TFA 1043: General Physics II

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DC CIRCUIT ANALYSIS

OBJECTIVES

1.
2.

To practice and construct various types of circuit

To determine the voltage, current and resistance for series, parallel and seriesparallel circuit.

APPARATUS

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Resistors: (4 units) with different values of R,=229, R,=33O , Ra=68O and R4=100C)
Ammeter (1 unit)
Alligator clip (10 units) and banana clip (6 units)
Power Supply
Voltmeter

THEORIES

The analysis of the DC circuits is based on the Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws. The main
equations describing the relationship between electrical quantities such voltage, V, current, I
and resistance, R as follows:

1.

Ohm's Law.

The voltage, V across a resistor is linearly dependent to the electric current, I flowing through
it. The constant of the proportionality is called the resistance, R of the resistor.
(1)

V=lR

2.

Resistors in series combination (Figure 1)

Figure

The electric current, I, flowing through each of the resistor connected in series is equal to one
another, that is,
ls=11=12=13...

.=lN

Q)

The voltage across the ith resistor is liRi. The totalvoltage V. is the sum of allthe voltages
across the individual resistor in the circuit, that is,

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

V, =V, +V, +""""+Vn = IV'

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(3)
'

i=l

Req

I,

= 5a *

R.o
3.

Ea +........... + Rn

Is I.

R,

Is

+R, *..'.......Rn

t*,

(4)

i=l

Resistors in parallel combination (figure 2)

Figure 2

The voltage V, across each of resistor connected in parallel is equal to one another,

vr -Yz = % :........:

vN

(5)

The current flowing through the ith resistor is V;/R;. The total current l. is the sum of all the
currents flowing through the individual resistor in the circuit,

I,

= Ir +I2 + Ir +........+ I,q =

VVV.V^V"
's _ 's _L 5 -I
I

(6)

R.o Rl R2 R3

I Ii
i=l

T-T........-=

R.o Rr R2 R3
-=

RN

I''r,1

RN

t:iR'

/,-

(7)

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

4.

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The resistors in Series-parallel combination

Figure 3 shows circuits with resistors in combination of both series and parallel connections.

Figure 3

The analysis of the circuit is carried out by replacing all the resistors in series (parallel)
connection with its equivalent resistance until the final circuit only contains purely series
(parallel) resistors. Once the voltage V and current I for the equivalent circuit have been
determined, the voltage and current of the individual resistors can be determined from the V.
or l, as discussed earlier.

5. Voltage Divider
From equation (3), in a circuit with two resistors in series the total voltage Vs is divided into
voltages V1 and Vo ocross each resistor.
R1

lo

Figure4
Note that the voltage Vo is the output of the voltage divider (see Figure 4) since its reference
point is the ground. The voltage Vo c?fl be calculated as follows,
\r

"o -

R"V
z
B, ap,
5

(8)

For the circuit to function as a voltage divider the output current ls may be very small relative

to the current that flows through resistor Rz.

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

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PROCEDURES

1.

Measure the resistance of each resistor using multimeter,

R2=-,

2.

R3=-,

?l.ld Rn=.

Set-up a DC circuit as shown in Figure 1 (series) and in Figure 2 (parallel) up to four

resistors (N=4) using EDISON software. With known information decide the best
voltage and equipment that you will use.

Resistors in $eries

3.

Set up manually a series circuit as in step2 (refer to figure 1). Measure and complete
the table with the experimental values of the relevant circuit parameters, i.e current
l, voltage V, and resistance R.

Figure

Series Circuit
Parameters
Vnr

Current (A)

Voltaqe V)
Vo.
Vo,
Vn,

l*'

lo,

lo"

In,

l.

EDISION
Software
Experimental
Values
Percentage
Error

Tablel
Resistors in Parallal

4.

Set up manually a parallel circuit as in step 2 (refer to figure 2). Measure and
complete the table with the experimental values of the relevant circuit parameters,
i.e current l, voltage V, and resistance R.

TFA 1043: General Physics

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II

Figure 2
Parallel Circuit
Parameters
Vo.

Voltaqe V)
Vot
Vo"
Vo,

Curren (A)
V

lo,'

lor

lo"

lon

EDISION
Software
Experimental
Values
Percentage
Error
Table 2

Resistors in Series-Parallel Combination

5.

Set up manually a Series-Parallel Combination circuit as in step 2 (refer to figure 3)

Measure and complete the table with the experimental values of the relevant circuit
parameters, i.e current l, voltage V, and resistance R with the nominal values of the
components given in Table 3. Complete the table with the theoretical values of the
relevant circuit parameters.Set the voltage Vs=10 V.

Figure 3
Note: Measure the voltage V across each of the resistors and use the experimental
values of the resistors in combination with Ohm's law (Eqn. (1)) to determine the value
of the current I flowing through each resistor, that is, lpi i=1 ,2,3, and 4.

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

Currenl (A)

Voltaqe (V)

Parameters
Vo.

EDISION
Software
Experimental
Values
Percentage
Error

Vo,

Vo,

"

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V.

Vno

lon

lo"

In.

lno

Table 3

6. As mentioned the above note, show clearly how you derive the values for lnr , lp2 , lp3 , lp4
and ls using mathematical calculation.

Voltage Divider

7.

Set up the circuit shown in Figure 4. Complete the table below

Figure 4

Parameter

Resistance (O)
Rn
R"

Experimental Value

fade4

Voltase (V)
V"

Vn

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

TASKS:
ln this section the theoretical and experimental values will be compared. Answer the

following questions.

1.

Calculate the percentage error between the theoretical (data taken from and
experimental data and complete Table 1 through 5. The percentage error is defined
as follows,

o/oerrot= dt

-d"
d,

"100

Where dt and du are the theoretical and experimental data respectively.

2.

From the results above, give your comments regarding the three parameters with the
highest percentage errors and the parameters with the lowest percentage errors.
Discuss the source of these errors.

3.

Referring to results in Table 3 regarding the resistance in series-parallel combination,

which of the following combinations are TRUE
a. I. = I*, + IR, + I*. * Iun

b.
c.
4.

2.5

V,b=V.-Vo"
I, = I*-, * I.,, I*, * I**

Voltage divider can supply a voltage not a current at its output terminals. lf a device is
connected to the output terminal of the voltage divider, what would be the resistance
of the device?
GONCLUSION

Attach result and conclusion in your repod.

SPECIAL NOTE: (You can construct your circuit using the Breadboard. Below are
some information pertaining the used of a breadboard)

Resistor Colour Code

The value of most resistors is shown by a pattern of coloured rings. These are read starting
from the band closest to an end. The colours are internationally defined as listed below. Alas,
the precise meaning of 'red' or'blue' is not, so some variation in the actual colours used does
occur. As a result one manufacturer's brown looks like another's orange. When in doubt use
a meter to measure the value.

Remember that the colours you see here depend upon the monitor and screen mode
being displayed by your comPuter!

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

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Using Breadboard
A breadboard is used to make up temporary circuits for testing or to try out an idea. No
soldering is required so it is easy to change connections and replace components. Parts will
not be damaged so they will be available to re-use afteruvards.
Almost all the Electronics Club projects started life on a breadboard to check that the circuit
worked as intended.
The photograph shows a typical small breadboard which is suitable for beginners building
simple circuits with one or two lCs (chips). Larger sizes are available and you may wish to
buy one of these to start with.

Breadboards have many tinysoCkets (called'holes') arranged on a 0.1" grid. The leads of
most components can be pushed straight into the holes. lCs are inserted across the central
gap with their notch or dot to the left.

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TFA 1043: General Physics II

Wire links can be made with single-core plastic-coated wire of 0.6mm diameter (the standard
size). Stranded wire is not suitable because it will crumple when pushed into a hole and it
may damage the board if strands break off.
The diagram shows how the breadboard holes are connected:
The top and bottom rows are linked horizontally allthe way across as shown by the red and
black lines on the diagram. The power supply is connected to these rows, + at the top and
0V (zero volts) at the bottom.
I suggest using the upper row of the bottom pair for 0V, then you can use the lower row for
the negative supply with circuits requiring a dual supply (e.9. *9V, 0V, -9V).

The other holes are linked vertically in blocks of 5 with no link across the centre as shown
by the blue lines on the diagram. Notice how there are separate blocks of connections to
each pin of lCs.

Large Breaboards
On larger breadboards there may be a break halflruay along the top and bottom power supply
rows. lt is a good idea to link across the gap before you start to build a circuit, otheruvise you
may forget and part of your circuit will have no power!

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