Download DC Circuits Simulation

Circuit Construction Kit (DC Circuits) PhET Lab
Today, you will use the Circuit Construction Kit PhET lab to qualitatively explore series and parallel circuits.
PreLab
Draw a simple diagram for a series and parallel circuit below using your notes/homework. Use the symbols for resistors
and voltages in your drawings.
Series Circuit
Parallel Circuit
Part 1: Beginning Observations
1) Open the Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only) PhET simulation. What can you change about the simulation?
2) Build a simple circuit with a battery, wires, light bulb and voltage source. Draw it below.
PhET diagram (draw what you see on the screen)
Circuit diagram (use symbols we have learned in class)
3) What are the main differences between what you see on the screen and what you drew in your circuit diagram?
4) What flows through the wires when there is a closed circuit? What on the screen represents these?
5. Use the Grab Bag materials. Make a list of which ones are conductors and which ones are not. Disucuss how the ones
that do conduct vary (which one is fast vs slow).
6. Try to create different pathways that will light a light bulb. (Use multiple batteries or grab bag items)
Components (parts) I used to
make a pathway:
Did the bulb
light?
Observations
(circle Y or N)
3 wires, 1 lightbulb, and a
battery
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
7. Draw one of the working pathways here:
8. Complete the table below.
How can you…
What did you do?
(write or draw)
..make the bulb brighter?
What other changes do you
notice?
How can you…
What did you do?
What other changes do you
notice?
…change the direction of the
electrical current?
…turn off the bulb without
pushing pause?
Part 2– Series Circuit
Construct a simple series circuit with the following amounts of light bulbs using the PhET simulation. Remember in a
series circuit, there is only one path for electricity to flow. Keep the battery source the same. Draw the proper circuit
diagram in your table and rank the relative brightness in your table.
Number of Light
Bulbs
Circuit Diagram
Relative Brightness of bulbs (use
words like brightest, least bright,
etc.)
1
2
3
What can you conclude about what happens to the brightness of the bulbs as you add more bulbs in series? Why do you
think this is the case?
Part 3 – Parallel Circuit
Construct two parallel circuits one with 2 light bulbs in parallel and one with 3 light bulbs in parallel and rank the relative
brightness of the bulbs. Remember, in a parallel circuit there are multiple pathways for electricity to flow. Keep your
battery source the same.
Number of Light
Bulbs in Parallel
Circuit Diagram
Relative Brightness of bulbs (use
words like brightest, least bright,
etc.)
2
3
What can you conclude about what happens to the brightness of the bulbs as you add more bulbs in parallel? Why do
you think this is the case?
Conclusion Questions
1. How does the parallel circuit compare to the series circuit?
2. What happens when you break a parallel circuit (try it out in the sim if you need to!)? How would this property be
useful when designing circuits?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits?