Faculty of Applied Science

PHY 524

LAB REPORT

Lab 1
Title : Series and Parallel Circuits
Date of Experiment :
Prepared by : Khairul Nizzam bin Dani
Matrix no : 2009821144
Group : ASB3CN (D)
TOPIC
Series and Parallel Circuits.

OBJECTIVE
Circuit implementation of Series and Parallel.

EQUIPMENTS AND COMPONENT

Breadboard , resistors, power supply, multimeter and wires.

INTRODUCTION
Circuits consisting of just one battery and one load resistance are very simple to analyze, but
they are not often found in practical applications. Usually, we find circuits where more than two
components are connected together.
There are two basics ways in which to connect more than two circuits components: series and
parallel. First, and example of a series circuits.
Series Circuit

Here we have three resistors ( labeled R1, R2, and R3), connected in a long chain from one
terminal of the battery to the other. (It should be noted that the subscript labeling {those little
numbers to the lower right of the letter “R” – are unrelated to the resistors values in ohms. They
serve only to identify one resistor to another). The defining characteristic of the series circuits is
that there is only one path for electron to flow. In this circuit the electron flow in a counter-
clockwise direction, from points 4 to point 3 to point 2 to point 1 and back around to 4.
Parallel Circuit

Again we have three resistors, but this time they form more than one continuous path for
electrons to flow. There’s one path from 8 to 7 to 2 to 1 and back to 8 again. There’s another
from 8 to 7 to 2 to 1 again. And there’s a third path from 8 to 7 to 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 and
back to 8 again. Each individual path (through R1, R2, and R3 ) is called a branch.
The defining characteristic of a parallel circuit is that all the components are connected between
the same set of electricity common points. Looking at the schematic diagram, we see that points
1,2,3,and 4 are all electricity common. So are points 8, 7, 6 , and 5. Note that all resistors as well
as the battery are connected between these two points.
INSTRUCTIONS
1) Connect the three resistors in series, and to the 6-volt battery as shown in the illustrations.
2) Measure battery voltage with a voltmeter after the resistor have been connected to it,
noting this voltage figure on paper as well. It is advisable to measure battery voltage
while its powering the resistor circuits because this voltage may differ slightly from a no-
load condition
3) Use Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) to calculate circuit current, then verify this calculated value by
measuring current with an ammeter.
4) The measured value of current should agree closely with your Ohm’s Law calculation.
Now, take that calculated value for current and multiply it by the respective resistance of
each resistor to predict their voltage drops.
5) Switch your multimeter to the voltage mode and measure the voltage dropped across each
resistor, verifying the accuracy of your predictions. Again, there should be close
agreement between the calculated and measured voltage figures.
For Parallel
1) Connect the three resistors in parallel to and each other, and with the 6-volt battery.
Measure battery voltage with a voltmeter after the resistor have been connected to it,
noting this voltage figure o paper as well.
2) Measure voltage across each of the three resistors. In a series circuit, current is equal
through all components at any given time. In a parallel circuit , voltage is the common
variable between all the components.
3) Use Ohm’s Law (I=E/R) to calculate current through each resistor, then verify this
calculated value by measuring current with a digital ammeter. Place the red probe of the
ammeter at the point where the positive ends of the resistor connect to each other and lift
one resistor wire at a time, connecting the meter’s black probe to the lifted wire. In this
manner, measure each resistor current, noting both the magnitude of the current and the
polarity.
RESULT

Theoretical Calculation
In Series Circuit
The resistor use 150 ± 5% (Brown, Green ,Brown , Gold)

R1 = R2 = R3 = 150 ohm
RT= R1 + R2 + R3 = 450 ohm

IT = I1 = I2 = I3
I = V/ R
= 6V/450 ohm
= 13.3 mA

V = IR
= 13.3 mA x 450 ohm
= 5.985 v

Actual Calculation

R1 = R2 = R3 = 150 ohm
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 = 400 ohm

I = V/R
= 6V/400 ohm
= 15 mA

V = IR
= 15 mA x 400 ohm
=6V
In Parallel Circuit
Theoretical Calculation

1/ RT = 1/ R1 + 1/ R2 + 1/ R3
1/ RT = 1/150 + 1/150 + 1/150
= 50 ohm
I = V/R
= 6/150
= 0.04 mA
IT = I1 + I2 + I3
= 0.04 + 0.04 + 0.04
= 0.12 mA
VT = V1 = V2 = V3

Actual Calculation
1/ RT = 1/ R1 + 1/ R2 + 1/ R3
1/ RT = 1/150 + 1/150 + 1/150
= 50 ohm
V = 5.7v
I = V/R
= 5.7/150
= 0.038 mA
IT = I1 + I2 + I3
= 0.038 + 0.038 + 0.038
= 0.114 mA
VT = V1 = V2 = V3
DISCUSSION

In series circuit the current flow through in the circuit is same , which mean (IT = I1 = I2 = I3) total
current in the circuit is same in every place in the circuit. While the voltage in series circuit got
different value when it pass through each resistors. In parallel circuit the current flow through in
the circuit is different when it pass through each resistors, while the voltage value in parallel
circuit is same in every place in the circuit(VT = V1 = V2 = V3). The theoretical calculation is
different from actual concentration maybe because of the tolerance value in the resistor which is
± 5 %. The bad condition of voltage meter cause the different reading between the theoretical
calculation and actual calculation. The advantage of series circuit is using small amount of
current to power up same devices while parallel circuit use more current to the same devices.
The disadvantage of the series circuit is that if 1 electronic component is short circuit in the
device, the device cannot be used anymore, while in the parallel circuit if 1 electronic component
is short circuit. The device still can be used by changing the short circuit electric component to
the new one. The parallel circuit is use in almost every circuit in the world to avoid short circuit
to damage the electric, electrical or electronic devices.

CONCLUSION
Parallel circuit is better than Series circuit in many ways.

REFERENCES

1. http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/powersup.htm
2. F:\AC.waveformsbasicactheory.htm
3. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4937722-description.html