Resistors in Series and Parallel

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Resistors in Series and Parallel Raymond Albert Ng De La Salle University 2401 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila, Philippines student@dlsu.ph Abstract— This report is mainly concerned with an investigation conducted on electric circuits involving resistors connected to a DC power supply, and the focus was on distinguishing between series and parallel connections and identifying attributes proper to each. The experiment looked into the relationship between the currents through each individual resistor, as well as the relationship between the voltages across each resistor in both series and parallel circuits, and subsequently also in a seriesparallel combination. Data were gathered by directly measuring currents and voltages with the use of an ammeter and a voltmeter, respectively. The obtained results were expected to experimentally verify the established relationships of series and parallel connections, as well as enable the experimenter to find for the equivalent resistance of the circuit, both by application of Ohm’s Law and by making use of the relationships of resistors connected in series and parallel. Keywords— Series Circuit, Parallel Circuit, Ammeter, Voltmeter, Resistors Fig. 2 Illustration of a parallel connection of resistors II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND A. Series Connections In such a setup the current flows through only a single path and goes through every one of the circuit elements. In reality it is the same current that flows through each of the resistors; current is not used up in a circuit because charge is conserved, and moreover cannot accumulate in the resistors. Mathematically, where is the current that passes through the resistor . I. INTRODUCTION Fundamentally, electric circuits are a means for conveying energy from one place to another. As charged particles move within a circuit, electric potential energy is transferred from a source to

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