Demonstration board - Ohms
Demonstration board - Volts and Amps
Demonstration board - Volts and Amps

 

Code Number: 5F20.55

Demo Title: Series and Parallel Resistors

Condition: Fair

Principle: Series and Parallel Resisitors

Area of Study: Electricity and Magnetism

Equipment: 

Demonstration board, series and parallel resistor combinations, multimeter, batteries.

Procedure:

When using the Ohm meter the 100K resistors work best.  With the series resistors you should have a reading of approx. 200 kilo-ohms, and with the parallel set the reading should be approx. 50 kilo-ohms.

NOTE:  Do not use the Ohm Meter on a live circuit, as this will damage the meter.

We can also monitor Voltage and Current on these types of circuits.  In this case the 10 K resistors seem to work the best.  The voltage drops across the resistors can be measured as well as the current in each circuit.

References:

  • Leonardo Motta, Antonio Carlos Fontes dos Santos, "Symmetrical Cubic Arrangement of Resistors: An Experimental Approach", TPT, Vol. 61, #6, Sept. 2023, p. 461.
  • Robert Ekey, Andrea Edwards, Roy McCullough, William Reitz, Brandon Mitchell, "A Fan-tastic Alternative to Bulbs: Learning Circuits with Fans", TPT, Vol. 55, #1, Jan. 2017, p. 13.
  • Brandon Mitchell, Robert Ekey, Roy McCullough, William Reitz, "A Fan-tastic Quantitative Exploration of Ohm's Law", TPT, Vol. 56, #2, Feb. 2018, p. 75.
  • "Correction", TPT, Vol. 53, # 5, May 2015, p. 262.
  • Mikhail Kagan, "Comments on "Platonic Relationships Among Resistors", TPT, Vol. 53, # 4, April 2015, p. 196.
  • Bradley Allen, Tongtian Liu, "Platonic Relationships Among Resistors", TPT, Vol. 53, # 2, Feb. 2015, p. 75.
  • Hans Pfister, "The Sponge Resistor Model - A Hydrodynamic Analog to Illustrate Ohm's Law, the Resistor Equation R = pl/A and Resistors in Series and Parallel", TPT, Vol. 52, # 5, May 2014, p. 270.
  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 51, # 3, March 2013, p. 132.
  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 51, # 2, Feb. 2013, p. 74.
  • William H. Baird, Caleb Richards, Pranav Godbole, ", Advanced Imaging of Elementary Circuits", TPT, Vol. 50, # 9, Dec. 2012, p. 561.
  • Srdjan Jankovic, "Tracking Connections: An Exercise about Series and Parallel Resistances", TPT, Vol. 48, # 6, Sept. 2010, p. 391.
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  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 45, # 3, March 2007, p. 179.
  • Tony Minich, "Conceptualizing Series and Parallel Circuits Through 3-D Modeling", TPT, Vol. 43, # 7, Oct. 2005, p. 448.
  • C. J. Efthimiou and R. A. Llewellyn, "Adding Resistances and Capacitances in Introductory Electricity", TPT, Vol. 43, # 6, Sept. 2005, p. 366.
  • Ronald Brown, "Series and Parallel Resistors and Capacitors", TPT, Vol. 41, # 8, Nov. 2003, p. 483
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "The Hydraulic Analogy for Electric Current", TPT, Vol. 41, # 8, p. 464,  Nov. 2003.
  • W. K. Ching, M. Erickson, P. Garik, P. Hickman, J. Jordan, S. Schwarzer, and L, Shore, "Overcoming Resistance with Fractals", TPT, Vol. 32, # 9, Dec. 1994, p. 546.
  • "Figuring Physics", TPT, Vol. 31, # 3, Mar. 1993, p. 192.
  • Robert A. Morse, "Feeling" Series  and Parallel Resistance", TPT, Vol. 31, # 6, Sept. 1993, p. 347.
  • Dale D. Long and Larry C. Bolling, "A Series / Parallel Circuit Demonstration", TPT, Vol. 19, # 1, Jan. 1981, p. 70.
  • B. J. Pernick, "Resistors in Parallel", TPT, Vol. 18, # 2, Feb. 1980, p. 148.
  • Mario Iona, "Mathematics or Common Sense", TPT, Vol. 18, # 6, Sep. 1980, p. 406.
  • Robert P. Bauman, "Hydraulic Models for Electrical Circuit Elements", TPT, Vol. 18, # 5, May 1980, p. 378.
  • Frederick A. Smith and Jerry D. Wilson, "Electrical Circuits and Water Analogies", TPT, Vol. 12, # 7, Oct. 1974, p. 396.
  • Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "A Nomograph for Resistors in Parallel", TPT, Vol. 40, #8, Nov. 2002, p. 458.
  • Antoni Amengual, "The Intriguing Properties of the Equivalent Resistances of n Equal Resistors Combined in Series and in Parallel", AJP, Vol. 68, # 2, p. 175, Feb. 2000.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "Why Toast Lands Jelly-Side Down", 9.2, A 3-4-5 Triangle of Resistance", p. 147.
  • "Resistors in Series and Parallel", Selective Experiments in Physics, CENCO, 1962.
  • "Cells in Series and Parallel", Selective Experiments in Physics, CENCO, 1962.

Video Credit: Jonathan M. Sullivan-Wood

5F20.55 - Series and Parallel Resistors