Electrical Resistance in Various Circuit Configurations

Name: ______Period: _____ Date: 12/2/15

Part 1: Measuring and Determining Resistance

Pre-lab (complete during warm-up time on 12/2)

Definition of Resistance:

Units = ______name ______symbol

Summarize and Illustrate the Resistor Color code(colored pencils are to be shared at your station)

0 =

1 =

2 =

3 =

4 =

5 =

6 =

7 =

8 =

9 =What does the gold stripe represent?

Lab Purpose: To determine the resistance of several ceramic resistors while practicing the use of a digital multimeter; to verify the acceptability of the given resistors by determining how close the experimental resistances are to the theoretical resistances

Data Collection:

Table 1: Theoretical Resistances Based on the Color Coding on the Resistors

Color Code / Theoretical Resistance /  ±5% / Theoretical Resistance—Maximum value /  / Theoretical Resistance—Minimum value / 
1.
2.

Table 2: Resistances as measured with a digital multimeter

Color Code / Measured Resistance /  / Resistance Uncertainty / 
1.
2.

Part 1 Lab Analysis(Attach a separate sheet of paper if you need more space for your responses):

  1. Based on the data collected, discuss the accuracy of the resistors’ manufactured color codes.
  1. Based on the data you collected, discuss the precision of your measured values.

Part 2: Resistors in Series and in Parallel

Pre-Lab: When you complete part 1 and its analysis, select 3 of the resistors that are between 100  and 680. Please make sure you have 3 different resistances.

Look up the following:

Definition of Effective Resistance (Reff):

How can you calculate the effective resistance for the following circuit constructions (explain both with words and by writing an equation):

-Parallel:

-Series:

Part 2 Data Collection

Series set-up:

Illustrate the set-up for your set of resistors connected in series. Include the correct color coding and label with the expected resistance for each individual resistor.

Table 3: Resistances in a series configuration, arrangement #1

Resistor #1 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #2 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #3 Measured Resistance / / Measured Effective Resistance / 

Does the measured effective resistance depend on the order in which the resistors are arranged?

(yes or no)?

Support your answer with evidence:

Table 4: Resistances in a series configuration, arrangement #2

Resistor #1 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #2 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #3 Measured Resistance / / Measured Effective Resistance / 

Table 5: Expected compared to Measured effective resistances in series

Series #1 Measured Effective Resistance / / Series #1 Expected Effective Resistance / / Series #2 Measured Effective Resistance / / Series #2 Expected Effective Resistance / 

Show work for one of the calculated expected effective resistances:

Quantitatively compare your results for each series:

Part 2 Data Collection

Parallel set-up:

Illustrate the set-up for your set of resistors connected in parallel. Include the correct color coding and label with the expected resistance for each individual resistor.

Table 6: Resistances in a Parallel configuration, arrangement #1

Resistor #1 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #2 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #3 Measured Resistance / / Measured Effective Resistance / 

Does the measured effective resistance depend on the order in which the resistors are arranged?

(yes or no)?

Support your answer with evidence:

Table 7: Resistances in a Parallel configuration, arrangement #2

Resistor #1 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #2 Measured Resistance / / Resistor #3 Measured Resistance / / Measured Effective Resistance / 

Table 8: Expected compared to Measured effective resistances in Parallel

Parallel #1 Measured Effective Resistance / / Parallel #1 Expected Effective Resistance / / Parallel #2 Measured Effective Resistance / / Parallel #2 Expected Effective Resistance / 

Show work for one of the calculated expected effective resistances:

Quantitatively compare your results for each parallel set: