Lab 5: Resistors in Series and Parallel

Name: John Hafele Date: 7/13/2023

Lab Partner(s) : Connor Pascual, Alexander Hernandez, Dylan Mandel

A. Set the multimeter as an ohmmeter, and measure the resistance of each of the resistors

Resistor R1(Ω) R2(Ω) R3 (Ω)

Color code value Brown-Black-Brown- Two-Orange-Orange- Brown-Gray-Brown-
Gold Black-Gold Gold
Ohmmeter reading 98.5 65.5 177.5

A2. Equivalent resistance

Resistor combinations Calculated Req (Ω) Measured Req % error*

(use the ohmmeter- (Ω)
reading values) *
R1 R2 164 163.0 .610%

R1 R3 276 275.0 .362%

R1 39.3 394.4 .153%

R2
R1 63.3 63.3 .074%

R3
R1 R2 85.2 85.2 .049%

R3
R2 143.6 146.5 1.99%

R1

R3
Lab 5: Resistors in Series and Parallel

B. Resistors in Series:

Source voltage V= 3.0 V

THEORETICAL MEASURED PERCENT
VALUE* VALUE ERROR*
Equivalent resistance RS ( ) 341.5 Ohms 298 Ohms 12.7%

Current I ( ) 8.785 Ohms 8.67 Ohms 1.32%

Voltage across R1: V1 ( ) .8653 V .886 V 2.34%

Voltage across R2: V2 ( ) .5754 V .586 V 1.81%

Voltage across R3: V3 ( ) 1.559 V 1.594 V 2.18%

C. Resistors in Parallel

Source voltage V= 3.0 V

THEORETICAL MEASURED PERCENT
VALUE* VALUE ERROR*
Equivalent resistance RP ( ) 32.2 Ohms 31.9 Ohms .940%

Current I ( ) 93.2 mA 113.7 mA 22.0%

Current I1 ( ) 30.5 mA 29.8 mA 2.30%

Current I2 ( ) 45.8 mA 44.4 mA 3.06%

Current I3 ( ) 16.9 mA 15.6 mA 7.69%

Voltage across R1: V1 ( ) 3.004 V 3.03 V .866%

Voltage across R2: V2 ( ) 3.000 V 2.97 V 1.00%

Voltage across R3: V3 ( ) 3.000 V 2.97 V 1.00%

Lab 5: Resistors in Series and Parallel

D. Resistors in Series-Parallel

Source voltage V= 3.0 V

THEORETICAL MEASURED PERCENT
VALUE* VALUE ERROR*
Equivalent resistance Req (Ω) 146.3 Ohms 137.7 Ohms 5.88%

Current through R1, I1 (A) 20.5 mA 189.9 mA 826.34%

Voltage across R1: V1 (V) 2.02 V 2.05 V 1.49%

Voltage across R2 /R3: V2 =V3 (V) .981 V .99 V .917%

Current through R2, I2 (A) 15.0 mA 137.3 mA 815.33%

Current through R3, I3 (A) 5.53 mA 51.9 mA 838.52%

* Show all your calculations (Include additional pages if needed.)

Lab 5: Resistors in Series and Parallel
Lab 5: Resistors in Series and Parallel

Questions:

1. Four identical light bulbs, each has a resistance of 20 , are connected in series (circuit A)
and placed across a potential of 12 V. a) What is the equivalent resistance of the circuit? b)
What is the current in the circuit? c) If one of the bulb burns out, the circuit is then open
through that particular component, i.e., R is infinite. Would the remaining bulbs continue to
burn? (Show calculations and explain your answer.)

circuit A
a) 𝑅𝐸𝑄 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + 𝑅4 = 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 80𝛺
𝑉 12
b) = = 0.15𝐴
𝑅𝐸𝑄 80
c) All the bulbs are connected in series. If one of the bulbs burn out, then there is no
current flow through the circuit. All bulbs would be off.
2. In circuit B, the four identical light bulbs, each has a resistance of 20 , are connected in
parallel with the same battery of 12 V. a) What is the equivalent resistance of the circuit? b)
What is the total current drawn from battery? c) What is the current in one of the bulbs? d) If
one of the bulbs burns out, would the remaining bulbs continue to burn? If so, would the
remaining bulbs burn more brightly, burn more dimly, or stay the same? (Show calculations
and explain your answer.)

circuit B
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4
a) 𝑅𝐸𝑄
= 𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 + 𝑅 = 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 20 = 5𝑜ℎ𝑚
1 2 3 4
12
b) = 2.4𝐴
5
𝑉 12
c) 𝑖 = 𝑅1 = 20 = 0.6𝐴, One lightbulb has a current of 0.6A.
d) Yes, Even if one of the lightbulbs burn out, the remaining bulbs will continue to burn at the
same as they were.
Lab 5: Resistors in Series and Parallel

3. Compared to the individual bulbs in circuit A, the individual bulbs in circuit B are:

A. the same brightness.

B. 16 times brighter.
C. 4 times brighter.
D. ¼ as bright.
E. less than ¼ as bright.

(Show your work, explain)

Option B is correct, Each lightbulb in Circuit B will glow 16 times brighter.

Reasoning:
122 2
202 = 80 = 42 = 16
122 202
802
CONCLUSION

In lab 5 the topic we covered was resistors in series and parallel. The objectives for the lab are
to investigate the equivalent resistance of several combinations of resistors. To understand
voltage-current relationships for resistors in series and parallel. Our last objective is to learn
how to use a multimeter to measure current, voltage, and resistance. The equipment we used
in the lab were 3 resistors of 220, 68, and 100, a multimeter, ammeter, a power supply, and
various patch cables. Set up consisted of different variations of circuit set ups. There are 6
set ups we followed and took down values for.
We measured our values in the variations of the different series. The different parts are
equivalent resistance, resistors in series, resistors in parallel, resistors in series-parallel. All
the categories are theoretical value, measured value, percent error. We were able to see the
difference in the variations or series set up and the effects they had on the power set up.
There were a couple errors with the lab, the resistors did not tread the exact values that they
were specified to. Another error we had was that we simply could not find the resistors
needed, to solve this we combined 2 resistors to simplify it. Over all, all of our objectives
for the lab were completed with ease. After we finished the lab all of our materials were put
up.