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Group members:
Date:
Instructor:
V
X
X
X
X
I
X
X
X
X
Circuit B
Resistor 1
Resistor 3
Power Supply 1
Power Supply 2
V
X
X
X
X
I
X
X
For each measurement, draw the corresponding breadboard diagram that will be
implemented. Remember to include in your diagram where the positive and
negative terminals of the multimeter and power supply will be inserted. There
should be a total of 14 diagrams. As this prelab will be done per group, you may divide
the 14 diagrams among your groupmates.
Before beginning the experiment, have your instructor check all your diagrams. To
prevent damage to equipment, do NOT attempt to do the experiment unless given clearance by your instructor.
EXPERIMENT
Circuit Analysis
Objectives
By the end of this activity, you should be able to
demonstrate correct and proper implementation of a circuit diagram
calculate the eective resistance of resistors connected in series and in parallel
determine the current passing through the circuit element and the corresponding
potential drop using Kirchhos rules
measure the current passing through and voltage across dierent circuit elements
in a circuit
Introduction
The term circuit refers to the conducting path where current can flow and the components
that make up this path. A steady current is only possible for closed loops or complete
circuits with at least one source of electromotive force (emf) that supplies electrical energy
to the circuit.
A resistor is a circuit element designed to have a specific (may be fixed or variable)
value of resistance between its terminals. It is mainly used to limit the current or to
control the voltage across other components. Typical circuits would have several resistors
connected in complex networks.
As you investigate the current passing through and the potential dierence across
individual or groups of resistors in various circuits, you will learn in this activity how
connecting resistors in dierent configurations allows one to obtain a desired value of
resistance.
Physics 72.1
Figure 1: (a) Series circuit of three resistors, (b) Parallel circuit of three resistors
are in series while resistors having both ends connected together, providing more than
one possible current path, are in parallel. For n resistors connected in series, the eective
resistance Rseries,e of the circuit is
Rseries,e = R1 + R2 + R3 + . . . + Rn
(1)
For n resistors connected in parallel, the eective resistance Rparallel,e of the circuit is
1
Rseries,e
1
1
1
1
+
+
+ ...
R1 R2 R3
Rn
(2)
Kirchhos rules
Some resistor networks, however, cannot be reduced to simple series-parallel combinations. Analysis of such circuits are best handled by using techniques developed by Gustav
Robert Kirchho: the loop rule and the junction rule, collectively known as Kirchho s
rules. These rules are actually statements of the principles of conservation of energy and
of electric charge, respectively.
A loop is any closed conducting path in a network. The loop rule (or the voltage
rule) states that the algebraic sum of the potential dierences across each circuit element
around a closed loop is zero,
X
Vi = 0
(3)
i
where Vi is the potential dierence across circuit element i. The following sign conventions
are used when applying this rule:
When going around a loop and passing through an emf source, the potential
dierence is taken to be positive when the emf is traversed towards the positive
terminal; it is negative when traversed towards the negative terminal.
The loop rule is generally used to set-up a system of linear equations while the junction
rule is used to minimize the number of unknown physical quantities and therefore the
number of necessary equations to solve for all the unknowns.
Circuit Analysis
Physics 72.1
Materials
Power supply
Breadboard
Brown-Black-Red resistor (R1 )
Brown-Red-Red resistor (R2 )
Brown-Green-Red resistor (R3 )
Multimeter
Connectors
Procedure
Warning:
When using the ammeter (A) mode, make sure the multimeter is in series with the
circuit element of interest.
Do not turn to voltmeter (V) or ohmmeter () mode when the multimeter is in
series with any circuit element.
Circuit Analysis
Physics 72.1
Figure 2: (a) Combined series and parallel circuit of three resistors. (b) Two-loop circuit
with two resistors and two power supplies.
References
Tipler, P., Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th ed., W.H. Freeman & Co. USA
(1999).
Baclig, A., et al., Physics 72.1 Laboratory Manual (2004).
Balista, J. et al., Physics 72.1 Laboratory Manual, (2007).
Young, H. et al., University Physics, 12th ed., Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. USA
(2008).
Lab manual authors. Physics 72.1 Laboratory Manual (2013)
Circuit Analysis
Physics 72.1
Name:
Group members:
Date:
Instructor:
Data Sheet
Resistor
R1
R2
R3
Circuit Analysis
Physics 72.1
Table W4: Calculated eective resistance from Vtotal and Itotal measurement
Vtotal ( )
Itotal ( )
Re ( )
Percent deviation
Percent deviation
V1
V2
I R1
I R3
V R1
V R3
Sample calculations for the theoretical values in Table W5
Circuit Analysis
Physics 72.1
Questions
1. Enclose in a single box all parts of the circuit below that are equipotential with the
positive terminal of the battery. Do the same for all parts of the circuit that are
equipotential with the negative terminal of the battery. Summarize your results
for voltages across each resistor connected in parallel and explain them using the
diagram.
2. The choice of direction for traversing a loop makes no dierence in the loop rule
equation. Show this explicitly by setting up the equation for a single loop in Circuit
4 using opposite directions for each equation.
Circuit Analysis
Physics 72.1
3. Apply the loop theorem to the big outer loop (traversing V1 , R1 and V2 ) of Circuit
4 and show that it is redundant or unnecessary if you are already using the two
inner loop equations.
4. What is the implication of getting negative values for the currents in the calculation
and/or measurement?
Circuit Analysis