GENERAL PHYSICS II

DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS

Name:

Section:

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A. Resistors in Series

1. Start the simulation (PhET Simulations). From the index of sims, select "Circuit Construction
Kit: DC - Virtual Lab".

2. Set the current to "Conventional flow" and make sure that the options "Labels" and "Values"
are checked.

3. Construct the circuit as shown below. Double click on the components to edit the default
values.

4. Close the switch and record the magnitude of the current flowing in the circuit as shown by
the ammeter.

I=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

5. Use Ohm's Law to find the total resistance of the circuit (Req).
Req=<Encode your answer here Ω)

6. From your answer in #4, construct a formula computing the equivalent resistance (Req) for
resistors connected in series. Use R1, R2, and R3 to respresent the individual resistances offered
by the resistors.

Req=<encode your answer here>

7. This time, use the voltmeter to measure the voltage across each resistor. Record the values
below.

V1=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

V2=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

V3=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

8. Now, construct a formula relating the individual voltages across each resistor (V1, V2, and V3
to the supply voltage (V).

V=<encode your answer here >

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B. Resistors in Parallel

1. Reset the simulation. Make sure that the current is set to "Conventional" and that the "Labels"
and "Values" boxes are checked as well.

2. Construct the circuit as shown below. Double click on the components to edit the default
values.
3. Close the switch and record the magnitude of the current flowing in the circuit (I) and the
individual currents drawn by the resistors (I1, I2, and I3) as shown by the ammeter.

I=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

I1=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

I2=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

I3=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

4. Construct a formula relating the inidividual currents (I1, I2, and I3) to the over-all current (I).

I=<Encode your answer here.>

5. Using the voltmeter, measure the potential difference across each resistor (V1, V2, and V3) in
the circuit. Record the values below

V1=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.)

V2=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.)

V3=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.)

6. Relate the individual voltages across each resistor (V1, V2, and V3) to the supply voltage V.

V=<Encode your answer here.>

7. Use Ohm's Law to calculate the magnitude of the total resistance (Req) of the circuit.

Req=<encode your answer here Ω>

8. From the value you obtained on #7, which of the following formulas would CORRECTLY
compute the total resistance (Req) of a circuit when the resistors are connected in parralel?
Highlight your answer in BLUE.

A. Req=R1+R2+R3+...Rn

B. Req=R1=R2=R3=...Rn

C.(1/Req)=(1/R1)+(1/R2)+(1/R3)+...(1/Rn)

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Kirchhoff's Circuit Rules

Many practical resistor networks cannot be reduced to simple series-parallel

combinations. To analyze these networks, we’ll use the techniques developed by the German
physicist Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824–1887).

C. Kirchhoff's Junction Rule

DEFINITION: A junction in a circuit is a point where three or more conductors meet.

1. Reset the simulation. Make sure that the current is set to "Conventional" and that the "Labels"
and "Values" boxes are checked as well.

2. Construct the circuit diagram as shown below. Double click on the components to edit the
default values.

3. Close the switches and record the values of I1, I2, and I3 below.

I1=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

I2=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

I3=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

4. Observe the direction of the currents. From the selected junction (the one pointed by the blue
arrow), Construct a formula relating the individual currents I1, I2, and I3. You can verify if your
formula is correct from the magnitude of the currents shown by the ammeter.

5. Kirchhoff's Junction Rule states that the magnitude of the currents entering a junction should
be equal to the magnitude of the currrents leaving the junction. Did you observe this in the values
that you obtained? Highlight your answer in BLUE.

YES
NO

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D. Kirchhoff's Loop Rule

DEFINITION: A loop is any closed conducting path.

1. Reset the simulation. Make sure that the current is set to "Conventional" and that the "Labels"
and "Values" boxes are checked as well.

2. Construct the circuit diagram as shown below. Double click on the components to edit the
default values.

3. Close the switch and use the voltmeter to record the values of V1, V2, V3, and V4 below.

V1=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

V2=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

V3=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

V4=<Encode your answer here. DO NOT FORGET the unit.>

4. Kirchhoff's Loop Rule states that when we return to the starting point as we go around a loop,
the algebraic sum of the voltages in the components including the sourcesof emf should be equal
to zero.

SIGN CONVENTIONS:

*When we travel through a source in the direction from - to +, the emf is considered to be
positive; when we travel from + to -, the emf is considered to be negative.

*When we travel through a resistor in the same direction as the assumed current, the IR term is
negative ; when we travel through a resistor in the direction opposite to the assumed current, the
IR term is positive.

See the figure below for your guide.

In equation form, Kirchhoff's Loop Rule is stated as:

(the sum of the potential differences around any loop equals ZERO.)

5. Use the values that you recorded in #3 and the given emf sources to verify Kirchhoff's Loop
Rule. Is the algebraic sum of the potential differences ZERO? Highlight your answer in BLUE.

YES

NO

------NOTHING FOLLOWS-------