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Series and Parallel Circuits

This document describes a series of experiments with circuits involving batteries, light bulbs, resistors, and voltmeters/ammeters. The experiments are designed to: 1) Explore how adding more light bulbs in series or parallel circuits affects battery voltage, current, and bulb brightness. 2) Measure actual voltage and current in circuits using batteries and a resistor, and compare calculated vs. measured values. 3) Investigate the relationship between resistor length, voltage, and current using a variable resistor by creating graphs of the data.

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kris
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18 views

Series and Parallel Circuits

This document describes a series of experiments with circuits involving batteries, light bulbs, resistors, and voltmeters/ammeters. The experiments are designed to: 1) Explore how adding more light bulbs in series or parallel circuits affects battery voltage, current, and bulb brightness. 2) Measure actual voltage and current in circuits using batteries and a resistor, and compare calculated vs. measured values. 3) Investigate the relationship between resistor length, voltage, and current using a variable resistor by creating graphs of the data.

Uploaded by

kris
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Series & Parallel Circuits

I. Series Circuits (Simulation Only)


Use the CCK (Circuit Construction Kit) simulation to build the circuits below with a battery at about
12 volts and light bulbs (represented by the ~ symbol). Turn on the voltmeter and ammeter to measure
voltage of the battery and current into it. Complete the data table as shown and record the apparent
brightness of the bulb.

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3


# of bulbs Battery Current Brightness
voltage into of bulbs
(v) battery
(A)
1
2
3
a. Summarize the relationships you observed and explain
what you think is happening.
b. How does changing the battery voltage affect your results?
c. Practice using the voltmeter and realistic ammeter in several circuits. Describe how using a
voltmeter is different from using an ammeter.

II. Parallel Circuits (Simulation Only)


Redo Part I but use figures 4-6 for the circuits. Make a new table and answer questions a) and b)
above.

Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

III. Actual Resistors


Get a real resistor and use the multimeter to find its resistance R (in ohms) when the resistor is NOT
hooked up to any kind of circuit. Measure the voltage of three batteries, labeled 1, 2, and 3. Without
building the circuit, calculate the current (I) that
Batteries Total voltage Resistance Calculated should run through the circuits when the resistor
(V) () Current (A) is hooked up to one, two, or all three batteries.
1
1+2
1+2+3
(Continued on next page)
Now build the following circuits. Use a multimeter to get your readings where shown on the diagram
(V for voltage, A for current) by changing the mode and moving it. Voltage is measured across the
circuit, and current is measured with the meter in the circuit. Record your data in a table like the one
below.

V V
V

A A
A

Batteries Measured Measured


Voltage (V) Current (A)
1
1+2
1+2+3

a. Explain what might be happening to cause the change in current as batteries are added.
b. How are current and battery voltage related? Sketch a graph.
c. Why do your calculated values differ from actual?

IV. Variable Resistors


Use a real variable resistor connected to a power supply set on about 3 volts to make a circuit. Then
use a multimeter to read the current and voltage where indicated. Vary the length of the resistor by
moving the slider. Make a data table using with at least 10 lengths on the resistor.

a) Make a graph showing the relationship between length of the


A
D
C

DC resistor and current, and find the equation. Add a trendline to your
data and display R2 value.
b) Repeat all of part a) but for the relationship between length of
resistor and voltage.
c) Compare the similarities between this experiment and your
experiments with the simulation above (parts I and II) with the light
bulbs.
V d) Explain the errors in your experiment.

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