BAZE UNIVERSITY

UGANDEN MICHAEL AFA

BU/22C/ENG/7687

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL REPORT

20 MARCH 2023
 SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS
AIM
● To measure and determine the resistance, voltage and the current of the
resistor in series
● To practically and theoretically examine the relationship between
resistance voltage and current across both series and parallel circuits

OBJECTIVE
● Learn to connect both series and resistors on breadboard.
● To measure equivalent resistors between series and parallel combination
of resistors using a digital multimeter (DDM), and compare it with this
theoretical value
● To verify the same amount of current flow through each serie circuits
elements

INTRODUCTION
The goal of this experiment is to understand series and parallel circuits,
calculate their equivalent resistance, and construct them in the laboratory. There
will be four circuits which the resistance will be theoretically and experimentally
calculated. The voltage and currents of the circuits will be measured to calculate
the experimental resistance.
SERIES CONNECTION

A series circuit is a circuit in which resistors or loads are connected end to end so that

the circuit will have only one path through which electric current flows. Thus, when a

number of resistors are connected in series, the effective resistance (total resistance in

the circuit) is gotten by adding the individual resistance algebraically. That is to say, if

we have resistors with resistance R1, R2, R3 …Rn connected in series, then;

Reff = RT = R1 + R2 + R3 + …Rn.

In series connections, the same current flows across all the branches of the circuits, but

different voltage across it thus making the resistors to have different voltage across

them. Each resistor or load will experience a voltage drop. The applied voltage is equal

to the sum of the voltage drop across the different parts of the circuit. Voltage drop is

proportional to the resistance current being the same throughout the circuit. When loads

are connected in series, the loads will tend to have a common switch. This kind of

connection is employed in school halls, street lights.

Disadvantages of Series Circuit

● The break in the wire, failure or removal of any single lamp will break the

circuit and cause all of the others to stop working as there is only one single

path of current to flow in the circuit.

● If more lamps are added in series lighting circuit, they will all be reduced in

brightness. because voltage are shared in series circuit. If we add more loads

in series circuit, the over voltage drop is increases which is not a good sign for

electrical appliances protection.

 ● Series Wiring is “ALL or NONE” type wiring mean all the appliances will work

at once or all of them will disconnect if fault occurs at any one of the

connected device in series circuit.

Advantages of Series Connection

● Less size of wire cable is required in series wiring.

● We use to protect the circuit to connect fuse & circuit breakers in series with

other appliances.

● Series circuit don’t get overhead easily due to high resistance when more load

added in the circuit.

● The lifespan of battery in series circuit is more as compared to parallel.

● It is most simple method of electrical wiring and fault can be easily detect and

repair as compared to parallel or series-parallel wiring.

PARALLEL CONNECTION

Resistors are said to be connected in parallel when the end of each of the resistors or

loads have a common point or junction and the other ends are also connected to a

common point or junction. Such circuits are known as parallel circuits.

Unlike the series circuit connection, when finding the total (effective) resistance in a

parallel circuit, the reciprocal of the individual resistance is taken. Thus, when a number

of resistances are connected in parallel, the reciprocal of the effective resistance is

given by the arithmetic or algebraic sum of the reciprocal of the individual resistance.

1/Reff or 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 …1/Rn.

Parallel circuit connection have the same voltage flowing across all the branches of the

circuits. Different resistors have their individual currents.

Advantages of Parallel Circuit

● Each connected electrical device and appliance are independent from others.

This way, switching ON / OFF a device won’t affect the other appliances and

their operation.

● In case of cable break or removal of any lamp will not break the all circuits and

connected loads, in other words, other lights/lamps and electrical appliances

will still work smoothly.

● If more lamps are added in the parallel lighting circuits, they will not be

reduced in brightness (as it happens only in series lightning circuits). Because

voltage is the same at each point in a parallel circuit. In short, they get the

same voltage as the source voltage.

 ● It is possible to add more light fixture and load points in parallel circuits

according to future need as far as the circuit is not overloaded.

Disadvantages of Parallel Connections

● More size of cable and wire is used in parallel lighting wiring circuit.

● More current needed when additional light bulb added in the parallel circuit.

● Battery runs out quicker for DC installation.

● The parallel wiring design is more complex as compare to series wiring.

APPARATUS

● Breadboard

● A multimeter

● Resistors

● DC power supply
 ● Connecting wires

TABLE OF RESULTS

R1 - First resistor

Band Color Significant

digit

st
1 band Yellow 4

nd
2 band Violet 7

Multiplier Orange X1000

Tolerance Gold ±5%

47 x 1000±5%

Range= 47000+2350 or 47000-2350

=49350 Ω or 44650Ω

Measured/experimental value- 46200 Ω

Percentage error = 1.7316%

R2 - second resistor
 Band Color Significant
digit

st
1 band Red 2

nd
2 band Black 0

Multiplier brown X10

Tolerance gold ±5%

20 x 10 ±5%

Range= 200+10 or 20-10

=210 Ω or 190 Ω

Measured/experimental value- 198.4Ω

Percentage error = 0.8%

R3 - third resistor

Band Color Significant

digit

st
1 band Brown 1

nd
2 band Green 5

Multiplier Brown X10

Tolerance Gold ±5%

15 x 10 ±5%
Range= 150+7.5 or 150-7.5

=157.5 Ω or 142.5 Ω

Measured/experimental value- 146.4Ω

Percentage error = 4%

CALCULATIONS

Multi meter readings Calculated value Percentage error

R1 = 46200 Ω R1 = 47000 Ω 1.7316%

R2 = 198.4Ω R2 = 200Ω 0.8%

R3= 146.4Ω R3 = 150Ω 4%

Series Connection

Req (multi meter reading) = R1 +R2 +R3 = 46200Ω + 198.4Ω + 146.4Ω =46544.8 Ω

Req (calculated value) = R1 +R2 +R3 = 47000 Ω + 200Ω + 150Ω =47350 Ω

Parrallel Connection
Req = 90.9090 Ω

Req= 85.5582 Ω

TABLE 1 series connection

Value of R1 Value of R2 (Ω) Value of R3 Req calculated (Ω) Req measured

(Ω) (Ω) (Ω) Multi meter
reading

46200 Ω 198.4 Ω 146.4 Ω 47350 Ω 46544.8 Ω

Ir (mA) Ir (mA) V1 (V) V2 (V) measured V3 (V) measured

calculated measured measured

5V 5V 5V
R1 + R2 + R3 =

TABLE 2 parallel connection

Value of R1 (Ω) Value of R3 (Ω) Req calculated Req measured

(Ω) (Ω) multimeter
reading

46200 Ω 146.4 Ω 85.5582 90.9090 Ω

Ir (mA) V1 (V) V2 (V) V3 (V)

calculated measured measured measured

OBSERVATION

From the experiment, it was observed that the equivalent resistance of

two resistors connected in series is greater than each resistance of
each resistor. This contrasts with parallel connection, whereby the
equivalent resistance of parallel connected resistors is smaller than
each resistor. When resistors are connected in parallel, more current
flows from the source than would flow for any of them individually, thus
the total resistance is lower.
DISCUSSION

The understanding of series and parallel connection is of diverse

importance. Parallel connection of resistors turnout reduced
resistance, which is key for power supply to homes, as opposed to
series connection which has an increased resistance. For instance,
each connected node or device draws a different amount of current.
The amount of current drawn from the source increases as each
device draws its respective current based on its resistance. As a
result, as more and more devices are connected in parallel, the total
amount of current drawn from the source increases and by adding
components in series connection, the total resistance increases.

ERROR ANALYSIS

1. Unstable electricity supply.

2. Improper connection of resistors.
3. Apparatus failure.

PRECAUTIONS

1. Ensure that the source of power is without any faults.

2. The resistors used should be connected properly to the bread
board to avoid improper readings.
3. It is important to ensure the proper working of the multimeter for
accurate readings.

CONCLUSION
The concluded experiment, made application of ohms law into the
calculation of the values of resistance. It is deduced that resistance of
a parallel connection reduces by the addition of resistors, while the
resistance of a series connection increases with increased resistors.
Post the study of series and parallel resistor connection, it was shown
that there are different forms of flow and distribution for each type of
connection.

REFERENCES
● https://studycorgi.com/lab-report-series-and-parallel-circuit/
●
● Series and Parallel Circuits Lab Report - Physics 2240 10/ ...
● Studocu
● https://www.studocu.com › university-of-north-texas

● Serway & Jewett Chapter 28 section 28-2.

POST LAB QUESTIONS

1. Assume that you have a 100Ω resistor. You want to add a

resistor in series with this 100Ω resistor in order to limit the
current to 0.5 amps when 110 volts is placed across the two
resistors in series. How much resistance should you use?

Solution

● Given: V=110 volts

I=0.5A

R1= 100 Ω,

Using ohms law, V = I (R1 +R)

Therefore, 110=0.5(100+R), therefore R = 120Ω

2. Identify the resistances pairs that are in parallel in the following

circuit:

3. What is the equivalent resistance of the following resistance

combination?

Let R1 = 8Ω, R2 = 8Ω, R3 = 4Ω, R4 = 2Ω, R5= 6Ω, R6 = 6Ω, R7 = 4Ω

In series, R3 + R4 = 4Ω + 2Ω, R3,4= 6Ω

In parallel, = =3.4Ω

In series, R1+ R2,3,4 = 8Ω + 3.4Ω = 11.4Ω

In parallel = = = 2.4Ω

In series, R5 + R6,7 = 6Ω + 2.4Ω = 8.4Ω

IN PARALLEL

= = 4.8Ω