Lab Report on Electrical Circuit Analysis

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I confirm that this assignment is my own work. Where I have referred to academic
sources, I have provided in-text citations and included the sources in the final
reference list.

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Lab Report 2

Contents

1 Introduction 3

2 Aim 3

3 Theory 3
3.1 Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.2 Junctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.3 Loops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4 Materials and Methods 4

5 Safety 4

6 Results 4

7 Error Analysis 5

8 Discussion 5

9 Conclusion 5

10 References 5
Lab Report 3

1 Introduction

This experiment is about building circuits using resistors in both series and parallel config-
urations. It is important to understand the behavior of electrical current and voltage when
resistors are combined in different ways. This is done to confirm the laws of resistance. Ohm’s
Law describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. It states that the volt-
age across a resistor is directly proportional to the current passing through it, given by the
equation:

V = IR
The experiment also tests the concepts of equivalent resistance in series and parallel circuits.
When resistors are placed in series, their resistances add up to form a larger total resistance:

RextT otal(Series) = R1 + R2 + R3 + · · ·
In parallel, the total resistance is less than the smallest individual resistor value. This is
because the current has multiple paths to travel, reducing the overall opposition to current flow:
1 1 1 1
= + + + ···
RTotal (Parallel) R1 R2 R3
Understanding these configurations is important for designing circuits and for practical
applications in electrical engineering. This experiment aims to compare theoretical calculations
of resistance with practical measurements and observe any differences. These differences may
be due to factors like connection losses, wire resistance, or component tolerances. The results
will show how close experimental values are to theoretical predictions, confirming the reliability
of Ohm’s Law and the laws of resistance in practical circuits. ””

2 Aim

To practice building electronics from circuit diagrams and to confirm the laws of resistance,
including Ohm’s Law, using experimental measurements.

3 Theory

3.1 Resistance
The current in an electronic circuit is controlled by the circuit’s resistance. Ohm’s Law shows
the relationship between the voltage (V ) and the current (I) flowing through an object of
resistance (R):

V = IR
Resistors can be placed in a circuit in series or in parallel. The total resistance for resistors
in series is calculated as:

RTotal = R1 + R2 + R3 + · · ·
For resistors in parallel, the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals:
1 1 1 1
= + + + ···
RTotal R1 R2 R3
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3.2 Junctions
There is conservation of charge at a junction. This means the total charge going into a junction
is equal to the charge coming out. This is Kirchhoff’s Junction Rule:
X X
Iin = Iout
or
X
Ijunction = 0

3.3 Loops
There is a potential difference across components in a circuit. Kirchhoff’s Loop Rule states that
the algebraic sum of the potential differences in any loop is zero:
X
V =0
Textbook Reference: Chapter on Electrical Circuits (Advanced Physics for You)

4 Materials and Methods

This experiment used resistors, a d.c. power supply, digital multimeters (DMMs), and connect-
ing wires. The resistors were connected in series and parallel configurations. Measurements of
voltage and current were taken, and resistance was calculated.

5 Safety

It is important to handle electrical components safely. The power supply should not exceed safe
voltage levels. Connections should be checked to avoid short circuits.

6 Results

Series Circuit Data:

Voltage (V) Current (mA) Total Resistance (kΩ)

2.05 1.54 1.33
3.84 2.8 1.37
6.05 4.5 1.34
8.25 6.2 1.33
10.18 7.7 1.32
12.05 9 1.34

Parallel Circuit Data:

Voltage (V) Current (mA) Total Resistance (kΩ)

2.63 10.7 0.25
4.3 17.5 0.25
6.1 24.9 0.24
8.2 33.6 0.24
10.15 41.5 0.24
12 49 0.24
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7 Error Analysis

There are uncertainties in the voltage and current measurements, approximately ±0.05 V and
±0.01 mA respectively. These uncertainties affect the calculation of resistance values. The
propagation of error for resistance, calculated using Ohm’s Law R = V /I, can be determined
using the following formula for the propagation of uncertainty:

∆R ∆V ∆I
= +
R V I
Where: - ∆R is the uncertainty in resistance, - ∆V is the uncertainty in voltage, - ∆I is
the uncertainty in current.
The absolute uncertainty in resistance is given by:
 
∆V ∆I
∆R = R +
V I
These uncertainties contribute to the overall error in the experimental resistance values.
Repeated measurements and careful calibration of equipment can help to minimize these errors.

8 Discussion

The experimental values of resistance were close to the theoretical values. There are small
differences due to measurement errors and tolerances in resistor values. The theoretical values
were calculated using the formulas for series and parallel resistances. For series, the resistances
add directly, while for parallel, the reciprocal of the total resistance is the sum of the reciprocals
of each resistor.
The observed differences can be explained by uncertainties in the voltage and current mea-
surements. Small fluctuations in voltage readings and minor inaccuracies in current values
contribute to the variation in resistance calculations. The tolerances of the resistors themselves
also play a role. Most resistors have a tolerance rating, which indicates how much the actual
resistance may vary from its labeled value.
Additionally, connection resistances and the quality of wire connections may have intro-
duced small errors. These factors, combined with measurement uncertainties, explain the slight
differences observed between experimental and theoretical values.
Overall, the experiment confirmed the expected behavior of resistors in both series and
parallel configurations. The results align well with the theoretical predictions, supporting the
validity of Ohm’s Law and the principles of electrical resistance.

9 Conclusion

The experiment confirmed Ohm’s Law. The calculated resistances matched the theoretical pre-
dictions closely. This is important because it shows the reliability of the law in practical circuits.
The differences observed were minimal and mostly due to expected measurement uncertainties
and tolerances in the components. These results support the theoretical understanding of series
and parallel resistances, and demonstrate the practical application of these electrical principles.

10 References

Edward Hughes, Electrical and Electronic Technology, 12th Edition, Pearson Education Limited,
Harlow, United Kingdom, 2015.
Allan R. Hambley, Electrical Engineering: Principles and Applications, 7th Edition, Pearson
Education, New York, USA, 2018.
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T. Brown and M. Green, “Experimental Verification of Ohm’s Law,” Journal of Physics

Education, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 210–215, 2019.
Adel S. Sedra and Kenneth C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 8th Edition, Oxford Univer-
sity Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2020.
J. Lee and S. Parker, “Analysis of Electrical Networks using Kirchhoff’s Laws,” International
Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 390–405, 2021.