Experiment # 04
Title:
Study and Implementation of Parallel DC Circuit
Objective:
1. To understand the characteristics of the resistor in the parallel dc circuit
2. To be able to determine the current, the total resistance and the current in each branch of a dc
circuit.
3. To appropriately apply Ohm’s law to troubleshoot the parallel dc circuit.
Theory:
A parallel circuit is formed when two or more resistances areplaced in a circuit side-by-side so that
current can flow through more than one path. The illustration shows two resistors placed side-by-side.
There are two paths of current flow. One path is from the negative terminal of the battery through R 1
returning to the positive terminal. The second path is from the negative terminal of the battery through R2
returning to the positive terminal of the battery.
There are two formulas to determine total resistance for unequal value resistors in a parallel circuit. The
first formula is used when there are three or more resistors. The formula can be extended for any number
of resistors.
The second formula is used when there are only two resistors.
Voltage in a Parallel Circuit:
When resistors are placed in parallel across a voltage source, the voltage is the same across each resistor.
In the following illustration three resistors are placed in parallel across a 12 volt battery. Each resistor has
12 volts available to it.
Current in a Parallel Circuit:
Current flowing through a parallel circuit divides and flows through each branch of the circuit.
Procedure:
1. Connect the circuit as shown in figure below.
2. Mention number of paths of the current flow in the circuit. _____
3. Referring to the circuit of fig 4, calculate the total resistance (R T) in the parallel circuit. Then
RT=_________ Ω.
4. Measure the total resistance from Digital Multimeter R T=______ Ω.
5. Calculate the percentage error of total resistance: Error=_________ %.
6. Calculate current flowing through the resistors (R1, R2 and R3),
7. IT=______ mA.
8. I1=______ mA.
9. I2=______ mA.
10. I3=______ mA.
11. Measure the total current (IT) and the current through R1, R2 and R3 by using Digital Multimeter
IT=______ mA.
I1=______ mA.
I2=______ mA.
I3=______ mA.
12. Calculate the percentage error of total current: Error=_________ %.
13. Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3),
VR1= IR1*R1=__________ V,
VR2= IR2*R2=__________ V,
VR3= IR3*R3=__________ V
VR1+ VR2+VR3=__________ V
14. Measure the voltage drop across the resistors (R 1, R2 and R3) using Digital Multimeter.
15. Calculate the percentage error: Error =__________________________ %.
Tasks
1. The total resistance of a parallel circuit that has four 20 Ω resistors is ____________ Ω.
2. Calculate for the following circuits.
3. Calculate currents flowing through R1 and R2 in the following circuit.
Conclusion: