DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Region III
Division of Nueva Ecija
NUEVA ECIJA HIGH SCHOOL
Cabanatuan City

The Effects of Parallel and Series Connection on the Flow of

Current.

Classroom Scientific Investigation

Submitted To:
Jerenadel M. Gaspar

Submitted By: Group 4

10 Aristotle
Nhoj Daenielle Reyes
Erica Gwyneth Javier
Shekinah Lei Delos Santos
Laureene Jewel Arenas
Rose Ann Gurango
Chapter I : Introduction

In electronics, a circuit is a path between two or more points along which an electrical current can
be carried where it is closed loop that electrons can travel in. An electric circuit includes a device
that gives energy that provides voltage or potential difference to the charged particles constituting
the current such as dry cell or battery, devices that use current and converts electrical energy to
other forms of energy (sound, light, mechanical and chemical) such as lamps, electric motors, or
computers are called load; and the connecting wires or transmission lines are termed as conductors.
The basic law that mathematically describe the performance of electric circuits is the Ohm’s law
which constitute Current, Resistance, and Voltage. An electric circuit is formed when a conductive
path is created to allow electric charge to continuously move. This continuous movement of
electric charge through the conductors of a circuit is called a current, and it is often referred to in
terms of “flow,” just like the flow of a liquid through a hollow pipe. The force motivating charge
carriers to “flow” in a circuit is called voltage. Voltage is a specific measure of potential energy
that is always relative between two points. When we speak of a certain amount of voltage being
present in a circuit, we are referring to the measurement of how much potential energy exists to
move charge carriers from one particular point in that circuit to another particular point. Current
tends to move through the conductors with some degree of friction, or opposition to motion. This
opposition to motion is more properly called resistance.

An electric circuit connection is classified into two types according to the flow of current, a series
circuit comprises a path connected end-to-end to form only one path for the current to flow through
the circuit while parallel circuit comprises branches so that the current divides and only part of it
flows through any branch and all components are connected between the same two sets of
electrically common points, creating multiple paths for the current to flow from one end of the
battery to the other. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation that the increasing number of
resistors or load play an important role in determining and differentiating the effect in the current
in each type of circuit connection.

Statement of the Problem:

How does different circuit connection affect the current inn a circuit?
Objectives:
1. To determine the different effects of series and parallel circuit connection on the flow of
current.
2. To compare the different effects of series and parallel circuit connection on the flow of
current.
3. To identify the different effects of series and parallel circuit connection on the flow of
current.

Hypothesis:
 a. Null: The parallel and series connection have comparable effects on the flow of current.
b. Alternative: There is no significant effects on the flow of current on the parallel and series
connection.
c. Cause and Effect: If the circuit connections will be varied then the flow of current and
will be affected.

Chapter II : Research Methodology

1.Sampling Procedure
In the study, instruments were gathered which are Three Incandescent light bulbs having a 2.5 voltage,
two wires, three receptacles, and two size D dry cell were bought at DEECO (Dee Hwa Liong Electronics
Equipment Corporation) in Rizal Street, Matadero, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

2.Data Analysis Procedure

An electric circuit is an unbroken path along which an electric current exists and/or is able to flow. A
simple electrical circuit consists of a power source, two conducting wires (one end of each being
attached to each terminal of the cell), and a small lamp to which the free ends of the wires leading from
the cell are attached.

When the connections are made properly, the circuit will “close” and current will flow through the
circuit and light the lamp.

2.1 Series Connection Set Up

In a series circuit , the current through each of the components is the same, and the voltage across the
components is the sum of the voltages across each component. In a series circuit, every device must
function for the circuit to be complete. One bulb burning out in a series circuit breaks the circuit. Two D
dry cell were connected to wires, the wires were then connected to the receptacle depending on the
light bulb to be measured. Three treatments( for 1 light bulb, 2 light bulbs and 3 light bulbs) where
conducted and the current were measured using the digital multimeter. Two trials were conducted.

2.2 Parallel Connection Set Up

In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the same, and the total current is the
sum of the currents through each component.
In a series circuit, every device must function for the circuit to be complete. One bulb burning out in a
series circuit breaks the circuit. In parallel circuits, each light has its own circuit, so all but one light could
be burned out, and the last one will still function. Two D dry cell were connected to wires, the wires
were then connected to the receptacle depending on the light bulb to be measured but it was in parallel
position. Three treatments( for 1 light bulb, 2 light bulbs and 3 light bulbs) where conducted and the
current were measured using the digital multimeter. Two trials were conducted.
2.3Measuring using Multi-tester in Current

The researchers used digital multi-tester with few simple steps. First, the researchers turned the meter
on. Inserted the probes into the correct connections -in many meters there are a number of different
connections for the probes. Often one labelled common into which the black probe is normally placed.
The other probe should be entered into the correct socket for the current measurement to be made.
Sometimes there is a special connection for current measurements, and sometimes a separate one for
either low or high current measurements. The main selector switch on the meter switch were set to the
correct measurement type and range for the measurement of the activity made. The researchers
ensured that the maximum range is above the expected reading anticipated. Then, the researchers
connected the probes to the circuit and the multi-tester gave the current.

Chapter III : Results and Discussion

Results
Table 1. Parallel circuit connection indicating per number of bulbs, current (ampere) using
two dry cell treatment. (Trial 1)
Number of Bulbs (2.5 V) Number of Dry cell Current (Amperes)
1 2 0.36 A
2 2 0.65 A
3 2 0.90 A
Table 2. Parallel circuit connection indicating per number of bulbs, current (ampere) using
two dry cell treatment. (Trial 2)
Number of Bulbs (2.5 V) Number of Dry cell Current (Amperes)
1 2 0.29A
2 2 0.65 A
3 2 0.90A
Table 3. Parallel circuit connection indicating per number of bulbs, current (ampere) using
two dry cell treatment. (Trial 3)
Number of Bulbs (2.5 V) Number of Dry cell Current (Amperes)
1 2 0.325A
2 2 0.65 A
3 2 0.90A

Table 4. Series circuit connection indicating per number of bulbs, current (ampere) using
two dry cell treatment. (Trial 1)
Number of Bulbs (2.5 V) Number of Dry cell Current (Amperes)
1 2 0.36A
2 2 0.24A
3 2 0.19A

Table 5. Series circuit connection indicating per number of bulbs, current (ampere) using
two dry cell treatment. (Trial 2)
Number of Bulbs (2.5 V) Number of Dry cell Current (Amperes)
1 2 0.29A
2 2 0.23A
3 2 0.19A

Table 6. Series circuit connection indicating per number of bulbs, current (ampere) using
two dry cell treatment. (Trial 3)
Number of Bulbs (2.5 V) Number of Dry cell Current (Amperes)
1 2 0.32A
2 2 0.23A
3 2 0.19A

Discussion
Series Connections
In conducting this Classroom Scientific Investigation (CSI), distinctly different observations are
made for the two types of circuits. A series circuit can be constructed by connecting light bulbs
in such a manner that there is a single pathway for charge flow; the bulbs are added to the same
line with no branching point. As more and more light bulbs are added, the brightness of each
bulb gradually decreases. This observation is an indicator that the current within the circuit is
decreasing.
So for series circuits, as more resistors are added the overall current within the circuit decreases.
This decrease in current is consistent with the conclusion that the overall resistance increases.
A final observation that is unique to series circuits is the effect of removing a bulb from a socket.
If one of three bulbs in a series circuit is unscrewed from its socket, then it is observed that the
other bulbs immediately go out. In order for the devices in a series circuit to work, each device
must work. If one goes out, they all go out.

Parallel Connections
Using the same collection of wires, D-cells and bulbs, parallel circuits can be explored in the
same manner. The effect of the number of resistors upon the overall current and the overall
resistance can be investigated. One will note that a study of the overall current for parallel
connections requires the addition of an indicator bulb. The indicator bulb is placed outside of the
branches and allows one to observe the effect of additional resistors upon the overall current. The
bulbs that are placed in the parallel branches only provide an indicator of the current through that
particular branch. So if investigating the effect of the number of resistors upon the overall current
and resistance, one must make careful observations of the indicator bulb, not the bulbs that are
placed in the branches.
It is clear from observing the indicator bulbs in the experiment that the addition of more resistors
causes the indicator bulb to get brighter. For parallel circuits, as the number of resistors
increases, the overall current also increases. This increase in current is consistent with a decrease
in overall resistance. Adding more resistors in a separate branch has the unexpected result of
decreasing the overall resistance!
If an individual bulb in a parallel branch is unscrewed from its socket, then there is still current
in the overall circuit and current in the other branches. Removing the third bulb from its socket
has the effect of transforming the circuit from a three-bulb parallel circuit to a two-bulb parallel
circuit.

Conclusion
The effect of adding resistors (load) is quite different if added in parallel compared to adding
them in series. Adding more resistors in series means that there is more overall resistance; yet
adding more resistors in parallel means that there is less overall resistance.
In conclusion, the increasing number of load added in a series circuit then the current gradually
decreases and also the brightness of the bulb gradually decreases, this indicates that adding more
resistors is inversely proportional to the current. While in a parallel circuit, the increasing
number of load the current also increases and brightness gradually increases as well, which
means the increasing number of resistors is directly proportional to the current.

References:
Electric circuit. (2019, August 21). Retrieved from
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Circuit. (2019, August 21). Retrieved from https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/circuit

What's a circuit? (2019, August 21). Retrieved from

http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/power/2-whats-a-circuit.html
Ohm’s Law. (2019, August 21). Retrieved from
https://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.intro.html
What is a Series-Parallel Circuit? Chapter 7 - Series-parallel Combination Circuits. (2019,
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7/what-is-a-series-parallel-circuit/
Two Types of Connections. (2019, August 25). Retrieved from
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/circuits/Lesson-4/Two-Types-of-Connections
How Electrical Circuits Work. (2019, August 23). Retrieved from
https://www.bulbs.com/learning/circuit.aspx
How to Measure Current. (2019, August 23). Retrieved from https://www.electronics-
notes.com/articles/test-methods/meters/how-to-measure-current.php.

Documentation:
For Series Connection
Trial 1

Trial 2

For Parallel Connection

Trial 1

Trial 2