Experiment # 12: To study and verify Voltage divider rule in a Series DC

circuit & study and verify experimentally Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in a single
loop DC series circuit.

As you have studied in your theory class that voltage and current undergo different
treatments in series and parallel circuits. In this experiment, we will get to know the
voltages and currents of components in a series circuit.

Tasks:

1. To study and verify Voltage divider rule in a Series DC circuit.

2. To study and verify experimentally Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law in a single loop DC
series circuit.

Equipment and Components:

Fixed resistors

K&H Power Project Board

Digital Multimeter
Theory:
In a series circuit as shown in figure below, the current is the constant through all of the
circuit elements whereas voltage varies.

The total Resistance of a series circuit can be given as RT =R1 + R2 + R3. According to
Ohm’s Law, “The current in a circuit is directly proportional to the applied voltage and
inversely proportional to the circuit resistance”.
I = E / RT

Applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law around closed loop of Figure, we find.

ET =V1 + V2 + V3
Where, V1= I R1, V2= I R2, V3=I R3

Note: In Figure, that I is the same throughout the Circuit.

.
 • Voltage Divider Rule: The voltage divider rule states that the voltage across an
element or across a series combination of elements in a series circuit is equal to the
resistance of the element divided by total resistance of the series circuit and multiplied
by the total impressed voltage. VDR can he stated as:

VX = RX*VS
RT

• Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law: Consider the simple series circuit as shown in

figure below.

Here we have numbered the points in the circuit for voltage reference. As we are dealing with
dc circuits, therefore we should carefully connect the voltmeter while measuring voltage
across supply or any of the resistances as shown in figure, keeping in mind the similarity of
polarities of voltage across the element and that of the connected probes of meter. In such
case, we will observe that,

This principle is known as Kirchhoff's Voltage Law, and it can be stated as such:

"The algebraic sum of all voltages in a loop must equal zero"

.
 Procedure:

1) Construct the circuit shown in the following figure.

R1
3
A
6 2

Vs R2 V

1
4
R3
Vs = V, R1 = Ω, R2 = Ω, R3 =

2) Set the DC supply to 15V by using DMM. Pick the resistances R1, R2, & R3 and verify
their resistance by using DMM and Color Coding method. Record it in the Table 3.1a.

3) Measure voltage across each resistor with DMM and record it in the Table 3.1b.

4) Measure Current I delivered by source and record it in Table 3.1c.

5) Shut down and disconnect the power supply. Then measure input resistance RT
using DMM and record the value in Table 3.1a. .

6) Now calculate, respective currents (using Ohms Law).

7) Calculate E1, E2 & E3 using voltage divider rule and measured resistance value.

Note: Use measured value of resistance for all calculations.

.
 Observation:

RESISTANCE (Table 3.1a)

Measure
d
S.No. Coded Values Resistance
RX Ω

1 R1 = 1 1.5
2 R2 = 2.2 3.3
3 R3 = 3.3 4.95
4 RT = 6.5 9.75

VOLTAGE (Table 3.1b)

Measured Measured Calculated
Resistance Total Voltage Voltage Voltage (VDR)
S.No.
ET Volts EX Volts EX Volts

1 R1 = 1 E1 =2.3 2.3
2 R2 =
2.2 14.8 E2 = 5.1 5.1
3 R3 = 15-14.8=0.2 E3 = 7.4
3.3 7.6

CURRENT (Table 3.1c)

Measured Calculated
Measured
Total Current (Ohm’s
Resistance Current
S.No. Current Law)
IX Amp
IT Amp IX Amp

1 R1 =1 I1 = 2.3
2 R2 = 2.2 2.3 I2 = 2.3 2.3
3 R3 = 3.3 I3 = 2.3

Formulas:

Resistance R = V/I
Total Resistance RT =R1 + R2 + R3
Absolute Error Ea = Actual Value – Observed Value
% E =(Actual Value – Observed Value) *
Percentage Error 100
Actual Value

Calculations: