Experiment # 03

Title:
Study and Implementation of Series DC Circuit
Objective:
1. To understand the characteristics of the resistor in the series dc circuit
2. To be able to determine the current, the total resistance and the voltage drop across in the
series dc circuit.
3. To appropriately apply Ohm’s law to troubleshoot the series dc circuit.

Theory:
A series circuit is formed when any number of resistors are Series Circuit connected end-to-end so that
there is only one path for current to flow. The resistors can be actual resistors or other devices that have
resistance. The following illustration shows four resistors connected end-to-end. The arrows points the
direction of current.

The values of resistance add in a series circuit. If a 4 Resistor is placed in series with a 6 Ω resistor, the
total value will be 10 Ω. This is true when other types of resistive devices are placed in series. The
mathematical formula for resistance in series is:
RT =R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 + R 5

Then,
RT =R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 + R 5

RT =11000+2000+2000+100+1000
 RT =16100 Ω=16.1 k Ω
Current in a Series Circuit:
The equation for total resistance in a series circuit allows us to simplify a circuit. Using Ohm’s Law, the
value of current can be calculated. Current is the same anywhere it is measured in a series circuit.
E
I=
R
12
I= =1.2 Amps
10

Voltage in a Series Circuit:

Voltage can be measured across each of the resistors in a circuit. The voltage across a resistor is referred
to as a voltage drop. In the following illustration, four equal value resistors of 1.5 Ω each have been
placed in series with a 12 volt battery. Ohm’s Law can be applied to show that each resistor will “drop”
an equal amount of voltage.

Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure below.
 +5.71
Volts
R1
+1.90
3k mA

R2
R1(1) 3.5k
+6.67
Volts

R3
4k

+7.62
Volts

2. Referring to the circuit of fig 5, the total resistance (R T) in the series circuit is calculated from
RT= R1+ R2+R3. Then RT=____10.5k____ Ω.
3. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter at points A and D, R T= 10.5k Ω.
4. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=___0___ %.
E
5. Calculate total current 9I) of the circuit by using Ohm’s law ( I T = R ¿, IT=___1.90___ mA.
T
6. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 and R3 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=____1.90__ mA.
I1=____1.90_ mA.
I2=____1.90_ mA.
I3=__1.90 mA.
7. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=____0____ %.
8. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=____5.71___ V,
VR2= IR2*R2=____6.67____ V,
VR3= IR3*R3=___7.62___ V
VR1+ VR2+VR3=__20___ V
9. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3) using Digital Multimeter.
10. Calculate the percentage error: Error=______________0____________ %.

Tasks
From the resistive circuit of fig 6, determine the voltage drop across R 2.

+5.71
Volts
R1
+1.43
4k mA

R1(1)

R2 +4.29
3k Volts

1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure below.

2. Referring to the circuit of fig 6, the total resistance (R T) in the series circuit is calculated from R T= R1+
R2. Then RT=____7k____ Ω.
3. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter at points A and D, R T=__7k____ Ω.
4. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=_0_____ %.
E
5. Calculate total current 9I) of the circuit by using Ohm’s law ( I T = ¿, IT=__1.43____ mA.
RT

6. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 and R3 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=___1.43___ mA.
I1=_ 1.43___ mA.
I2=__1.43_ mA.

7. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=____0____ %.

8. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=___5.71______ V,
 VR2= IR2*R2=___4.29____ V,
VR1+ VR2=10v
9. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 ) using Digital Multimeter.

Refer to the circuit of fig 7, suppose that current through R 1 is equal to100mA, then determine
the current through R2, R3 and R4.

+0.50
Volts

R1
+100
5 mA

R2 +1.00
R1(1) 10 Volts

R3
15 +1.50
Volts

R4
20
+2.00
Volts

As V=IR
I=I1=I2=I3=I4=100mA
V=IR
5=100mA×R
5/100=R
50ohm=R
V1=I1R1
V1=100mA×5
V1=0.5V
V2=I2R2
V2=100mA×10
V2=1V
V3=I3R3
V3=100mA×15
V3=1.5V
V4=I4R4
V4=100mA×20
V4=2V
1. Referring to the circuit of fig 5, the total resistance (R T) in the series circuit is calculated from RT= R1+
R2+R3+R4. Then RT=____50___ Ω.
2. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter at points A and D, R T=__50__ Ω.
3. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=___0___ %.
E
4. Calculate total current 9I) of the circuit by using Ohm’s law ( I T = ¿, IT=_____100_ mA.
RT

5. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 and R3 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=____100__ mA.
I1=__100__ mA.
I2=___100_ mA.
I3=__100__ mA.
6. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=____0____ %.
7. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=_______0.5__ V,
VR2= IR2*R2=_____1____ V,
VR3= IR3*R3=___1.5__ V
VR4=IR4*R4=2V
VR1+ VR2+VR3+VR4 =__5___ V
11. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3) using Digital Multimeter.
IR2=___100___ mA.
IR3=___100___ mA.
IR4=____100__ mA.