MOre electric Circuits Lab
What kind of electric circuits can you build?
Purpose:
You will build and compare series and parallel circuits.
You will apply your knowledge of circuits to a real situation.
There are two different types of circuits, called series and parallel circuits. You will build these circuits today and compare them.
Purpose:
You will build and compare series and parallel circuits.
You will apply your knowledge of circuits to a real situation.
There are two different types of circuits, called series and parallel circuits. You will build these circuits today and compare them.
Materials: battery, bulbs, bulb holders, wires, switches, multimeter
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/4/1114892/published/scannable-document-on-feb-2-2017-08-20-39.png?1486045374)
Procedure:
- Measure the voltage of the battery. Record. Remember, this is your total voltage.
- Build the circuit in the diagram.
- Record your observations about the brightness of the two bulbs.
- Measure the current before the first bulb in the circuit. Record this value.
- Measure the voltage across the first bulb in the circuit. Record this value.
- Measure the current between the two bulbs in the circuit. Record this value.
- Measure the voltage across the second bulb in the circuit. Record this value.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/4/1114892/editor/scannable-document-on-feb-2-2017-08-21-53.png?1486045398)
Procedure: Part 2
- Measure the voltage of the battery. Remember, this is your total voltage.
- Build the circuit in the diagram. Measure the current coming off the battery. Record. This is your total current.
- Record your observations about the brightness of the two bulbs.
- Measure the current in the first branch of the circuit (before the first bulb). Record this value.
- Measure the voltage across the first bulb in the circuit. Record this value.
- Measure the current in the second branch of the circuit (before the second bulb). Record this value.
- Measure the voltage across the second bulb in the circuit. Record this value.
Analysis: (complete in notebook, then upload photos to Edmodo.)
- Compare the brightness of the bulbs in Parts 1 & 2.
- Which circuit was a series circuit, Part 1 or Part 2? Which circuit was a parallel circuit, Part 1 or Part 2?
- Calculate the total resistance in Part 1's circuit.
- Calculate the total resistance in Part 2's circuit.
- Where would you add switches in each circuit to turn off both bulb? Where would you add switches to turn off only one light?
- Explain, in a paragraph, which type of circuit will be more useful to wire different parts of a house.