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Physics Circuit Construction Kit (DC Circuits) PhET Lab

Today, you will use the Circuit Construction Kit PhET lab to qualitatively explore series and
parallel circuits.
PreLab
Draw a simple diagram for a series and parallel circuit below using your notes/homework.
Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

Beginning Observations
1) Open the Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only) PhET simulation. What can you change about the
simulation?
The battery direction, wire size, resistor directions, switch close and open.

2) Build a simple circuit with a battery, wires, light bulb and voltage source. Draw it below.
PhET diagram (draw what you see on the
screen)

Circuit diagram (use symbols we have learned in


class)

3) What are the main differences between what you see on the screen and what you drew in
your circuit diagram?

The PhET diagram is a simply way to draw an electricity circuit. While circuit diagram is what it
really look like in the real world.
4) What flows through the wires when there is a closed circuit? What on the screen represents
these?
Electrons are flowing through the wires in a closed circuit. On the screen, they represents two
light bulb and a battery.
Part 1 Series Circuit
Construct a simple series circuit with the following amounts of light bulbs using the PhET
simulation. Remember in a series circuit, there is only on path for electricity to flow. Keep the
battery source the same. Draw the proper circuit diagram in your table and rank the relative
brightness in your table.
Number of
Light Bulbs

Circuit Diagram

Relative Brightness of
bulbs (use words like
brightest, least bright,
etc.)
Brightest

Bright

Least bright

What can you conclude about what happens to the brightness of the bulbs as you add more
bulbs in series? Why do you think this is the case?
The more bulbs is added to the series the less bright it will get. I think this is the case because
the battery provide equal energy to each bulbs, so less energy is flow through each one and
there is no other conductors to help electrons more faster.

Part 2 Parallel Circuit


Construct two parallel circuits one with 2 light bulbs in parallel and one with 3 light bulbs in
parallel and rank the relative brightness of the bulbs. Remember, in a parallel circuit there are
multiple pathways for electricity to flow. Keep your battery source the same.
Number of
Light Bulbs in
Parallel
2

Circuit Diagram

Relative Brightness of
bulbs (use words like
brightest, least bright,
etc.)
Bright

Same as 2

What can you conclude about what happens to the brightness of the bulbs as you add more
bulbs in parallel? Why do you think this is the case?
As the more bulbs I add to the parallel circuit, the circuit continue to move at a constant rate.
This is the case because, the parallel circuit keep the light at a constant rate for a long time than
series circuit.

Conclusion Qs
1. How does the parallel circuit compare to the series circuit?
Parallel circuit is better than series circuit because it make the electrons move at a constant rate
and safer than series circuit.
2. What happens when you break a parallel circuit (try it out in the sum if you need to!)? How
would this property be useful when designing circuits?
If parallel circuit break, you could always easily replace the necessary items needed than series
circuit. This property is useful because it provide a safer circuit.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits?
An advantages for series circuits is that as more battery is added, the more power the electrons
will move and bright the light bulb more and more. A disadvantages for series circuits is that if a
bulb is broken, then the whole circuit will be broken the whole circuit and also as you add more
battery, the dimmer the light bulbs.
An advantages for parallel circuits is that if one of the light bulb is broken, then the circuit will
still continue. And, also the brightness of the light bulbs would be greater than the series. A
disadvantages for parallel circuits is that, if you add more battery, then will be cause fires
because parallel circuit does not increase the resistance like it does in series circuit.

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