EXPERIMENT 6

POWER IN DC CIRCUITS
PART 1
(COMPUTATIONAL EXPERIMENT)
I.

OBJECTIVES

1. To calculate the power dissipated in a direct current circuit.

2. To show that the power dissipated in a load is equal to the power supplied
by the source.
II.

THEORY

The purpose of a power source (supply) for an electric circuit is to supply

electrical energy to the load.
The load uses this energy to perform some
useful function or work.
In electricity, work is accomplished by the
movement of electrons (energy current). POWER is the rate of doing work. A
force of one volt producing a current of one ampere (through one ohm of
resistance) is equal to one watt of power.
Electric power (watts) supplied to a load is always equal to the product of
the DC voltage across the load and the DC current through the load.
P = E x I
where:
P: power, in watts
E: voltage, in volts
I: current, in amperes
If electric power is supplied to a DC motor, part of the power will be
converted into mechanical energy, and the remaining power will be converted
into heat.
When power is supplied to a storage battery (during charging)
some of the power is converted into chemical energy and the remainder into
heat.
However, when power is supplied to a resistor, all of the power is
converted into heat. This conversion of electric energy into heat energy is,
therefore, a very efficient process, and we make use of it every day in our
electric toasters, electric stoves and electric heated homes. Just as there
are three forms in which Ohms Law can be expressed, there are also three
ways of relating power, voltage and current. They are:
(1) P = E x I
(2) E = P / I
(3) I = P / E
These three formulas are valid for all types of DC devices including motors,
generators and resistors.
You should, therefore, make a special effort to
remember them.

ELONELA Experiment Manual

Experiment 6: Power in DC Circuit, Part 1
Page 1 of 5

III.

IV.
1.

INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS

None
PROCEDURE
The circuits in the following steps are the circuits you considered in
Experiment 5.
a. Enter your calculated values (taken from Experiment 5) in the spaces
provided in each step.
b. Using the formulas given in the theory section, calculate the power
dissipated in each resistance element.
Record these values in the
spaces provided.
c. Calculate the sum of the powers PT dissipated by all the resistors in
the circuit. Record this value in the space provided.
d. Calculate the power delivered by the power supply (Ps = Ein x Ir).
Record this value in the space provided.
e. Compare the power dissipated (c) to the power supplied (d) and state,
under remarks, whether the result is satisfactory.

2.

See Figure 5.1

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
V1 = _______________
PR1 = _______________
I1 = _______________
PT = _______________
IT = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________
3.

PS = _______________

See Figure 5.2.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
V1 = _______________
PR1 = _______________
V2 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
I1 = _______________
I2 = _______________
PT = _______________
IT = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________
4.

Power Supply (I x Ein)

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

See Figure 5.3.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
V1 = _______________
PR1 = _______________
V2 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
V3 = _______________
PR3 = _______________
I1 = _______________
I2 = _______________
PT = _______________
I3 = _______________
IT = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________
ELONELA Experiment Manual
Experiment 6: Power in DC Circuit, Part 1
Page 2 of 5

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

5.

See Figure 5.4.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
IT = _______________
PR1 = _______________
I1 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
I2 = _______________
V1 = _______________
PT = _______________
V2 = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

Note: It might prove instructional at this point to compare power dissipation

versus resistance for series and parallel circuits.
In Step 4 the
voltage across each parallel resistor is the same 50 volts. Since the
smallest value resistor draws the most current, it also dissipates the
most power.
In this case, the 33.33 ohms resistor dissipates 75 watts and the
larger value of resistors dissipates less. Now consider the circuit of
Step 5. This is a series circuit, so the current through each resistor
is the same 0.33 ampere. Since the larger value of resistor drops the
most voltage, it will dissipate 10.89 watts and the smaller value of
resistor to only 5.4 watts.
6.

See Figure 5.5.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
IT = _______________
PR1 = _______________
I1 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
I2 = _______________
V1 = _______________
PT = _______________
V2 = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________
7.

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

See Figure 5.6.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
IT = _______________
PR1 = _______________
I1 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
I2 = _______________
PR3 = _______________
I3 = _______________
V1 = _______________
PT = _______________
V2 = _______________
V3 = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

Note: The power dissipated by resistor R3 must be included in the total

power, PT.

ELONELA Experiment Manual

Experiment 6: Power in DC Circuit, Part 1
Page 3 of 5

8.

See Figure 5.7.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
I2 = _______________
PR1 = _______________
I1 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
V1 = _______________
VA = _______________
PT = _______________
IT = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________
9.

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

See Figure 5.8.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
V1 = _______________
PR1 = _______________
V2 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
V3 = _______________
PR3 = _______________
VA = _______________
I2 = _______________
PT = _______________
I3 = _______________
IT = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

10. See Figure 5.9.

Calculated Values
Power Dissipated
V3 = _______________
PR1 = _______________
V2 = _______________
PR2 = _______________
I2 = _______________
PR3 = _______________
I1 = _______________
V1 = _______________
PT = _______________
VA = _______________
Remarks: ___________________________________
VII.

Power Supply (I x Ein)

PS = _______________

CONCLUSION

None
VIII. QUESTIONS
1. Knowing that one watt of electric power is converted into 3.43 BTU of heat
per hour, calculate the BTU of heat given off by a toaster rated at 600
watts.
2. The circuit of Step 5 has the 100 ohms and 50 ohms resistors in parallel
across a 60 volts source. If both resistors were the same physical size,
which one would become hotter? Explain.
3. All three resistors in the circuit of Step 7 attain the same temperature
during operation.
Which resistor has to be largest physical?
The
smallest? Explain.
4. Fill in the unknown values in Table 6.1.
ELONELA Experiment Manual
Experiment 6: Power in DC Circuit, Part 1
Page 4 of 5

1
P, watts
E, volts
I, amperes

5
6

2
40
20

Table 6.1
3
4
50
100
10
100

6
50

1000
10

100

50
10

12

7
70
140

8
12
6

5. Fill in the unknown value in Table 6.2.

E,
I,
P,
R,

volts
amperes
watts
ohms

1
120
1

2
3
60

Table 6.2
3
4
120
6
120

10

12

8
40
8

250
10

6. A
100-watt
incandescent
lamp
has
a
resistance
when
cold
(lamp
extinguished) that is only 1/12 of its hot (lamp illuminated) resistance
value.
a. What is the lamp current and its hot resistance when placed across a
120-volt line?
b. What is the cold resistance of this lamp?
c. What is the instantaneous current through the lamp at the moment it is
switched ON?
d. What power does the lamp dissipate at this instant?

Reference:

Direct-Current Vol. 1
By Dawes

ELONELA Experiment Manual

Experiment 6: Power in DC Circuit, Part 1
Page 5 of 5