Distance Learning Circuit Lab

KU - /6 TI - /13 App - /8 Comm - /15

Simulation:
We will use the circuit simulator from PhET.
Follow the link I provided or Google “PhET
circuit construction kit dc” and open the
simulation by hitting the play button.

Goals: To investigate series and parallel circuits.

Setup: Have the options shown at right selected in the simulation.

Part 1:

1) Find a way to make a single light bulb light up with as FEW parts hooked up as possible. What
parts are necessary to light the bulb? (3 marks - KU)

2) Make a gap in your circuit. (2 marks - KU)

Go to the grab bag and play with the different objects. There are 7 objects (dollar bill, paper
clip, coin, eraser, hand, dog and pencil).

Find out which objects allow electricity to flow and fill in the data table:

Objects that allow electricity to flow Objects that do NOT allow electricity to flow
(conductors) (insulators)
3) Build three series circuits:

i. Circuit 1 - Build a circuit with two cells in series and one light bulb. Draw a diagram below
of the circuit in the space below. ** Make sure to use a straight edge (i.e. ruler) and
pencil when drawing scientific diagrams! (3 marks Comm)

ii. Circuit 2 - Build a circuit with two cells and two light bulbs all in series. Draw a diagram
below of the circuit in the space below. ** Make sure to use a straight edge (i.e. ruler)
and pencil when drawing scientific diagrams! (3 marks Comm)

iii. Circuit 3 - Build a circuit with two cells and three light bulbs all in series. Draw a diagram
below of the circuit in the space below. ** Make sure to use a straight edge (i.e. ruler)
and pencil when drawing scientific diagrams! (3 marks Comm)

iv. What happens to the brightness of the light bulbs from Circuit 1 to Circuit 3? (1 mark TI)
4) Create the series circuit shown below.

i. Circuit 1 - Insert a switch between the cells and the first light bulb. Open and close the
switch. Observe what happens.
ii. Move the switch and place in between the two light bulbs. Open and close the switch.
Observe what happens.
iii. Place the same switch after the second light bulb. Open and close the switch. Observe what
happens.
iv. Circuit 2 - Leave the last switch and add a new switch between the 2 cells and the first
light bulb.

a) What happens to the light bulb in Circuit 1 if the switch is closed? (1 mark App)

b) What happens to the light bulb in Circuit 1 if the switch is open? (1 mark App)

c) What happens to the light bulb in Circuit 2 if one switch is closed and one switch is
open? (1 mark App)

d) What happens to the light bulb in Circuit 2 if both switches are closed? (1 mark App)

e) Which subatomic particle must be able to flow for the bulbs to light up? (1 mark TI)
 5) Build the following circuits and answer the associated questions:

Circuit 1 - A circuit with two-cell in series and one light bulb.

Find the voltmeter and ammeter.

i. Take the voltmeter from the right and PLACE THE RED PRONG on the POSITIVE SIDE OF the first CELL and
PLACE THE BLACK PRONG on the NEGATIVE SIDE OF the second CELL. Yours will be slightly different
from the example in the picture! You will have two cells instead of one. You should measure the
voltage across both cells.

What is the voltage across the 2-cells? Hint – The answer is NOT 9.00V (1 mark App)

Voltage = _________________

ii. Take the voltmeter from the right and PLACE THE RED PRONG on the POSITIVE SIDE OF LIGHT BULB and
PLACE THE BLACK PRONG on the NEGATIVE SIDE OF LIGHT BULB.

What is the voltage across the light bulb? (1 mark App)

Voltage = _________________

iii. Use the ammeter to measure the current at a variety of points in the circuit.

What is the measure of the current in this circuit? (1 mark App)

Current= _________________
Circuit 2 - A circuit with two-cell in series and two light bulbs in series.

i. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the cells on the same way that you did on the last circuit.

What does the Voltmeter read?

ii. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the each light bulb individually.

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 2?

iv. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after the power source.

What is the measure of the current at this part of the circuit?

v. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after each light bulb.

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 2?

Circuit 3 - A circuit with two-cell in series and three light bulbs in series.

i. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the cells on the same way that you did on the last circuit.

What does the Voltmeter read?

ii. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the each light bulb individually.

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 2?

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 3?

iii. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after the power source.

What is the measure of the current at this part of the circuit?

 iv. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after each light bulb.

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 2?

What does the ammeter read after light bulb 3?

6) Based on your observations in question 5, what do you notice about the relationship between
the sum of the voltage across the loads (the loads are the light bulbs) and the voltage across
the power source (the two cells) in a series circuit? (1 marks TI)

7) What happens to the voltage across an individual load as more loads are added to a series
circuit? (1 mark TI)

8) Based on your observations in question 5, what do you notice about the current in a series
circuit? (1 mark TI)

9) What happens to the current as you add loads in a series circuit? (1 mark TI)
10) Build two parallel circuits:

i. Circuit 1 - Build a circuit with two cells (in series) and two light bulbs all in parallel. Draw a
diagram below of the circuit in the space below. ** Make sure to use a straight edge
(i.e. ruler) and pencil when drawing scientific diagrams! (3 marks Comm)

ii. Circuit 2 - Build a circuit with two cells (in series) and three light bulbs all in parallel. Draw
a diagram below of the circuit in the space below. ** Make sure to use a straight edge
(i.e. ruler) and pencil when drawing scientific diagrams! (3 marks Comm)

iii. What happens to the brightness of the light bulbs from Circuit 1 to Circuit 2? (1 mark TI)
 11) Create the parallel circuit shown below.

i. Circuit 1 - Insert a switch between the 2 cells and the first light bulb. Open and close the
switch. Observe what happens.
ii. Move the switch and place in the branch with first light bulb. Open and close the switch.
Observe what happens.
iii. Place the same switch in the branch with the second light bulb. Open and close the switch.
Observe what happens.

Based on your observations, how many switches would you need to have in this circuit to be able to:

a) turn off both lights at the same time? (1 mark TI)

b) turn off each light individually? (1 mark TI)

 c) turn off each light individually as well as turn off both lights at the same time? (1 mark TI)

12) Build the following circuits and answer the associated questions:

Circuit 1 - A circuit with two-cells in series and two light bulbs wired in parallel.

i. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the cells on the same way that you did on the last circuit.

What does the Voltmeter read?

ii. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the each light bulb individually.

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 2?

iii. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after the power source.

What is the measure of the current at this part of the circuit?

iv. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after each light bulb.

Place the ammeter in this branch to

measure the current after light bulb 1.

*When measuring after a light bulb, make sure to place the ammeter in the same branch as the light
bulb!

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 2?

Circuit 2 - A circuit with two-cell in series and three light bulbs in parallel.

i. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the cells on the same way that you did on the last circuit.

What does the Voltmeter read?

ii. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the each light bulb individually.

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 2?

What does the Voltmeter read for light bulb 3?

iii. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after the power source.

What is the measure of the current at this part of the circuit?

iv. Use the ammeter to measure the current at after each light bulb.

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 1?

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 2?

What does the ammeter read for light bulb 3?

13) Based on your observations in question 12, what do you notice about the relationship between
the voltage across each individual the load (the loads are the light bulbs) and the voltage
across the power source (the two cells) in a parallel circuit? (1 marks TI)
 14) What happens to the voltage across a load as more loads are added to a parallel circuit?
(1 mark TI)

15) Based on your observations in question 12, what happens to the current immediately after the
battery as you add loads in a parallel circuit? (1 mark TI)

16)Build a final circuit. This circuit will have a power source, a switch, and three wires.

i. What happens when you close the switch? (1 mark App)

ii. Do some research to find the term for this type of circuit ( the answer can be found in your
notes). (1 mark KU)