APPLIED ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Morehead State University

Shane Holbrook
ITEC 141: DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS
LAB EXPERIMENT 4
Series Circuits
INSTRUCTOR: MR. COMBS
GROUP MEMBERS:
Jordon Kurz
DATE: 09-23-2015

Objective:
In this experiment the ideology was to better understand Kirchhoff and Ohms law in series circuits.
This is done through experimentation through various resistors, a trainer, and of course the multimeter.
Through both physically measuring the circuits, along with the computation of resistance, current, and
volts, we are able to see how the theory coincides with actual practice.

Materials and Equipment:

One 1.0k Resistor

One 1.5k Resistor
One 2.2k Resistor
One 3.3k Resistor
A Photo-Board PB-503 Trainer
An Agilent U1241A Multi-Meter
Various Wires of different sizes

Procedures:
After obtaining all of our needed equipment and bringing it back to our station. Our next goal was
to review over the procedures section of our lab book. It was evident that the first thing to do was to solve
table one. To do this we first measured the Ohms of each resistor to make sure that the resistors matched
their required resistance levels. After doing this we calculated the RT of the listed value and measured the
actual resistance measurements of all of the resistors wired together.
Our next step was to complete table two. To achieve this we connected the circuit to the +15V
source and then we began to compute the needed values for table two. The IT was determined by calculating

IT =

Vs
RT

. In which the Vs is already known, and the RT had previously been calculated. After determining

the current we could then measure the voltage drop across each resistor which is a factor of the resistance
and current in Ohms law. After computing each value for table two, we then measured each resistor across
the circuit to determine how accurate the calculations were.

From here we had to fill out table three, which was simply Kirchhoffs voltage law, which is simply
measuring the voltage of each resistor across the circuit, then determining whether or not they added up to
zero. We did also had a table four, however it pertains mainly to the further investigation and relies on
numbers from a previous lab report, although those numbers were gathered during the lab as well.
Findings:
Table 1:
Component
R1
R2
R3
R4
RT

Listed Value
1.0k
1.5 k
2.2 k
3.3 k
(Computed)

Measured Value
990
1.487k
2.177k
3.278k
7.993 k

8 k

Table 2:
IT
VAB
VBC
VCD
VDE

Computed Value
1.875mA
1.875V
2.812V
4.125V
6.188V

Measured Value
1.88V
2.825V
4.132V
6.225V

Table 3:
Step Number
7
8
9

Kirchhoffs Voltage Law (measured values)

1.88V + 2.825V + 4.132V + 6.225V 15.062VS = 0
4.132V + 6.225V + 2.825V + 1.88V 15.062VS = 0
15.062V + 0V + 0V + 0V 15.062VS = 0

Conclusion:
Overall as the objective stated previously, the ideal was to gain an understanding of Kirchhoffs law
and Ohms law in regards to series circuits. As the results can verify, Kirchhoffs law does remain valid in
table three whether the resistor is open or if it is still in the series. It is also apparent by these results that the

voltages read across each resistor do add up to zero, or in regards to the total voltage from the source. Now
as you will notice it isnt an exact +15V, this is due in part to it being so difficult to get exact settings on the
trainer.
It is also to be noted that in table one the measured values are slightly lower than that of the actual
listed values. Again this is due to the tolerances of the resistors themselves. This goes to show you there is a
level of variance in electricity to account for.
Overall this was one of my favorite experiments as it allowed the participant to be able to more
actively do calculations and compare and contrast concept and practice. For example with the current in
table two, without this calculation the others couldnt have been done. This made the experiment have some
validity in my opinion. It allows the participant to actually see how their calculations can attribute to
measurements. This experiment shows not only a reiteration of how Ohms law works, but how it works in
a series in conjunction with Kirchhoffs law.

Further Investigation:
Table 4:
I1
I2
I3

Current Read From Experiment 2 Plot 1

1.90mA
2.02mA
1.95mA

Evaluation and Review Questions:

1. Because they are all added anyway, then subtracted from the Vs. So no matter how they are added
they still equate to zero.
2. Because even if the other sources are non apparent over the series still there will always equate to
the Vs or to zero.
3. It would still equte to 110V
4. 9v-2v-4v = Vx = 3V Checking the answer 9V 2V 4V 3V = 0

5. a. 12V 8V = 4V across the resistor

12V
=1.2 A
b.
10
8V
=6.67
c.
1.2 A