Name: Kedija ahmed Date: Feb 2 Period: 6

ANALYZING CIRCUITS LAB II

Circuit Construction Phet Simulation

Purpose: To generate a sequence of rules that model how current, voltage, and resistance
behave in series and parallel circuits.

Series Circuit Schematic

Procedure and Data--Part A: Voltage in Series

1. Open the link to the website and click Lab to begin.

2. Build a series circuit with ONE light bulb according to the circuit diagram above.
3. Click on the battery and select a whole number voltage between 10 V and 20 V. Keep
this constant for parts A and B of the lab. Record this value under VT, total voltage in the
data table.
4. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage at the first light bulb. This is called a voltage
drop and is abbreviated V1. Record this value in the data table.
5. Record the current measured by the ammeter in the data table.
6. Repeat steps 2, 4, and 5 with two, three, and four light bulbs to complete the data table.

Light V1 V2 V3 V4 VT IT
Bulbs (V) (V) (V) (V) (V) (A)

1 20 20 2

2 10 10 20 1

3 6.6 6.6 6.6 20 .06

4 5 5 5 5 20 .5

Procedure and Data--Part B: Current in Series

1. Build a series circuit with ONE light bulb and an ammeter according to the circuit
diagram above.
2. Click on the battery and set the voltage to the same value that you used in step 3 of part
A.
3. Drag the ammeter located in the center of the tool box to measure the current at location
A in the circuit. Record this value, I A, in the data table.

4. Drag the ammeter to measure the current at location B in the circuit. Record this value,
IB, in the data table.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for series circuits with TWO, THREE, and FOUR light bulbs. Use the
ammeter to measure the current at all locations, A-E. Record your values in the data
table.
 Light Bulbs IA (A) IB (A) IC (A) ID (A) IE (A)

1 2 2

2 1 1 1

3 .66 .66 .66 .66

4 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5

*************************************************************************************************************

Parallel Circuit Schematic

Procedure and Data--Part C: Voltage in Parallel

1. Build a parallel circuit with TWO light bulbs according to the circuit diagram above.
2. Click on the battery and select a whole number voltage between 10 V and 20 V. Keep
this constant for parts C and D of the lab. Record this value under VT, total voltage in the
data table.
3. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage at the first light bulb. This is called a voltage
drop and is abbreviated V1. Record this value in the data table.
4. Use the voltmeter to measure the voltage drop at the second light bulb, V2. Record this
value in the data table.
5. Repeat steps 1, 3, and 4 with THREE and FOUR light bulbs. Record your values in the
data table.
 Light Bulbs V1 (V) V2 (V) V3 (V) V4 (V) VT (V)

2 20 20 20

3 20 20 20 20

4 20 20 20 20 20

Procedure and Data--Part D: Current in Parallel

1. Build a parallel circuit with TWO light bulbs according to the circuit diagram above.
2. Click on the battery and set the voltage to the same value that you used in step 2 of part
C.
3. Drag the ammeter located in the center of the tool box to measure the current at location
A in the circuit. Record this value, I A, in the data table.

4. Drag the ammeter to measure the current at locations B, C, and F in the circuit. Record
these values in the data table.
5. Repeat steps 1, 3, and 4 with THREE and FOUR light bulbs. Measure the current at
each location A-F and record the values in the data table.

Light IA IB IC ID IE IF
Bulbs (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A)

2 7.2 3.6 3.6 7.2

3 10.8 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6

4 14.4 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 14.4

Conclusion Questions

Using the terms increases, decreases, and remains the same, answer the following questions
regarding series and parallel circuits and offer a mechanism or explanation for the trend (i.e.
physically, how does this happen?)

1. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the series circuit, what happened to the
total voltage?

Remains the same

Mechanism/Explanation:

Cause the voltage puts out by the battery doesn't change

2. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the series circuit, what happened to the
size of the voltage drops?

Decrease

Mechanism/Explanation:

Cause the voltage does not increase as light bulbs increase the amount each receives
decreases

3. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the series circuit, what happened to the
current?

It decreased

Mechanism/Explanation:

It decreases because more light bulbs were added

4. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the series circuit, what happened to the
bulb brightness?

It dimed

Mechanism/Explanation:

Because less engry is able to reach the light

 5. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the parallel circuit, what happened to
the total voltage?

Remains the same

Mechanism/Explanation:

The batteries voltage wont change

6. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the parallel circuit, what happened to
the size of the voltage drops?

It halves

Mechanism/Explanation:

Because it is one line each one needs voltage so there less for the next one

7. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the parallel circuit, what happened to
the current?

It decreases

Mechanism/Explanation:

It decreases needs because more bulbs need alot of engry but the amount of energy doesnt
increases

8. As you increased the number of light bulbs in the parallel circuit, what happened to
the bulb brightness?

It dimed

Mechanism/Explanation:

Because the current is halved

 9. Analyze your data in each row of voltage in series and current in parallel. What kind of
pattern do you notice? How can you express that pattern mathematically for each
situation (voltage in series and current in parallel)? How can you explain those patterns?

Series 3v+3v=6v its basically the addition of the lights or the division of the voltage by the
lights parallel 1/R1+2/R2=1/Rt like each light bulb halves the current

10. How does the total current in a series circuit compare to the current measured at any
single location in the circuit? How can you express that pattern mathematically? How
can you explain that pattern?

The total current compared the current measuersed in the is dived by the amount of light
bulbs

11. How does the total voltage in a parallel circuit compare to the voltage drop measured at
any individual light bulb in the circuit? How can you express that pattern
mathematically? How can you explain that pattern?

Its like halved by every light bulb

12. Use the relationships in Ohm’s Law to determine how resistance behaves in series and
parallel circuits. Hint: Consider using the mathematical patterns that you identified in #9
to help you get started.

Series is dived by light bulbs parallel its halved by the light bulbs