Professional Documents
Culture Documents
12 - SPH0901N - Series and Parallel Circuits Lab
12 - SPH0901N - Series and Parallel Circuits Lab
12 - SPH0901N - Series and Parallel Circuits Lab
2012, TESCCC
10/30/12
page 1 of 3
2. Assuming the brightness is correlated with the current through the bulbs, summarize your observation about the current through the bulbs.
3. What are the measured voltage values across the bulbs in each case? What do you conclude?
4. As bulbs burn out or are unscrewed, how do the parallel bulbs react compared to the bulbs in series with each other?
2012, TESCCC
10/30/12
page 2 of 3
Part II: Virtual Circuit Builder It is customary to designate circuit components with a symbol and subscript to identify one resistor from another. In the series circuit, one could designate the bulb on the left as R1, in order to designate it as one resistor, and the other bulb as R2. The total resistance, as seen by the battery, is normally referred to as the total resistance of the circuit, or RT. Use the circuit values to fill in the voltage and current values in the charts below. Calculate the resistance values. Bulbs in Series Circuit: Circuit Voltage Current Element (volts) (amps) Bulb 1 V1 = I1 = Bulb 2 V2 = I2 = Battery VT = 10 IT = Bulbs in Parallel Circuit: Circuit Voltage Current Element (volts) (amps) Bulb 1 V1 = I1 = Bulb 2 V2 = I2 = Battery VT = 10 IT =
Resistance (ohms) R1 = R2 = RT =
Resistance (ohms) R1 = R2 = RT =
Resistance is defined as R = V/I. Instead of measuring the resistance, it is computed from the voltage and current values. Show one example of this calculation in the box. 1. Compare the total current from the battery for the series circuit to the total for the parallel circuit. What pattern do you see in resistances and current?
2. Summarize any relationships, including equations, you see for the currents and resistances for resistors, in series and in parallel, with each other. Note: Do not be afraid of getting the wrong answer. Your focus should be on what is discovered. Your teacher will give you more answers later.
2012, TESCCC
10/30/12
page 3 of 3