Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity
Knight: Ch. 27: 27.1, 27.2, 27.4, 27.5; Ch.28: 28.1, 28.4, 28.6, 28.7
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to become familiar with electric DC (direct current) circuits, to learn how
to construct a complete simple electrical circuit, how to represent electrical circuits with circuit
diagrams, to investigate the three variables involved in a mathematical relationship known as Ohm’s
Law and understand how resistors can be connected in series and in parallel.
Introduction
Many of the key elements of electrical circuits have been reduced to symbol form (Figure A). Each
symbol represents an element of the device’s operation, and may have some historical significance.
Figure A: The Electrical Symbols
In this lab, we are going to use a power supply (a battery) and various resistors on the board shown
in Figure B in order to check the validity of Ohm’s Law and investigate how resistances, voltages
and currents are distributed in circuits with resistors connected in series and in parallel. In many
cases, in order to measure the resistance, the voltage and the current only one device which is called
the multimeter is used.
Figure B: The Circuits Experiment Board
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 1 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
Activity 1: Ohm’s Law
Equipment
Circuits Experiment Board, Power Supply, Multimeter, and Banana Plug Wires.
Theory
The current through the resistor, I, in amperes (A) is equal to the voltage across the resistor, V, in
volts (V) divided by the resistance, R, in ohms (Ω).
I V / R
The current is directly proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the resistance.
Procedure
Note: For measurements in step 1, do not connect a resistor to anything except a multimeter.
1. Measuring Resistance: An electrical resistance of a conductor is a measure of its opposition to
the flow of electric current. A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that
implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. The resistance of a real commercial resistor
can be determined by looking at the color of four bands on the body of the resistor. The band
reference is shown in the picture below. Color of first three bands indicate the resistance value and
the fourth band gives a tolerance value. Resistance is usually measured in Ohms (Ω), kOhms (kΩ),
and MOhms (MΩ) and can be measured in a real experiment using a multimeter (Figure 1.1a and
1.2a) for which the measurement selector is set to Resistance (R or Ω). The input resistance of
ohmmeter is usually very big.
Choose one of the resistors on the board. Determine the coded value of the resistor using a band
reference and enter the value in the column labeled “Coded Resistance” in Table 1.1. Enter the
Tolerance value as indicated by the color of the fourth band under “Tolerance.” Now insert the
leads in your multimeter so that they can be used to measure resistance according to circuit diagram
shown in Figure 1.1(a), noting that special multimeter setting (Ω range) is required for measuring
resistance (Figure 1.2(a)). Record that value in Table 1.1. Measure resistances of all resistors on
the board and record the values. Determine the percentage experimental error of each resistance
value and enter it in the appropriate column. Experimental Error = [(|Measured - Coded|) / Coded]
x 100%.
Note: For measurements in steps 2 and 3, select only resistors with different resistances. You should
find four of them.
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 2 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
a b c
Figure 1.1: Connections to measure the resistance (a), the voltage across the resistor (b), and the current
through the resistor (c); R, V, and I denote the multimeter set to measure resistance, voltage and current
2. Measuring Voltage: The voltage is always measured connecting the voltmeter and the resistor in
parallel (see Figure 1.1b). A multimeter can work as the voltmeter if the measurement selector is
set to Voltage (DC V) (Figure 1.2b). The input resistance of voltmeter is usually very big. Because
of that, the current through the voltmeter will be very small and thus the measured voltage is
defined by the current through the resistor.
Turn off the multimeter. Construct the circuit by connecting one resistor on the board, the power
supply, and the multimeter in parallel (see Figure 1.1(b)). Set the multimeter to the DC V range
for measuring voltage (Figure 1.2(b)). Turn on the power supply, set the voltage to 1.0 V. Measure
the voltage across the resistor, and record its value in Table 1.2. Replace the resistor with another
one. Measure and record the voltage in Table 1.2. Continue this process until you have completed
all four resistors with different resistances.
a b c
Figure 1.2: Multimeter connections and settings to measure the resistance (a), voltage (b), and current (c)
3. Measuring Current: The current is always measured connecting the ammeter and the resistor in
series (see Figure 1.1c). A multimeter can work as the ammeter if the measurement selector is set
to Current (DC mA) (Figure 1.2c). The resistance of ammeter is usually very small. Because of
that, the voltage drop across the ammeter will be very small and thus the measured current is
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 3 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
defined by voltage across the resistor.
Turn off the power supply. Turn off the multimeter. Construct the circuit by connecting one resistor
on the board, the power supply, and the multimeter in series (see Figure 1.1(c)). Set the multimeter
to the DC mA range for measuring current (Figure 1.2(c)). Turn on the power supply, set the
voltage to 1.0 V and read the current that is flowing through the resistor. Record this value in the
third column of Table 1.2. Replace the resistor with another one. Measure and record the current
again. Continue this process until you have completed all four resistors with different resistances.
4. Repeat the measurements in steps 2 and 3 setting the power supply voltage to 1.5V, 2V, 2.5V and
then to 3V. Record the data in Tables equivalent to Table 1.2
Analysis
1. How does the % error compare to the coded tolerance for your resistors?
2. For each of your data sets, calculate the ratio of Voltage/Resistance and record them in Table 1.2
– 1.6 in the report file. Compare the values you calculated with the measured values of the
current.
3. Plot graphs of Current (vertical axis) vs Resistance (horizontal axis) for constant Voltage in
Microsoft Excel or Capstone for all five voltages. Those graphs represent Ohm’s Law. Fit the
graphs using appropriate formula. Paste the graphs into your report file.
4. From data you obtained in this experiment, build graphs of Current (vertical axis) vs Voltage
(horizontal axis) for constant Resistance. Those graphs also represent Ohm’s Law but from a
different point of view. Fit the graphs using appropriate formula. Paste the graphs into your report
file.
5. What types of experimental dependences I = f(R) and I = f(V) describe the Ohm’s Law? Do your
experimental graphs correspond to the theory?
Table 1.1
Colors Coded Measured
Resistors Error, % Tolerance
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Resistance Resistance
#1 R1
#2 R2
#3 R3
#4 R4
#5 R5
#6 R6
Table 1.2
Resistance, Ω Voltage, V Current, A Voltage/Resistance, A
Activity 2: Resistances in Circuits
Equipment
Circuits Experiment Board, Multimeter, and Banana Plug Wires.
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Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
Theory
In series (Figure 2.1), the resistances are added. R = R1 + R2 + R3 + ...
In parallel (Figure 2.2), the reciprocals of the resistances are added. 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3 +...
For two resistors,
𝑅 𝑅
𝑅
𝑅 𝑅
For three resistors,
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅
𝑅
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅 𝑅 𝑅 𝑅
Figure 2.1: Three-Resistor-Series Circuit Figure 2.2: Three-Resistor-Parallel Circuit
Procedure
Series Circuit
Now connect three resistors with equal resistivity into the series circuit similar to Figure 2.1 and
according to Figure 2.3 using the banana plug wires. Do not connect your circuit to the power supply.
Measure the resistances of the combinations as indicated on the diagram 2.3 by connecting the leads
of the multimeter between the points at the ends of the arrows. Remember that special multimeter
setting (Ω range) is required for measuring resistance (Figure 1.2(a)).
Figure 2.3
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 5 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
Parallel Circuit
Use the three resistors with equal resistivity again and construct a parallel circuit, first using
combinations of two of the resistors, and then using all three (Figures 2.2 and 2.4). Do not connect
your circuit to the power supply. Measure and record the resistances for these circuits.
R12 = ____________; R23 = ____________; R123 = _____________
Figure 2.4
Analysis
Analyze the results of your measurements.
Activity 3: Voltages in Circuits
Equipment
Circuits Experiment Board, Power Supply, Multimeter, and Banana Plug Wires.
Theory
In any series circuit, the voltage is distributed according to the size of the resistors (direct
relationship). In any parallel circuit, the voltage is the same across all elements. In the combination
circuit, the voltage acts as if the parallel resistors were actually one resistor, which is then in series
with the others.
Procedure
Series Circuit
Connect the three resistors with equal resistivity that you used in Experiment 2 into the series circuit
again (Figure 3.1). Connect two wires to the power supply, carefully noting which wire is connected
to the negative and which is connected to the positive terminals.
Turn on the power supply, set the voltage to 2.0 V.
Now use the voltage measuring function on the Multimeter (Figure 1.2(b)) to measure the voltages
across the individual resistors and then across the combinations of resistors. Be careful to observe the
polarity of the leads (red is +, black is -). Record your readings in the Table below in Figure 3.1.
Note: Do not measure the resistance in a closed circuit; result will be incorrect! In this case, the
internal resistance or power supply will interfere with the measuring resistance decreasing it
essentially.
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 6 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
R1 = V1 =
R2 = V2 =
R3 = V3 =
R12 = V12 =
R23 = V23 =
R123 = V123 =
Figure 3.1
Parallel Circuit
R1 = V1 =
R2 = V2 =
R3 = V3 =
R123 = V123 =
Figure 3.2
Turn off the power supply. Now connect the parallel circuit in Figure 3.2, using all three resistors
with equal resistivity.
Turn on the power supply, set the voltage to 2.0 V.
Measure the voltage across each of the resistors and the combination, taking care with the polarity as
before.
Note: Keep all three resistors connected throughout the time you are making your measurements.
Write down your values as indicated in Figure 3.2.
Analysis
Analyze the results of your measurements.
Activity 4: Currents in Circuits
Equipment
Circuits Experiment Board, Power Supply, Multimeter, and Banana Plug Wires.
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 7 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
Theory
In any series circuit, the current is the same no matter where it is measured in the circuit. For any
other circuits the current, voltage, and resistance are related by Ohm’s Law: I = V/R
Procedure
Series Circuit
Turn off the power supply. Connect the same three resistors that you used in Experiments 2 and 3
into the series circuit show below in Figure 4.1. Connect two wires to the power supply, and carefully
note which lead is negative and which is positive.
Figure 4.1
Now setup your multimeter so that it can be used to measure current (Figure 1.2(c)). Select the DC
mA range (important!). Be careful to observe the polarity of the leads (red is +, black is -). In order
to measure the current, the circuit must be interrupted, and the current allowed to flow through the
meter (series connection with the circuit). Disconnect the lead wire from the positive terminal of the
battery and connect it to the red (+) lead of the meter. See Figure 4.2. Connect the black (-) lead to
R1, where the wire originally was connected. Turn on the power supply, set the voltage to 2.0 V.
Record your reading as I0.
Figure 4.2
Now move the multimeter to the positions indicated in Figure 4.3, each time interrupting the circuit,
and carefully measuring the current in each point. Record the current values I1, I2, and I3.
Figure 4.3
Experiment PhyII-02: Basic Electricity Page 8 of 9
Physics II Laboratory Faculty of Science, Ontario Tech University
Parallel Circuit
Turn off the power supply. Connect the parallel circuit below, using all three resistors with equal
resistivity. Connect the multimeter first between the positive terminal of the battery and the parallel
circuit junction to measure I0. Turn on the power supply, set the voltage to 2.0 V. Measure the current.
Then interrupt the various branches of the parallel circuit and measure the individual branch currents.
Record your measurements in the table below.
R1 = I1 =
R2 = I2 =
R3 = I3 =
R123 = I0 =
I4 =
Figure 4.4
Analysis
Analyze the results of your measurements.
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