To study the properties of resistors

connected in series and parallel. To know

how to measure the individual voltages and
currents of resistors connected in series and
in parallel

SERIES &
PARALLEL
RESISTORS
Experiment No. 2

Professor: Engr. Eufemia A. Garcia

 I. DISCUSSION

The property of an electric circuit which tends to prevent the flow of current is called RESISTANCE. It
causes electrical energy to be converted into heat energy. Resistors are used when it is desired to
introduce resistance into a circuit. Resistor maybe connected in series and in parallel.

In the series circuit, the load resistances are joined together from end to end so that the same current
passes from one end to another around one complete path. It is one in which the resistors or other
electrical devices are connected end to end as shown in figure A. The current in each part of the circuit is
the same but the total impressed voltage is divided among the different elements of the circuit. The
total resistance of a group of resistors connected in series is equal to the sum of individual resistance.

In the parallel circuit, the load resistances are connected across one another so that the total current
entering one junction, divides to pass through the individual parts in definite ratio and combines at the
other junction to leave the latter. It is one in which one terminal of each elements is connected to a
common point to form one terminal of the system. Each element will then have the same voltage across
it but the total current divides among the elements of the circuit. This is shown in figure B. The
equivalent resistance of the resistors connected in parallel is equal to the reciprocal of the sum of the
reciprocals of the individual resistances.

II. PROCEDURE

SERIES CIRCUIT

1. Create the circuit shown in figure A.

2. Measure and record Vad, Vab, Vbc, Vcd, Vac, Ia, Ib, Ic and Id.
3. Compute for the total resistance.
4. Using the formula Rt = Vad/Ia, determine the total resistance on the circuit.
5. Record the result in table 1.

PARALLEL CIRCUIT

1. Create the circuit shown in figure B.

2. Measure and record Vah, Vbg, Vcf, Vde, I6k, I3k and I2k and Itotal.
3. Compute the total resistance.
4. Using the formula Rt=Vah/It, compute for the total resistance.
5. Record the results in table 2.
 R3
a b
6kΩ

V1 R2 Figure A
12V 3kΩ

R1

2kΩ
d c

a b c d

V2 R6 R5 R4
12V 6kΩ 3kΩ 2kΩ Figure B

h g f e
Table 1

Vab Vbc Vcd Vad Vac Ia Ib Ic Id

Measured 6.545 V 3.273 V 2.182 V 12 V 9.818 V 1.091 mA 1.091 mA 1.091 mA 1.091 mA
Values
Compute 6.546 V 3.27 V 2.18 V 12 V 9.81 V 1.091 mA 1.091 mA -1.091 mA -1.091 mA
d Values

Table 2

Vah Vbg Vcf Vde It I6k I3k I2k Rah

Measured 12 V 12 V 12 V 12 V 12 mA 2 mA 4 mA 6 mA 1kOhms
Values or 1k Ω
Compute 12 V 12 V 12 V 12 V 12 mA 2 mA 4 mA 6 mA 1kOhms
d Values or 1k Ω
 III. COMPUTATION

Figure A – Circuit in Series

R3
a b
6kΩ

V1 R2
12V 3kΩ

R1

2kΩ
d c

Solving for I (current):

RT = R1 + R2 + R3 (compute total resistance)
RT = (2 x 103) + (3 x 103) + (6 x 103) RT = 11000 Ω or 11 Kω
V
IT = (solve for the total current in the series circuit)
RT
12 V
IT = IT = 1.09 mA
11 k Ω
Since the circuit is in a series, all elements within the circuit has a constant current.

Ia = 1.091 mA , Ib = 1.091 mA , Ic = 1.091 mA , Id = 1.09 mA

Suppose the current flow is clockwise, I a and Ib are absorbing the current supplied by the source
which results to a positive current, while I c and Id are supplying the current back to the source which gives a

negative value in the current.

solving for V (Voltage or volatage drop between the nodes):

Vab=IR Vab = ((1.091 x 10-3) A) ((6 x 103) Ω) Vab = 6.546 V

Vbc = IR Vbc = ((1.09 x 10-3) A) ((3 ⋅x103) Ω) Vbc = 3.273 V

Vcd = IR Vcd = ((1.09 x 10-3) A) ((2 x 103) Ω) Vcd = 2.182 V

Vac = Vab + Vbc Vac = 9.819 V

Vad = Vab + Vbc + Vcd Vac = 12 V

Figure B – Circuit in Parallel

a b c d

V2 R6 R5 R4
12V 6kΩ 3kΩ 2kΩ

h g f e

Solving for voltage (Voltage between nodes)

Vah = 12 V , Vbg = 12 V , Vcf = 12 V , Vde = 12 V

The given voltage in the parallel circuit is 12 V, hence the circuit is in parallel, the voltage will remain
constant for all the elements and nodes in the circuit.
Solving I (current):

12V
I6k = −3 I6k = 2000 A or 2 mA
(6 x 10 )Ω
12V
I3k = −3 I3k = 4000 A or 4 mA
(3 x 10 ) Ω
12 V
I2k = −3 I2k = 6000 A or 6 mA
(2 x 10 ) Ω

IT = I6k + I3k + I2k (compute the total current)

IT = 2mA + 4mA + 6mA IT = 12 mA

1 1 1
RT = R + R + R (compute the total resistance)
4 5 6

1 1 1
RT = + + RT = 1000 Ω or 1 kΩ
(2 ⋅10 ) (3 ⋅10 ) (6 ⋅103 )
3 3

V ah
Rah =
IT

12 V
Rah = Rah = 1000 Ω or 1kΩ
( 12⋅10−3 ) A
IV. OBSERVATION

V. CONCLUSION
VI. QUESTIONS / PROBLEMS
1. How is the total resistance determined when a number of unequal resistors are connected in
series? When are a number of unequal resistors connected in parallel?

Answer: If the circuit that contains unequal resistors is a series, the total resistance is
determined by getting the Voltage that runs through point a to d (Vad) depending on
the circuit and dividing it by the current from Ia (current flowing immediately after the
power source or the V of the power source itself). While if the current with unequal
resistors is a parallel circuit, you also get the Voltage from point a to h (Vah) depending
on the circuit and dividing it but this time by the total current for each point in the
circuit with resistance adding them to get the total current and that will be used to
divide the Voltage that will result to its total resistance.

2. What type of instruments used in the measurement of voltage and current? Why are they called
indicating instruments?

Answer: In Multism the instrument used is called Multimeter, and it is classified as an

Indicating Instruments, because they instantly indicate or show the values of the
electrical quantity being measured exactly at that time, their indications are given by
pointers moving over calibrated dials(scale).

3. A piece of copper wire was cut into a number on “n” equal parts. These parts are connected in
parallel. How will the resistance of the parallel combination compare with resistance of the
wire?
Answer: Since the given wire is divided in “n” equal parts and was connected in parallel
combination, it was made clear that compared to the resistance of the wire, the squared
of the equal parts “n” will be used to divide the value of the Resistor, does having the
R
form meaning that compared to the wire, resistance is divided on the squared of the
n2
number of times the wire is cut into equal parts.

4. String of Christmas lights were made of miniature lamps connected in series. If one lamp is
removed, what would happen?

Answer: Due to the Properties of a Series Circuit, if any single lamp will be removed
from the circuit, every single lamp will not function, in simple words, removing a lamp
 from a String of Christmas lights will cause the whole set of lamps to not function
anymore.

5. You are given 4 resistors, each having a resistance equal to 100 ohms. Show how these resistors
might be combined to produce an equivalent resistance of:
a. 40 ohms
Answer: Combining all the 4 resistors with 100 ohms into a parallel circuit will drop the
equivalent resistance to 40 ohms.
b. 250 ohms
Answer: To achieve 250 ohms of equivalent resistance 2 of the 100 ohm resistors will be
placed in a parallel circuit and then insert to a series circuit with 2 resistance separately
to have a computation of 50+100+100 = 250 ohms.
c. 100 ohms
Answer: Combining two parallel circuit with two 100 ohms resistor each will cause the
equivalent resistance to be 100 ohms (two 100 ohms resistor in parallel will be
equivalent to 50 ohms)

6. The resistors Ra and Rb are connected in series across a 120 volt source. When a 30,000 ohm
voltmeter is connected to Ra and then across Rb, the deflection is 48 volts in each case. What
the values of the resistors?

Ra=Rb=R; thus, 48/120

72/R=48/R+48/30000

24/R=48/30000 = 15,000 ohms