Lab 2

DC Series Circuits
Objective

To observe how resistors, behave in series connection

Theory Overview
Resistors are said to be connected in “Series “, when they are daisy chained together in a single
line. Since all the current flowing through the first resistor has no other way to go it must also
pass through the second resistor and the third and so on. Then, resistors in series have
a Common Current flowing through them as the current that flows through one resistor must
also flow through the others as it can only take one path.

Figure 1: Resistors in Series

The total resistance of the circuit is found by simply adding up the resistance values of the
individual resistors. This total resistance is generally known as the Equivalent Resistance and
can be defined as;
“A single value of resistance that can replace any number of resistors in series without altering
the values of the current or the voltage in the circuit “.
Then the equation given for calculating total resistance of the circuit when connecting together
resistors in series is given as:
Req =R1 + R2 + R3 … … … . Rn

The current is the same at all points in the loop and may be found by dividing the total voltage
source by total resistance. The voltage drops across any resistor may be found by multiplying
that current by the resistor value (Ohm’s Law). Consequently, the resistance.
 The total resistance ( RT ) of any two or more resistors
connected together in series will always be GREATER than
the value of the largest resistor in the chain.

A key element is Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law which states that the sum of voltage rises around a
loop must equal the sum of the voltage drops.
V =V 1+V 2+V 3 … … .. V n

An alternate technique to find the voltage is the voltage divider rule. This states that the
voltage across any resistor (or combination of resistors) is equal to the total voltage source
times the ratio of the resistance of interest to the total resistance.
R1
V 1= V
R1 + R2 s

Lab Tasks

Equipment
 Power Supply
 Digital Multimeter
 Breadboard
 Connecting Wires
 Resistors: 1kΩ, 2.2kΩ, 3.3kΩ

Task 1

Figure 2: Schematic for Task 1

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Procedure

 Using the circuit of Figure 1 with R1 = 1 kΩ, R2 = 2.2 kΩ, R3 = 3.3 kΩ, and E = 12 volts,
determine the theoretical current and record it in Table 1.
 Construct the circuit. Set the DMM to read DC current and insert it in the circuit at point
A. 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.
 Repeat the current measurements at points B and C.
 Using the theoretical current found in above step, apply Ohm’s law to determine the
expected voltage drops across R1, R2, and R3. Record these values Table 2.
 Set the DMM to measure DC voltage. Remember, unlike current, voltage is measured
across components. Place the DMM probes across R1 and measure its voltage. Again,
red lead should be placed closer to the positive source terminal. Record this value in
Table 2. Repeat this process for the voltages across R2 and R3.
 Determine the percent deviation between theoretical and measured for each of the
three resistor voltages and record these in the final column of Table 2.
 Check whether KVL is verified or not.
 Find the equivalent resistance using eq.1.
 Take a resistor of value equal to Req and connect it in series with source.
 Find the current and voltage and observe that RT has the same effect on the circuit as
the original combination of resistors as it is the algebraic sum of the individual
resistances.

Observations

Theoretical Current

IR1

IR2

IR3

Table 1: Theoretical currents across resistors (Task 1)

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Voltage Theoretical Voltage (Ohm’s Measured Voltage (DMM) Deviation
Across Law)
Resistor
R1

R2

R3

Table 2: Observations for Task 1

Equivalent Resistance: _______________

Task 2

Figure 3: Schematic for Task 2

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Procedure
 Construct the circuit shown above with R1=2.2kΩ and 3.3kΩ resistor.
 Set voltage V0=10V.
 Measure the value of voltage across each resistor using DMM and record in the table.
 Theoretically verify the voltage across each resistor using voltage divider Law ad record
the output in the table.

Observations

VDR Theory Theoretical Experimental

VR1

VR2

Table 3: Observations for Task 2

Task 3

Repeat the step of Task 1 for the figure given below and record values in Table 4.

Figure 4: Schematic for Task 3

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Observations

Voltage Theoretical Voltage (Ohm’s Measured Voltage (DMM) Deviation

R2

R3

R4

R5

Table 4: Observations for Task 3

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Lab 3

DC Parallel Circuits

Objective

To observe how resistors, behave in parallel connection.

Theory Overview
Resistors are said to be connected together in “Parallel” when both of their terminals are
respectively connected to each terminal of the other resistor or resistors and is identified by the
fact that it has more than one current path connected to a common voltage source.
Unlike the series resistor circuit, in a parallel resistor network the circuit current can take more
than one path as there are multiple paths for the current and the current may not be same for
all branches.
However, the voltage drop across all of the resistors in a parallel resistive network is same.
Therefore, for a parallel resistor network this is given as:
1 1 1 1
= + +…
R eq R1 R2 Rn

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.
A key element is Kirchhoff’s Current Law which states that the sum of currents entering a node
must equal the sum of the currents exiting that node.

I =I 1+ I 2 + I 3 … … .. I n

The equivalent resistance will always be

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An alternate technique to find a particular current is the current divider rule. For a two resistor
circuit this states that the current through one resistor is equal to the total current times the
ratio of the other resistor to the total resistance.

R2
I 1= I
R 1+ R 2 s

Lab Tasks

Equipment
 Power Supply
 Digital Multimeter
 Breadboard
 Connecting Wires
 Resistors: 1kΩ, 2kΩ, 3kΩ

Task 1

Figure 1: Schematic for Task 1

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Procedure
 Construct the circuit as shown in Figure 1.
 Using the circuit of Figure with E = 10V volts, determine the theoretical voltages at
points A, B, and C with respect to ground.
 Set the DMM to read DC voltage and apply it to the circuit from point A to ground. The
red lead should be placed at point A and the black lead should be connected to ground.
Record this voltage in Table 1.
 Repeat the measurements at points B and C.
 Apply Ohm’s law to determine the expected currents through R 1 and R2. Record these
values in Table 2. Also determine and record the total current.
 Set the DMM to measure DC current. Remember, current is measured at a single point
and requires the meter to be inserted in-line. To measure the total supplied current
place the DMM between points A and B. The red lead should be placed closer to the
positive source terminal. Record this value in Table 2. Repeat this process for the
currents through R1 and R2.
 Determine the percent deviation between theoretical and measured for each of the
currents and record these in the final column of Table 2.
 Check whether KCL is verified or not.
 Find the equivalent resistance using eq.1.
 Take a resistor of value equal to Req and connect it in parallel with source.
 Find the current and voltage and observe that RT has the same effect on the circuit as
the original combination of resistors is the algebraic sum of the inverses of the
individual resistances.

Observations

Voltage Theoretical Measured

Voltage (A)

Voltage (B)

Voltage (C)

Table 1: Voltages at nodes (task 1)

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Current Theoretical Voltage Measured Voltage (DMM) Deviation
(Ohm’s Law)

R1

R2

R3

Total

Table 2: Observations for Task 1

Equivalent Resistance: ______________

Task 2

Figure 2: Schematic for Task 2

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Procedure
 Construct the circuit shown above with R1=2.2kΩ and R2= 3.3kΩ resistor.
 Set voltage E=10V.
 Measure the value of current across each resistor using DMM and record in the table.
 Theoretically verify the current across each resistor using voltage divider Law and record
the output in the Table 3.

Observations

CDR Theory Theoretical Experimental

IR1

IR2

Table 3: Current Divider Observations

Task 3

Consider the following schematic and repeat the steps as mentioned for Task 1. Note the
readings in Table 4.

Figure 3: Schematic for Task 3

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Current Theoretical Voltage (Ohm’s Measured Voltage (DMM) Deviation
Law)

R1

R2

R3

Total

Table 4: Observations for Task 3

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