Lab 3: Series and Parallel DC Circuits Virtual Lab
Name:
Learning Goals: Students will be able to
• Discuss basic electricity relationships
• Discuss basic electricity relationships in series and parallel circuits
• Build series, parallel and combination circuits from schematic drawings
• Use an ammeter and voltmeter to take readings in circuits.
• Provide reasoning to explain the measurements and relationships in circuits.
For your lab report, be sure to enter your answers in a different colored font.
I. Observing voltage relationships:
Go to the PHeT web site and use the Circuit Construction Kit simulation
(CCK): https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc
Drag out three batteries. Measure the voltage of each using the voltmeter and record the voltage
in a table like the one shown. Then move the batteries end to end as below to measure
combined voltage. Right click on each to make the battery different from one another.
Battery Voltage (V)
1 9V
2 20 V
3 12 V
1+2 29 V
1+2+3 41 V
a. Describe the relationship between the number of batteries and the voltage and
explain what you think might be happening.
As the number of batteries in the series increases, the total voltage increases. The total
voltage is the sum of the individual battery voltages. The increase in voltage occurs
because batteries connected in series add their voltages together.
b. What could you vary to test your description about the relationship? (Right click on the
batteries to change characteristics) Run several tests recording your data in an
organized table.
To vary the characteristics, I’ve ran more tests with the following data below:
Battery Voltage (V) Battery Voltage (V)
1
, 1 20 V 1 0V
2 0V 2 0V
3 18 V 3 12 V
1+2 20 V 1+2 0V
1+2+3 38 V 1+2+3 12 V
1+2; 3rd has polarity 2V 1 + 2; 3rd has -12 V
reversed polarity reversed
II. Using voltage
Use the Circuit Construction Kit simulation to build a circuit with a battery and a light bulb in
the Lifelike visual mode.
a. Draw what your circuit looks like (you may cut and paste your circuit into your lab
report if you wish).
b. How does the voltage of the battery compare to the light bulb voltage? Explain what
you think is happening.
The voltage of the battery is equal to the voltage across the light bulb. As it receives more
power from the battery it makes the light bulb light up brighter.
c. Vary the voltage of the battery and write observations about how the brightness
is affected by voltage.
Increasing the battery voltage increased the brightness of the bulb, while decreasing the
battery voltage decreased the bulb brightness.
d. Think about a real light bulb and battery; explain what you think is happening that
causes the changes in brightness.
Higher voltage increases filament temperature which in turn emits more light.
2
Name:
Learning Goals: Students will be able to
• Discuss basic electricity relationships
• Discuss basic electricity relationships in series and parallel circuits
• Build series, parallel and combination circuits from schematic drawings
• Use an ammeter and voltmeter to take readings in circuits.
• Provide reasoning to explain the measurements and relationships in circuits.
For your lab report, be sure to enter your answers in a different colored font.
I. Observing voltage relationships:
Go to the PHeT web site and use the Circuit Construction Kit simulation
(CCK): https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc
Drag out three batteries. Measure the voltage of each using the voltmeter and record the voltage
in a table like the one shown. Then move the batteries end to end as below to measure
combined voltage. Right click on each to make the battery different from one another.
Battery Voltage (V)
1 9V
2 20 V
3 12 V
1+2 29 V
1+2+3 41 V
a. Describe the relationship between the number of batteries and the voltage and
explain what you think might be happening.
As the number of batteries in the series increases, the total voltage increases. The total
voltage is the sum of the individual battery voltages. The increase in voltage occurs
because batteries connected in series add their voltages together.
b. What could you vary to test your description about the relationship? (Right click on the
batteries to change characteristics) Run several tests recording your data in an
organized table.
To vary the characteristics, I’ve ran more tests with the following data below:
Battery Voltage (V) Battery Voltage (V)
1
, 1 20 V 1 0V
2 0V 2 0V
3 18 V 3 12 V
1+2 20 V 1+2 0V
1+2+3 38 V 1+2+3 12 V
1+2; 3rd has polarity 2V 1 + 2; 3rd has -12 V
reversed polarity reversed
II. Using voltage
Use the Circuit Construction Kit simulation to build a circuit with a battery and a light bulb in
the Lifelike visual mode.
a. Draw what your circuit looks like (you may cut and paste your circuit into your lab
report if you wish).
b. How does the voltage of the battery compare to the light bulb voltage? Explain what
you think is happening.
The voltage of the battery is equal to the voltage across the light bulb. As it receives more
power from the battery it makes the light bulb light up brighter.
c. Vary the voltage of the battery and write observations about how the brightness
is affected by voltage.
Increasing the battery voltage increased the brightness of the bulb, while decreasing the
battery voltage decreased the bulb brightness.
d. Think about a real light bulb and battery; explain what you think is happening that
causes the changes in brightness.
Higher voltage increases filament temperature which in turn emits more light.
2
