Introduction

Physics is a basic science encompassing a wide variety of subjects, ranging from

atom to galaxies and even into the miniscule world of subatomic particles. As such,
physic serves as the foundation of the study of all physical science and engineering.
Every day that we see many things like the car moving and the fruit drop from top of the
tree, that is the physical action. We know that every action that we do is also the
fundamental of physic, for example when we carrying a school bag or pulling rope of our
cow. The action that we do and done before and now are physic. Physic is the pure
knowledge that relate to our life as we apply it for every day.
Electric current is the result of the flow of charges. If electric charges flow in one
direction without reversing direction, the current produce is called direct current, DC.if
the charges reverse their current produce is called alternating current,AC. Direct current
is used in most portable or battery –operated device such watches, hand phone and
calculator. On the other hand, alternating current is used in most household and
industrial appliance such as electric kettle, hair dryer, radios, and refrigerator.

AKNOWLEDGEMENT

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 First of all I would like to thank to The Almighty Allah S.W.T because giving me an
opportunity to finish my assignment and help me to succeed the task that have been
given to me .Then, I would like to thank to our lecturer also our tutor Mr.Zamry Bin
Ibrahim because he gives me the task and tell us what to do in order to finish the task.
I also would like to thank to my fellow friend because give me support and
information in order to find the resource that is useful to my assignment. Soon also to
the person who also involve behind me to finish up the assignment according to time
that has been things like our given.
In this assignment I learned that our ability is actually limited, for example in
order measure our school field, we need a measuring tape in order to find the length.
Same also with the tailor at the tailor shop they need ruler in order to measure the fabric
their customer. But in science field we need to know that our limitation can also affect
our measurement and experiment result, so we need to know the right apparatus to
measure the correct things and determine the accuracy and consistency of the
instrument. This is because most of the problem regarding the measurement are
actually comes from our self.
As a conclusion I would like to thank to everyone and anyone who help me to
finish my assignment. Last but no least, I hope I can do better when doing another
assignment

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 COMPARISON BETWEEN PARALLEL AND
SERIES CIRCUIT

What are voltage, current, and resistance?

First, we need to define, briefly, some basic ideas & terms.

1. Voltage. Macroscopic matter is made of atoms and molecules bound

together by electrical forces. The atoms are composed of electrically
neutral neutrons, positively charged protons, and negatively charged
electrons. In batteries, and other sources of electrical power, positive and
negative charges are separated usually by some mechanical process.
Since unlike charges attract each other, work must be done to separate
them. You probably have already studied conservation of (mechanical)
work and energy in Newtonian mechanics. Electrical energy is simply
another form of energy, and what we have found is that all kinds of energy
can change form, from one kind to another, but the total energy of an
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 independent system is conserved. Recall that energy cannot be created or
destroyed, but changed from one form to another. Under the right
conditions, we can get back the work we put into separating the charges. A
source of electricity is rated by the “voltage”, or work per unit charge which
could be recovered if a unit positive charge moved from the “positive” side
of the battery or electricity source to the “negative” side. (or, which is what
usually happens, a unit negative charge moved from the “negative” side of
the battery to its “positive” side).

2. Current. The flow of charge through a conductor is called the current and it
is the rate at which electrical charges pass an observer’s station per unit
time is called the electrical current. We will not discuss conductors in depth
here, but we will define a conductor as a material which allows charge to
pass through it freely. Since Voltage is work/unit charge and current is
charge/unit time, we see that Voltage * Current is Work/time, which is
power, or the rate at which work is done. The utility company charges by
the total work (or power * time). You should know how much power an
electrical device can use, and how much power your electrical power
source provides, before connecting any device to an electrical power
source. Not knowing could lead to circumstance which are both dangerous
and costly.

3. Resistance. Resistance is a feature of a material that determines the flow

of electric charge. When charges have been separated onto positive and
negative “terminals”, and suddenly the two terminals are touched together,
the charges will move very quickly to equalize the charge. In this case,
there will be a large spark which corresponds to a huge instantaneous
current (transfer of charge over a very short time). On the other hand, if the
terminals are in a vacuum, no current will flow between them. Any
intermediate situation will give some intermediate current. The “resistance”
of a given piece of material placed between two terminals with difference in
voltage V is defined as: V = i * R1, where i is the current which flows
between the two terminals when the resistance R is connected. R can
always be defined in this way. For other materials, R is nearly independent
of temperature, the voltage across it, and the current through it. Materials
with variable resistance are fascinating both for their function and their
construction. If you go on to design electrical circuits you will work with
such variable resistor components as diodes and transistors, or you might
worry about the breakdown voltage of gases at which current starts to flow.
But in our lab today, we will start at the beginning with materials called
“resistors”, for which the “resistance” R is independent of current and
voltage. That is, a graph of voltage vs current would be a straight line, with
slope R.
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 1
The Ohm is named after the German Scientist Georg Simon Ohm who
experimented with circuits and found the relationship between current,
voltage, and resistance. The equation which relates these three is known
as Ohm’s law.

Circuits

There are three kinds of circuits, series, parallel, and a combination of the two,
which we will term series-parallel.

Series circuits

In a series circuit all the component are connected one after another in one
single path. Figure below show a series circuit where three bulbs L1, L2 and L3 are
connected to a switch and a cell.

L1 L2 L3

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 Series circuit diagram

Chateristics of Series circuit

I = I1 = I 2 = I 3
V = V1 + V2 + V3
R = R1 + R2 + R3

Parallel circuit
In a parallel circuit all the component are connected with their corresponding
ends joined together at common point to form separate and parallel path. These path
are called branches. Figure below show a parallel circuit where the three bulbs L1, L2
and L3 and their respective switches are connected with ends joined at two common
points before ends are connected to a cell.

L1
L2
L3

Parallel circuit diagram

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Chaterictics of parallel circuit
I = I1 +I2 + I3
V = V1 = V2 = V3
R = 1/R1 = 1/R2= 1/R3

Comparison between series circuit and parallel circuit

Series circuit Parallel circuit

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Same current at all point
In a series circuit, the current has only one
path to flow. The current leaving and
returning the source is not lost. Therefore ,
in a series circuit, the current is the same
at all point, where:
I = I1 = I 2 = I 3
I1
Different current at different path
In a parallel circuit, the current has more
than one path to flow. Thecurrent from the
source split into separate branches.
Therefore
I = I1 +I2 + I3
I I

I3

I2

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Different potential difference Same potential difference
The potential difference along the circuit is The potential difference is the same for all
not same because all it is distributed to all bulbs in the circuit.
the bulb.
V = V1 = V2 = V3
V = V1 + V2 + V3

V1 V2 V3
V2

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R = R1 + R2 + R3 R = 1/R1 = 1/R2= 1/R3

R1 R2 R3
V2

PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT

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Practical : Electrical circuits
Objectives : To determine the advantages and disadvantages of series and
parallel circuit.
Variable Manipulated variable:The type of circuit
Responding variable:The brightness of the bulb,the reading of
ammeter and voltmeter.
Fixed variable:Power supply,type of bulb.
Material :Battery holder,batteries, several insulated wire, ammeter voltmeter
and light bulb.

Activity 1 : Building a simple series and parallel.

Procedure:
1.Both of the circuit are been construct as shown below,using a battery holder,a
battery,several insulated wire and two light bulbs for each circuit.
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2.The wire is connected and the light bulb has been observe.
3.The ammeter and voltmeter is connected in both the above circuit.A table has been
construct and the reading has been recorded.
4.One bulb has been unscrew in each circuit.The remaining bulbs has been observed
and the readings of both the ammeter and voltmeter has been recorded.
5.Another bulb is connected inseries to circuit A. The remaining bulbs has been
observed and the reading of both the ammeter and voltmeter has been recorded.
6.Another bulb is connected in parallel to circuit B.The remaining bulbs has been
observed and also the reading of both the ammeter and voltmeter has been recorded.

Result:
Experiment activity 1
Power supply = 3 volt
Circuit : A(Series Circuit)
Bulb 1 Bulb 2
Observe Light up Light up
Voltmeter reading 1.2 1.6
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 Ammeter reading 0.2 0.2

Power supply = 3 volt

Circuit: B(Parallel Circuit)
Bulb 1 Bulb 2
Observe Light up Light up
Voltmeter reading 2.5 2.5
Ammeter reading 0.48 0.48

Unscrew one bulb

Circuit : A(Series Circuit)
Bulb 1 Bulb 2
Observe (Unscrew) Not light up
Not light up
Voltmeter reading 3.0 0.0
Ammeter reading 0.0 0.0

Circuit: B(Parallel Circuit)

Bulb 1 Bulb 2
Observe (Unscrew) Not light up Light up
Voltmeter reading 2.5 2.5
Ammeter reading 0.48 0.28

Add one bulb in each circuit

Circuit : A(Series Circuit)
Bulb 1 Bulb 2 Bulb 3
Observe Light up Light up Light up
Voltmeter reading 1.1 1.3 0.7
Ammeter reading 1.7 1.7 1.7

Circuit: B(Parallel Circuit)

Bulb 1 Bulb 2 Bulb 3
Observe Light up Light up Light up
Voltmeter reading 2.5 2.2 2.0
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 Ammeter reading 0.66 0.44 0.2

Question:
1.What happen to the bulbs in a circuit if one of the bulbs burns out? Explain.
In a series circuit if one of the bulb burns out the other bulb will not light up.This is
because,in order for the electron to move it need a connector in order to complete the
moving in a circuit.
2.What happens to the bulb in parallel circuit if one of the bulbs burns
out?Explain.
In a parallel circuit, if one of the bulb burns out the other bulb can still light up.This is
because, when one bulb burns out the other connector allow the electron can be pass
through.
3.You are building a string of light using several bulb.How is the brightness of the
lights related to whether you connect the bulbs in series or in parallel.
When the bulb is connected using the series the brightness of the bulbs are not the
same.But if the bulbs are connected in parallel the brightness of the bulb are the same.
4.What happen to the bulbs in a series circuit if another bulb is connected in
series to it?Explain.
The bulb will light up but the brightness of the bulb is not the same, because the
potential difference is divide and are different in each bulbs. Therefore the bulb that
connected in series do not have the same brightness.
5.What happen to the bulbs in parallel circuit if another bulb is connected in
parallel to it?Explain.
The bulb will light up with the same brightness as the other bulb.This is because in
parallel circuit share the same potential difference among the bulbs are the
same.Therefore it is prove that the bulb that connected in parallel circuit have the same
brightness.
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Activity 2: Building a combined series and parallel circuit.
Material :Battery holder,batteries, several insulated wire, ammeter voltmeter
and light bulb.
Variable Manipulated variable:The type
Responding variable:The brightness of the bulb,the reading of
ammeter and voltmeter.
Fixed variable:Power supply,type of bulb.
Procedure:
1.Using all the apparatus the circuit has been construct as figure below shown.it has
been construct by using a battery holder,battery,a switch, several insulated wire and
three bulbs.
M1 M2 M3

2.The circuit was connected with the switch and the light bulbs has been observed.
3.The ammeter and voltmeter was connected. The potential difference and the current
has been measured for each bulb.A table has been construct to record the result.
4.Bulb M1 is removed,the remaining bulbs and the reading of the voltmeter and
ammeter has been recorded.

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5.Bulb M2 is removed the remaining bulb has been observed and the reading of the
voltmeter and ammeter has been recorded.

Result:
Power supply = 3 volt
M1 M2 M3
Observe Light up Light up Light up
Voltmeter reading 2.3 0.4 0.2
Ammeter reading 0.2 0.16 0.08

Removed bulb M1
M1 M2 M3
Observe Removed Not light up Not light up
Voltmeter reading 3.0 0.0 0.0
Ammeter reading 0.0 0.0 0.0

Removed bulb M2
M1 M2 M3
Observe Light up Removed Light up
Voltmeter reading 1.4 1.4 1.4
Ammeter reading 0.18 0.0 0.18

Question
1.What happen to the other bulbs in the circuit when bulb 1 is removed? Explain
When the bulb M1 is removed,the other bulb in the circuit do not light up.This is
because the bulb M1 is connected in series, so when the bulb is removed the flow of
electron cannot pass through because there is no connector to complete the circuit.

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2.What happens to the other bulbs in the circuit when bulb M2 is
removed?Explain
As the bulb M2 is connected in parallel therefore the other bulb can still light up,this is
because when the bulb M2 is removed it only disconnected a part of the circuit but,the
other bulb can still light up because the circuit is completed when bulb M1 and M3 still
connected.But there is a different between the brightness of bulb M1 and M3,as we
know when the bulb M2 is removed,the circuit become series circuit.
3.Would you want the circuit in your home to be series or parallel circuit or a
combination of both?Explain your reasoning.
In my home I would like to use the parallel circuit. Because by using the parallel circuit
in the home we can avoid the problem such as,when one of our light or electric
appliance burns out the others still can be used.We can also can save the electrical
uses, for series circuit the distribution of the charges are not the same,so the problem
that may encounter is the overflow or distinct of electric charges.Sometimes it can also
cause the cross circuit. For example we used the same potential difference for series
cicuit,the brighter of the bulb only for one bulb but the other are dim.But using the
parallel circuit, for the same potential different the brightness of the bulb also the
same.Therefore we can also save the money for electrical bills.Many electrical
appliances nowdays using the parallel circuit as the concept for the electrical appliances
like hairdryer,refrigerator or the light.So, it is suitable for my home use the parallel
circuit.

Conclusion:
From the information that you collected an observed in practical, make a
conclusions about series and parallel circuit.

In series circuit, the current that passes through each bulb is the same. The
potential difference across each bulb is also same as the bulb are similar. The sum of
the potential difference across each bulb is the same as potential difference across the
battery.
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 In parallel circuit, the bulbs are connected in parallel to the battery and share the
same two points therefore the potential difference across each bulb is the same as the
potential difference across the battery.The total current that flows in the circuit is the
sum of the currents that pass through each bulb in separate paths.
In series circuit,the circuit will break off if one of the bulb is removed.The
ammeter reading is zero as no current passes through it.The potential difference across
each bulb is also zero as no current passes through it.
In parallel circuit, only the path in which the bulb has been removed will break
off.The current can still flow through the other path.The potential difference across the
bulb is still the same as the potential difference across the battery.
The bulb in parallel circuit light up brighter as compared to the bulb in series
circuit.This is because in parallel circuit, the potential difference across each bulb is
higher as compared to the potential difference of each bulb in series circuit.The bulb
that light up brighter indicates that the current that passes through it is larger.

REFLECTION

Thank to The Almighty Allah S.W.T as I can finish my biology assignment on time

finally. Our lecturer gave us this task early in February and to finish for one month from

En Zamry Bin Ibrahim and we had told to hand in the task on 22 Mac 2009.

We admitted that at first, we felt so blur and a little bit nervous because we do not

know how and what to do in doing this project. Along the way, in doing this project, I

gained a lot of knowledge about the series and parallel. A few problems occurred along

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the time we attempt to finish this task. Besides, I also do not understand what to do at

the beginning of the project. After I search the information from internet, and do some

discussion with my friends with my lecture. I could understand and imagine what I

should do actually.

During the experiment for the series and parallel circuit, many problem the we all

encounter. Such as when the circuit arte connected only one bulb or no bulb not light

up.Then, we change the position of the bulb and using a shorter wire. The parallel

circuit sometimes the bulb cannot light up brighter. After adjusting the wire in the circuit

and using other dry cell the circuit light up.

We also have a problem evolving the reading of voltmeter and ammeter.

Sometimes the reading is quiet confusing. Certain voltmeter has no systematic error but

certain are not in good condition, therefore the reading that can only take place are

affected to the error. Some reading are affected with the parallex error or wrongly jot

down the result and cause a miss understanding about the result.

Certain experiment can be done in good manner if all the member and precision

are take place.Doing the experiment cannot done by wrong way and on our own We

must follow the right procedure and also all the result must be in the right condition.

From all above, honestly I feel happy and enjoy doing this task because it relates

with our life. I learn that the new invention are very meaningful and has their own

advantages and disadvantages.If we only know our life are filled with difference and

something that are actually relate to our life ,of course it is science.By all of this words I

prefer to say thank you to all of the member and colleague who support me.

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List of picture from practicle
List of apparatus

Bulbs Battery

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 Bulb holder Battery holder

Wire Ammeter

Voltmeter
List of circuit

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Series circuit Parallel circuit

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 APPENDIX

Bibliography
Elias Saion, 2000, Fizik Matrikulasi Jilid 2,Selangor Darul Ihsan
Poh Liong Yong, S.Nagappan, 2003, Physic For STPM Volume 2, Selangor Darul Ihsan
David Sang, 2002, Cambridge Advance Series Physic 1, Cambridge University Press
2002
Dr.Zainal Abidin Sulaiman And Co, 2005, Physic For Matriculation Semester 1 And 2,
IPTA Production, Selangor Darul Ihsan
Chang Lee Leong,Koay Kheng Chuan,Yew Kok Leh, Focus Excel Physics Form 5,2007,
Penerbitan Pelangi
Cast, C. Vance, Where Does Electricity Come From?, Barrons Educational Series,
Inc. Hauppauge New York, 1992.

Internet source
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/parallelcircuit.htm
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http://physics.bu.edu/py106/schedule.html

http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/directcurrent.htm

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/l_sitemap.html

www.pasoschools.org/prhs/pasohigh/classes/Fairbank/public.www/homepage/physics/S
er%20&%20Para.doc
www.wikipedia.org/parallelcircuit
www.wikipedia.org/seriescircuit
www.google.com/search/paralleland series circuit

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