Electrical Principles - Chapter 2: Resistors
Publish Date: Mar 27, 2013
Overview
The Electrical Principles/Fundamentals series present the basic theories and concepts taught at entry level electronics courses
both 2 year and 4 year institutions. This series of content provides examples to professors to enable them to easily teach conce
to students, who can develop a solid underlying knowledge of electronics using the NI solution. This series focuses on some of
basic theory as well as providing the NI Multisim circuits to enable practical implementation end experimentation as homework
students.
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
In this Chapter
Example Courses
Resistors in Series
Resistors in Parallel
Example Problem
Suggested NI Solution
References
1. In this Chapter
We begin this chapter by exploring one of the basic components in a circuit: the resistor. We learn how to apply Ohm’s law to
measure the value of a resistor and then measure the equivalent resistor value in a series or parallel combination. We will use t
NI Multisim circuit teaching environment to verify these calculated results with example circuits that can be used by any educato
or student.
If you do not have NI Multisim installed on your computer, you can download a free 30 day evaluation at
http://www.ni.com/multisim/try/ (http://www.ni.com/multisim/try/)
2. Example Courses
Listed below are example courses that teach this concept at their schools.
Course Name
School
Learn More
Electrical
Principles
Conestoga College
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/fulltime/0071.jsp
Electronic
Technology 1
Macomb
Community College
http://www.macomb.edu/noncms/Search/Courses/coursekey.asp?coursekey=ELEC-11
3. Resistors in Series
In series, the current entering the combination is the same and not divided, however the voltage drop across each device differ
based on the value of that device.
Therefore the equivalent resistance Req is the summation of the individual values of resistances: Req = R1 + R2 + ... + Rn (n =
number of resistors) [1].
Using NI Multisim we can verify the above equation by measuring the voltage and current in a resistive series circuit.
STEP 1: Open circuit file “resistors_series.ms12”. You will see the circuit below [2].
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STEP 2: Place probes at the desired points in our circuit (as shown in the figure below) by selecting the probe from the instrum
bar on the right hand side of the screen in NI Multisim and then run the simulation by selecting “Simulation>>Run Simulation”.
You will notice that indeed the current passing through a combination of resistances in series is not divided and is the same
through all the resistances and how the voltage across these devices is in fact divided and differs based on the value of each
resistor.
Answer Sub-Step 1: Calculate the equivalent resistance for the above circuit.
Req = 5K + 5K + 10K + 5K + 5K = 30K Ω
STEP 3: Open “series_eq_circuit.ms12” circuit file and place a probe as shown below then run the simulation.
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You will notice that the measured current is equal to the current we measured in the original circuit and that confirms that we ha
calculated the correct value of the equivalent resistance.
4. Resistors in Parallel
In parallel, the voltage drop remains the same and is not divided (since we are measuring the voltage drop between the same t
points), however the current is faced with one or more branches and is forced to split with its values dependant on each resisto
each branch.
Therefore the equivalent resistance Req is equal to the reciprocal of the summation of the individual resistor values: Req = 1/((1
+ (1/R2) + ... +(1/ Rn)) (where n = number of resistors) [3].
Using NI Multisim we can verify the above equation by measuring the voltage and current in a resistive parallel circuit.
STEP 4: Open the circuit file “resistors_parallel.ms12”. You will see the circuit below [4].
STEP 5: Again, place probes at the desired points in our circuit (as shown in the figure below) and then run the simulation by
selecting “Simulation>>Run Simulation”.
You will notice that indeed the current passing through a combination of resistances in parallel is divided into parallel paths only
be recombined and rejoined eventually to form the current I. The voltage however is the same across each resistor.
Answer Sub-Step 2: Calculate the equivalent resistance for the above circuit.
Req = 1/ ((1/80K) + (1/20K) + (1/4K)) = 1/(0.125 + 0.05 + 0.25) = 1/0.3125 = 3.2K Ω
STEP 6: Open “parallel_eq_circuit.ms12” circuit file and place a probe as shown below then run the simulation.
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STEP 6: Open “parallel_eq_circuit.ms12” circuit file and place a probe as shown below then run the simulation.
You will notice that the measured current is equal to the current we measured in the original circuit and that confirms that we ha
calculated the correct value of the equivalent resistance.
5. Example Problem
Let us now examine the following circuit containing both series and parallel combinations and solve to get the equivalent
resistance. You can use the attached circuit to investigate the theory as well as follow the steps below.
STEP 7: Begin by opening “series_parallel.ms12” circuit file in NI Multisim: [5]
Answer Sub-Step 3: Calculate the equivalent resistance Req for the above circuit in Ohms.
We have a combination of series and parallel resistors. Break the combinations down and solve one combination at a time.
Answer Sub-Step 4: Calculate the equivalent resistance Rparallel for R5 and R6.
Rparallel = 1/(1/R5) + (1/R6)) = 20 Ω
Thus the resulting circuit will look like this:
Answer Sub-Step 5: Calculate the equivalent resistance Rseries for R3 , R4 and Rparallel.
Rseries = R3 + R4 + Rparallel = 40 Ω
Thus the resulting circuit will look like this:
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Answer Sub-Step 6: Calculate the equivalent resistance Rparallel for R2 and Rseries.
Rparallel = 1/((1/R2) + 1/Rseries)) = 20 Ω
Thus the resulting circuit will look like this:
Answer Sub-Step 7: Calculate the equivalent resistance Req for R1 and Rparallel.
Req = R1 + Rparallel = 40 Ω
STEP 8: Open circuit file “series_parallel_eq_circuit.ms12” in NI Multisim then place a probe as shown below and simulate the
circuit.
Comparing the value of the current in the equivalent circuit to the original circuit verifies the correct reduction for Req:
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6. Suggested NI Solution
National Instruments offers a number of products that combine to provide a scalable and powerful teaching platform for educato
The solution includes:
NI Multisim circuit teaching environment: Combining an intuitive circuit definition environment, with powerful SPICE simulation
technology, educators can use NI Multisim to easily teach the ins-and-outs of circuits in a safe environment.
NI ELVIS teaching and measurement platform allows educators to provide students with a compact, all-in-one unit for their
measurement and analysis needs. Combining an oscilloscope, function generator, DMM, bode analyzer and 8 other instrument
into a small platform; it simplifies the laboratory experience for students and lab instructors.
7. References
[1] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. “DC Circuits”. Resistors in Series.
[http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.intro.series.html]. (16/01/2013)
[2] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. “DC Circuits”. Resistors in Series.
[http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.example.series.html]. (16/01/2013)
[3] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. “DC Circuits”. Resistors in Parallel.
[http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.intro.parallel.html]. (16/01/2013)
[4] University of Guelph, Department of Physics. “DC Circuits”. Resistors in Parallel.
[http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/ohm/Q.ohm.example.parallel.html]. (16/01/2013)
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