Download Sunflower circuits Activity File

Current and voltage in circuits
1)
Under settings adjust the bulbs to 4.5V. Set up a circuit with 1 cell, a
bulb, an ammeter to measure current and a voltmeter to measure the
voltage across the bulb. Add more cells to see what happens.
Record the ammeter and voltmeter readings for 1 cell, 2 cells and 3 cells
1 cell
A,
V
2 cells
A,
V
3 cells
A,
V
How does adding cells effect the circuit?
2)
Leave the circuit set up with 3 cells and add more bulbs in series to see
what happens. Record the ammeter and voltmeter readings for 1 bulb, 2
bulbs and 3 bulbs
1 bulb
A,
3 bulbs
A,
V
2 bulbs
A,
V
V
How does adding more bulbs affect the circuit?
3)
Leave the circuit set up with 3 cells and 3 bulbs but add two more
voltmeters to measure the voltage of the other two bulbs. The voltmeters
all read
as the bulbs share the
from the cells.
4)
Connect 3 cells in series with an ammeter and 1 bulb with a voltmeter
across it. Add another bulb in parallel with the first bulb and then add a
third bulb in parallel again. Record the readings
1 bulb
A,
V
2 bulbs
A,
V
3 bulbs
A,
V
How does adding bulbs in parallel effect the current?
What happens to the voltage when bulbs are added in parallel?
5)
On the same circuit place an ammeter beside each of the bulbs and record
the readings on all 4 ammeters. Ammeter 1
ammeter 3
ammeter 2
ammeter 4
What do you notice about the readings?
In parallel circuits the voltage is
6)
while the current is
Resistors, use the settings to adjust the resistors to 3Ω then set up the first
circuit again (a cell, bulb, ammeter & voltmeter) Then add some resistors in series
and record the ammeter and voltmeter readings.
1 resistor
A,
Adding resistors
V 2 resistors
A,
V, 3 resistors
the current and reduces the
A,
V
.