Download Name - Seattle Central College

Physics 202
Circuits Lab
Procedure
Week I:
 Design Circuits & Experiments that will prove the circuit principles listed below.
It’s possible to design a circuit/experiment that demonstrates several principles at
once. Feel free to do so.
You can use some of experiments set up in the tutorial book, or in the book (you
will need to read ahead in the text). Use the equipment available at the front of
the room.

Hand in your designs & procedures by tomorrow Tuesday.

If you are done, with your designs before the end of the lab, you can start working
on the items of next week.
Week II:
 Set up the circuits, take and record the measurements needed to support the
principle.

In your write up you will show your circuits, describe your procedure and
summarize how your most excellent data proves you correct. Please wordprocess all text integrating your circuit diagrams throughout.
Principles of Series Circuits:
 The voltages across each circuit element adds to that of the battery.
 Current through each circuit element is the same.
 Higher resistances have more voltage across them.
 Resistors added in series to any circuit increases the resistance to current in the
circuit.
Principles of Parallel Circuits:
 Voltages across each circuit element are the same.
 The current through each parallel circuit element adds to that going through the
battery.
 The higher resistance in a parallel circuit has less current.
 Resistors added in parallel to any circuit reduce the resistance to current in the
circuit.
Capacitors (Do so qualitatively. We will soon cover RC circuit in class)
 Two capacitor in series are equivalent to a capacitor with less capacitance.
 Two capacitor in parallel are equivalent to a capacitor with more capacitance.
In General:
 A branch in a circuit that contains a short has no voltage across it.
 A branch in a circuit that is open has all the voltage across it.
 A battery is a constant voltage source.
 A battery is not a constant current source.
 Ammeters have very little internal resistance.
 Voltmeters have very large internal resistance.