Series and Parallel Circuits
Faculty of Engineering & Computing
Laboratory Report
Title of Experiment: Series and Parallel Circuits
Date Given: January 28, 2013
AIM: To investigate the circuits to tell whether the resistors are in parallel or in series also to determine the internal resistance of a 1.5V cell.
THEORY: In this experiment it was expected of the experimenter to have a basic knowledge of circuits in both aspects theoretically and practically. A basic circuit comprises of a cell or power supply (some electric driving force) a load (some component that will use current) and connecting wires (these should be good conductors of electricity), as seen below. Requirements of a circuit to function are it should be a closed circuit (a closed conducting path from negative to positive) also there has to be some potential difference as this causes the electrons to flow along the metal. This lab specifically investigates series circuits, parallel circuits and cells. A series circuit has the same current flowing through all resistors adjacent to each other (in series), I=I1=I2…et cetera. The total potential difference (V) is equal to the sum of its individual potential differences, V=V1+V2. The individual potential differences are directly proportional to individual resistances, meaning each resistor in series has a corresponding voltage. The total resistance is equal to the sum of all resistances. A series circuit is shown below.
A parallel circuit on the other hand has the same potential difference across each resistor in parallel. The total current in a circuit is equal to the sum of individual currents. Individual currents are inversely proportional to individual resistances, meaning each resistor in parallel has a corresponding current value. The total effective resistance is less than the smallest resistor. A cell is a single unit which provides electrical energy while a battery consists of multiple cells.
DIAGRAM:
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate
Laboratory Report
Title of Experiment: Series and Parallel Circuits
Date Given: January 28, 2013
AIM: To investigate the circuits to tell whether the resistors are in parallel or in series also to determine the internal resistance of a 1.5V cell.
THEORY: In this experiment it was expected of the experimenter to have a basic knowledge of circuits in both aspects theoretically and practically. A basic circuit comprises of a cell or power supply (some electric driving force) a load (some component that will use current) and connecting wires (these should be good conductors of electricity), as seen below. Requirements of a circuit to function are it should be a closed circuit (a closed conducting path from negative to positive) also there has to be some potential difference as this causes the electrons to flow along the metal. This lab specifically investigates series circuits, parallel circuits and cells. A series circuit has the same current flowing through all resistors adjacent to each other (in series), I=I1=I2…et cetera. The total potential difference (V) is equal to the sum of its individual potential differences, V=V1+V2. The individual potential differences are directly proportional to individual resistances, meaning each resistor in series has a corresponding voltage. The total resistance is equal to the sum of all resistances. A series circuit is shown below.
A parallel circuit on the other hand has the same potential difference across each resistor in parallel. The total current in a circuit is equal to the sum of individual currents. Individual currents are inversely proportional to individual resistances, meaning each resistor in parallel has a corresponding current value. The total effective resistance is less than the smallest resistor. A cell is a single unit which provides electrical energy while a battery consists of multiple cells.
DIAGRAM:
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate