E306: SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

MONDEJAR, Calvin Paulo A.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this experiment is to find out the
total current flowing through a series circuit and
parallel circuit, to find out the voltage across
each resistor and the current flowing through a
series and parallel circuit, to analyze the
relationship of voltage across each resistor to the
total voltage, and to analyze the relationship of
the current flowing through each resistor to the
total current. The experiment has been
performed for it is considered as a task to attain
the objectives of the experiment likewise to
attain data needed. In the experiment, the
following data were sought: For table 1, which is
the Series circuit, the resistance 1,2, and 3, the
total resistance, the total voltage, the voltage
across resistance 1, 2, and 3, current flowing
through resistance 1, 2, and 3, the total current,
and the percentage difference were asked. For
table 2, which is the parallel circuit, the following
data were also the same as the data mentioned
in table 1. The experiment measured the missing
values to determine the percentage difference of
each table in the experiment like the each value
of resistance, the net resistance, and the total
voltage.

The significance of this experiment is the

percentage difference determines the contrast of
the values of experimental and actual. To attain
this, the formulas provided by the manual for the
series and parallel circuits experiment were used
for computation likewise the other data were
determined through experimental procedures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
To attain the data needed by the series and
parallel circuit experiment, the experiment was
conducted by adhering to the procedures listed in
the manual. Initially, materials were utilized for
the series and parallel circuits experiment. The
following materials used in the experiment with
their use were: three pieces of resistance boxes
which is used for adjusting the resistance, five
pieces of 1.2 volts of batteries that serve as the
supply of current to the resistance boxes, VOM
and the ammeter, 12 pieces of connecting wires
for connecting from one resistance box to
another and likewise connected to the batteries,
VOM and the ammeter, a piece of VOM or the
Volt/Ohm meter for measuring the number of
volts and ohms produced by the system, and a
piece of ammeter used for determining the
circuits electric current.
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for Series Circuit and the solved equivalent

resistance and the voltages measurement across
the batteries. Data were recorded from the
experimental procedures followed for the table 1
of the experiment.

FIGURE 1. This figure shows the set-up of the materials for

the series circuit part of the experiment 306.

Before the series and parallel circuits experiment

started, the materials were set-up for the 1 st part
of the experiment, which is the series circuit. The
materials were checked like making sure that the
resistance boxes, voltage batteries, connecting
wires, VOM, and the ammeter function properly.
When the materials were already set-up and
ready for experimentation, the series circuit part
of the experiment was performed.
At the initial part of the experiment, the 5
batteries were connected to the VOM and the
resistance boxes. After that, by utilizing the three
resistors which are the three boxes, the circuit
was built through connection of the wires by
circuit diagram as provided by the manual and
also a similar circuit diagram was provided by our
professor. After building the circuit for the series
circuit, the Volt/Ohm meter was connected at
each resistor across the VOM one by one in order
to determine the corresponding voltages listed in
table 1. Since the VOM was connected at each
resistor, the VOM was then connected to the
circuit at corresponding points located in the
table. By connecting the VOM to the circuit at
following points, the equivalent resistance was
determined. And after knowing the equivalent
resistance, the total currents value was
computed after flowing through the circuit.
Likewise, the total currents value was computed
while flowing through each resistor in the
resistance box by utilizing Ohms Law and Rules

FIGURE 2. This figure shows the experimental value of the

voltage across resistance 1 for the series circuit part.

Before the 2nd part of the series and parallel

circuit experiment was performed, the materials
were set-up for the parallel circuit part after the
series part was finished. The materials were
checked like the 1st part of the experiment except
the arrangement of the parallel circuit is different
from the arrangement of the series circuit. In
order to perform the experiment, the group made
sure that the resistance boxes, voltage batteries,
connecting wires, VOM, and the ammeter
function properly. When the materials were
already set-up and ready for experimentation,
the parallel circuit part was performed.

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FIGURE 3. This figure shows the set-up of the materials

needed for performing the parallel circuit part of the
experiment.

At the last part of the experiment which is the

parallel circuit part, performing the experiment
started when the batteries were connected in
each resistor and in the VOM. After connecting
the batteries, the circuit was built through
utilizing the three resistors and through
connecting the wires in the circuit diagram
provided in the manual and likewise a similar
circuit diagram for parallel circuit was provided by
our professor. After building the circuit, the VOM
was connected to the resistors one by one in
order to define the corresponding voltages across
each resistance. Moreover, the VOM was then
connected to the circuit at corresponding points
to measure the current. After connecting the
VOM and gathering the measurement of the
current, the equivalent resistances value was
determined. Lastly, the total currents value while
flowing through the circuit, through each resistor,
and the voltages across each resistor was them
computed through the use of Ohms Law and
Rules for Parallel Circuit and the equivalent
resistances computed value and voltages
measurement. After doing the procedures, the
data were gathered and recorded for further
computations for other remaining missing values.

FIGURE 4. This figure shows the experimental value of

voltage across resistance 3 was determined by the ammeter.

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS

The following below are the gathered data from
the series and parallel circuits experiment, where
the computed required values from table 1 and
table 2 of the experiment were shown in the
table below.
TABLE 1. SERIES CIRCUIT

Resistance 1 = 89
Resistance 2 = 94
Resistance 3 = 115

Total Resistance = 298

Total Voltage = 6.33V

TABLE 1

Experimental

Computed

Voltage
Across
Resistance 1

1.875V

1.780V

Voltage
Across
Resistance 2

1.974V

1.880V

Voltage
Across
Resistance 3

2.440V

2.300V

Current Flowing
through
Resistance 1
Current Flowing
through
Resistance 2
Current Flowing
through
Resistance 3
Total Current

0.020A

0.021A

0.020A

0.021A

0.020A

0.021A

0.020A

0.021A

Percentage
Difference

6.021%
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SAMPLE COMPUTATION: TABLE 1. SERIES

each resistance was determined through using

the VOM device that measured the amount of
current in each resistor in Amperes. After
knowing the current of each resistor, the total
current was known given the formula for series

V 1 ( computed )=R1 I 1
V 1=( 89)(0.020 A)

circuit,

V 1=1.78 V

TOTAL CURRENT ( A ) =

0.0210.020
X 100
0.020+0.021
(
)
2

%DIFFERENCE=6.021

In table 1, the values of resistance 1, 2, and 3

were provided in the experiment, the total
resistance was computed by a formula of parallel
in

which,

RT =R1 + R2 + R3 .

V tot
R1 + R2 + R3 .

TABLE 2. PARALLEL CIRCUIT

Resistance 1 = 96
Resistance 2 = 75
Resistance 3 = 51

Total Resistance = 23.064

Total Voltage = 5.66V

TABLE 2

From table 1 of the experiment, series and

parallel circuits, data were gathered through
experimental procedures for the series circuit
part. They are: Resistance 1, Resistance 2,
Resistance 3, Total Resistance, Total Voltage,
Experimental values of Voltage across Resistance
1, 2, and 3, Current Flowing through Resistance
1, 2, and 3, Total Current, and Percentage
Difference.

circuit

TOTAL CURRENT ( A ) =

And by knowing the total current as an

experimental value, percentage difference was
computed to determine the amount of contrast
between the experimental and computed value
for the series circuit.

6.33
=0.021 A
89+ 94+115

PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE=

The

voltages total of the resistors was determined

through the use of ammeter. The ammeter
measured the total voltage through connecting
the wires to an arranged series circuit. After
knowing the total voltage, the experimental value
of voltage across each resistance was determined
through measuring the amount of voltage in each
resistor connecting from ammeter to each
resistor. Moreover, the Current Flowing through

Experimental

Computed

Voltage
Across
Resistance 1

5.660V

4.800V

Voltage
Across
Resistance 2

5.660V

5.250V

Voltage
Across
Resistance 3

5.650V

5.100V

Current Flowing
through
Resistance 1
Current Flowing
through
Resistance 2
Current Flowing
through
Resistance 3
Total Current

0.050A

0.059A

0.070A

0.075A

0.100A

0.111A

0.230A

0.245A

Percentage
Difference

6.481%

SAMPLE COMUTATION: TABLE 2.

V 1 ( computed )=R1 I 1
V 1=( 96 )(0.050 A)

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V 1=4.80V

TOTAL CURRENT ( A ) =I 1 + I 2+ I 3 .

TOTAL CURRENT ( A ) =I 1 + I 2+ I 3
TOTALCURRENT ( A ) =0.059+0.075+0.111=0.245 A
0.2450.230
PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE=
X 100
0.23+0.245
(
)
2
%DIFFERENCE=6.481
The results from the table 2 of the experiment
came from the data gathered in the experiment
conducted. The following data gathered from the
procedures of the experiment are: Resistance 1,
Resistance 2, Resistance 3, Total Resistance,
Total Voltage, Experimental values of Voltage
across Resistance 1, 2, and 3, Current Flowing
through Resistance 1, 2, and 3, Total Current,
and Percentage Difference.
The values of resistance 1, 2, and 3 were
provided in the experiment, the total resistance
was computed by a formula of parallel circuit in

which,

RT =

1
1
1
1 .
+
+
R1 R2 R3

The

voltages

total of the resistors was determined through the

use of ammeter. The ammeter measured the
total voltage through connecting the wires to a
built parallel circuit. After knowing the total
voltage, the experimental value of voltage across
each
resistance
was
determined
through
measuring the amount of voltage in each resistor
connecting from ammeter to each resistor.
Moreover, the Current Flowing through each
resistance was determined through using the
VOM device that measured the amount of current
in each resistor in Amperes. After knowing the
current of each resistor, the total current was
known given the formula for parallel circuit,

And

by

knowing the total current as an experimental

value, percentage difference was computed to
determine the amount of contrast between the
experimental and computed value for the parallel
circuit.
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
The series and parallel circuit experiment is an
application of the Resistors in Series and
Resistors in Parallel in Physics lecture. It is an
application because series circuit is a type of
circuit in which resistors are connected in series,
resulting for the current to have one path to take,
while a parallel circuit is a type of circuit in which
resistors are connected in parallel, resulting for
the current to break up in which particularly all of
the current flow in each parallel section and they
converge when the sections converge also. Series
circuits result an equal value of current in each
resistor and the circuit's net resistance can be
found through adding all the resistance amounts
of each resistor. Parallel circuits' voltage across
each resistor has the same value likewise the net
resistance of resistors in parallel can be solved by
summing up each reciprocal of each resistor
value and by getting the total's reciprocal.
Ohm's law is also an application for the Electricity
lecture in Physics in which the equation shows
that the value of voltage is equivalent to a
product between an electrical current and
resistance. And by arranging the equation, the
value of resistance is the ratio between the
voltage and the electric current. This shows that
the voltage has a directly relationship with the
electric current and resistance, while the
resistance has an inversely relationship with the
electrical current.
Based on the results of the experiment, I
therefore conclude that understanding the
circuit's concept particularly the series and
parallel circuits is significant for studying this
concept is the key on knowing the proportionality
between the voltage and the resistance, voltage
and electrical current, and resistance and
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electrical current. It is likewise significant to find

out the comparison between the series and
parallel circuit for they have different properties
and arrangement for resistors.
For the Series and Parallel circuit experiment,
assuring that the multimeter's knob is in direct
current and in voltage is important in order to
evade errors in data. The connecting of wires
improperly is an example of a possible error
source.
The proper connection of the wires is significant
for the multimeters reading can alter if there is
unstable connection. Moreover, when an ammeter
is used, a device connected by a wire must
replace the initial wires connected in the
resistance boxes and the voltage batteries in
order to make sure that electric current's reading
is right.
By the series and parallel circuit experiment,
since the materials' experimental values were
determined likewise the value of computed
obtained by Ohm's law and by formulas provided
by the two types of circuits, this manifests the
validity of the circuit of parallel and series.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT & REFERENCE
First, I would like to thank almighty God for
giving me strength to perform the series and
parallel circuit experiment and other experiments
with my group mates. I also would thank him for
showering me blessings and for keeping me away
from harm and danger. Secondly, I would like to
thank my family for supporting my education and
giving me love, joy, care, and other things.
Thirdly, I also would like to thank General Physics
Laboratory 3 instructor, Professor Ricardo de
Leon, for teaching and discussing the series and
parallel circuit experiment and other experiments
of physics laboratory 3 this term. I also would
like to thank him for his dedication in teaching

and his hard work to teach the experiment in

order for his students to understand the
experiment easily. I also would like to thank
Professor De Leon for his generosity by giving us
additional points for this experiment.
I would like to thank my fellow group members
for their effort, cooperation and teamwork in
conducting
this
experiment
and
other
experiments throughout the term. They are
Ferdinand Almoite, Pria Mae Cadiz, Gian Brando
Mercado, Gian Perez, and James Andrew
Santiago. I would also like to thank them for
performing the experiment chronologically and
for their effort to finish the experiment as a
group. Their efforts for the experiment were
highly appreciated.
Lastly, I would like to thank myself for performing
the experiment and other experiments this term
and for cooperating with my group mates likewise
I thank myself for influencing my fellow members
to strive for a good performance in order to
obtain the desired result. This is the last lab
report of the term and its really fun making this
lab report and other lab reports. It really takes
much dedication and effort to accomplish these
lab reports and I am proud on what I have
accomplished.
These are the references below used to provide
additional ideas regarding the experiment
conducted:
a.
b.
c.

http://physics.bu.edu/py106/notes/Circuits.ht
ml
http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmlaw.html
Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Rensick, R. (2014).
Principles of Physics Tenth edition, p. 462.
Singapore: John Wiley and Sons Ltd., 2014

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