PhET Simulation AC-DC Circuits

PhET Exploration
Circuit Construction Kit: DC & AC
Purpose
To compare the difference in behavior of each of the following components in a DC circuit.
1) resistor 2) capacitor 3) inductor
Background
Students should:
1) be able to assemble series and parallel circuits and understand their behavior.
2) know that a voltmeter measures the electric potential difference across a circuit element.
3) know how to correctly connect a voltmeter to an electric circuit.
4) know that an ammeter measures the rate of current flow through an electric circuit.
5) be able to use Ohm’s law to calculate voltages, currents, and resistances in a DC circuit.
Materials
Your physics text and/or the internet.
Procedure and questions

1. Access the PhET web site.
2. Click on Simulations.
3. From the left hand menu pick Electricity, Magnets, and Circuits.
4. Choose Circuit Construction Kit: DC & AC (Direct Current & Alternating Current)
5. Use the simulation to assemble a series circuit consisting of 1) a battery, 2) a switch, 3) a
resistor, and 4) a light bulb.
6. Connect the probes of a Voltage Chart across the resistor. Be sure the positive (red) voltage
chart probe is connected to what will be the positive side of the resistor when the switch is
closed. The black end of the battery in this simulation is positive. The Voltage Chart, as you
can see, gives a graph of electric potential difference vs. time.
7. Connect the probes of another Voltage Chart across the light bulb. Remember correct
polarity.
8. Connect the rather unusual Current Chart’s one probe to (in?) the circuit. Most ammeters
have two probes and are connected in series with the circuit being measured. This device
must somehow sample the magnetic field set up by the electric current flowing through the
circuit.
9. In which section of this series circuit should the Current Chart device be connected?
10. Why?
11. Before you close the switch, draw what you think will be the appearance of the
three chart graphs when you close and then after a few seconds open the switch.
12. Close the switch. Draw the graphs of what happened. Were you correct? Why?
13. Did the light come on as quickly as an incandescent light that you turn on at home would?
14. Before you modify the circuit, does this simulation assume conventional current flow or
electron current flow?
15. Be sure the switch is open before you modify the circuit.
PhET AC-DC circuits - Exploration Page 1 of 2

16. Replace the Resistor in your circuit with an Inductor. You delete a component by right
clicking on the device and then choose Remove from the menu that appears. Be sure the
three charts are still connected to the new circuit.
17. If you have already studied the inductor, how is its behavior in a DC circuit different from a
resistor?
18. Close the switch and observe the chart graphs for 8 to 10 seconds and then open the switch.
Draw and label the appearance of the three graphs. Be sure to show correct polarity.
19. What, if anything, is similar between these graphs and the previous graphs?
20. What, if anything, is different between these graphs and the previous graphs? You should
notice several differences. List them.
21. How might you explain each difference?
22. Why did the light bulb turn on so slow this time?
23. Fluorescent lights operate quite nicely from the 120 V AC (alternating current volts) supplied
by your Public Service company, but they need many more volts to turn them on. One of the
graphs shows an “inductive kick”. Was this spike (kick) shown on the Voltage Chart placed
across the inductor or the Current Chart?
24. Was it a positive or negative spike? Did the spike occur during turn on or turn off?
25. A resistor only resists the current flowing through a circuit. An inductor resists changes in
current flowing through a circuit. Explain how the graphs you obtained show this.
26. Use what you have learned from this simulation and the definition of self-inductance from
you text or the internet to explain the physics of how inductors resist current changes through
them.
27. Be sure the switch is open before you modify the circuit again
28. Replace the Inductor in your circuit with a Capacitor.
29. Watch the three graphs and the light bulb when you close the switch this time. Draw and
label the appearance of the three graphs.
30. What is different this time? List the differences.
31. Explain the differences.
32. Connect a second capacitor in parallel across the light bulb. What happened?
33. Explain why this happened.
Summing Up
1. Inductors and capacitor introduce delays in electric circuits. Of what use is this to us?
2. How would circuit behavior be different if a larger resistor had been used?
3. How would circuit behavior be different if a larger inductor had been used?
4. How would circuit behavior be different if a larger capacitor had been used?
5. What type electric circuit might you think about building and experiment with for extra
credit., if any, after this investigation ?
PhET AC-DC circuits - Exploration Page 2 of 2

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PhET Exploration

Circuit Construction Kit: DC & AC

Procedure and questions

PhET AC-DC circuits - Exploration Page 1 of 2

PhET AC-DC circuits - Exploration Page 2 of 2

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