E306: SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

MENDOZA, Theresa C.

OBJECTIVE
In this experiment, the total current flowing
through a series and parallel circuit and the
voltages transverse each resistor has been
determined. Moreover, the relationship between
the voltages across every resistor and total
voltage and the relationship between current
flowing from side to side of each resistor and the
total current has been investigated.

selected for the visible measurement of the

current. The value of the total current that flows
through the circuit and the current that flows the
through each resistor and the voltages across
each resistor were computed using the values
that are measured and computed.

A circuit that has one incessant path through its

components is series circuit while a circuit that
has two voltage nodes connected with it is
parallel circuit.
Voltage and current has been measured for the
determination of relationships between the
circuits.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Figure 2. Ammeter used for measuring current

flows through resistor

In this experiment, the procedure was divided

into two parts. The first part was entitled
resistors in series and the other was resistors in
parallel.

Figure 3. Volt/Ohm meter used for measuring

voltages across the resistors

Figure 1. Set-up for series current

Initially in the first part, the batteries were

connected and the circuit was built by connecting
the wires. The voltages: VAB, VBC, VCD, and VDA,
were measured by connecting the VOM or
Volt/Ohm Meter across the resistors one at a
time. Desired range of current of ammeter was

The second part which is the determination of

values in parallel circuit has the same procedure
in the first part except for the connectivity of
wires in the resistor.
OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS
Different sets of resistance were used in series
and parallel circuits.

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Resistance 1
(R1)
Resistance 2
(R2)
Resistance 1
(R3)

77

Total Resistance
(RT)

97

Total Voltage
(VDA)

301

3.85
V

127

Percentage
Difference

Table 1. Sets of resistance, total resistance and

voltage for series circuit

Resistance 1 (R1)
Resistance 2 (R2)
Resistance 1 (R3)

62

Total Resistance
(RT)

87

Total Voltage
(VEA)

Experimental
3.5 V
3.5 V
3.48 V
0.05 A
0.039 A
0.085 A
0.174 A

VAB
VBC
VCD
iB
iC
iD
iA

18.54

3.43
V

38

Table 2. Sets of resistance, total resistance and

voltage for parallel circuit

Computation of total resistance is different for

series and parallel circuit but same for total
voltage. Equation 1 and equation 2 were used for
determination of total resistance for series and
parallel circuit respectively.
(Equation 1)

Computed
3.5 V
3.5 V
3.48 V
0.05 A
0.039 A
0.085 A
0.185011 A

6.1341 %

Table 4. Voltages and Resistance measured by

VOM and ammeter (2nd column) and computed by
formula (3rd column) for parallel circuit

From table 4, it was observed that voltage that

across each resistor was constant while the
current is inversely proportional to the value of
resistance (from table 2).
Series Circuit
Experimental
iAE = iB = iC = iD = 0.0119 A
VEA = VAB + VBC + VCD = 3.85
Computed
RT = R1 + R2 + R3 = 301

(Equation 2)

VAB
VBC
VCD
iB
iC
iD
iA

Percentage
Difference

Experimental
0.972 V
1.222 V
1.5 V
0.0119 A
0.0119 A
0.0119 A
0.0119 A

Computed
0.972 V
1.222 V
1.5 V
0.0119 A
0.0119 A
0.0119 A
0.012791 A

Percentage Difference

7.2148 %

Table 3. Voltages and Resistance measured by

VOM and ammeter (2nd column) and computed by
formula (3rd column) for series circuit

From table 3, it was observed that current that

flows through each resistor was constant while
the voltage is directly proportional to resistance.

Parallel Circuit
Experimental

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iAE = iB + iC + iD = 0.174 A
VEA = VAB = VBC = VCD = 3.43 V
Computed

in this kind of circuit is constant. Large value of

resistance leads to less current flow in the circuit.
The sum and total current is equal. When
resistances added up, the total resistance will
lessen due to the extra pathway available (Dolan,
1996). Total resistance was calculated using
equation 2.
Series circuit with constant current has direct
proportional relationship between resistance and
voltage. Parallel circuit with constant voltage has
inverse proportionality between resistance and
current. Ohms law was used to determine
current for both kinds of circuits.

Percentage Difference

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND REFERENCES

I acknowledge my professor, Mr. De Leon, for
making the procedures in the physics laboratory
experiment clear and understandable for the
students. The visual aids provided were helpful
for us to perform the experiment as fast as
possible.
Dolan, G., Duffy, M., & Percival, A. (1996).
PHYSICS. Heinemann Educational Publishers.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Patrick, D., & Fardo, S. (2008). Electricity and

Electronics Fundamentals. Fairmont Press, Inc.

Series and parallel circuit has been observed in

this experiment.
Ohms law is utilized to explain how to operate a
circuit. Current is voltage divided by resistance.
The voltage that drops across a resistor is
equivalent to the product of current and
resistance.
Series Circuit has one path for the current to flow
which means that all the electrons run at the
same rate all over the parts of the circuit.
Individual resistances and individual voltage
drops were added to get the total resistance and
total voltage. In this kind of circuit, as the
resistance increases, the voltage increases
(Patrick, 2008).
Current flows in two or more paths from voltage
source in a parallel circuit. Moreover, the voltage

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