Lab 06 – Conceptual Model for Current Homework Worksheet

Answer the questions on this worksheet. You may work with others but try to answer the questions on
your own first. Merely copying the work of others will not improve your understanding of the material
for future labs as well as your upcoming lecture exam and final lab course exam. 

Once the worksheet is complete, take the "quiz" on Canvas to enter your answers and have them
automatically graded.  

1. Consider the following circuit:

a. Rank the bulbs by brightness (A-F) with the switch
OPEN.
Use signs for ranking (>, <, =) such as A=B=F>D>C=E.

A=B=C=D=E=F

b. When the switch is CLOSED in the circuit above, the voltage for….
Bulb A increases decreases no change goes to 0
Bulb B increases decreases no change goes to 0
Bulb D increases decreases no change goes to 0
Bulb F increases decreases no change goes to 0
Battery increases decreases no change goes to 0
2. Consider the following circuits of identical bulbs and batteries. No need to explain answers below.

a. Rank the bulbs (A-L) by potential difference across each from most to least. Use signs (>, <, =).
A = 9V, B = 4.5V, C = 4.5V, D = 6V, E = 3V, F = 3V, G = 9V, H = 9V, I = 4.5V, J = 4.5V, K = 9V, L = 9V
A=K=L=H=G > D > B=C=I=J > E=F

b. Rank the batteries (I-V) from the most to the least current passing through. Use signs (>, <, =).
1 = 0.9A, 2 = 0.45A, 3 = 0.6A, 4 = 1.8A, 5 = 2.25A

3. What is one advantage for connecting batteries in series? Bulb will shine more brightly.
What is one advantage for connecting batteries in parallel? Battery will not get drain soon. Less
current will be drawn.

4. Should an ammeter be designed with extremely high or extremely low resistance? Why?
An ammeter is an instrument for measuring the electric current in amperes in a branch of an electric
circuit. It must be placed in series with the measured branch and must have very low resistance to
avoid significant alteration of the current it is to measure.
5. Should a voltmeter be designed with extremely high or extremely low resistance? Why?
On the other hand, a voltmeter measures the voltage difference between two different points (say, on
different sides of a resistor), but it should not change the amount of current going through the
element between those two points. So, it should have very high resistance so that it doesn't "draw"
current through it.

6. Consider the circuit below. The battery is 6 v.

a. List the voltages of the various bulbs when the switches are in the various positions.
Switch Position Bulb voltages
Condition:
Both open Battery = 9V
A= 4.5V, B = 3V, C = 3V, D = 4.5V, E = 3V

A = 4.5V, B = 0V, C = 0V, D = 4.5V, E =

Both Closed 9V

1 open, 2 closed A = B = D = E = 4.5 V, C = 0V

1 closed, 2 open A = C = D = E = 4.5V, B = 0

Both open- 0.75 A (battery), 0A (switch)

Both closed – 1.35 A (battery), 0.9 A (switch 1 = switch 2)
1 open, 2 closed – 0.9 A (battery), 0.45A = S2, 0 = S1
1 closed, 2 open - 0.9 A (battery), 0.45A = S1, 0 = S2

b. In which combination of switch positions does the battery push through the most
current? Both closed
 c. In which combination of switch positions does the battery push through the least
current? Both open

7. Consider the circuit below. Bulb A has 7.5 v across it and Bulb E has 4.5 v across it.
a. Determine the voltage of the battery.
9V – SIMULATION, NEED TO CALCULATE
12V
b. Determine the voltages across each of bulbs B, C, and D.
B = 2.25V, C=1.12V = D, E = 3.37V, A = 5.62V
C= 1.5V, D = 1.5V, B = 3V