Date: _______________ Class: _______

Names: _______________________________ _______________________________

Electricity 2.3: Circuits Virtual Lab

To access the virtual lab:

Go to: ​https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab
OR
Google: Phet Simulations Circuit Construction Kit DC Virtual Lab.
Then click on the “play” button to open the simulation.

GET STARTED:
1. Build a basic circuit​ by dragging items from the panel on the left into the blue
workspace. You should include a battery, a light bulb, and a wire (or multiple wires).
Connect these so that the light bulb is illuminated.

Draw your circuit below using circuit symbols.

Note: You can change the images into symbols in the virtual lab by clicking on the image
to the right of the battery in the bottom right corner.

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2. Does it conduct?​ Add the following items, one at a time, into your circuit. Make sure
your circuit is closed. ​Record your findings below.​ Remove these items from your
circuit before continuing to #3.

Item Does the light turn on? Is this item a conductor or an insulator?

Dollar Bill

Paper Clip

Coin

Eraser

Pencil

Hand

Dog

3. Measure the voltage​ of your circuit using a voltmeter. Drag the voltmeter from the right
side of the screen into the blue workspace. Drag the red and black electrodes to the
wires on either side of the light bulb. If your voltage reading is negative, switch the
position of your red and black electrodes to get a positive reading.

Add the voltmeter to your drawing on page 1​.

Is the voltmeter connected to the circuit in series or in parallel?​ ________________

What is your voltage reading? _________________________

4. Measure the current​ of your circuit using an ammeter. Drag the ammeter from the right
side of the screen into the blue workspace. Disconnect and reattach wires (adding more
wires if necessary) to include the ammeter in the circuit. The light should still turn on, and
your ammeter should give a reading.

Add the ammeter to your drawing on page 1.

Is the ammeter connected to the circuit in series or in parallel? ________________

What is your current reading?​ __________________________

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5. Calculate the resistance​ of the circuit using Ohm’s Law (V=IR).

What is your calculated resistance? _____________________

6. Determine the resistance of each part of your circuit​. For the light bulb, click on it
and your resistance reading will show up at the bottom of the screen. For the battery,
click on “Battery Resistance” on the right side of the screen and the resistance reading
will appear.

What is the resistance of the light bulb? _______________________

What is the resistance of the battery? ________________________

CHALLENGE: Assume the voltmeter and ammeter have no resistance. How much
resistance (in ohms) must the wires have? _________________________

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THINK LIKE A PHYSICIST:
Remember, in order to see how a change impacts the circuit, you must change only one thing at
a time.

7. Record your “BEFORE” observations first. Then increase the resistance of the
light bulb​ and identify how it impacts the rest of the circuit. To change the resistance of
the light bulb, click on the light bulb and a resistance scale will appear at the bottom of
the screen.

BEFORE AFTER

What is the resistance of the light bulb?

How bright is the light?

What is the current?

What is the voltage?

Explain how increasing the resistance of the light bulb affected Ohm’s Law (V=IR).

8. Record your “BEFORE” observations first. Then increase the voltage of the
battery​ and identify how it impacts the rest of the circuit. To measure/change the voltage
of the battery, click on the battery and a voltage scale will appear at the bottom of the
screen. To measure the resistance of the battery, click on “Battery Resistance” on the
right side of the screen.

BEFORE AFTER

What is the voltage of the battery?

How bright is the light?

What is the current?

What is the resistance of the battery?

Explain how increasing the voltage of the battery affected Ohm’s Law (V=IR).

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CHALLENGE YOURSELF:
9. CHALLENGE: ​What is the difference between the two batteries (the one with the
lightning bolt on the side and the one without)?

10. CHALLENGE: ​What is the difference between the two light bulbs (the one with the
squiggle on the base and the one without)?

11. CHALLENGE: ​Build a circuit that allows you to control two light bulbs using a
switch. Draw a schematic for this circuit below.

12. CHALLENGE: ​Build a circuit that allows you to control the two light bulbs
separately (using two switches). Draw a schematic for this circuit below.

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13. CHALLENGE: ​Build a circuit that allows you to control two light bulbs with one
switch and a third light bulb with another switch. Draw a schematic for this circuit
below.

14. EPIC CHALLENGE: ​Create a circuit that has two light bulbs in it, and two switches.
Both light bulbs should go on/off with one of the switches. The other switch
should just turn one of the light bulbs on/off when the first switch is closed. Draw
a schematic of this circuit below.