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Series Circuit Activity

1) The document describes an online DC circuit builder simulation that can be used to build and analyze series circuits. 2) It provides instructions to build a sample series circuit with 3 resistors, 4 ammeters, and a battery, then measure the current and voltage at several points. 3) Users are asked to analyze the circuit by determining relationships between current, voltage, and resistance values and expressing them mathematically.

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SHALINI RAJA
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102 views

Series Circuit Activity

1) The document describes an online DC circuit builder simulation that can be used to build and analyze series circuits. 2) It provides instructions to build a sample series circuit with 3 resistors, 4 ammeters, and a battery, then measure the current and voltage at several points. 3) Users are asked to analyze the circuit by determining relationships between current, voltage, and resistance values and expressing them mathematically.

Uploaded by

SHALINI RAJA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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From http://www.physicsclassroom.

com/Physics-Interactives Name:

DC Circuit Builder – Series Circuit


Goal: To analyze mathematical relationships between quantities for series circuits.
Getting Ready: Using your computer, tablet or phone and navigate to:
http://goo.gl/M4Ewmh
Tap or click the link to open the DC Circuit Builder. Once opened, select the pencil icon and use
the tools (at the bottom of the screen) to build a circuit. Simply select a bulb, resistor, wire or
ammeter (the rectangular box) and tap or click in the workspace where you wish it to be located.
You’ll get the hang of it quite quickly.
Note that the electric potential values are listed on the diagram at the corner of every square on
the grid. Current values are listed on the ammeters. To change a battery voltage or a resistor
value, select the second icon at the bottom of the screen; a magnifying glass appears above the
circuit element. Adjust the voltage or the resistance using the up/down arrows next to the digital
meter.
Build, Measure, Analyze:
Build the circuit shown with three resistors, four ammeters and a battery. Determine the values
of current (amps) and electric pressure (volts) at the indicated locations.

V = _____
9 Volts
I = ______
0.15 Amps
1
6 Volts
V = _____

B 2

0.15 Amps
I = ______

I = ______
-0.15 Amps 3 3
V = _____ Volts

-0.15 Amps
I = ______
0
V = _____ Volts

1. For resistors 1, 2, and 3 and for the battery (B), calculate the electric potential difference and
fill in the table below.
Electric Potential
Element Current (I) Resistance (R)
Difference (∆V)
B --
1
2
3

©The Physics Classroom, All Rights Reserved This document should NOT appear on other websites.
2. How does the current in each resistor (I1, I2, I3) compare to one another and to the current in
the battery (IB)?
3. How does the electric potential difference across the battery (∆VB) compare to the
summative electric potential differences of the three resistors (∆V1 + ∆V2 + ∆V3)?

4. Write the above relationship as an equation:


5. Calculate the ratio of electric potential difference to current for the battery.
∆VB/IB = ____________________
How does this ratio compare to the resistance values of the resistor? Attempt to write an
equation relating the ∆VB/IB ratio to R1, R2, and R3 values.

6. Alter the values of the battery voltage and the resistance of the resistors so that each resistor
has a different resistance. Then make measurements and complete the table.
Electric Potential
Element Current (I) Resistance (R)
Difference (∆V)
B --
1
2
3

7. Using values from the circuit analyzed in Question #6, identify as many mathematical
equations as you can that relate ∆V, I and R for individual circuit elements or for the circuit
as a whole. For each equation that you write, demonstrate its validity by substituting in
values from the table above.
Equation Demonstration of Equation’s Validity
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

©The Physics Classroom, All Rights Reserved This document should NOT appear on other websites.

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