Exp.5 Prallel D.C Circuits
Exp.5 Prallel D.C Circuits
Experiment
Parallel
Ohm’s DC Circuits
Law
Objectives:
To examine of basic parallel DC circuits with resistors.
A key element is Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL).
Which states that the sum of currents entering a node
must equal the sum of the currents exiting that node.
Theory Overview
A parallel circuit is defined by the fact that all components share two common
nodes. As shown in Figure 5.1. The voltage is the same across all components and
will equal the applied source voltage. The total supplied current may be found by
dividing the voltage source by the equivalent parallel resistance. It may also be found
by summing the currents in all of the branches. The current through any resistor
branch may be found by dividing the source voltage by the resistor value.
Consequently, the currents in a parallel circuit are inversely proportional to the
associated resistances. An alternate technique to find a particular current is the current
divider rule.
Iequ= I1+I2+I3
V equ V 1 V 2 V 3
= + +
Requ R1 R2 R3
1 1 1 1
= + + ,since Requ is the total resistance
R equ R 1 R 2 R3
:Example 1
1 1 1 1
= + +
R equ 2 3 6
1 6 4 2 12
= + + =
R equ 12 12 12 12
Requ = 1 Ω.
c) V1 = R1 × I1
10 = 2 × I1
I1 = 5 A.
V2 = R2 ×I2
10 = 3 × I2
I2 = 3.33 A.
V 3 = R 3 × I3
10 = 6 ×I3
I2 = 1.67 A.
Schematics
Follow the steps to build the DC parallel circuit and testing it.
3. Set the DMM to read DC current and insert it in the circuit. Remember, ammeters
go in-line and require the circuit to be opened for proper measurement. The red
lead should be placed closer to the positive source terminal as shown in Figure
5.5.
.Figure 5.5: The procedure for testing the current in DC parallel circuit
Measure current for each of the three resistors, comparing with the current figures
calculated previously. With the digital ammeter connected as shown, all three indications
should be positive, not negative. Now, measure total circuit current, keeping the
ammeter’s red probe on the same point of the circuit, but disconnecting the wire leading
to the positive (+) side of the battery and touching the black probe to it:
.Figure 5.6: The procedure for testing the total current
4. Set the DMM to measure DC voltage. Place the DMM probes across R1 and
measure its voltage. Again, red lead should be placed closer to the positive source
terminal. As shown in Figure 5.7. Repeat this process for the voltages across R2
and R3.
.Figure 5.7: The procedure for testing the voltage in the DC parallel circuit
:Student name
:Student ID
Exercise 1:
Using the circuit of Figure 5.8 with R1 =R2= 50 k (Green- brown-orange- gold), R3
=R4= 5 K (Green- brown-red- gold), and V = 3 volts. Find the requested values in Table
5.1:
I1
I2
I3
I4
ITotal
Exercise 1: Simulation
Build the circuit of Figure 5.8 in a simulator. Using the virtual DMM as an ammeter
determine the currents through the four resistors along with Itotal, and compare these to the
theoretical and measured values recorded in Table 5.1.
The best way to predict your future is to create
it.