

60

40

20

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Current, I(A)

Graph 3

V=IR

𝑉
R= 𝐼

R= gradient of the graph

Δ𝑦
Gradient of the graph = Δ𝑥

𝑦 −𝑦
= 𝑥2 −𝑥1
2 1

120−40
= 10−3.33

80
= 6.67

=11.994 Ω

5.0 DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS

Based on this experiment, we can discuss about the current and the voltage in a direct circuit
(DC) where we used the ohm law. In the part 1 we measured the simple DC circuit that has
shown in the graph 1 where the relationship of the graph is the voltage directly proportional to
the current and it was proved the ohm laws that state the potential difference (voltage) between

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the two ends of the material is directly proportional to the current. From that, the voltage
increasing with the current. In addition, the slope of graph 1 showed the value of resistance
where it is a constant value by using equation of V=IR.

Other than that, for part 2 which is we connected the resistor in the series according to the
procedure. In the series circuit, the total current is equal to the first current, second current,
third current and so on. While the total voltage is equal to the added result of voltage that
different value depends to the value of resistance in each resistor. Then to find the total
resistance is same goes to the total voltage which is total resistance is equal to the added
results of resistance. From the graph 2, it shown that relationship of the graph is the voltage
directly proportional to the current where if the voltage increase, the current increase. The
gradient of the graph is equal to the value of resistance

After that, we connected the resistor in the parallel circuit for part 3. In the parallel circuit, the
value of total voltage is equal to the value of voltage of each resistor meanwhile the total
current is equal to the added results of current for each resistor. But for the total of the
resistance is equal to the one over added result of one over resistance of each resistor. From
this part, we built up the graph 3 that shown the same relationship of the graph which is the
total voltage is directly proportional to the total current and the slope of the graph is equal to
the value of the equivalent resistance where value of the resistance is constant. Therefore,
from three part of this experiment with three graphs, we observed that the relationship of the
graph is always same even though the combination of resistor different which is the voltage
directly proportional to the current and the value of gradient equal to the resistance where it is
a constant. Now, we know these parameters are interdependent. That is, to change the
current, we can either change the voltage applied or change the resistance of the circuit and
changing the resistance of the circuit, to change the current. As the current and resistance are
inversely proportional, if a decrease in current is required, we will increase the resistance

5.1 Questions

Lastly, if we connect the ammeter in parallel with the resistance, an ammeter has a very low
internal resistance. So, it will short-out that resistance in resulting a high current flowing
through the ammeter may severely damage the ammeter and possible harm the user,
although most are fitted with fuses to protect. Besides, if we connect the voltmeter in series
with the resistance, no voltage drop occurs due to high resistance no current will flow through
circuit, then voltage in same line is zero. it indicates zero. Last, the benefits of connecting
rheostat in electrical circuits are adjusting the generator characteristics, dimming lights, and
starting or controlling the speed of motors.

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6.0 CONCLUSION

Based on our experiment simulation, were are able to conduct an experiment and measure
the current and voltage for simple DC circuit by using ohm’s law. Ohm’s Law is a formula used
to calculate the relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electrical circuit.
Next, were are also able to research the series connection of resistors. Lastly, we learnt about
the parallel connection of resistors. From this experiment, the electric current also be could
calculate through voltmeter. Parallel and series connection also from the combination of
resistors.

7.0 REFERENCES

 Lab manual PHY150 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

 https://www.britannica.com/technology/rheostat
 https://www.circuitstoday.com/rheostat-working
 https://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-
circuits/passive-components/resistors/rheostat.html

8.0 EVIDENCE

Figure 1: NOR IFTIHA BINTI ABDUL AZIZ

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Figure 2: NURUL HANANI BINTI ABD HADI

Figure 3: RAIHAN BINTI ISMAIL

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