1

EXPERIMENT 6: Electric Current

Theory:
An applied voltage V, causes an electrical current I, in a conductor, the current is directly
proportional to the voltage:
I V
For many materials, the relationship between current, voltage and resistance is given by
I =

or V = IR
this equation is called Ohms law. From the equation, the resistance, R can be written as
R =

. The unit of resistance is called an Ohm ().

When the resistances are connected is series, the total voltage drop around a circuit is equal to
the sum of the individual voltage drops across the resistors. That is,
V = V
1
+ V
2
+ V
3
= IR
1
+ IR
2
+ IR
3
= I(R
1
+ R
2
+ R
3
) IR
s

The equivalent resistance R
s
= R
1
+ R
2
+ R
3

For any number of resistor in series, the eequivalent resistance can be extended as:
R
s
= R
1
+ R
2
+ R
3
+ ..
n
, where n = number of resistor.
When resistors are connected in parallel, the current from the battery divides among the
different paths. Since the voltage drop, , across each resistor is the same, by Ohms law;
I = I
1
+ I
2
+ I
3
=

= V

Thus, the equivalent resistance R
p
of three resistors in parallel is given by

= (

)
For any number of resistors in parallel, the equivalent resistance, R
p
can be generalized as;

= (

n
), where n = the number of resistors in parallel.
2

Objective: To study Ohms law and to determine the total resistance of resistors in series and
parallel.

Variables :
a) Manipulated variables : Applied voltage
b) Responding variables : Reading of electrical current (ammeter)
c) Constant variables : Type of resistors, Rheostat

Hypothesis:The larger the voltage applied to the circuit, the higher the reading of ammeter
and cause the resistance to become higher.

Apparatus: DC supply from 3 dry cells/power-pack, three carbon resistors of the same
resistance, ammeter, voltmeter, rheostat (0-0 ), on-off switch, six 50 cm
connecting wires, two connectors for connecting resistors and small screw
driver.

Procedure:
a. The circuit is set up as shown in Figure 7a below. The three resistors is connected in
series.
4.5 V



Figure 7a

b. The circuit is used to study the variation of V with I, where V is the reading of the
voltmeter and I is the reading of the ammeter.
c. From the graph of V against I, the total resistance of resistors are deduced in series the
circuit.
A
V
R1 R2 R3
3

d. Then, the circuit is connected as shown in Figure 7b.

3.0 V





Figure 7b
e. Steps (b) and (c) is repeated.
f. From the graph of V against I, the total resistance of resistors in parallel in the circuit
are determined.














V
R1 R2
R3
A
4

Result:
Data recording and analysis;
Table 1: series circuit
Ampere (A) Voltage (V)
0.4 3.0
0.5 3.5
0.6 4.5

Table 2: parallel circuit
Ampere (A) Voltage (V)
0.2 1.8
0.3 2.4
0.4 3.0








5

Graph:
Graph of voltage, (V) against current, (I)
1. Series circuit


Based on graph :
Gradient = Total resistance
Gradient =

= 7.5
Therefore, total resistance for series circuit is 7.5



0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
V
o
l
t
a
g
e
,

V

Current, A
6

2. Parallel circuit


Based on graph ;
Gradient = Total resistance
Gradient =

= 6
Therefore, total resistance for parallel circuit is 6




0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
V
o
l
t
a
g
e
,

V

Current, A
7

Discussion :
i. Based on Ohms law, the relationship between current, voltage and resistance can be
written as equation where V = IR
ii. Based on graph, we can deduced that in series circuit and parallel circuit, voltage is
directly proportional to current. When the voltage supplied to the circuit increase, the
reading of ammeter also increase. Thus, we can find the total resistance of resistors
for both series and parallel circuit by using these formula;
Series circuit; R
T
= R
1
+ R
2
+ R
3

Parallel circuit;

= (

)
iii. According to both graph , we can deduced that the total resistance by finding the
gradient of graph which is the gradient is equal to total resistance of circuit.
iv. During the experiment, the voltage applied acts as a manipulated variable, ammeter
reading as responding variable and constant variable is type of resistor. In series
circuit when the amount of voltage supply is set up into 4.5 V, 3.5 V and 3.0 V, then
the ammeter gives it reading which are 0.6 A, 0.5 A and 0.4 A. Whereas in parallel
circuit the voltage is set up into 3.0 V, 2.4 V and 1.8 V. then the reading that has
shown by ammeter are 0.4 A, 0.3 A and 0.2 A.
v. In this experiment, the rheostat is used to control the amount of current flow which is
voltage, where it changes the resistance of the circuit.

Conclusion :
The amount of voltage supplied to the circuit affect the reading of ammeter. The higher the
voltage supplied to the circuit the higher the ammeter reading. Hence, the hypothesis is
accepted.