PHYSICS Name ________________________
PhET Circuits Lab Date__________Hour_____
Procedures:
Open the Simulation titled Circuit Construction Kit (DC only) on the computer. If
doing this from home, go to the following site to Run the simulation:
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Circuit_Construction_Kit_DC_Only
Part 1 - Series Circuit:
• Construct the circuit as shown in figure 1 (back page) using the Circuit
Construction Kit (DC Only) simulation at the PhET site.
• Make the light bulbs have different resistance values (right click on the bulb to
adjust) and record the value of each light bulb in the table below.
• Change the voltage of the battery to a value that makes sense for your circuit.
• Calculate the total resistance of your circuit using appropriate “rule.”
• Move the ammeter over wire A, to find the current going to bulb A. Repeat for
bulb B and bulb C.
• Use the voltmeter to take voltage readings. To do this you will need to place the
leads at opposite ends of each bulb. For total voltage, place them across the
battery.
• Calculate the total current passing through your battery by using the equation:
ITOT = VTOT
RTOT
• Note the comparison between that value and what the ammeter reads when
placed over a wire near the battery…
• Note the comparison between that value and what the ammeter reads when
placed over a wire near the battery…
• Calculate Power (P=IV) for each light bulb.
• Rank your light bulbs in order of brightness (1 being the least bright).
Resistance Voltage Current Power Brightness
(Ω) (V) (A) (W) Ranking (1-3)
A 10 2.57 0.26 0.66 2
B 20 5.14 0.26 1.32 1
C 5 1.29 0.26 0.33 3
35 0.78 2.31
Total 9.03
Questions:
1. What do you notice about the total current in comparison to the current to each
resistor?
The total current is 3x the current in each resistor because the current in each resistor is the same.
Why do you think this is so?
Nothing is changing the current
2. What do you notice about the total voltage in comparison to the voltage at each light
bulb?
The total voltage is changed by the resistance of each bulb
Why do you think this is so? (Remember that voltage is the energy each charged
particle STARTS with in the circuit)
The resistance needs more work to make the bulb brighter
3. Which bulb is the brightest? Why do you think that is?
B because it has the highest resistance
Part 2 - Parallel Circuit:
• Construct the circuit as shown in figure 2.
• Make the light bulbs have different resistance values and record the value of
each light bulb in the table below.
• Change the voltage of the battery to a value that makes sense for your circuit.
• Calculate the total resistance of your circuit using appropriate “rule.”
• Move the ammeter over wire A, to find the current going to bulb A. Repeat for
bulb B and bulb C.
• Use the voltmeter to take voltage readings. To do this you will need to place the
leads at opposite ends of each bulb. For total voltage, place them across the
battery.
• Calculate the total current passing through your battery by using the equation:
ITOT = VTOT
RTOT
• Calculate Power (P=IV) for each light bulb.
• Rank your light bulbs in order of brightness (1 being the least bright).
Resistance Voltage Current Power Brightness
(Ω) (V) (A) (W) Ranking (1-3)
A 20 9 0.45 4.05 3
B 10 9 0.90 8.1 2
C 9 1.80
5 16.2 1
Total 35 27 3.15 28.35
Questions:
4. What do you notice about the speeds of the charges through the different loops?
Relate these speeds to the amount of resistance in each of these loops.
The speed is the highest closer to the battery/where there is less resistance
5. What do you notice about the total current in comparison to the current to each light
bulb?
The current is affected by the resistance
Why do you think this is so?
Since each bulb receives the same voltage the current needs to adjust
6. What do you notice about the total voltage in comparison to the voltage at each light
bulb?
It is the same at all the bulbs and each bulb is 1/3 of the total voltage
Why do you think this is so? (Remember that voltage is the energy each charged
particle STARTS with in the circuit).
Each particle flows independently of the other bulbs so each bulb recieves the same voltage
7. Why are the brighter bulbs those with the least resistance? Explain.
Less power is needed to make the bulb brighter due to lower resistance, so when the bulbs all receive
the same voltage the least resistant one is the brightest
Figure 1: Series Circuit
A
C
Figure 2: Parallel Circuit
C A
B
C B A
