NAME ID DEPT GROUP

ISTRUCTOR DATE

4
Series DC Circuits
Objective
The focus of this exercise is an examination of basic series DC circuits with resistors. A
key element is Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law which states that the sum of voltage rises around a
loop must equal the sum of the voltage drops. The voltage divider rule will also be
investigated.

Theory Overview
A series circuit is defined by a single loop in which all components are arranged in daisy-
chain fashion. The current is the same at all points in the loop and may be found by
dividing the total voltage source by the total resistance. The voltage drops across any
resistor may then be found by multiplying that current by the resistor value. Consequently,
the voltage drops in a series circuit are directly proportional to the resistance. An alternate
technique to find the voltage is the voltage divider rule. This states that the voltage across
any resistor (or combination of resistors) is equal to the total voltage source times the ratio
of the resistance of interest to the total resistance.

Equipment
(1) Adjustable DC Power Supply model: srn:
(1) Digital Multimeter model: srn:
(1) 1 kΩ
(1) 2.2 kΩ ____
(1) 3.3 kΩ
(1) 5.6 kΩ
 Schematics

Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2

Procedure

 Using the circuit of Figure 5.1 with R1 = 1 k, R2 = 2.2 k, R3 = 3.3 k, and E = 10 volts,
determine the theoretical current and record it in Table 4.1. Construct the circuit. Set
the DMM to read DC current and insert it in the circuit at point A. Remember,
ammeters go in-line and require the circuit to be opened for proper measurement. The
red lead should be placed closer to the positive source terminal. Record this current in
Table 4.1. Repeat the current measurements at points B and C.

 Using the theoretical current found in Step 1, apply Ohm’s law to determine the
expected voltage drops across R1, R2, and R3. Record these values in the Theory
column of Table 4.2.
 Set the DMM to measure DC voltage. Remember, unlike current, voltage is measured
across components. Place the DMM probes across R1 and measure its voltage. Again,
red lead should be placed closer to the positive source terminal. Record this value in
Table 4.2. Repeat this process for the voltages across R2 and R3. Determine the percent
deviation between theoretical and measured for each of the three resistor voltages and
record these in the final column of Table 4.2.

 Consider the circuit of Figure 4.2 with R1 = 1 k, R2 = 2.2 k, R3 = 3.3 k, R4 = 5.6 k and
E = 20 volts. Using the voltage divider rule, determine the voltage drops across each of
the four resistors and record the values in Table 4.3 under the Theory column. Note
that the larger the resistor, the greater the voltage should be. Also determine the
potentials VAC and VB, again using the voltage divider rule.

 Construct the circuit of Figure 4.2 with R1 = 1 k, R2 = 2.2 k, R3 = 3.3 k, R4 = 5.6 k

and E = 20 volts. Set the DMM to measure DC voltage. Place the DMM probes across
R1 and measure its voltage. Record this value in Table 4.3. Also determine the
deviation. Repeat this process for the remaining three resistors.

 To find VAC, place the red probe on point A and the black probe on point C. Similarly,
to find VB, place the red probe on point B and the black probe on ground. Record
these values in Table 4.3 with deviations.

Data Tables

I Theory I Point A I Point B I Point C

Table 4.1

Voltage Theory Measured Deviation

R1
R2
R3

Table 4.2

Voltage Theory Measured Deviation

 R1
R2
R3
R4
VAC
VB

Table 4.3

Questions
 For the circuit of Figure 4.1, what is the expected current measurement at point D?

 Is KVL satisfied in Tables 4.2 and 4.3?

NAME ID DEPT GROUP
ISTRUCTOR DATE

5
Parallel DC Circuits
Objective
The focus of this exercise is an examination of basic parallel DC circuits with resistors. A
key element is Kirchhoff’s Current Law which states that the sum of currents entering a
node must equal the sum of the currents exiting that node. The current divider rule will
also be investigated.

Theory Overview
A parallel circuit is defined by the fact that all components share two common nodes. The
voltage is the same across all components and will equal the applied source voltage. The
total supplied current may be found by dividing the voltage source by the equivalent
parallel resistance. It may also be found by summing the currents in all of the branches.
The current through any resistor branch may be found by dividing the source voltage by
the resistor value. Consequently, the currents in a parallel circuit are inversely
proportional to the associated resistances. An alternate technique to find a particular
current is the current divider rule. For a two resistor circuit this states that the current
through one resistor is equal to the total current times the ratio of the other resistor to the
total resistance.

Equipment
(1) Adjustable DC Power Supply model: srn:
(1) Digital Multimeter model: srn:
(1) 1 kΩ
(1) 2.2 kΩ
(1) 3.3 kΩ
(1) 5.6 kΩ
Schematics

Figure 5.1

Figure 5.2

Procedure

 Using the circuit of Figure 5.1 with R1 = 1 k, R2 = 2.2 k and E = 8 volts, determine the
theoretical voltages at points A, B, and C with respect to ground. Record these values
in Table 5.1. Construct the circuit. Set the DMM to read DC voltage and apply it to the
circuit from point A to ground. The red lead should be placed at point A and the black
lead should be connected to ground. Record this voltage in Table 6.1. Repeat the
measurements at points B and C.

 Apply Ohm’s law to determine the expected currents through R1 and R2. Record
these values in the Theory column of Table 5.2. Also determine and record the total
current.
  Set the DMM to measure DC current. Remember, current is measured at a single point
and requires the meter to be inserted in-line. To measure the total supplied current
place the DMM between points A and B. The red lead should be placed closer to the
positive source terminal. Record this value in Table 5.2. Repeat this process for the
currents through R1 and R2. Determine the percent deviation between theoretical and
measured for each of the currents and record these in the final column of Table 5.2.

 Crosscheck the theoretical results by computing the two resistor currents through the
current divider rule. Record these in Table 5.3.

 Consider the circuit of Figure 5.2 with R1 = 1 k, R2 = 2.2 k, R3 = 3.3 k, R4 = 5.6 k

and E = 10 volts. Using the Ohm’s law, determine the currents through each of the
four resistors and record the values in Table 5.4 under the Theory column. Note that
the larger the resistor, the smaller the current should be. Also determine and record the
total supplied current and the current IX. Note that this current should equal the sum of
the currents through R3 and R4.

 Construct the circuit of Figure 5.2 with R1 = 1 k, R2 = 2.2 k, R3 = 3.3 k, R4 = 5.6 k

and E = 10 volts. Set the DMM to measure DC current. Place the DMM probes in-line
with R1 and measure its current. Record this value in Table 5.4. Also determine the
deviation. Repeat this process for the remaining three resistors. Also measure the total
current supplied by the source by inserting the ammeter between points A and B.

 To find IX, insert the ammeter at point X with the black probe closer to R3. Record this
value in Table 5.4 with deviation.

Data Tables
 Voltage Theory Measured
VA
VB
VC

Table 5.1

Current Theory Measured Deviation

R1
R2
Total

Table 5.2

Current CDR Theory

R1
R2
Total

Table 5.3

Current Theory Measured Deviation

R1
R2
R3
R4
Total
IX

Table 5.4

Questions
 For the circuit of Figure 5.1, what is the expected current entering the negative terminal of
the source?
 Is KCL satisfied in Tables 5.2 and 5.4?