Circuits 2014
Series and Parallel Circuits
Name:_____________________________________________
Directions:
1. Go to the following website: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-ac-virtual-lab 2. Click “Run now.”
You now have the raw material to create a circuit. Take a moment to look over the site and find all the different materials. To build a circuit you will need several wires, a light bulb, a voltage source, a voltmeter, and a non – contact ammeter. Play with it to see how to grab and manipulate these tools.
Click the reset all button.
A. Series Circuits
Build a simple series circuit that consists of 4-6 pieces of wire, 1 light bulb, and 1 battery (voltage source). In order to complete the circuit, the red circles at the end of each must overlap. Please note that the light bulb also has TWO circles. Your circuit is complete and working when the light comes on and the blue dots begin moving.
What do you think that the moving blue dots represent? (2 points)
Explain what a battery does in an electrical circuit? Refer to page 606 in your textbook. (3 points)
Click in the Tools boxes to get a voltmeter and a Non-contact ammeter. Put the voltmeter near the battery and place the red tab at one end and the black at the other
What is the voltage (V)? (2 points)
Voltage:_______
Place the ammeter crosshairs over the moving blue dots. How many Amps of current (I) is flowing through your circuit? (2 points)
Amperage:______
Using Ohm’s law V = I x R (page 607 in textbook) calculate the resistance of the light bulb. Don’t forget the units! (3 points)
Resistance:___________
Now place another light bulb into your circuit in series with the first bulb. You will have to remove one or more wires and then reconnect your circuit with new wires. What is the total resistance in your circuit now? (3 points)
Resistance:___________
What happened to the brightness of the two
Name:_____________________________________________
Directions:
1. Go to the following website: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-ac-virtual-lab 2. Click “Run now.”
You now have the raw material to create a circuit. Take a moment to look over the site and find all the different materials. To build a circuit you will need several wires, a light bulb, a voltage source, a voltmeter, and a non – contact ammeter. Play with it to see how to grab and manipulate these tools.
Click the reset all button.
A. Series Circuits
Build a simple series circuit that consists of 4-6 pieces of wire, 1 light bulb, and 1 battery (voltage source). In order to complete the circuit, the red circles at the end of each must overlap. Please note that the light bulb also has TWO circles. Your circuit is complete and working when the light comes on and the blue dots begin moving.
What do you think that the moving blue dots represent? (2 points)
Explain what a battery does in an electrical circuit? Refer to page 606 in your textbook. (3 points)
Click in the Tools boxes to get a voltmeter and a Non-contact ammeter. Put the voltmeter near the battery and place the red tab at one end and the black at the other
What is the voltage (V)? (2 points)
Voltage:_______
Place the ammeter crosshairs over the moving blue dots. How many Amps of current (I) is flowing through your circuit? (2 points)
Amperage:______
Using Ohm’s law V = I x R (page 607 in textbook) calculate the resistance of the light bulb. Don’t forget the units! (3 points)
Resistance:___________
Now place another light bulb into your circuit in series with the first bulb. You will have to remove one or more wires and then reconnect your circuit with new wires. What is the total resistance in your circuit now? (3 points)
Resistance:___________
What happened to the brightness of the two